The Battle of Lexington

APRIL 19. —ABOUT ten o'clock last night, the troops in Boston were discovered to be in motion in a very secret manner, and it was found they were embarking in boats which they had privately brought to the place in the evening at the lower end of the common. Expresses set off immediately to alarm the country, that they might be on their guard. When they were passing about a mile beyond Lexington, they were stopped by a party of officers who came out of Boston in the afternoon of that day, and were seen lurking in bye-places in the country until after dark. One of the expresses immediately fled, and was pursued a long distance by an officer, who, when he had overtaken him, presented a pistol and cried out, "You're a dead man if you don't stop!" but he kept on until he gained house, when, stopping suddenly, he was thrown from his horse; and having the presence of mind to call out to the people of the house, "Turn out! turn out! I've got one of them!" the officer immediately retreated as fast as he had pursued. The other express, ¹ after undergoing a strict examination, was allowed to depart.

The body of the troops, in the mean time, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, had crossed the river and landed at Phipps' farm. They proceeded with great silence to Lexington, six miles below Concord. A company of militia, numbering about eighty men, had mustered near the meetinghouse. Just before sunrise the king's troops came in sight, when the militia began to disperse. The troops then set out upon the road, hallooing and huzzaing, and coming within a few rods of them, the commanding officer cried out in words to this effect, "Disperse, you damned rebels! damn you, disperse!" upon which the troops again huzzaed, and at the same time one or two officers discharged their pistols, which were instantaneously followed by the firing of four or five of the soldiers, and then there seemed to be a general discharge from the whole. It is to be noticed, they fired upon the militia as they were dispersing agreeably to their command, and that they did not even return the fire. Eight of our men were killed, and nine wounded. The troops then laughed, and damned the Yankees, and said they could not bear the smell of gunpowder.

Soon after this action, the troops renewed their march to Concord, where they divided into parties, and went directly to the several places where the province stores were deposited. Each party was supposed to have a Tory pilot.² One body went into the jail yard, and spiked and otherwise damaged the cannon belonging to the province, and broke and set fire to the carriages. They then entered a store and rolled out about a hundred barrels of flour, which they unheaded, and emptied about forty into the river.³ Some took possession of the town-house, which was soon after discovered to be on fire, but which was extinguished without much damage. Another party took possession of the North Bridge. About one hundred and fifty of the militia, who had mustered upon the alarm, coming towards the bridge, were fired upon by the troops, and two were killed upon the spot. Thus did "the troops of Britain's king fire FIRST at two several times upon his loyal American subjects, and put a period to ten lives before one gun was fired upon them! Our people THEN returned the fire, and obliged the troops to retreat, who were soon joined by their other parties, but finding they were still pursued, the whole body moved back to Lexington, both troops and militia firing as they went.

During this time an express was sent to General Gage, who despatched a reinforcement under the command of Earl Percy, with two field-pieces. Upon the arrival of this reinforcement at Lexington, just as the retreating party had reached there, they made a stand, picking up their dead, took all the carriages they could find, and put their wounded thereon. Others of them—to their eternal disgrace be it spoken—were robbing and setting houses on fire, and discharging their cannon at the meeting-house.

While this was transacting a party of the militia at Menotomy,⁴ attacked a party of twelve of the enemy, who were carrying stores and provisions, killed one of them and took possession of their arms and stores, without any loss.

The troops having halted about an hour at Lexington, found it necessary to make a second retreat, carrying with them many of their dead and wounded. This they continued from Lexington to Charlestown, with great precipitation, the militia closely following them, firing till they reached Charlestown Neck, where they arrived a little after sunset.⁵ Passing over the Neck the enemy proceeded up Bunker Hill and encamped for the night.⁶

¹ Paul Revere.

² A young man, unarmed, who was taken prisoner by the enemy at Lexington, and made to assist in carrying off their wounded, says, he saw a barber who lives in Boston, thought to be one Warden, with the troops, and that he heard them say he was one of their pilots. He likewise saw said barber fire twice upon our people, and heard Earl Percy order the troops to fire the houses. He also says that several British officers were among the wounded, who were carried into Boston, where our informant was dismissed. They took two of our men prisoners, and they are now confined in the barracks. "—Massachusetts Spy, May 3, 1775.

