Battles of the United States, by Sea and Land: embracing those of the Revolutionary and Indian Wars, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War; with important official documents ... Illustrated with ... steel engravings ... from original paintings by Alonzo Chappel

Front matter

. BATTLES 0 P THE UNITED STATES, BY SEA AND LAND: EMBRACING THOSE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY AND INDIAN WARS, THE WAR OF 1812, AND THE MEXICAN WAR; WITH IMPORTANT OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. BY HENRY B. DAWSON, MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL S00IETT, ETO. Illustrate toitjj nwnuous ligfrlg-finisfre Sttel Ænjjrabings, INCLUDING BATTLE SCENES AND FULL-LENGTH PORTRAITS— FROM ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY ALONZO CHAPPEL. IN TWO VOLUMES.— VOL. I. NEW YORK: JOHNSON, FRY, AND COMPANY, 27 BEEK MAN-STREET. Entebed according to Act ofCongress| in the year 1858, by JOHNSON, FEY & COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

Preface

. Of the various subjects which form portions of the history of a nation, none has been so generally acceptable to the people as the record of its wars. The young have read with no greater degree of delight, than the aged have experienced in listening to the story of their country's conflicts; and many a fireside has been the scene of oft-told tales of daring, by the patriarch of the family, as he has corrected or amplified on the narrative in the school-history of his grandchild. The general histories of the country, and even the general histories of the respective wars, embracing, as they do, so much that is general or political in its character, must, necessarily, be brief in their descrip tions of the various movements of the armies, and the various conflicts in which they have been engaged ; and the student and the general reader, alike, are left to gather from other sources — sometimes from those which are found only with great difficulty — the information they desire on this important branch of the history of their country.

To supply the demand which is thus created, this work has been prepared — a description of the battles of the republic, in detail, with such original documents relating thereto as will enable all who may refer to its pages to gain full and authentic information on the subject on which it treats. Not only have the wants of the great mass of readers been considered, but the peculiar requirements of the student

PREFACE.

. 4 have been consulted in the careful examination of the details of the several engagements, and in the extent and character of the authorities to which reference has been made. Seconded in my efforts by the liberality of the publishers, and the professional abilities of the artists who have illustrated the work, no labor has been spared in the preparation of these volumes. In the exercise of a strict impartiality, the exact truth has been sought ; and, relying upon the ample supply of material which my own library and those of my friends have furnished ; upon the care with which these materials have been used; and upon the enlightened judgment of an intelligent people, I submit the work to the reading public, feeling confident that as much pleasure will be derived from a perusal of its pages as has been enjoyed by me in the labor attending its preparation.

HENRY B. DAWSON. CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. CHAPTER FACE I. Lexington 9 Concord 15 II. Ticonderoga 29 Crown Point 36 III. Naval Action off Machias 44 IV. Noddle's Island 47 V. Bunker's Hill 50 VI. Siege of Boston 74 VII. Expeditions against Canada 98 VIII. Great Bridge 121 IX. Moore's Creek Bridge 128 X. Sullivan's Island 135 XL Long Island 143 XII. Harlem Plains 160 XIII. Naval Action on Lake Charaplain 167 XIV. The White Plains 176 XV. Fort Washington 188 XVI. Trenton 196 XVII. Princeton 204 XVIII. Danbury 212 XIX. Fort Logan 221 XX. Ticonderoga 224 Hubbardton 226 XXI. Fort Schnyler 237 Oriskauy 241 XXII. Bennington 255 XXIII. Fort Henry 267 XXIV. Brandywine 273 XXV. Saratoga (Sept. 19) 284 Saratoga (Oct. 7) 291 XXVI. Paoli 313 XXVII. Germantown 318 XXVIII. Forts Clinton and Montgomery 332 XXIX.

