The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758-1775 Part 15

"LEXINGTON, _25th of April, 1775_.

"We, Nathaniel Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Munroe, jun., John Wins.h.i.+p, Solomon Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge, jun., Ebenezer Bowman, William Munroe the 3d, Micah Hager, Samuel Saunderson, Samuel Hastings, and James Brown, of Lexington, in the county of Middles.e.x, and colony of the Ma.s.sachusetts Bay, in New England, and all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on the morning of the 19th of April instant, about one or two o'clock, being informed that a number of regular officers had been riding up and down the road the evening and night preceding, and that some of the inhabitants, as they were pa.s.sing, had been insulted by the officers, and stopped by them; and being also informed that the regular troops were on their march from Boston, in order (as it was said) to take the colony stores then deposited at Concord, we met on the parade of our company in this town. After the company had collected, we were ordered by Captain Parker (who commanded us) to disperse for the present, and to be ready to attend the beat of the drum; and accordingly the company went into houses near the place of parade. We further testify and say, that, about five o'clock in the morning, we attended the beat of our drum, and were formed on the parade; we were faced toward the regulars then marching up to us, and some of our company were coming to the parade with their backs toward the troops, and others, on the parade, began to disperse, when the regulars fired on the company, before a gun was fired by any of our company on them. They killed eight of our company, and wounded several, and continued their fire until we had all made our escape.

"Signed by each of the deponents."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, Timothy Smith, of Lexington, in the county of Middles.e.x, and colony of Ma.s.sachusetts Bay, in New England, being of lawful age, do testify and declare, that, on the morning of the 19th of April instant, being on Lexington common, as a spectator, I saw a large body of regular troops marching up toward the Lexington company, then dispersing, and likewise saw the regular troops fire on the Lexington company, before the latter fired a gun. I immediately ran, and a volley was discharged at me, which put me in imminent danger of losing my life. I soon returned to the common, and saw eight of the Lexington men who were killed, and lay bleeding at a considerable distance from each other; and several were wounded.

And further saith not.

"TIMOTHY SMITH."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"We, Levi Mead and Levi Harrington, both of Lexington, in the county of Middles.e.x, and colony of Ma.s.sachusetts Bay, in New England, and of lawful age, do testify and declare, that, on the morning of the 19th of April, being on Lexington commons, as spectators, we saw a large body of regular troops marching up toward the Lexington company; and some of the regulars, on horses, whom we took to be officers, fired a pistol or two on the Lexington company, which was then dispersing. These were the first guns that were fired, and they were immediately followed by several volleys from the regulars, by which eight men belonging to said company were killed, and several wounded.

"LEVI HARRINGTON, LEVI MEAD."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, William Draper, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Colrain, in the county of Hamps.h.i.+re, and colony of Ma.s.sachusetts Bay, in New England, do testify and declare, that, being on the parade of said Lexington, April 19th instant, about half an hour before sunrise, the king's regular troops appeared at the meeting-house of Lexington. Captain Parker's company, who were drawn up back of said meeting-house on the parade, turned from said troops, making their escape, by dispersing. In the meantime, the regular troops made a huzza, and ran toward Captain Parker's company, who were dispersing; and, immediately after the huzza was made, the commanding officer of said troops (as I took him) gave the command to the said troops--"Fire! fire! d.a.m.n you, fire!"--and immediately they fired, before any of Captain Parker's company fired, I then being within three or four rods of said regular troops. And further say not.

"WILLIAM DRAPER."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, Thomas Fessenden, of lawful age, testify and declare, that, being in a pasture near the meeting-house, at said Lexington, on Wednesday last, at about half an hour before sunrise, I saw a number of regular troops pa.s.s speedily by said meeting-house, on their way toward a company of militia of said Lexington, who were a.s.sembled to the number of about one hundred in a company, at the distance of eighteen or twenty rods from said meeting-house; and after they had pa.s.sed by said meeting-house, I saw three officers, on horseback, advance to the front of said regulars, when one of them, being within six rods of the said militia, cried out, "Disperse, you rebels, immediately!" on which he brandished his sword over his head three times: meanwhile, the second officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a pistol, pointed at said militia, and the regulars kept huzzaing till he had finished brandis.h.i.+ng his sword; and when he had thus finished brandis.h.i.+ng his sword, he pointed it down toward said militia, and immediately on which the said regulars fired a volley at the militia, and then I ran off as fast as I could, while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. I further testify, that, as soon as ever the officer cried, "Disperse, you rebels," the said company of militia dispersed every way, as fast as they could; and, while they were dispersing, the regulars kept firing at them incessantly. And further saith not.

