| |
This morning, between 1 and 2 o'clock, we were alarmed by
the ringing of the bell, and upon examination found that the troops, to the
number of 800, had stole their march from Boston, in boats and barges, from the
bottom of the Common over to the point in Cambridge, near to Inman's farm, and
were at Lexington Meeting-house, half an hour before sunrise, where they had
fired upon a body of our men, and (as we afterward heard) had killed
several.
This intelligence was brought us at first by Dr. Samual
Prescott, who narrowly escaped the guard that were sent before on horses,
purposely to prevent all posts and messengers from giving us timely
information. He, by the help of a very fleet horse, crossing several walls and
fences, arrived at Concord at the time above mentioned; when several posts were
immediately dispatched, that returning confirmed the account of the regulars'
arrival at Lexington, and that they were on their way to Concord.
Upon this, a number of our minute men belonging to this
town, and Acton and Lyncoln, with several others that were in readiness,
marched out to meet them, while the alarm company were preparing to receive
them in the town. Capt. Minot, who commanded them, thought it proper to take
possession of the hill above the meeting-house, as the most advantageous
situation. No sooner had our men gained it than we were met by the companies
that were sent out to meet the troops, who informed us that they were just upon
us, and that we must retreat, as their number was more than treble ours.
When we retreated from the hill near the Liberty Pole and
took a new post back of the town upon an eminence, where we formed into two
battalions and waited the arrival of the enemy. Scarcely had we formed before
we saw the British troops at the distance of a quarter of a mile, glittering in
arms, advancing towards us with the greatest celerity. Some were for making a
stand, notwithstanding the superiority of their number; but others more prudent
thought best to retreat till our strength should be equal to the enemy's by
recruits from neighboring towns that were continually coming to our
assistance.
Accordingly we retreated over the bridge, when the troops
came into the town, set fire to several carriages for the artillery, destroyed
60 barrels flour, rifled several houses, took possession of the town-house,
destroyed 500lb. of ball, set a guard of 100 men at the North Bridge, and sent
up a party to the house of Col. Barrett, where they were in expectation of
finding a quantity of warlike stores. But these were happily secured just
before their arrival, by transportation into the woods and other by-places.
In the meantime, the guard set by the enemy to secure the
pass at the North Bridge were alarmed by the approach of our people, who had
retreated, as mentioned before, and were now advancing with special orders not
to fire on the troops unless fired upon. These orders were so punctually
observed that we received the fire of the enemy in three several and separate
discharges of their pieces before it was returned by our commanding officer;
the firing then soon became general for several minutes, in which skirmish two
were killed on each side, and several of the enemy were wounded.
It may here be observed, by the way, that we were the
more cautious to prevent beginning a rupture with the King's troops, as we were
then uncertain what had happened at Lexington, and knew [not?] that they had
begun the quarrel there by first firing upon our people and killing eight men
upon the spot.
The three companies of troops soon quitted their post at
the bridge and retreated in the greatest disorder and confusion to the main
body, who were soon upon the march to meet them. For half an hour, the enemy,
by their marches and countermarches, discovered great fickleness and
inconstancy of mind, sometimes advancing, sometimes returning to their former
posts; till at length they quitted the town and retreated by the way they came.
In the meantime, a party of our men (150) took the back way through the Great
Fields into the east quarter and had placed themselves to advantage, lying in
ambush behind walls, fences and buildings, ready to fire upon the enemy on
their retreat.
|
|