Fort Mercer (Red Bank) 350 XXX. Fort Mifflin (Mud Island) 360 XXXI. Whitemarsh 368 XXXII. The Frigate Randolph 374 XXXIII. Quintin's Bridge 379 XXXIV. Hancock's Bridge 383 CHAPTER PAGE XXXV. The Crooked Billet 386 XXXVI. Cobel's-Kill 390 XXXVII. Monmouth. 394 XXXVIII. Wyoming.. 418 XXXIX. Rhode Island 432 XL. Fort Boone.... 445 XLI. Baylor's Massacre at Tappan 450 XLII. The Frigate Raleigh 455 XLIII. Pulaski's Massacre near Egg Harbor, New Jersey 457 XLIV. The Schooner Pigot 461 XLV. Cherry Valley 464 XLVI. Savannah 472 XLVII. Beaufort 480 XLVIII. Kettle Creek 485 XLIX. Briar Creek 489 L. Invasion of South Carolina 495 Stono Ferry 498 LI. Poundridge 504 LII. Invasion of Connecticut 508 New Haven 508 Fairfield 510 Green's Farm 510 Norwalk 511 LIll. Stoney Point 517 LI V Minisink 528 LV. Sullivan's Expedition 533 Newtown 537 LVI.

PaulusHook 543 LVII. The Bon Homme Richard and Serapis. 554 LVIII. Savannah 562 LIX. Charleston 570 LX. Young's House, Westchester, N. Y. . 579 LXI. Waxhaws 582 LXII. The Truinbull and Watt 5S6 LXIII. Connecticut Farms 588 LXIV. Ramsour's Mill 592 LXV. Springfield, N. J 597 LXVI. Williamson's Plantation CONTENTS TO YOLTJME I. CHAPTER PAGE LXVII. Rocky Mount 604 LXVIII. Green Spring, or Cedar Spring 606 LXIX. Hanging Rock 608 LXX. Ford of the Wateree 611 LXXI. Camden 613 LXXII. Musgrove's Mills 620 LXXIII. Fishing Creek 622 LXXIV. Wahab's Plantation 624 LXXV. Charlotte Court-house 626 LXXVI. King's Mountain 628 LXXVII. Fish-dam Ford 633 LXXVIII. Blackstock's Plantation 635 LXXIX. Fort St. George 638 LXXX. Richmond, Va 641 LXXXI. Charles City Court-house 645 LXXXII. Cowpens .' 646 LXXXIII. McCowan's Ford 653 LXXXI V. Defeat of Colonel Pyle 658 CHAPTER PACE LXXXV.

Wetzell's Mill 661 LXXXVI. Guilford 663 LXXXVII. Fort Watson 671 LXXXVIII. Augusta, Geo 673 LXXXIX. Hobkirk's Hill 680 XC. Petersburg, Va 684 XCI. Osborne's,Va 687 XCII. FortMotte 689 XCIII. Fort Ninety-six 692 XCIV. Spencer's Ordinary, Va 698 XCV. Jamestown Ford 701 XCVI. Quinby's Creek Bridge 705 XCVII. Eutaw Springs 711 XCVIII. Invasion of Connecticut 721 New London 722 FortGriswold 728 Groton 732 XCIX. Yorktown BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.

Book I. The War Of The Revolution

1775-1783. AMERICAN BATTLE ROLL FROM LEXINGTON TO MEXICO!!!

Part 1

ILLUSTRATE© BY ©HAf»?EL!l PRICE 25c. NEW YORK: JOHNSON, FRY AND COMPANY, 27 BEEKMAN STREET. COPYRIGHT WORK — SOLI) ONLY TO SUBSCRIBERS. MR. DAWSON'S NEW WORK-" BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES." fete from kK-hnofon Jitewj anb Blilitarir jjjnr. From Hon. Washington Irving Sunnyside, Sept. 25, 1858. Dear Sir, — Judging from the printed pages of your forthcoming work, which I have had an opportunity of perusing, I anticipate that it will be executed with ability and scrupulous fidelity, and entitle itself to a wide circula tion. It is printed and illustrated in a very superior style, and with best wishes for its success, I remain, Yours, very respectfully. Washington Irving. From Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott, U.S. Army. New York, Oct. 6, 1858." Dear Sir, — The first number of " The Battles of the United States, by Sea and Land," is now before me, and I take pleasure in bearing testimony to the diligence and ability which marks its articles.

