LEXINGTON AND CONCORD
By William Emerson
The Reverend William Emerson, grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson, was pastor of the Congregational Church at Concord. The battle of April 19, 1775, was fought near his residence. He was called the "patriot preacher" and died while serving in the Revolutionary army.
This morning between one and two o'clock we were
alarmed by the ringing of the church bell, and upon
examination found that the troops, to the number of eight
hundred, had stolen their march from Boston in boats and
barges from the bottom of the Common over to a point 5
in Cambridge near to Inman's farm, and were at Lexington
meetinghouse 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 to us at
first by Dr. Samuel Prescott, who narrowly escaped the 10
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, 15
that, returning, confirmed the presence of the regular
army at Lexington, and that they were on their way to
Concord. Upon this a number of our minutemen belonging
to this town and Acton and Lincoln, with several others
that were in readiness, marched out to meet them. 20
While the alarm company were preparing to meet them
in the town, Captain Minot, who commanded them,
thought it proper to take possession of the hill above the
meetinghouse as the most advantageous situation. No
sooner had we gained it than we were met by the company
that were sent out to meet the troops, who informed us 5
they were just upon us and that we must retreat, as their
number was more than thribble to ours. We then retreated
from the hill near Liberty Pole and took a new post
back of the town upon a rising eminence, where we formed
into two battalions and waited the arrival of the enemy. 10
Scarcely had we formed before we saw the British troops
at the distance of a quarter of a mile, glittering in arms,
advancing toward us with the greatest celerity.
Some were for making a stand notwithstanding the
superiority of their numbers, but others more prudent 15
thought best to retreat till our strength should be equal
to the enemy by recruits from neighboring towns who were
continually coming in 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 20
sixty barrels of flour, rifled several houses, took possession
of the Town House, destroyed five hundred pounds of
ball, set a guard of a hundred men at the North Bridge,
and sent up a party to the house of Colonel Barrett, where
they were in expectation of finding a quantity of warlike25
stores; but these were happily secured just before their
arrival by transfer 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, 30
and were now advancing with special orders not to fire
upon 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 5
each side and several of the enemy wounded. It may here
be observed, by the way, that we were the more careful
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 10
first firing upon our party and killing eight men upon the
spot. The British troops soon quitted their post at the
bridge and retreated in great 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, 15
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 (one hundred and fifty) took the back way through20
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.
—Journal.
1. This entry in Mr. Emerson's journal was made on the day of the Lexington-Concord battle. Give the date of it.
2. What poem did the Reverend Mr. Emerson's grandson write about the battle of Concord? Bring it to class and read it.
3. What famous ride is connected with this battle?
4. Describe the fight. Was Mr. Emerson actually engaged in the battle? Give proof of your answer.