"THOMAS FESSENDEN."

"LINCOLN, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, John Bateman, belonging to the fifty-second regiment, commanded by Colonel Jones, on Wednesday morning, on the 19th day of April instant, was in the party marching to Concord, being at Lexington, in the county of Middles.e.x, being nigh the meeting-house in said Lexington, there was a small party of men gathered together at that place, when our said troops marched by; and I testify and declare that I heard the word of command given to the troops to fire, and some of said troops did fire, and I saw one of said small party lay dead on the ground nigh said meeting-house; and I testify that I never heard any of the inhabitants so much as fire one gun on said troops.

"JOHN BATEMAN."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"We, John h.o.a.r, John Whithead, Abraham Garfield, Benjamin Munroe, Isaac Parks, William Hosmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, all of Lincoln, in the county of Middles.e.x, Ma.s.sachusetts Bay, all of lawful age, do testify and say that, on Wednesday last, we were a.s.sembled at Concord, in the morning of said day, in consequence of information received that a brigade of regular troops were on their march to the said town of Concord, who had killed six men at the town of Lexington. About an hour afterward, we saw them approaching, to the number, as we apprehended, of about twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the said troops then took possession of the hill where we were first posted. Presently after this we saw the troops moving toward the north bridge, about one mile from the said Concord meeting-house. We then immediately went before them and pa.s.sed the bridge just before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived. They there left about one half of their two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the rest toward Colonel Barrett's, about two miles from the said bridge. We then, seeing several fires in the town, thought the houses in Concord were in danger, and marched toward the said bridge; and the troops that were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up some of the planks. We then hastened our march toward the bridge, and, when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men--first three guns, one after the other, and then a considerable number more; and then, and not before (having orders from our commanding officers not to fire till we were fired upon), we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. On their retreat through the town of Lexington to Charlestown, they ravaged and destroyed private property, and burnt three houses, one barn, and one shop.

"Signed by each of the above deponents."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"We, Nathan Barret, captain; Jonathan Farrar, Joseph Butler, and Francis Wheeler, lieutenants; John Barret, ensign; John Brown, Silas Walker, Ephraim Melvin, Nathan b.u.t.trick, Stephen Hosmer, jun., Samuel Barret, Thomas Jones, Joseph Chandler, Peter Wheeler, Nathan Pierce, and Edward Richardson, all of Concord, in the county of Middles.e.x, in the province of Ma.s.sachusetts Bay, of lawful age, testify and declare, that, on Wednesday, the 19th instant, about an hour after sunrise, we a.s.sembled on a hill near the meeting-house in Concord aforesaid, in consequence of an information that a number of regular troops had killed six of our countrymen at Lexington, and were on their march to said Concord; and, about an hour afterward, we saw them approaching, to the number, as we imagine, of about twelve hundred; on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the aforesaid troops then took possession of a hill where we were first posted.

Presently after this, we saw them moving toward the north bridge, about one mile from said meeting-house; we then immediately went before them, and pa.s.sed the bridge just before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived. They there left about one half of these two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the rest toward Colonel Barret's, about two miles from the said bridge. We then, seeing several fires in the town thought our houses were in danger, and immediately marched back toward said bridge, and the troops who were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up some of the planks. We then hastened our steps toward the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men--first three guns, one after the other, and then a considerable number more; upon which, and not before (having orders from our commanding officer not to fire till we were fired upon), we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. At Concord, and on their retreat through Lexington, they plundered many houses, burnt three at Lexington, together with a shop and barn, and committed damage, more or less, to almost every house from Concord to Charlestown.

"Signed by the above deponents."

