who heard from a distance the firing which announced to him the opening of a conflict for which he had long been looking, and from which his soul did not flinch, exclaimed, "Oh, what a glorious morning this is!" The regulars knew that the whole country was rising in arms. They foresaw that if they were to accomplish the object of their expedition, to destroy the stores at Concord, they must press on. Accordingly, they only stopped to cheer loudly over their easy victory over threescore farmers who had not attacked them, and resumed their march. Concord is six miles from Lexington, but so quickly did the troops move that it was only seven o'clock in the morning when they reached the town. They were too late, however. The alarm had been given hours before. The inhabitants of the town, with strong hands and willing hearts, had made the expedition fruitless. The military stores had been mostly removed, scattered, and concealed. Something remained for the British to destroy, but by no means enough to pay for the hard march and the uselessly shed blood. Meantime, the neighboring towns were aroused. Their companies of militia and minute-men came pouring in from all the country around. Their numbers were still too few to attack the troops. Indeed, at that time there was little intention of attacking them. They had first assembled near the liberty-pole in the village of Concord; but, when they saw that they were outnumbered four to one, they withdrew to a hill on the other side of Concord River, about a mile from the centre of the town. Meanwhile, several parties of British soldiers were sent out to search for the concealed supplies. One went over the south bridge, and another over the north bridge. As the Provincial soldiers were in full view from the north bridge, a half of the latter detachment, about a hundred in 1775. The Battle of Concord. 225 all, were left to guard the bridge while the rest went forward. The battle was fought by accident. From the hill where they watched the regulars, the Concord men saw their bridge held against them. Worse yet, smoke could be seen rising in the neighborhood of their homes. What could they do but march to the rescue of their wives and children and property? There was a short consultation. Then Colonel Barrett, whose house the north-bridge detachment had gone to search, gave the order to advance. "I haven't a man that is afraid to go," said Isaac Davis, captain of the company from Acton; and, drawing his sword, he called out, "March!" The farmer-soldiers fell into line, and marched bravely and confidently down the hill and into the road that led to the bridge. The order given at Lexington was repeated. here. Not a shot was to be fired unless the regulars attacked them. The British had heard the command to advance. They saw the men marching towards them, and began ROADS AND HISTORIC LOCALITIES OF CONCORD, MASS. quickly to tear up the planks of the bridge. On this the Americans quickened their steps. Then the British fired, — Eb Road to Goose Pond Mrs. Jonathan Heywood Lincoln & East Sudbury ben. Hubbard Walden Pond Sudbury TOON 17 |