Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-19
APRIL 10, 1775.

The story Of the Lexington and Con-
cord fight on the 18th of April, 1175, where
the first blood OF the Revolution was shed
has been told many times. but the story
always maintains its interest in Massa-
chusetts, and should be scarcely less in
tercsting to us in Maine. (which was then
IA part of Massachusetts and WAS not a
whit behind the parent state in the ardor
with which it esrOused the cause OF the
colonies in the Revolution.
The British troops. which marched 10
Concord TO destroy the stores collected
then by the rebels, left Boston about 1879
o'clock on the night Of the 18th which
was Tuesday, and were under command
of Lieutenant Co. Smith and Major Pit
c1irn who fell at Bunker Hill
The troops crossed the Charles river in
boats and landed at Techmere's Point, in
East Cambridge, and marched through
the main street to what lis now Union
Square in Somerville and over the main
highway through the present town Of
Arlington TO Lexington where the British
advance guard arrived on the village
green about 430 A. NJ
While the British were preparing to de-
part from Boston the patriots had stolen
IA march on them and Paul Revere twho
kept a general store on Essex street in
Boston and whose advertisements are to
be read in the files of The old Boston pa
pers) had been rowed across the river to
Charlestown. Here he awaited the signal
from The brlfry of the old North church.
and when it flashed out, began his mid
night ride to arouse the slumbering yeo-
men of Middlesex county,
Revere reached Lexington shortly after
midnight. having made the nearly L
miles in about an hour and half, rein
ing in what he called a good horse ut
each house he passed only long enough
to shout 'the British are coming"
AS a result of these hurried calls, when
the british reached the square at LeXing-
ton, they found part of the towns min
ute-men drawn up on the green under
the command of Captain John Parker.
Pitcairn rode up to the minute-men,
and with a flourish of his pistol and an
outbnrst Of profanity ordered the
damned rebels to throw down their
arms and disperse.
Just what followed was long a subject
of dispute rs each side claimed that the
other fired first. but the truth. probably
is to be found between the two extremes.
which is that some muskets of the pro-
vincials who were hanging about the
green We're accidentally discharged.
which was seized upon by Pitcairn, as a
sufficient excuse to order q volley to be
discharged at the patriots.
There seems TO be some question as to
the number killed and wounded by the
two y0lleys that followed the orders TO
fire but the killed have been generally
given at eight and about an equal mum.
Der wounded, though some of these were
included in the desrltory firing that fol-
lowed
This naturally scattered the few militia
and the British continued through rhe
village and swung into the mainsroad on
the WAY to Concord about five miles fur
Their on
Inc regulars arrived at Concord about
o'clock and here the general alarm had
brought out about 45H minute men and
others were constantly arriving.
The militia here We're under the COM
mand of Col. James Barrett. q prominent
citizen at whose house and mill were
sccreted the military stores but which
had been hastily removed again. as soon
as it was learned the British were on ths
way to destroy them.
AS the British numbered about 500 men
1T was hardly to be expected that halr
that number of raw militia would attack
them and the minute men gradually gave
way before the advance guard of the reg
ular and retreated to the hill westerly of
The North bridge over the Concord river
small stream that winds its serpentine
course about mile beyond the village
it was while here that the provincials
were viewed Through the field glasses by
Col. Smith and Major Pitcairn from the
burial ground or the high hill near the
village. which has been made familiar to
us by the old prints Here the famous
monument has been erected.
A detachment of the British were Or
dered to the bridge where they were met
by the Americans and here the first real
engagement of the day and the war took
place. ir which Capt. Isaac Davis and
Abner Hosmer of the Acton company
were wounded. The British DESTROYED
what stores they could find, and set fire
10 the courthouse, and after some other
acts of vandalism began their return tn
Boston.
The road to Boston at that time was
lined the greater part of the way with
dense woods. which were now swarming
with the militia of the adjacent and even
remote towns. and they poured in a de-
structive fire upon the retreating columns
OF the British. as they swept along the
dusty road. killing scores OF them ard
woundins hundreds with small loss to
themselves
The real battle began the moment the
regulars faced about. for the return To
Bostoa which had the appearance of a
retreat to The stenahatrIod farrnonr >, a.a