Your painstaking references to authorities give reliable vouchers for your tacts, and the style, paper, and type, are. highly creditable to author and publishers. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Winfield Scott. From Major-General Charles W. Sands ord. Messrs. Johnson, Fry & Co., New York, Oct. 6, 1858. Gentlemen, — I have perused your first number of Mr. Dawson's new work, "The Battles of the United States." The work in its text and references, bears intrinsic evidence of careful and laborious research, which, if continued throughout (and from Mr. Dawson's character and reputation, 1 feel assured that it will) must render it an invaluable addition to our historic literature. The subject is in itself so attractive, and carries so deep an intftest to every lover of his country, that the forthcoming numbers of the work will be looked for with avidity ; and I feel persuaded that Mr. Dawson's book will not only establish his reputation as an historian, but will also prove one of the most popular publications of the day.

Tlie beautiful manner in which the work is executed and illustrated, is worthy of the subject, and does credit to the artists and printers. With my best wishes for the success of your enterprise, 1 am, gentlemen, Your obedient servant, Charles W. Sandford. From Fared Sjxtrhs, L.L.D., Editor of " Writings of Washington and Franhlin" etc. Cambridge, Oct. 14th, 1858. Having perused several of the preliminary chapters of the work entitled " The Battles of the United States," I am very favorably impressed with its design, and the manner in which it is executed. To obtain a clear understanding of the important operations, which the author proposes to narrate and explain, re quires a more extended statement of facts, than can properly be comprised in a general history. The method he has adopted, of collecting his materials from the best sources, with ample references, and bringing them to bear upon par ticular events, enables him to present to the reader, at a single view, all the most essential and interesting details.

With these advantages, and the illustrations of skilful artists, the work cannot fail, to be at the same time, an attractive and valuable contribution to the history of the country. Jared Sparks. From IJ. T. Valentine, IN/., author of" I he History of the City of New York" and " Manual of the Corporation of the City of New Yor7c." Office of the Clerk of Common Council. No. 8 City Hall, New York, Sept. 14, 1858. My Dear Sir, — I have examined the specimen pages and plates of your new work on "The Battles of the United States, by Sea and Land," and am satisfied that in point of style of printing and illustration, it is superior to any work on this most interesting subject th.it has hitherto been gotten up in this country. My intimate acquaintance with you personally, and my admiration of your literary talents, and knowledge of your close and persevering study of our his tory, assure me that the work will be as interesting for its matter as elegant in its illustrations, and I heartily wish you success.

Yours, truly, D. T. Valentine. From Hon. John Bomcyu Brodhead, author of " The History of Neiv York." New York, 11 th Oct., 1858. Dear Sir, — I have examined with care, ami great satisfaction, the advance sheets of "The Battles of the United States, by Sea and Land," which you were kind enough to send me. It seems to me, that this work can hardly fail to be very popular, if it shall be carried on, as it doubtless .will be. as admirably as it has been begun. Your narrative, which is clear, spirited, and abundantly sustained by authorities, is rendered still more interesting to the general reader, by its excellent illustrations; and your publishers have certainly done you full justice in respect to paper and typography. Wishing your enterprize the large measure of success which it merits, I am, dear sir Sincerely yours, John Romeyn Brodhead. [See Third Page of Cover.

OF OUE COUNTRY N C E s LE, THE AUTHOR Cjiis guorh OF THE SE RV ICES of those TO WHOSE DEVOTION AND VALOR IN THE DEFENCE OF THE LIBERTIES WE ARE INDEBTED FOR THE BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM, NATIONAL INDEPENDE AND OUR PRESENT ENVIED POSITION AMONG NATIONS. IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE AMERICAN PEOP BY

PREFACE.

. Of the various subjects which form portions of the history of a nation, none has been so generally acceptable to the people as the record of its wars. The young have read with no greater degree of delight, than the aged have experienced in listening to the story of their country's conflicts ; and many a fireside has been the scene of oft-told tales of daring, by the patriarch of the family, as he has corrected or amplified on the narrative in the school-history of his grandchild. The general histories of the country, and even the general histories of the respective wars, embracing, as they do, so much that is general or political in its character, must, necessarily, be brief in their descrip tions of the various movements of the armies, and the various conflicts in which they have been engaged ; and the student and the general reader, alike, are left to gather from other sources — sometimes from those which are found only with great difficulty — the information they desire on this important branch of the history of their country.