³ "The shrewd and successful address of Capt. Timothy Wheeler, on this occasion, deserves notice. He had the charge of a large quantity of provincial flour, which, together with some casks of his own, was stored in his barn. A British officer demanding entrance, he readily took his key and gave him admission. The officer expressed his pleasure at the discovery, but Capt. Wheeler, with much affected! simplicity, said to him, putting his hand on a barrel; 'This is my flour. I am a miller, sir; yonder stands my mill; I get my living by it. In the winter I grind a great deal of grain, and get it ready for market in the spring. This,' pointing to one barrel, 'is the flour of wheat; this,' pointing to another, 'is the flour of corn; this is the flour of rye; this, ' putting his hand on his own casks, 'is my flour; this is my wheat; this is my rye; this is mine.' 'Well,' said the officer, 'we do not injure private property;' and withdrew, leaving this important discovery untouched."—Holmes' Annals.

⁴ This party was led by the Rev. Phillips Payson, D. D., * to whom the following extract refers: —"The Rev. Mr. Payson, of Chelsea, in Massachusetts Bay, a mild, thoughtful, sensible man, at the head of a party of his own parish, attacked a party of the regulars, killed some and took the rest prisoners. This gentleman has been hitherto on the side of government, but oppression having got to that pitch beyond which even a wise man cannot bear, he has taken up arms in defence of those rights, civil and religious, which cost their forefathers so dearly. The cruelty of the King's troops, in some instances, I wish to disbelieve. They entered one house in Lexington where were two old men, one a deacon of the church, who was bed-ridden, and another not able to walk, who was sitting in his chair; both these they stabbed and killed on the spot, as well as an innocent child running out of the house. "—Pennsylvania Journal, August 2, 1775.

* Dr. Payson was born at Walpole, Massachusetts, on the 18th of January, 1786. He graduated at Harvard College in 1754, and from the time of his ordination (three years after) until his death, he was constantly and zealously engaged in the service of the church. During the Revolution, he boldly advocated the cause of the Colonists. He died January 11, 1801.

⁵ "In this action the regulars have lost in all, sixty-five killed, one hundred and eighty wounded, and twenty-eight made prisoners. Of the provincials, fifty have been killed, thirty-four wounded, and four are missing. The following officers and gentlemen are of the number: —Justice Isaac Gardner, of Brookline; Capt. Isaac Davis, of Acton; Captain Jonathan Wilson, of Bedford; Lieut. John Brown, and Sergt. Elisha Mills, of Needham; and Deacon Josiah Haynes, of Sudbury, killed; Capt. Eleazer Kingsbury, of Needham; Captain Samuel Williams, of Cambridge; Captains Charles Mills, Nathaniel Barrett, and George Minot, of Concord; Capt. Oliver Barnes, and Deacon Aaron Chamberlain, of Chelmsford, wounded. "Captains John Ford and Oliver Barrow, and Deacon Davis, all of Chelmsford, distinguished themselves in the course of the day. It can be fully proved that Captain Ford killed five regulars. James Howard, a private in the Acton company, and a regular, coming out of a house, caught sight of each other, and discharged their pieces at the same instant; both shots taking effect, the last dropped down dead, and the first expired a few hours after. A big boy joined in the chase of the retreating troops and was very expert in firing at them; at length a ball from the enemy grazed his head, and produced a flesh wound; he soon recovered the shock, bound up his head with a handkerchief, and renewed his pursuit. "—Gordon's American Revolution, vol. i., p. 326.

⁶ Pennsylvania Journal, May 24, 1775: —"The British officers and soldiers have done ample justice to the bravery and conduct of the Massachusetts militia—they say that no troops ever behaved with more resolution. A soldier who had been in the action, being congratulated by a fellow-soldier on his safe return to Boston, declared, 'That the militia had fought like bears, and that he would as soon attempt to storm hell, as to fight against them a second time.'"—Pennsylvania Packet, May 1, 1775.

THE first stand made by the country in the late engagement was with only two hundred men at Concord Bridge, which the soldiers were endeavoring to pull up. The soldiers gave the first fire, and killed three or four. It was returned with vigor by the country people, and the regulars began soon to retire. The country people immediately lined the roads, which are secured with stone walls, and their numbers hourly increasing, they annoyed the regulars exceedingly, allowing them to halt but two or three times, and then in open plains for a few minutes.

A considerable body of provincials formed an ambuscade near Cambridge for the troops on their return; but the bridge having been destroyed by the first brigade in their march out, the troops took their route through Charlestown, and by that means avoided a total overthrow. The number of the regulars when the two brigades joined, is said to have been at least eighteen hundred. It does not appear that they were attacked by more than six hundred provincials until they got near to Charlestown, when a very strong reinforcement from the towns of Marblehead and Salem fell in with them, and gave them two severe fires. This quickened their pace to Bunker Hill, where they took refuge, formed in order, and remained until reinforced by the third brigade sent over from Boston to secure their retreat. This was effected without further loss.

