Читать книгу Revolution An Uncommon Chronicle of the American War for Independence - Kenneth JD Samcoe - Страница 6

British Troops Withdraw in Face of Growing Militia

Concord, Massachusetts: Apr. 19, 1775. Hostilities between British occupational forces quartered in Boston and rebel militia on the Massachusetts mainland exploded early this morning when British troops slipped off the Boston peninsula under cover of darkness and marched 16 miles northeast to the town of Lexington where they attacked a small group of local militiamen, killing eight and wounding several others.

The British then marched six miles north and invaded the town of Concord where local militia had reportedly hidden a large cache of arms and gunpowder.

Militiamen from the towns of Acton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Westfield and Littleton, led by a full band of fife and drummers, advanced on the British just outside of Concord. They halted out of British musket range, wheeled around and taunted the invaders back through Concord to the tune of “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

The rebels crossed North Bridge and formed ranks on Punkatasset Hill, as British troops ransacked the nearly deserted town and searched surrounding areas for weapons.

The first skirmish took place when a group of militia advanced on six light infantry companies attempting to destroy the North Bridge. British infantry fired into the militiamen, killing two Acton men and badly wounding the Acton fifer. Militia returned fire, killing three British and wounding seven others, including four officers.

Three pieces of cannon, several gun carriages and 100 barrels of flour were hauled to the Concord green and put to flames by the grenadiers. Apparently, the fire spread to the Concord meeting house. Mrs. Martha Moulton, a 71-year-old widow, was seen pleading with British officers to save the structure which was close to her own small house. Major Pitcairn ordered a bucket brigade and the fire was extinguished. One thousand additional British troops were seen marching out of Boston to reinforce the grenadiers and light infantry who are now receiving heavy gunfire from rebel militia. Estimates of the number of rebels vary between several hundred and several thousand.

In related news, it was learned a flotilla of troopships, with 3,000 British regulars, embarked from England for the colonies earlier this month. The troops will reinforce the 4,000 troops in Boston, under Commanding General Thomas Gage. It is rumored that Major Generals William Howe, Henry Clinton and John Burgoyne are to accompany the British troops.

“The barbarous murders committed on our innocent brethren ... have made it absolutely necessary that we immediately raise an army to defend our wives and children from the butchering hands of an inhuman soldiery who, incensed at the obstacles they met with their bloody progress, and enraged at being repulsed from the field of slaughter will, without a doubt, take the first opportunity in their power to ravage this devoted country with fire and sword.”

Massachusetts Committee of Safety at Cambridge

To Surrounding Towns

April 28, 1775