To supply the demand which is thus created, this work has been prepared — a description of the battles of the republic, in detail, with such original documents relating thereto, and such sketches of the lives of those who took part therein, as will enable aU who may refer to its pages to gain full and authentic information on the subject on which it treats.

Not only have the wants of the great mass of readers been considered, but the peculiar requirements of the student have closing of the port of Boston ;x the ab rogation of the rights of the colonial assembly of New York f the suspension of the charter of the colony of Massa chusetts Bay ;8 and other measures of a kindred character,4 had been adopted by the British government, or by the royal governors of the several colonies. military stores and provisions,1 and had placed a portion of them in the custody of Colonel James Barrett,2 in the town of Concord, seventeen miles northwest from the town of Boston.8 Early in the spring of 1775, information of this movement had been conveyed to Gen eral Thomas Gage, the commander-in chief of the British forces in Boston, and steps were taken for the capture or destruction of the stores.4 Officers in disguise had been sent out as spies, to sketch the roads, to ascertain the situa tion of the stores, and to obtain such other information as might be useful in the prosecution of the enterprise.5 Non-importation leagues had been re organized and their requirements en forced,5 and other retaliatory measures had been adopted by the colonists ; the militia had been put into a state of greater efficiency f arms had been pro vided by those who were without them, and by the colonies for the general use ;T the manufacture of arms and of gunpowder had been commenced in several of the colonies ; encouragement had been offered to those who would en gage in the manufacture of saltpetre ;8 military stores had been collected, and deposited in convenient places ;9 and resistance to the power of the mother country, by open force, had been made the subject of common conversation.10 A few days before the time appointed to make the seizure, the grenadier and hght-infantry companies were taken off duty, under the pretence of enabling them to learn a new exercise, but really for the purpose of throwing the people of Boston off their guard.6 It had a contrary effect, however, and the Bos tonians still more closely watched the movements of the troops and the government.7 The " Committee of Supplies," appointed for that purpose by the Provin cial Congress of Massachusetts,11 had purchased a considerable quantity of A daughter of liberty, in Boston, privately notified Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who had withdrawn from Bos ton, and were residing in Lexington, that within a few days the troops would leave the town, but the object of the expedition was not ascertained.8 Mr. 1 Irving, i. pp. 380, 381, 384 ; Hutchinson, iii. p. 457. ' Gordon, i. pp. 215, 216 ; Hutchinson, iii. pp. 168- 173. — s Irving, i. p. 380 ; Frothingham's Siege, pp. 8, 9. 4 Bradford, i. pp. 368 ; Hutchinson, iii. p. 179 ; Irving, i. 380.— B Bradford, i. pp. 361, 362 ; Gordon, i. p. 218. • Gordon, i. p. 469 ; Bradford, i. pp. 357, 359, 367. ' Stedman, i. p. 110; Bradford, i. pp. 356, 357, 363. 8 Gordon, i. p. 469 ; Stedman, i. p. 110. 1 Bradford, i. p. 367 ;

Irving, i. p. 421. ' Lossing's Field Book, i. p. 522. ' Bradford, i. p. 367 ; Bipley's Fight at Concord, p. 9 ; Stedman, i. p. 116.— 4 Bradford, i. p. 370 ; Stedman, i. p. 116.— s See statements of Capt. Brown and Lieut. D'Ber nicre (Gill, Boston, 1779).— • Gordon, i. p. 476 ; Letter from Boston, April 20, 1775.— 'Ibid.— 'Gordon, i. p. 476. • Gordon, i. pp. 415, 469, 473 ; Bradford, i. pp. 364, 366 ; Stedman, i. pp. 113, 116. 10 Bradford, i. p. 362 ; Stedman, i. p. 110.