A gentleman, who mixed with the soldiers at Charlestown ferry, says he saw at least two officers and soldiers brought over wounded in an hour. It is impossible at this time to ascertain the number of the killed and wounded on either side. A young gentleman who was within twelve miles of the field of battle informs us that the country had buried one hundred and ninety soldiers, and it is supposed a great number must have been carried off and burnt on Bunker Hill by their comrades. General Haldiman and Lord Percy are both returned safe, having been enclosed on all sides by their soldiers, during the retreat. Mr. Paul Revere, who left Boston to acquaint Messrs. Hancock and Adams of the design against them, was taken prisoner, but got clear again by a stratagem. Colonel Murray's son,¹ who conducted the first brigade to Concord, is a prisoner, and not killed as reported. Upon the whole, Lord North's troops have had a severe drubbing; and when we consider the disparity of numbers and discipline, and the sudden and unexpected attack against the country, we have reason to acknowledge the interposition of Heaven on that memorable day.²

¹ Samuel Murray, a graduate of Harvard College in 1772, proscribed in 1778, and died in 1785.

² Pennsylvania Packet, May 1, 1775.

A DESERTER from Boston says that Gen. Gage has written home since the battle of Lexington, that the Americans load their rifle-barrel guns with a ball slit almost in four quarters, which when firing out of those weapons, breaks into four pieces and generally does great execution.¹

¹ MSS. letter from Hunnewell to Gould.

SOME officers in the king's army, it is said, have sworn that the Americans fired first. Their method of cheating the devil, we are told, has been by some means brought about. They procured three or four traitors to their God and country, born among us, and took with them; and they first fired upon their countrymen, which was immediately followed by the regulars. It is said also that these wretches were dressed in soldier's clothing.

THE following anecdote, we are assured, is authentic. It was communicated by a gentleman from the neighborhood of Boston: —An American soldier who had received a wound in his breast, in pursuing General Gage's troops on the nineteenth of April, supported his body against a tree, when a brother soldier came up to him and offered him his assistance. "I am beyond your assistance, (said the wounded man,) pursue the enemy. " With these words on his lips, he fell back and died.²

² Pennsylvania Packet, June 12, 1775.

A GENTLEMAN who travelled lately through Connecticut, informs us that he met with an old gentlewoman who told him that she had fitted out and sent five sons and eleven grandsons to Boston, when she heard of the engagement between the provincials and regulars. The gentleman asked her if she did not shed a tear at parting with them? "No," said she, "I never parted with them with more pleasure." "But suppose," said the gentleman, "they had all been killed." "I had rather (said the noble matron) this had been the case, than that ONE of them had come back a coward."³

³ Virginia Gazette, June 24, 1775.

THE proceedings of April nineteenth have united the colonies and continent, and brought in New York to act as vigorously as any other place whatsoever, and has raised an army in an instant, which are lodged in the several houses of the towns round Boston, till their tents are finished, which will be soon. All that is attended to, besides ploughing and planting, is making ready for fighting. The non-importations and non-exportations will now take place from necessity, and traffic give place to war. We have a fine spring, prospects of great plenty; there was scarce ever known such a good fall of lambs; we are in no danger of starving, through the cruel acts against the New England governments; and the men who had been used to fishery, a hardy generation of people, Lord North has undesignedly kept in the country to give strength to our military operations, and to assist as occasion may require. Thanks to a superior wisdom for his blunders. The General is expecting reinforcements, but few have arrived as yet, the winds, contrary to the common run this season, instead of being easterly, have been mostly the reverse. When the reinforcement arrives, and is recovered of the voyage, the General will be obliged in honor to attempt dislodging the people, and penetrating the country. Both soldiers and inhabitants are in want of fresh provisions, and will be like to suffer much, should the provincial army be able to keep the town shut up on all sides, excepting by water, as at present. ¹

¹ Dr. Gordon in Gaines' Mercury, June 19, 1775.

