THE LEXINGTON MASSACRE.—[FROM AN OLD PRINT.]
JOHN HANCOCK.
Gage received word of the swarming of the minute-men and the peril of his troops, and sent a brigade, with light artillery, under Lord Percy, to reinforce Smith. This reached within a half mile of Lexington at three o’clock in the afternoon, and forming a hollow square around the wearied soldiers, allowed them a short time for rest and refreshment. Then the whole body began its return march, destroying houses and doing other mischief on the way. The country was now up, the provincial troops came from all quarters, and it was a general running engagement. At Prospect Hill there was a sharp fight. Percy seemed in danger of being cut off; but another and stronger reinforcement arriving, he was enabled to reach Boston.
FIGHT AT THE BRIDGE.
THE FIGHT AT LEXINGTON.
Tugged the patient, panting horses, as the coulter keen and thorough,
By the careful farmer guided, cut the deep and even furrow;
Soon the mellow mould in ridges, straightly pointing as an arrow,