" Heath's Memoirs, p. 9 ; Bradford, i. p. Adams inferred, from the number of troops to be employed, that the de struction or capture of the stores was the object ;x and the " Committee of Safety," of the Provincial Congress, voted "that all the ammunition be de posited in nine different towns ; and that other articles be lodged, some in one place, some in another : so as to the fifteen medicinal chests, two thousand iron pots, two thousand bowls, fifteen thousand canteens, and eleven hundred tents ; and that the six companies of matrosses be stationed in different towns."2 nected with the lateness of the hour, and their distance from Boston, ex cited his suspicion.1 In the town tne same secrecy was attempted, yet, although nearly all the leaders of the popular party had retired into the country, Dr. Joseph War ren, who remained, noticed the movements, and took immediate steps to pre vent their success.2 Assisted by Paul Revere, — subsequently well known as one of the earliest engravers in the country, — beacon lights were thrown out from the tower of the North Church ; and Revere himself (rowed across the Charles River by a tried friend, five minutes before the sentinels on the Somerset man-of-war, which was anchored in the channel, received orders to prevent any person from passing) hastened towards Lexington, by way of Charlestown, while William Dawes was dispatched by way of Roxbury to the same place.8 A short distance beyond Charlestown Neck, Revere was stopped by two of the British officers who had been patrolling the road since sunset on the preceding evening, but, being mounted on a fine horse, he escaped, by way of the road leading to Med ford.4 As he rode through that town he aroused the captain of the minute men, and stopping at almost every house on his way to Lexington, the in- On the eighteenth of April, for the purpose of still further concealing the purposes of the general, a party of officers dined together at Cambridge ; but after dinner they scattered themselves upon the road leading to Concord, for the purpose of intercepting any ex presses which might be sent out of Bos ton to alarm the country on the de parture of the troops.

Notwithstand ing all their caution, however, they were seen, and the object of their mis sion was understood.8 The " Committee of Safety" had been in session at Menot oniy (West Cambridge), and the veteran General William Heath, who was a member, on his return home, met eight or nine of the party riding to wards Lexington. His experienced eye detected the character of their equip ments ; and that circumstance, con- 1 Heath's Memoirs, p. 11 ; Bradford, i. p. 370. * Frothingham, pp. 56, 57 ; Gordon, i. p. 477 ; Ban croft, vii. p. 288.—' Bancroft's U. S., vii. p. 289 ; Irving's Washington, i. p. 430 ; Frothingham, pp. 57, «8. Dr. Ripley says the latter messenger was "a Mr. Lincoln," p. 12. — * Frothingham, p. 58 ; Bancroft, vii. p. 289. 1 Bancroft, vii. p. 288 ; Gordon, i. p. 476.

Gordon, i. p. 476.—' Gordon, i. p. 477 ; Bradford, i. p. 370 ; Frothingham, p. 56. their place of rendezvous.1 Old and young alike responded to the call ;2 and while the minute-men and most of the militia, headed by Rev. William E. Em erson, their pastor,8 carrying their guns, and powder-horns, and ball-pouches, an swered to their names at roll-call, others, with equal or greater diligence, ran expresses to distant villages, or hurried away the stores and provisions, and se creted them in the woods and thickets, a load in a place.4 Children, even, whose tender age forbade heavier la bor, ran beside the teams, and, with goads, urged on their unwilling steps ;5 and women, trembling for the result, assisted in the work, wherever their efforts or their words of encouragement were found useful.6 habitants were prepared to discharge the important duty which was rapidly devolving upon them.1 Dawes also suc cessfully discharged the trust reposed in him, and arrived at Lexington in safety.2 The two friends immediately proceeded to the house of Rev. Jonas Clark, the pastor of the church at Lexington, where John Hancock and Samuel Ad ams were secreted;8 and notwithstand ing the guard of minute-men, who had been posted around the house, strangely forbade their entrance,4 they succeeded in arousing the sleeping patriots, and in persuading them to retire to Woburn.5 The two friends, joined by Samuel Pres cott, of Concord — an active son of liberty — after arousing the minute-men in Lexington, proceeded towards Concord, calling up the inhabitants on their road,6 until they reached Lincoln, where they fell in with another party of British officers.7 Revere and Dawes were seized and taken back to Lexington ; but Pres cott, leaping over a stone wall, escaped and galloped on towards Concord, spreading the alarm along the road, and in the villages through which he passed.8 He reached Concord about two o'clock, and the alarm-bell, on the belfry of their meeting-house, called forth the inhabitants to the town-hall, At the different villages in the vicin ity similar scenes were enacted, and the inhabitants generally seemed to have been thoroughly aroused, and appre ciated the importance of the occasion.7 At Lexington, by two o'clock, the village green was thronged with excited men.8 The aged, who were exempt, unless when insurrection or invasion threatened the peace of the town, stood shoulder to shoulder with their sons ; and, by their example and their experi ence, gave encouragement and strength to the undisciplined masses who were present.9 One hundred and thirty men, 1 Bancroft, vii. p. 289.—' Frothingham, p. 58. ' Lossing's Field Book, i. pp. 523, 553. ' Col.

