“Just now,” said he, “they are too strong for us. Men are flocking in from all points of the compass; in a short time we’ll be able to make a stand, but not yet.”
So he ordered a retreat across the North Bridge to another eminence which was about a mile from the center of the town.
The British advanced into Concord, and at once the North Bridge was secured by two hundred men. Six companies were sent to destroy the magazines of stores, but, for the most part, found them empty. In the center of the town they seized and broke open some threescore of barrels of flour, knocked off the trunnions of three cannons, burnt some wheels, newly made for gun carriages, and also a few barrels of wooden trenchers and spoons.
While this was going forward, the British all the while conducting themselves after the fashion of people highly amused, the alarm men were flocking to the hill outside. They came from Carlisle, from Chelmsford, from Westford, Littleton and Acton. They were lined up in rough order to the number of almost five hundred when several pillars of black smoke began to mount from Concord, and a cry of rage at once arose from the colonial force.
“They are burning the town!” was the cry.
Colonel Barrett, who had been calmly studying the situation, now decided to act.
“The guard at the North Bridge must be dislodged,” said he curtly. “Who will volunteer?”
A mighty shout went up. With a face shining with pleasure, the leader at once told off the companies he desired for the service. Major John Buttrick was placed in command, and to the number of some three hundred, the party started down the hill in double file and with trailed arms.
“You are required to cross the North Bridge,” were the commander’s last words to Major Buttrick; “but do not fire upon the king’s troops unless they fire upon you.”
Nat, Ben Cooper, Ezra and his brother were all with the party. Nat and Ezra marched shoulder to shoulder and as they neared the river, the latter said in a low tone: