The New York Herald Newspaper, April 17, 1875, Page 3

* in itself a Joke, the whole point at issae being at — APRIL 19, 7 5. Arrival of the Presidential Party in Boston. History of a Day’s Strife in 1775. SCLEXINGTON'S ALARMS” AND CONCORD'S FIGHT,” ‘The Midnight March ond Morning Battles of the Grenadiers. ‘(More About the Disputed Point of Tradition. ‘OPINION OF RICHARD FROTHINGHAM. CHARLESTOWN, April 16,1875. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— The British troops, under Colonel Smith, leit Boston April 18, 1775, at half-past ten o’clock P. M. and arrived at Lexington at half-past four A. M. On the 19th, when bis command fired on Captain Parker’s company, killing @nt and wounding others, They returned the fire, wounding two of the British. The latter reached Concord about Beven o'clock, and stationed a guard at tne ola North Bridge. About ten o'clock they ‘fired on the provinctals and killed two of them. The Americans then fired in rotarn and killed one ofthe enemy. Colonel Smith was two hours occupied in preparing to return. At tweive o'clock, midday, while leaving Concord, the minute-men | began to drive him. At two o’clock P. M., he ‘Was saved /rom destruction in Lexington by Earl Learch with a reinforcement. The fight continued Until the whole body of the Britisn found sneiter Bader the guns of the men-of war at Chariestown. Lexington can justiy claim the honor of having spilled tue first blood in the war of the Rovolu- tion, RICHARD FROTHINGHAM, OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION. ConcorD, Mass., April 15, 1875. By this rude bridge that crosse:t tne flood, ‘Their flaw to April's breeze unfuried Here once the embattied farmers sto ‘Anu fired the shot beard round the world. Iv ts only natural, perhaps, that a hundred years alter the American Revolution Lexington and Concord should be Hgnting the Mrat battie of the ‘War over again, Whatever pains we may take to Secure the truth of history it ig never sure. It Wus a great point with our ancestors that the war for independence should begin as a war of resist- Buce, and this being the case it becomes a grave @nd important question with us who fired thar first snot, whtch Lord Chatham predicted would Separate the two countries. On the part of the Briush many tlows were struck before we cruel massacre at Lexington aroused the American peopie to action; but the blows were Dot returned tiil that April morning when “a Mock of Yankees” met the fuweror the British army at Coacord Bridge. All tbis 1s now a mooted Point; but as to the tact, 1tkiok there is the a@mpiest testimony. One day those “embattied farmers” jought against the King, and they swore to the occurrences the next belore the King’s jus- tices of the peace. At that time Lexington aid ‘Rot Claim to havo returned Major Pitcairn’s fire, ‘while Concitd boldly avowed tue remistance which gave the Old North Bridge the firnt piace in Amer- fean history. Mr. Eaward Everett Hale tells us that whenaNew England nistorian related to Beury vlay tne story of the depositions which Toliowed tne batties of the 19tn of April, 1775, the great orato? and statceman was mach amused and said, “Tell me that again.” It somebow Seoms necossary to tell it once more aiter the lapse of 160 yours, ior, notwithsianding the pains that were taken to secure the trata of history, Lexington and Concord are far from agreeiug about it to-day. Each is getting up a celepration 01118 Own, ad there 18 uimost as much excitement veritas when it was learned irom Paul kevere and Ebenezer Dorr and Dr. Samuei Prescott wat Lieutenan®’ Coionel Smitn’s colama had been fer- Fed uver irom Boston to Phipp’s arm, 1a Cam- bridge, during the night, and was on the way to troy the provincial stores at Concord. It is “a ry pretty quarrel as it stands,’ and has beea the source Of some bright wit as well as warm coutroversy. Major Pitceirn’s anfortuvate pistol- shot on Lexington Common ied to the Orst ioss of lie in the American Revoluiion. The voliey fired by tne British in that historic town killed eigat of the patriots and wounded many others, but there ‘Was no resistance, and the co. amn pressed oa to Concord. Bere Smitn’s force was met by the “Minute Men” irom Acton and other neighboring towns, tue determination of Revere to slarm ye b every Middiesex village aud farm the country 1olks to be up and arin having boon: coomplisned iar wide, and the two meno killed on the spot where the new status has been erected were both Acton men. This led tothe famous toast at the Union celebration a quarter of acentury ago, proposed by an Acton man:—"Coucord fight—Concord gave the ground and Acton furnisned the men.” Sut as between Lexington and Concord it has coms to be no josing matter, though the tact that they should be quarreliing over the giores of the past m their present determined way is ‘What point tne war began. This isa poor pun I Know, but Ido not believe the alter-uioner Speecnes next Monday will supply 4 better on and at any rate tis pot moro absard than to Bee thes upie fighticg the first battle of the Revu- lation ali over again, TO my mund the quaint pliraseviogy 0: & bundred years ago deermines the whole matter in dispute, and forever setties the question asto whieh place is entitied to the most credit lor that day when ——the embattled farmers stood And fired the shos beara rouad (he worlu, It was the custom of our grundiawers to speak of “Lexington alarm’ and ‘“Oonourd fignt,” and “the snot heara round ti orld” Was not fired Ull grenadier and patriot met iaca to iace at Uon- cord Bridge. There never was a ‘*batilc of Lex- ington’? at all untilafrer ‘Concord fight,’ as tne bridge bas beon tellmg the “moniment” now these many yeurs, and J fur one, confessiag &® proper American reverence for everybudy’s frandiather, do not hesitate to say that on the 10th of April, 1776, Raiph Waldo Emerson's had the aavantage uf Theodore Parker's. It may be trae enough that woen old Joun Parker saw she greu- adiers comiag a8 ne waited ior tuem by the mect- ing house in Lexington, his single drum beating first nove of resistan ail the while, he aitered the woras attributed to tim by tradition, | “li they mean to have war, let it begin here.” But itis more certain that the response to Pit- Caira’s even More jamous utterance, “Ye villuins, ye rebels, disperse! Damn yo! Way don’t ye lay Gown your arms and disperse!’ was compete, Mf noe instant obedie: Williaa Emerson, of Youcord, om the other band, testified in his diary toa: he “was uneasy ull the fire was ro- turned,” and he saw it returned with inter Seon almost it Was received. Captain Parker | himsel declared tha: he ordered hie Gumpany to | Gisperse ana not to fire, ond it is only repeating | ba Old BtOry to vay tat the Lexingtou patriots | did hot return the fice of their enews Mr. Rdward Everett Hi to the conirary notwith+ oanving, it must have bees so or else the depo- SONS Which Mr, Bale selis us Wore 10 “seoure fata of bistory” were a cowardly lie, Th Bechoasion I, for one, Would be slow to accept, 80G I Oortuiniy reGecis uo discredit apoa toe 190 Milita of t6@ Lexington compans—only sixty of Wield could be baattly got toyether when the cry wae Poiwou, “THO Rexwiara are coming thes | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1875—TRIPLE SHEET. they fatled to resist 800 grenadiers trained to arms and seeking to provoke a conflict, THE PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. Before attempting to picture the nistoric scenes, go full of fruitini themes for the his‘ orian and poet ag well 28 the patriot, it 1s necessary to havea | clear understanding of the events wich led to the “Concord fignt.” The province of Massachusetts, and, indeed, all the provinces, under the leader- shipof men like Hancock and the Adamses, Jonn and Samuel, were ripe for rebellion, if not yet pre- | A provincial Congress had | pared for revoluuon, been established at Salem ana Concord, and the militia was organized for resistance in case of necessity, Military stores were pruvided, and this quiet Massachusetts village, now espec- cially remarkable as the home of philosopny and the seat of the muses, then the princt- pal inland town in New England, was the chief storehouse of the provisions, Every farmer’s barn, tne Town House, the Court House, the tavern shed and the miller’s loft all were plied with the muniments and munitions of war, Tents, can- nov, cartridges, canteens, cartouch boxes, round shot, grape, canister, shells, spades, picks, Dill- hooks, axes, wheelbarrows, wooden plates and spoons, bolsters, belts aud saddles, rice, ish and flour and many other articles ‘too numerous to mentiou,” were collected here, and Colonel James Barrett was made the custodian of all, these treasures. Tne Committee of Safety and Supplies by which this astonishing ontil: had been gathered—the- tents alone uumbering 1,100— aware of its dangerous character as well as its precious quality, not only enjoined Colonel Bar- Tett to “keep watch day and night’? over the stores, but never to ‘‘so much as mention the name powder, lest our enemies spould take advantage of it.” At the same time Gen eral Gage bad an army at Boston ready to quell the spirit of resistance everywhere mani- fest, and as the Concord secret could not be kept, such secrets being as unsafe as a Woman’s, the cap- ture of the Concord store houses and the destruc- ton of the stores was a necessity, He took his measures accordingly, but pis movements were as dificult of concealment as the presence of the Military stores at Concord. If tories stole to Boston to tell of the doings of the patriots the patriots were equally alert and active in watching tne operations of the British. Gage’s intended movement was revealed even be‘ore it begun, A babbling woman, partly intoxicated, spoke of it in Hall’s Gistiliery. A sergeant major communi- cated 1t to Jasper, the guusmith, No sooner had it begun than Dorr, tne leather dresser, carried the news over Boston Neck and through Roxbury to Lexington, while Paul Revere, impatiently walting for the signat lights in the spire of the oid Nortn church, was ready to gallop away on tne | same errand. The story of that midnight journey has olten been told, but never so well as In Long- | fellow’s beautiful verse, which rivals even Bu- chanan Read’s dashing description of the not less Jamous ride of “Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sberi- dan,” nearly a bundred years jater. It was neces- sary to pass through the village to reach Clark's house, where Hancock and Adams were staying, and one can almost see, as with Revere’s eyes to-day, —— the gilded weathercock Swim in the moonlight as he passed And the meeting house windows, blank and bare, Guze at him with a spec rat giare, Asif ibey already stood aghast At the bloody work they would look upon. MARCH OF THE: GRENADIERS. ‘The news thus scattered over the country was responded to by the minute-men in all the towns from Cambridge to Concord, and Colonel Smith, ‘Who was in command of the column, saw the necessity of sending back for retniorcements, even before he was fairly on bis way. These, under Lord Percy, did not reach him till he was far on nis returo, beaten, dispirited and almost destroyed, and it is no wonder that Percy, too, was doomed to disaster when it is remembered that a Roxbury boy, who sat on a wall to see Dim pass, recalling the legend of bis nobie house, omimously said to uim, “You go out by Yankee Doodie but you will come back by Chevy Chase.’’ ‘Toe main force leit Boston alter ten o'clock at night on the 18th, the good people of that town oeing usually im their beds beiore that hour. Emburking in boats supplied by the Daval vessels in the harbor, the littiearmy was conveyed irom the oortom of the Common, near | the old Providence depot stood, to Leca- "s Point, not iar from where the Insane whe! mer Asyium now stands, Theuee it took up ite marca | through Camoridge and ecaig ot now West Oumoridge, toward Lexington. “Major Piteaira | Wasin the advance with six companies o/ light infantry. 1t1s not certain woetoer he koew toat old Joon Parker, the grandiather oi Toeodore, was waiting to receive him on the little green in iront of Lexington church, but at ali events be did nis work so weil thas Parker believed a0 enemy was coming, in spite of the news which Revere had | brought, and dismissed his company to meet at the tap ot tne drum, Pitoairn captured @li his scouts exeopt one, Tuaddeus Bow- who reached Lexiogton just in time to sliow the multte to form in two ran! utile Borth of the meeting house, while the Engliso | Were 80 near tuey could bear the drum cail the men to arms. The maroh was immediately hast- end to @ doubdle-quick, Pitcairn gailoping in ad- vance and uttering that historic exclamation which will make bis name execrated while the history of tbe American Revolution is recited. There were some desultory shots from the Eng- lsh, and theo @ volley from the whole line, the Americans being quickly dispersed, wito ‘a loss of | eljbt killed and nine wounded, Toey sieep near where tuey /ell, a modest monument noting their jJast resting place. There may have been one or two shots fired in response, though even on this point authorities differ, bat the KBngliah gave ‘nree Cheers in recognition of victory, and pressed on to Ooncord, where y captured the town and took possession of botn bridges, 1HE SCENE OF aGrIoK. Sunday was a splendid day, The skies were bine and bright and the air as vaimy asin mid- summer, Though the prospect was not go fine as on the 19th of April, 1775, the grase nut yet being green nor the trees in blossom, it was jast the | day to see, ior the first time, the scene of action at Norio Bridge, Copcord, one hundred years ago. In the afternoon 1 waiked down Monument street to the briage to look at toe spot where ireedom’s baitie in America began with shot and shell. somebody told me an ancestor of General Grant Was in the iray, and asf looked upon the scene— two hilisides gently slopimg down to the placid river which creeps fashor than Tans between, end recalled the fact thas thi President is to be bere ing iew days to take part in the coming festivities, I thought of an in- cidental chat I once had with him on the art of War, Which hes a peculiat appositeness when ap- piled (o the events of the Held upon which | was gating. This was tho conversation:>— “You have lately retarned from Cuba, Mr, Cor+ respondent ? “Yes, Your Excellency.” “How do the Spaniards and Cabans fight 1” “From different sides of bili, Mr, President.” ‘And where do they put the hills t “Betwoen thom.’ “An he seid, laughing very peartily, “I don't | think weever did tat, but in our war both sides occasionmily jound iroam beiween the two armies a great ovnvenienc:,” It must be conlessed it was a decided con- venience to both sides at “Concord fgnt.” If there bad been no river there would nave been no bridge and if thers had been no bridge, I believe, there would have been oo battle, It was @ nice, romantio baitle teld to marca down to; it was even, as the British found it, a good piace to run away from, 1 think the stream gave courage to born sides—to the Americans to attack, 10 the Bugitsh to fee. As] ivoked upon the scene I could fancy [saw Colone! Buita’s force holding tne bridge, Wusle cue lovely slopes beyend w to appear terrtoly oaraest by the little band of patriots Whom Emérson has go felivitousiy called | the “embattled farmers.” Slowly the gatheriog ‘winutemon,” too Weak in numbers to meet the | enemy, had retreated before tho jorces of His Ma- Jeavy the King unthi the town was completely ia the hands of tho invader, While ite defenders were on Ponkawtusset Hill, Dearly & mile away on the The Vilinye Of Concord is other side Of the river, Which oxtends itom Rawinorne's new nowse to | Uld Manse, [rol Wulek he gathered fo mant jade | delicate mosses. The enemy entered by the Lex- ington road, covering the ridge with bis skir- mishers as he advanced. When first seen by the Concord mijitia he had passed the spot where Mr, Ralph Waldo Emerson resides and was near what | is now the centre of the town, As measures bad been taken the day before to remove te stores Colonel Smitn jound little to destroy, but ne halted ils forces for some time as if wait- ing for the reinforcements he had demanded, During his stay Major Pitcairn, who was a swear- ing Iellow, but no Lord Dundreary for ail that, entered the village tavern and poured outa glass | of brandy, which he sweetened to his taste, but | not flnding a spoon vo stir tt he mixea it with his | flogers, At the same time be said in piuff soldier | fashion that that was the way he would stir up the biood of the Yankees before the day was over. jSome hours later he was unhorsed as he was | going away, cefeatea and disgraced. In the ear- | Meat engraving of these scenes be is represented as standing with aspy-giass in his hand in tho old cemetery in the middie of th» village, this graveyard iorming a part of the ridge, and belog | | to this day a striking ‘eature of the old town, “CONCORD FIGHT." While Pitcatrn was drioklog in the tavern, and surveying the scene irom the ridge above the cemetery, the patriot force was rapidly augmenc- ing, and Smith's delay proved precioas time to them. At last the main poay of the enemy moved once more, however, and, passing the Old Manse, Where the young minister of the town, Raiph Waido Emerson's grandlather, then resided, | @atherea near the North Bridge, which com- manded the viduge and separated it [rom its de- Jenders. A detachment was sent across tosearch | | for the stores believed to be secreted at Colonel | Barrett’s house, two miles distant, while au- other detachment guarded the Soutn Bridge, which was further up the river. In was stlil as early as nine o'clock im the morning, and asthe spring was a forward one the scene must have been exceedingly lovely and picturesque. The present season i3@ inte one. and water still | covers much of the ground that was solta earth on April 19, 1775; but in spite of this tt ts dificult. even now to flad many lovelier spots, Concord is fortunate not onjy in owning a battle feld—'he first in the history of the Republic—but im owning one thatisso beautitul, It is impossible to look | upon this ground, so rich in historic associations | | and made so grana by the heroic determination of a few men, without Jeeling that nuture did well in lavishing so much beauty upon it, Here | are the hills as of yore, changed only in a few unimportant porticuiars, There are jewer boulders, perhaps, and some stone fences cut | up the slopes into fleids; put the flelds are the | same, and they ‘orm the Butrrick estate now as they dia then, Major Jonn Buttrick, who ownea the battle fleld, commanded toe attacking party, | ana he left a proud legacy to his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, not only | in bis farm, butin his fame, His gravdsoa, Sted- man Buttrick, died only last December; bat his descendants still look with pride upon the scene | of his exploits, and there are still those of his _ blood to ceieorate his deeds o/ one hunared years ago. Down the King’s highways, side by side with Major Butirick, marched Captain Isaac Davis, of Acton, Who, with a member of bis company, Abner Hosmer, was the only man to fall in the struggle at the bridge. It had been the pur- | pose of the Concord men ail the morning | 10 resist—to return shot for shot. “Let us stand our ground,” said William Emerson, when the | liberty pole had been abandoned ani a new posi- | tion taken. “If we die let us die here.” More | prudent counsels prevailed, and an hour later, | when urged to attack Colonel Eieazer, Brooks de- murred, “It will not do,” he said, “for us to begin the war.” But Isaac Davis had started that | moroing from Acton, declaring, “It 1s tue King’s | | highway, and we have the right to march upon it | if we marca to Boston.” Smoke rose irom .the | town, and Colonel Barrett gave Major Buttrick the | order to lead the attacking party down the nul. “Men, If you will follow me,” Ba'trick said, “we wil go now and what they are apont.” Oo the way he met Davis the bead of the minuté-men, and while the iwo were march- ing into the Jaws of dearh side by side, the Acton hero sald, “There is not amgnoi my company | whe is afraid.” Two pinoks had been taken up from toe bridge, and more were to pe removed, but the Americans ordered tae British to desist. Tne response was the volley whion Killed Davis and Hosmer, The Gre Teturned with deadiy | effect, aud in @ Moment the astourshed grenadiers Were in contusion and retreating. Their dead | Wore leit where they ell, Reiaforcements checked the stampede for the moment, bat the example of | those at tne bridge was contagious, and svon the ‘whole colui was Gying by the road it came. The Americans crossed the hills in the rear of Mr. Keyes’ house, still stanaing between the battle | Meld and the village, anu alter traversing the meadows besond the ridge and being Juined ny the men irom Billerica ani Reacing, again offered the enemy batse at Merriam’s Vor Words | C@DNOL more Mriy doscrioe the scene at that time than those onosen by Mr. Loagfeliow woen he tella ue | i ! Hew, ‘be, farmers gave them ball for id each feace and Ae ae oh i red-coats down th: Then crpsdng the t @:da to cactne again at the tar a of the reed 5 And only pausing (u fire ans THA STAMPEDE OF THE GRENADTERS, It was nigh noon when the stampede became | irretrievable, aad such was bis despair that tra- dition sa) s Colonel smith would have surrendered at Merriam's Coruer if he could have found any | one to accept his sword. But tne pursuit was as aisorderly as the retreat, and dattio followed battie all the way to Cambridge. The King’s trooos went by the King’s hishway, ana the Provinciais Kept to the Seids aud woods. Most of the timb-rnas since disappeared, and only a few pines gathered in clusters nere and there denote the appearance the country must have presented. The road no longer runs over the surface o/ the bills, but bas been cat down and graded to meet moaern ne- | cessities. Over the rough and u en Wagon path the British greaadier ran aod battied as bea: be could, wile tne farmers, skilled in rhe ure of the | | rie, and dcadis in is aim, dropped them dead or | wounded m = great numoers by the wayside, | Merriam’s Corner is Merriam’s Corner still, Dut it no longer shows avy traces of the second conflict on the spot by the brook whero two more Briush soldiers bit the dust. A little jurtner on wi and on bon sides of it there was a le, first with the Sudbury company, then with the whole pursuing iorce jast in or L peoln, where the severest encounter wail, Of the day took place. But every bilistie was a battle fleid, almost e' ry tree a sortress, and #0 til the grenadiers rushed down the bill ato Lexington, up whicn they had marcned 80 gayly inthe early moraing, here Captain Parker and his militia had tacir opporta- nity, and they improved it, and here, at two o'clock tn the alteraooa, cocucred the last regular conflict ofthe day. This w9s the real battie or Lexington, but the massacre of the morning did more to | | Grouse the American people on that cay and jor | many days than all the straggles of that eventful | 19cm of Apri, At Lexiugion Colonel Smith was | Joined vy Lord Peroy’s brigade; but the retroat Was continued afer & short rest and there was no respite for tae uoerring sim of we 8 Provinetala until =the §=6fbenien wrenadiers reached Camoridge and were sale under the gaas in the haroor, Lue Britian lost $00 men that day, probaviy Many More, whie the | American loss was lesa than 109. The King lost, besides, an empire in Amerioa, for tae War of Independence had at last bexun, Out of the ir. | reguiur pursuit spruag regalar organization, and soon there was aon army of pattiois in Charioa- towa. Semaei Adams raid when ke heard th the massacre at Lexingtoa, but the glories of the evening wore even more effuigent, and “Concord fight” gave birth to Bunker fill and the Fourtn of | Juiy and ail the grand achievements which ha | Made the Americana name henored wherever the | story of that is told. MAKING DisToRY, Toan hardly turn away irom the recital of so mach that is grand im the history of nunian | deav Tso munca that le nobie ta the resisting of | tyranny aud Wroag—witnout aliuding once more | te the fierce contest now molug ou betw ‘ fivel towne 10f the greater ehare a: the glory. | For mauy years there have veou creas corse at | | which are to accommodate the multitudes, are | | nearly constructed, | so called in honor of Paul, whose portrait nangs never | on a patrio‘tc pilgrimage, The doors of the west | dining room were thrown open, and, like boys at | Visit tne Massachusetts Clad, | the early morning of April 19, 1775, may not ni ' suck aS migot Atungiy t It was indeed “a glorious moraing,'’ aa | effect, he drew tv hime giving to bis seid ar | The eventa that follow a lorm the jam@uliar history | compelied tae retirom: manufacturing history so ag to support the rival claims of each. As late as 1850 Amos Baker, of | | | Lincoln, toid the story of the battle of Concord Bridge, at which he woe present, and Jonaiban Harrington, the titer, at Lexington, reia'ed that | of the massacre on the green, Their affidavits are interesting eoough and true enough, but | nothing coald be more absurd than the attempts of recent years “to giean, the materials | of Revoitionary history,” as Lowell puts it. “(rom the hips of aged persons who took part in the actual making of it;” ana while I carinot quite agree with bim that these old people, ‘find. | ing the manutacture profitable, continued the sup- | ply In an adequate proportion to the demand’ as | long as they lived, yet jrom all tnat I have secu and heard since I came here Iam inclined to re+ Joice with iim that all the centeuartans are | gone, much ‘as [regret the common mortality or | those “venerable men,’ the story of whose ex- pioits in the history-making line are so humor- | ously portrayed im the introduction to Hoses | Bigelow’s vers Old Joe is gone, who saw hot Percy goad His slow, arcilery up the Concord Toad; A tale which gréw in wonder, year vy year, | AS every thne he t id li Joe drew near ‘To the main figut. till faded and grown gray, Tho original scone to bolder tints gave way { 0 0 ‘chen Joe had heard the 1oe’s scared double-quick Beat on stone drum with one uncaptured stick, And see deat come, the leng hening Chen ie lop, Hinse t had fired and seen a redgoat Had Joe lived long enough that ‘scrambulnt fight Had squared more hourly, with his seuse of right, and vanquished Percy, to complete the tale, Had haminevod stone Yor hife in Concord Jail PREPARATIONS AND ARRIVALS. Boston, April 16, 1875. The preparations for the celebrations at Con- cord and Lexington are going forward with great vigor, and, if the present activity is any sign, the event wii! be signulized by a spirit as determined | as that which inspired the minute-men on the | 19th of April, 1776. The pavihons in botn towns, and the decorations are state of progress, In | “first blood’? 19 «to be commemorated by proper mottoes, and | mottoes and sentiments will be amxed | to all of the historre places, as Mr. Clarke’s honse, where foun Hanesck and Samuel Adams spent the night of the 18th of April, Buckman’s Tavern, | from which Solomon Brown biazed away at the | British, and the dwelling of Jonathan Harrtogton, | the last of the band whose deeds are to be cele. | in @ forward Lexing on the brated. In Concord the same course is to be pur- | sued; but there the great interest centres in the battle field at the old North Bridge, though the site of the berty pote and the other historic spots | Are tobe marked by appropriate emblems. And | now the prayer is that the day may be fair and | everything propitious for en event waich can come only once in a hundred years. THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY. As seems appropriate on such occasions, the President is the first of the guests to arrive, He reached this city at five o’clock this evening, | being met at Sprinsfleld by Senator Harwood, on behaif of toe Massachusetts Legislature, and when the train reached Boston His Excellency | and party were at once escorted to the Revere Flouse, whore they spent the night, Soon aiter | the arrival of the Presiaential party at tre Revere, | in the office of the hotel, they partook of a bountiful dinner, and, if their appetites are to be taken into the account, there was a healthier 10¢ of statesmen the menayerie, the men of Boston went to see the anima's feed. ‘There, in full view of the visitors;were Vice President Wilson, rosy as ever, Belknap, hirsute and vland, and Roveson, jolly as ne always nd Jewell, looking @ periect gem, notin the least off color because Connecticut went against the administration, and George W. Childs, repre- senting juurnalism oo the “inside track,’ to say nothing of Delano and Babcock and Colone) Ham- iitun Fish and the rest. POST-PRANDIAL PASTIME. ‘The party sat late at table lor @ hesty dinner party with engagement at vhe theatre, and, in- deed, most of them appeared as bungry as old Adam in the play they purposed seeing. Alter dinner the youog fellows went flying around with Cigars in their mouths, These were the Mas<a- chusetts patriots, Who are receiving the party, and tney wore such magnificent looked so grand, altogether, that I strank mod. thy back, and only succeeded in meting General Babcock to shake me with bis right hand ana tue Vice President with nis left. It was ten o'clock belore the President and the rest started for the thearre to see Mra, Rousoy in “As You Like it,” Some of the joke:a tn the notel sugguetea that they seomed to lke their dinner better than toe play. Governor Gaston was in waiting at the hotel, Qnd intormaliy received and welcomed the Presi- dent and party. To-morrow moruing the Presi« eat will De driven out to Bearo! rk, to inspect the blooded stock, At one o'clock P. M. he will and at two o’clock P, M. will be entertained at a banquet at the Vom- Mercial Club ruoms, at which Governor Gaston Will preside. At eight o'clock P.M. the Presidon- | . } tial party Will take a special train for Ouncord. PITOAIRN'S PISTOLS. The first snot fired on Lexington Common in | been the one wares w: rd round the world.” It would not be well for any person to say now | ‘oat it was, for be would invite destruction from | the hanus of the debaters over the cause of that | poevical remark, Yet the snot. fired at Lexington by Major Pitewira, the Britisn | Major of marices, was toe explosion whose sound, bounding on the air through the length ana breadtn of the American Covontes, startied | the ears of every patriot and made them painfully acute jor t rieks and groans of the rainute | men Who were massacred on the green of the | Masracnusetts Village. Major Pitcairn’s snot sig- nalied the massacre, and the massacre signalied the Revolution, Tne Ddoastiul and | ital Pitcairn never dreamed that the brethren the men at whom he discharged his pistol pobie very soon possess that little arm efter | having first wounded its proper owner, Woen in | tho gloaming on the green, he said arrogantly to the sixty or seventy boys and men standing anxiously but without fear:—"Disperse, ye villains, ye reve's, disperse; lay down your arms,” he expected a sudden scamper- iow of scaréd provincia, He was mad- dened that not one of the villagers moved, and, erying out “Way don’s you lay down your | arms and dieperse,” he fired his pistul. The Marsacre followed, To the ordinary man it Is pleasant thought that it may bave been one of the villagers who escaped unhort from Lexington Common, that later ta the d re- treatiow British uke a Nemesis, sigated wod sot Major Vitcairn, At Ali events te was shot, aud ns equiyinents were captured, the pistol with | which we began the bluody day, and ite compan. ton of the holster belo Those on sion of | . je New York Observer: ‘The writer visited the oflce of Dr. Prime yesterday and was suown | TOE PITCAIRA PISTOLS. They are of tue Old faysioued Gut lock, smooun bore and straigat trigger pattern, about tweive incoes iM leu4th irom stock to muzzie aud most Li ly cuased with fligt a At that mime y evidently were cous: apons de lure, @ curried by a dandy British Officer, Tae nistory of their descent from | the possession of Major Pitcairn to toat ut tueir present muardiau may be detalied as fo.,0Ws:— } Un April 19, 1775, at the oariy hour of two in the morning. 136 nitliia men of Lexington we tabled on the common, but when word wi OUKt that BO truogs were Coming they sepa- roted to tuelt homes, to retara at tne sound of At ool Gas re a Ay ir OL some oi woom w took their red, Major P KO nen toe British aop can commanding, that uiicer Was op nor He sulted au order (0 the Americans to lay their arms and di ot the War o: Independence: Britian, having ¢ Militia after ma: ead over tae'sut: | ay | hed H Kilied oF 6 Oud nows of the morning's Work rounding cutotry fhe Lh rasaed to tne | sosu2 OF ROTIOD; abd Ww Britisn, at Beou, | Deusn thet ceturu imareo to wouTuly ti tho Midst OF aa gash us evens aoa Haocvent OM hy Plowen's borde Was Woanaed, rr wii bas eQaipineais iol | Miss Anva Draedil, contralto; spread through their ranks. Major Pitcairn was wounded and unhorsed. The pases, havi.g lost bis rider, ran over the delds, 1 CAPPURED BY ONE OF THR MINUTE MEN and taken back ty Concord, ‘Tue animal and the accoutiemsnts Were suusequentiv suld tn that town at agetion, Caytain Nathan Barrett, who commanded oue of the militia companies 0. Con- cord at the o:d Norta Bridge, purchased the hols- ters and pistols, and offered ‘nem to General Washington, then 1n command ol tue provinclals around boston. fle declined them. Cantam Bar- rett then presented them to General Israel Put- ham. Israel Putnam, the hero of the wolf den and neck Hil!, who had won nenors in the Preach war Special meetuny of the Connecticut Legisiature, | having heard of the explosion at Lexington, un- yoked the team with whic he Was pioucning and rode on horseback sixty-five ‘miles in oue day to Cambrid Mass., aad put bimselt immediatery turo contact with’ the American leaders, dash, darmz and skul, as dispinyed at Bun. Hil “two months afterward, tor) brillaut pas- Sages In the early hisory Of ine war. At Was very praper Ubar the pis ols waich belonged to Major Pitcairn sould be committed to bis ands, His grandson was Mr, Jonn P. Parnam, a grada- ate of Witltains Cojlege, Masanchusetrs, a citizen of Cambridge, Wasniugton county, N. ¥., whien Was aiterwitrd divided inte three tuwns, of which Waite O eek was one. He wxsa gentivman of great culture ana worth, and a very special iriend Ol my cniidnood, He had in his possession, and | received irom his !ather and grandather, Genvral Pataim, & brace Of pistuis, Which he preserved With the greatest care and exXmbited to tis iriends as interesting relies of (ue Revulutionary war, They ate Os the property oi Ula widow, an she lus vegy kindly acceded to Dr. Prime's rs quest to peFmtt them to 20 to Lexington tu be ex. hibitea there at the approaching Ceoteaniil. They were undoudtedly the pistois used Ly Ma or Pitcvirn in giving the command to ibe Briss soldiers to fire Ig UI April 19, 1775, and One oO. taem Is, thereiwre, the first weapon diScbarged in ft War of tne American Revolunoa. Tne following certiicate by Joon P, Patnam recites the facts und tle evi+ | dence that these are the pistols that were in the hands Of Major Pivcairn on thac day i= CERIIFY Tama prandvod of the sate nam. Thave 4 dis more than si them was s.¢ coffin as he Was 0¢ years, om the draper to tue grave. They were thi git of bis taiher—eod have po-session of my father and myself ntdny. Colunel Israel Puinam and Colonel who were both aldes-eeamp to the General, and trom iy facher, I have often heard tt To lowing staiement, name), that at the Commence- a ot tne American 100 these property” oi “hat on hs ‘ret property ot my iache remained im th oston, on the Ith of April, hs horse Hotunder bin, and tell near a par pursuing vat thd Major uarrowiy escaped capt leaving bis horse aud equipage: that it's the horse ol his furuiure, of W Pistols toriued @ CGN? THEM INTO tiys after, on lus ary prevented to General Putnam, Ww! the residue of tis active servi And Ido further cert were Captain Parke P by, the srijwh forces at mar) before any other shot was ured at J Warre Cerek, N. Dee. 8, 185% CERTIFICATE OF C@LONSL AARON AUER, that, from imspec lon of a pair of steel- pistols now An posse wiow ot Me, Joun 2 $day shown, to me by iw, 1 believe then whi arried and used hy of the That [was che aidele camp to Geueral ¥ belitve 1 oftgp Kaw sald pistols tn his pos nam, and { ty be th Suprean . 1835, Witness present, ALexANDER 8, Tureur. Not the least part of the extraordinary interest at thie time attacuing to these weapons is coa- tributed by tue vocument bearing the signature of Aaron Burr, Whics oriminai paper was ex- hibited to the writer by Ly rime, AMUSEMENTS. PHILHARMONIC REHEARSAL. This old and well known society gave a public rehearsal (the last but one before tue last concert of the season) yesterday asternoon, and despite the luclemeucy of the weather there was quite a Jair attendance. The programme for tae ciosing concert 1s an admirabie one and aiversitied enough to suit all tastes. It commences witn the “Manired” overture of Schumann, one of the Must 1emark.ble works OL that gited composer. Toen 10.10Ws the Overture lautasia to “Paradise and (be Pori”’ by tae recentiy deceased hug.iso musician, Sir W. sterndaie Bennett. Beriioz 1s rep- Toseuted py big whimsical Overture, ‘Les Francs Juges,” and Beethoven oy nis immortal Fulton Sym- povny, in C minor. ‘Tne soloists at the concert Wall ve idisg Anuie J. Borie, sovrano, wud Mins Jane Rive, Pe cp toe latver seiectug Lisa's concerto in E flar, The lasc concert oi tne sociery ronises to be the most imterestiog, uni under . Borgmani’s Careful Girection we may expect TOAt umple JUSUGE Will DE done tu ail those Works. THOMAS’ LAST EVENING CONCERT. Notwithstandiag the inclemeacy of the weather last night there Wasa fairly flied house at tue concert of Theodore Toomas, Steinway Hall. Toe programme comprised a few novelties and Some sterling iavorices, The charming syrpnony, No. Zin D, oo, 96, of Beetnoven; Reiwecke' chestral arrangement of Schamann’s Pic-ures;” tae wonderml, iwiry-ike scnerzo “Queen Mad,” of Bi T0Z, 4ud & QumMoer Of sBuiec- tions from Wag. wager,” lormed ine Tnetrumeutal i ie of tue concert, and were Teuvered Witu that pericction of ensemole aud OF Watco this vr- ue 80.0, diegesmand’s lve song irom th “Niedelunyen Ring” otf Wogaer. A larewell Matinge wii be given to-day. MUSICAL AND DRAMATIO NOTES. An amateur minstrel performance will be given at the Lmion League Theatre on Nonday evening, nd nud been made a brigadier geueral at & | |The Statements of Landis Yo him | Was assigned the command of the militia, and vis pon the Americans on the morn- | | into the hands of the Americans. Confusion ureters sinpped | | arises which I nave stated. occupant and armed at THE VINELAND SHOOTING Condition of Charles K. Landis and His Prison Treatment. THE TACTICS OF COUNSEL Denied. Vrvecanp, N. J.. April 16, 1876. Charles K, Landis, who shot Uri Carruth jast four weeks ago to-day, still remains at the Cum- berland County Jail io tois city, He bas a cell ia toe female department, of which he is the only allowed the freedum of the corrle dor, His erliis scrapolousiy neat and clean, and as tie prisoner has surrounded himself with his favorite books and pictures, his condition 1s ag Neasant as circumstances will permit; bac the conflnement 1s very irksome to kim and he 1s 111 | His iawyer and physicians allow him to see no one on business and he ig not permitted to excite himself oy taikmy of the shooting or the circum stances that ied to tt. One of bis Vineland law« yers was to have consulted with him to-day, hot it was thought prudent to postpone the meet ing on account of the prisoner’s condition, The reports that Carruth is slowly improving lead Mr, Landis to think that the woundéd man will ree cover, and he expresses a hope that he may. ‘There is no immediate prgspect of any effort being made by the prisouer’s counsel to secure nis ra« lease oa bail under the English common law, which prevails in this State. If Carruth shonid die wiihin a year and a day after the shooting, Landis would be indicted and tried for murder, Should be recover or seem likely to recover be- Yond reasonable aoubt, & motion would be made by Laudis’ lawyers for the production of the prisoner bejore the Supreme Court, and his release ou bail jor trial on charge of assauit with intent to kul, for which the Grand Jury would then indict him in the meantime, Landis Will mot be indicted aod the Grand Jury will take no action until elrher one of the contingencies The general excite. ment hereabout bas largely suvsided, and publio Opinion apparentiy preponderates im Landis! favor, Tae counsel for Mr. Lanais are Benjamwia fl. Brewster, of Puilade!phia, Messrs. Potter and Nixon, of Bridgeton, and Messrs. House and Taroet of Vineland, As will be seen irom the abcve Statement, the time of trial Is extremely im definite. CONDITION OF MR. CARRUTH, ¥ Mr. Carruth’s condition has grown worse to-day. Mle had been gradually improving receatly, and strong hopes were beginning to bo entertamed, but to-night ne isin avery precorious state. Me bas not made any ante-mortem statemeht, now- ever, and no arrangements tor that purpose ha’ been considered. Mr, Carruth does not care,to talk of the snooting, and his physician, Dr. Tyliey, will nov allow anyone to question nim aoout ite He has, however, contradicted the stayment of Landis a3 to any words passing betWeen them b-fore the shootinz. He bas no recollection of anything bemg said. He also denies that he wad the time, and positively asserta that he never has at any time carried weapons since he has lived here. He expresses no auimosity toward Landis, and is still hopetul of bisown ree covery. Your correspondent has jast leit tne beaside of the patient, vut by the desire of the physician, who jeared that mentioning any of the perticuiars 01 the ussault would excite iim, ¢id uot converse with Mr. Carruth upon tnat subject ‘Tae reports oi his improvement have been much exaggerated. He has not deen able to be remove! to is home, and stilt les in the littie Toom adjoimug 8 printing office. be cannot eveu be raed io ved, but the jact OL us bewmg alive eVeo 18 s@uicvently Marvellous, cousidering tOat he was shot wit aterrinue weapon at omy elant ieet distance, and that @ half-ounce dali ig Ul imbedGed in ois brain. CONTRADICTIONS TO LANDIS’ STATEMENT. Maoy Oj tre statements made by Mt. Lundis in the mterview juviisned exclusively in the HER ALD, ale C-mtTudieted by Mr. Carruto’s friends, For instance, as to tie assertion aoout copies of Corruih’s nesxspaper belug trast wto Landis? house 1m Such @ Manner tuut it Was imposaime 10 py them out or preveot Airs. Landis on aoe oe The artices reierring to het, Mies Gute, Whe KeOpa G LOOK Store. silos that OnLy an Hour De jor toe shoot.ng Mre. Landis’ maid servants was sent '0 ber estaclishment to purchase an pendent, which She procured, ena that uthers nad Previously been seut ior. Toey also provess to dis creuit the attempt of Langis io comaut suicide iD bis agony aud desperation before be sot care ruth, in pro £01 Waica