Wm. Munroe, who was the orderly-sergeant of the minute-men, hearing of the movements, "collected a guard of eight men, well armed, and put himself at their head, to guard Mr. Clark's house." — Ripley, p. 11. 1 Bancroft, vii. p. 290.—' Ripley, p. 13 ; Bancroft, vii. pp. 290, 291.—' Frothingham, p. 65 ; Bancroft, vii. p. 290. 4 Ripley, pp. 13, 14 ; Frothingham, p. 65 ; Lossing, i. p. 551.—' Lossing's Field Book, i. p. 552. ' Ripley, p. 13 ; Frothingham, p. 60. — * Shattuck's Con cord, p. 101. — ' Frothingham, p. 60 ; Bancroft, vii. p. 290. * Bancroft, vii. p. 297 ; Lossing, i. p. 551. ' Bancroft, vii. p. 299.—* Gordon, i. p. 478 ; Bancroft, vii. p. 290.—' Bancroft, vii. p. 291. 6 Ripley, p. 12 ; Frothingham, p. 65. strong and true, answered to their names;1 and John Parker, the captain of the beat, at the same time that he ordered them to load with ball, strictly enjoined them to reserve their fire un til after the enemy commenced the as sault.2 No signs of the approach of the enemy being visible, the company was dismissed, with orders to reassemble at the roll of the drum.8 number, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Smith, embarked at the Common and proceeded up the Charles River, as far as a place known as Phipps' Farm, in the present town of West Cam bridge.1 Landing at that place, they immediately proceeded on their way towards Lexington, under the guidance of several loyalists, at whose urgent so licitation the expedition was planned.2 In the selection of this course, the enemy was probably influenced by in formation which he had received of the meeting of the " Committee of Safety" at Menotomy (now West Cambridge) on the preceding afternoon, and by hopes which he entertained of securing some of its members, as the troops halted when they came opposite Weth erby's tavern, where the meeting had been held.3 Several members of the committee, among whom were colonels Orne and Lee, and Elbridge Gerry, were then sleeping in the house ; and they barely escaped, in their night clothes, by the back-door, into the fields.4 But to return to Boston.

Lord Percy, a general in the British service, while crossing the Common in the evening, overtook a party of the townsmen, one of whom — probably recognizing his lordship, and intending to be heard — remarked, in his hearing, " They will miss their aim." Percy inquired " what aim" was referred to, and was answered, " Why, the cannon at Concord."4 Per ceiving that the intended expedition was known in the town, Percy hastened to General Gage with the intelligence, and orders were immediately issued to the sentries on the Neck, and on the different vessels in the harbor, that no person should be permitted to leave the town without special orders from head quarters.5 These orders, as we have seen, were issued too late, and the energetic Revere and Dawes were beyond the reach of both the sentries and the general.

The enemy's approach to Lexington was announced by the firing of guns and the ringing of alarm-bells ;5 and Colonel Smith, perceiving that his ad vance into the country had become known, immediately detached six com panies of light-infantry, under Major At length, about eleven o'clock, the grenadiers and light-infantry, — the elite of the army, — about eight hundred in ■Committee of Safety's dispatch, 10 a. m., April 19, 1775; Stedman, i. p. 116; Heath, p. 12; Gordon, i. p. 477.—' Gordon, i. p. 477 ; Dr. Gordon's Letter, May 17, 1775.—' Heath, p. 12.— 4 Frothingham, p. 61 ; Heath, p. 12.—' Irving, i. p. 430 ; Stedman, i. p. 110 ; Bancroft, vii. p. 290. 1 Frothingham, p. 59 ; Gordon, i. p. 478. — * Frothing ham, p. 59. — ' Frothingham, p. 60 ; Gordon, i. p. 478. 4 Frothingham, p. 58; Stedman, i. p. 119. 5 Stedman, i. p. 419 ; Bancroft, vii. p. 289.

Pitcairn, of the marines, with orders to press on, by a forced march, to Con cord, and secure the two bridges over the Concord River, near that town j1 and, at the same time, he sent a mes senger to Boston for reinforcements.2 Pitcairn, as he was directed, advanced rapidly towards Lexington, capturing several persons on the way.8 One of these prisoners, named Thaddeus Bow man, escaped,4 and, hastening to Lex ington, informed Captain Parker of the approach of the enemy.5 The drum was immediately beat to arms, and about seventy, who were in the immediate neighborhood, assembled on the green, one half of whom were without arms.6 Captain Parker ordered those who were unarmed to go into the meet ing-house (near by), equip themselves, and join the company; while those who were armed, thirty-eight in number, he directed to follow him to the north end of the green, where he formed them in line, in single file.7 Before those who were in the meeting-house could obtain arms and ammunition, Pitcairn and his detachment came up ; and the latter, probably by design, were wheeled so as to cut the former off, and prevent them from joining their comrades under Captain Parker.8 er, and there halted.1 Major Pitcairn then advanced a few feet in front of his men, brandished his sword, and shouted, "Lay down your arms, you damned rebels, or you are all dead men" and immediately afterwards, " the rebels" failing to comply with his first order, he ordered his men to "Fire."2 The first platoon discharged their pieces, but no one was hurt.8 Captain Parker then directed every man to take care of himself, and they accordingly dispersed.4 While they were retreating, the second platoon of the enemy also fired, killing several and wounding others.5 Accounts of the affair differ respecting the use of their arms by the party under Captain Parker.

Some authorities state that they returned the fire when they found that they were fired upon while retreating;6 and Stedman, who went out from Boston with the reinforcement sent to meet Colonel Smith on his return, states that one British soldier was wounded, and that Major Pitcairn's horse was wounded in two places.7 Many of those who were present state positively that the enemy's fire was not returned by the Ameri cans ;8 and thus the matter rests, from conflict of testimony, in great uncertainty. Marching up by column of platoons, the enemy advanced within fifty feet of the position occupied by Captain Park- Of the Americans, the following were 1 Document I.—' D'Bernicre's Narrative ; Document I. ; Gordon, i. p. 478.—' Frothingham, p. 62 ; Document I. 1 Stedman, i p. 116.—' Letter from Boston, April 20, 1775.—' Bancroft, vii. p. 293 ; Frothingham, p. 61. '■Document I. ; Stedman, i. p. 116. 6 Frothingham, p. 63 ; Document I. ; Stedman, i. p. 117 ; Heath, p. 12.—' D'Bernicre's Narrative ; Irving, i. p. 431 ; Gordon, i. p. 478 ; Lossing, i. p. 524. 4 Frothingham, p. 61 ; Lossing, i. p. 524. ' Irving, i. p. 430 ; Lossing, i. p. 524.

" Frothingham, p. 62 ; Gordon, i. p. 478. 7 Stedman, i. pp. 116, 117. ' Document I. ; Stedman, i. p. 116. — ' Document I. 8 Documents I. and bin. graced, "by Jaa SmiLlie ' En*?-.:. killed : Ensign Robert Monroe,1 Jonas Parker,2 Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Har rington, jr., Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Har rington, and John Brown, of Lexing ton, and Asahel Porter, of Woburn ; and nine were wounded.8 As we have seen, the bell on the meeting-house had spread the alarm by two o'clock, and the inhabitants had responded to the call.