"We, Joseph Butler and Ephraim Melvin, do testify and declare, that, when the regular troops fired upon our people at the north bridge, in Concord, as related in the foregoing depositions, they shot one, and we believe two, of our people, before we fired a single gun at them.

"JOSEPH BUTLER, EPHRAIM MELVIN.

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_."

"CONCORD, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, Timothy Minot, jun., of Concord, on the 19th day of this instant, April, after that I had heard of the regular troops firing upon Lexington men, and fearing that hostilities might be committed at Concord, thought it my inc.u.mbent duty to secure my family. After I had secured my family, some time after that, returning toward my own dwelling, and finding that the bridge on the north part of said Concord was guarded by regular troops, being a spectator of what had happened at said bridge, declare that the regular troops stationed on said bridge, after they saw the men that were collected on the westerly side of said bridge, marched toward said bridge; then the troops returned toward the easterly side of said bridge, and formed themselves, as I thought, for regular fight: after that they fired one gun, then two or three more, before the men that were stationed on the westerly part of said bridge fired upon them.

"TIMOTHY MINOT, JUN."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, James Barret, of Concord, colonel of a regiment of militia, in the county of Middles.e.x, do testify and say that, on Wednesday morning last, about daybreak, I was informed of the approach of a number of the regular troops to the town of Concord, where were some magazines belonging to this province, when there was a.s.sembled some of the militia of this and the neighboring towns, I ordered them to march to the north bridge (so called), which they had pa.s.sed and were taking up. I ordered said militia to march to said bridge and pa.s.s the same, but not to fire on the king's troops unless they were first fired upon. We advanced near said bridge, when the said troops fired upon our militia, and killed two men dead on the spot, and wounded several others, which was the first firing of guns in the town of Concord. My detachment then returned the fire, which killed and wounded several of the king's troops.

"JAMES BARRET."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"We, Bradbury Robinson, Samuel Spring, Thaddeus Bancroft, all of Concord, and James Adams, of Lexington, all in the county of Middles.e.x, all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on Wednesday morning last, near ten of the clock, we saw near one hundred of the regular troops, being in the town of Concord, at the north bridge in said town (so called); and having pa.s.sed the same, they were taking up said bridge, when about three hundred of our militia were advancing toward said bridge, in order to pa.s.s said bridge, when, without saying anything to us, they discharged a number of guns on us, which killed two men dead on the spot, and wounded several others; when we returned the fire on them, which killed two of them, and wounded several, which was the beginning of hostilities in the town of Concord.

"BRADBURY ROBINSON, THADDEUS BANCROFT, "SAMUEL SPRING, JAMES ADAMS."

"WORCESTER, _April 26, 1775_.

"Hannah Bradish, of that part of Cambridge called Menotomy, and daughter of Timothy Paine, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, Esq., of lawful age, testifies and says, that, about five o'clock on Wednesday last, afternoon, being in her bedchamber, with her infant child, about eight days old, she was surprised by the firing of the king's troops and our people, on their return from Concord. She being weak and unable to go out of her house, in order to secure herself and family, they all retired into the kitchen, in the back part of the house. She soon found the house surrounded with the king's troops; that upon observation made, at least seventy bullets were shot into the front part of the house; several bullets lodged in the kitchen where she was, and one pa.s.sed through an easy-chair she had just gone from. The door of the front part of the house was broke open; she did not see any soldiers in the house, but supposed, by the noise, they were in the front. After the troops had gone off, she missed the following things, which, she verily believes, were taken out of the house by the king's troops, viz., one rich brocade gown, called a negligee, one lutestring gown, one white quilt, one pair of brocade shoes, three s.h.i.+fts, eight white ap.r.o.ns, three caps, one case of ivory knives and forks, and several other small articles.

"HANNAH BRADISH."

PROVINCE OF THE Ma.s.sACHUSETTS BAY, WORCESTER, SS., _April 26, 1775_.

"Mrs. Hannah Bradish, the above deponent, maketh oath before us, the subscribers, two of his majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Worcester, and of the quorum, that the above deposition, according to her best recollection, is the truth.

Which deposition is taken in _perpetuam rei memoriam_.

"THOMAS STEEL, "TIMOTHY PAINE."