they cite tne inet that Uf teen minutes Delore tue assaust ne Made 4 shew | business contract Wiica, (ue, Clan, demonstrates | that it woud oa | to Europe, le stop, ed lo a pistol gate for Le denetit of the New York Homeopathic Hos- Ditai Fair Association. Mme. Araveila Goddard has met with great suc- cess in every town se mas visi‘ed in Vuliiornia, and We are informed that she will not visit New York until the middie of September next. The fifth concert of the Brooklyu Philnarmonfe Society takes place to-nigot, under the direction of Theodore Tuomas. Tne orcoestra will be as* sisted by tue Gee and Madrigal Sodievy of Brook lyo and Mr. Hofman, the pianist. Mr. Adoiph Neuenaorm, manager of the Gorma- Dia Teeatre, will preseat “Girofé-Girofta” at the Arcb, Poiiadeipma, on the 26th tust., receiving o grand testimonial benedt irom tne leading Ger- mans of the city wt tue Academy of Music oa the 22a inst. “L’umbra” was substituted for “ll Trovatore” at the Academy 0} Masic, and gave Miss Hottman aod Mss Randell, the young American p.ime donne, akovher opportunity to display their talents, A iarexel performance of “#roani,” with Miss Mohalb: as Eivira, will take place on Wednesday, There will be no operatic matiage | to-day. Mr. Charles Tradel, @ local artist, who is now sofferiog trom illness, has Leeg tendered a testi- | monial concert at Steinway Hall this evening by the foliowing artis —Miss Emily Flach, soprano Mr, Bischod, tenor; Mr. steina, baritone; Mr. Mills, pianist; Mr, Brandt, violmist, and Mr. Berguer, The programme is a very cnoice vue. MATINEES TO-DAY. Lyorvm THEATRE.—Mmo, Ristori gives o fare- Well performance at this theatre to-day, appear. ine as Euzabevn, Queen of Eng.and. Pivtw AVEXUS [HEATRE.—"Big bonanza” will be quoted extensively at this house in tne after- noon. bd WaLtacr’s—Mr. Montague will artistic performance of Rajaui to-day, Bi LYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.—Miie, wil ol Of Scandals this asteracon as “La Julie Partum couse,” Sretwway Hatt.—Theodore Thomas announces | ®@ grand concers to-day, with Miss Aonie Louise Cary a# vocaliet. BooTtm’s TutaTRE.—"“Henry V.," one of the Tepeat his Alméo boust of, united to an admiradie cast, will be dis | played this afternoon at this GraxD OrzRa Hovss.—Those woo di | gorgeous scenery and bewildering ballews may ve a0 Opportunity tu Visit Ihe apectacie | “Anmed,’”’ will be amply sasisted, Park THEATRR.—Mr. Frank Mayo as Davy Crockets wili be the attraction at tals house at the matiace, Boweay TaeaTRe.—The dramatization of J Verue’s “Toor du Monde’ bas been remarkeviy sacoosared Gt thie sheaite Gnd Wilh be ths attrac is Vea \o-day, Vivioncellist. | Tus coolness Gud deilverauon. hey jurtaer asserts been impossioie tor Landis to irruto Deore without buve spoxen to being leard by the printers, which seems very predanie, a8 toe partution Derween rhe I very tuin. Among many similar s*ories tis Ove to Lhe eect that is Was out Mrs. Lancis wha Was Acoustomed to practise with a revolver in tue parlor, vut Mr. Landis nimself, and toat ne ad. mitted as Mucu to a geueran here, LANoIS PRACTISING. It 1s also sald ‘hat there 18 a gentleman living 19 Millville Who i@ Tr. acy to go Upon ie stand and Vestiy chat some Mouths ago, beiore Landis pails , ry uo Pailae delpiia for a litte amusement, a prietor Of the piMe Bad Lo Bin, * jar cus Omer trom your part of tne county. vere 10 practise. 3 sald to who 18 hi?” — ee 9 Ineiand,’’ Was the rep id= ing Nere jor SIX Month : ‘story wr was told te with wroat empoasis hnd particularity, oat I am unable to asceriuim ite trom. it anneuoced that the Attorney General of the siate, the District Attorney of the coanty, aud Mr. Carrach’s private counsel, Wo Wil provabiy Oe Mr. L. Neweombe, Will aaeist ia the prosecution when Landis’ irial takes place. 1 clip trom cne tiles ov the Independent the follows tug specimen Of dignined journalism, as a speck men of one of Lhe manus paragrapas wate ied to tne snoocing:—"We are tappy to abuounce to our neighbors that Mr. Landis’ pig-pea is pot likely to smell to beaven the commpyg season. The swe have emigrated.” ‘This was puoligned just siter Mr. Landis sailed jor Europe, and as there nad beea no reorms in the reurmer’s pig-yens, It Was given a figurative rather than a literai intere Pretuiioa by (ne general readers of Mr. Oarruta’s | jourual. HIs EXCELLENCY. DEPARTURE OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT GRANT FOR BOSTON. His Excellency President Grant, of the Unlied States, with bis party, remained at the Puth Ave: | Due Hotel antil shortly Deore ten o'clock yeater- jor the he.rta of td oreturen of the City | a@y moraing, When they took carriages for the New Haven Ratiroad and proceeded on their way to Boston. His Excellency was accompanied by the Secretary of the Navy, the Hon. Secor Rove son, of New Jersey; Geaeral Belknap, Secretar) ; the Postmaster General, Mr. Jewell, — eer with several otner less dis: ey Was in charge of the Sub-Com ‘angenioars irom voston. Mrs. Grant, Airs. sartori: id the Orher ladies ot the household wii remain at tue Fifth Avenue Hotel until the return of His Exceliency from at- tengance at Concord on the Centennial Ceiebta- datrie of Lexington, * ‘s Secretary of State, Hon, Hamil ton Fish, toox @ jater traiu Jor Buston, but Will DO in time jor '0@ grand receptiun banquet at tue Revere House this evening. ART SALE. Acoliection of paintings belonging to the estate of the late Jonn ©. Force, of Brooklyn, were placed on exhibition yesterday as the somerville S0ld at pablic auction, Tne coliection contains eXarmpies of Bnglish palacers whos ames are weil kauwe on this mde: bannory impor se WO: | ane ee th Prastings ih oF | jurtance, aud Whi, 1 ub orag vou pe Tne swe begins on tue 2isy ace wile e ea Guring tae two luliowing mignta, A SNATCHER SNATCHED. James Lee, ton of t fig Bxeeiie who gave his adaress as No. 40 Fore Was arrested last night by Oficet yy, of the Filteenth precinct, on complaint ot Mra, Elizabeth A. Jacobson, of No, 68 Clnvea treet, Who charged bim with ras, snatenec KevOOOR, contalning @ lare sum of wong; was stanamg on sper } aud clinton ine ‘swe waves eae wi dougal si! , arrested by tue udleer a “yr! ‘Ne Hus, ed the ih