JUNE 6. -THIS being the day agreed on for the exchange of prisoners, between twelve and one o'clock, Dr. Warren and Brigadier-General Putnam, in a phaeton, together with Major Dunbar, and Lieut. Hamilton of the 64th, on horseback, Lieut. Potter, of the marines, in a chaise; John Hilton of the 47th, Alexander Campbell of the 4th, John Tyne, Samuel Marcy, Thomas Perry, and Thomas Sharp of the marines, wounded men in two carts; the whole escorted by the Weathersfield company, under the command of Captain Chester, entered the town of Charlestown, and marching slowly through it, halted at the ferry, where, upon a signal being given, Major Moncrief landed from the Lively man-of-war in order to receive the prisoners and see his old friend General Putnam. Their meeting was truly cordial and affectionate. The wounded privates were soon sent on board the Lively, but Major Moncrief and the other officers returned with General Putnam and Dr. Warren to the house of Dr. Foster, where an entertainment was provided for them. About three o'clock a signal was made by the Lively, that they were ready to deliver up our prisoners, upon which General Putnam and Major Moncrief went to the ferry, where they received Messrs. John Peck, James Hews, James Brewer, and Daniel Preston, of Boston; Messrs. Samuel Frost and Seth Russell, of Cambridge; Mr. Joseph Bell, of Danvers; Mr. Elijah Seaver, of Roxbury; and Caesar Augustus, a negro servant of Mr. Tileston, of Dorchester, who were conducted to the house of Captain Foster and there refreshed; after which the general and major returned to their company, and spent an hour or two in a very agreeable manner. Between five and six o'clock Major Moncrief, with the officers that had been delivered to him, were conducted to the ferry, where the Lively's barge received them, after which General Putnam, with the prisoners that had been delivered to him, returned to Cambridge, escorted in the same manner as before. The whole was conducted with the utmost decency and good humor, and the Weathersfield company did honor to themselves, their officers, and their country. The regular officers expressed themselves as highly pleased; those who had been prisoners politely acknowledged the genteel kind treatment they had received from their captors; the privates, who were all wounded men, expressed in the strongest terms their grateful sense of the tenderness which had been shown them in their miserable situation; some of them could do it only by their tears. It would have been to the honor of the British arms if the prisoners taken from us could with justice have made the same acknowledgment. It cannot be supposed that any officers of rank, or common humanity, were knowing to the repeated cruel insults that were offered them; but it may not be amiss to hint to the upstarts concerned, two truths of which they appear to be wholly ignorant, viz.: That compassion is as essential a part of the character of a truly brave man as daring, and that insult offered to the person completely in the power of the insulter, smells as strong of cowardice as it does of cruelty.¹

¹ Virginia Gazette, July 1, 1775.

THE following paragraph is extracted from some remarks on Gage's account of the battle at Lexington, which is published in the London Gazette of to-day. The miserable Gazette writer concludes his narrative by informing the public that General Gage says, "that too much praise cannot be given to Lord Percy for his remarkable activity the whole day. " The public will think this a very singular compliment! The preceding part of the narrative has told us a story about the troops marching, or in plainer English, retreating from Lexington. They did not halt, but continued their retreat for fifteen miles. What then are we to understand by the remarkable activity of Lord Percy? His personal bravery is too well known to leave room for suspicion that he would show "remarkable activity" in retreating; yet the account in the Gazette leaves the compliment so ambiguous, that an invidious reader might suppose Lord Percy made it, like the swift-footed Achilles, with a light pair of heels. It is not surprising that Gage should wish to pay his court to Northumberland house; but when he pays another compliment, as he cannot write himself, he should entrust a better hand than the pensioned compiler of the Gazette.¹

¹ Constitutional Gazette, August 26, 1775

JULY 5. -GENERAL WOOSTER, and the officers of the Connecticut forces at New York, dined at Mr. Samuel Frances, in the Fields, where an elegant entertainment was provided by the members of the New York Military Club. The day was spent in the utmost harmony, every thing conspiring to please, being all of one mind, and one heart. The following loyal toasts were drank: -1. The king-better counsellors to him. 2. The hon. Continental Congress. 3. General Washington, and the army under his command. 4. The several provincial congresses and committees in the confederated colonies. 5. A speedy union on constitutional principles between Great Britain and America. 6. Conquest and laurels to all those heroes who draw their swords in support of freedom. 7. Confusion and disappointment to the friends of despotism and the enemies of America. 8. May the disgrace of the rebels against the constitution be as conspicuous as that of the rebels against the house of Hanover. 9. All those worthies in both Houses of Parliament, who stood forth advocates of America and the rights of mankind. 10. The Lord Mayor, and worthy citizens of London. 11. The glorious memory of King William. 12. The immortal memory of Hampden, Sydney, and every patriot who fell in defence of liberty. 13. May the enemies of America be turned into saltpetre, and go off in hot blasts. 14. May Great Britain see her error before America ceases in affection. 15. May America ever be the dread and scourge of tyrants. 16. The daughters of America in the arms of their brave defenders only. 17. Death and jack-boots, before dishonor and wooden shoes. 18. The glorious nineteenth of April, when the brave Americans convinced General Gage and the friends of tyranny, that they dare fight and conquer also.¹

¹ Rivington's Gazetteer, July 6, 1775.