The New York Herald Newspaper, April 19, 1875, Page 23

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— CONCORD TOWN, Interesting Sketch of the Revolution- ary Birthplace. UNCHANGING AND UNCHANGED. THE TOWN OF CONCORD, . CoNcORD, Mass., April 14, 1875, Concord is indeed @ pleasant town, aod thougn Mr, James Russell Loweli has sung of its moderm population that —nowadays the bridge ain’t wat they show 80 much ez Em’son, Hawtborve anu Thoreau, itis the grandest village in ull America in its past As Well as its present, “Concord fight’ has given \t@ history which no other town can justly claim, Bnd it has, besides, maintained itself so well in bearing its proud pre-eminence that nobody will deny that it is im every way worthy of 118 history, People who nave been sounding the praises of New England have made It typical o! New England towns in general; but the truth is itis as much un- like the manufacturing villages as the adobe ham, lets of New Mexico, In the factory towns the houses are not built im streets, but set up in rows. Une dwelling 18 as much like another as tho brother tenpins in a bowlingailey, In Concord h house betrays the taste of its owner, and nearly every Owelling has ite tradi tions and its story. Coming into the vil» lage by the Lexington road—the way the grenadiers came in 1775—the first butid- Ing of note is the Wayside School in the house butlt by Hawthorne when he determined to desert the Old Manse. It is a wooden structure, two sto ties in height, and ts surmounted by alittle box pverlooking the roof in which the sky romancist bad bis study. This box was accessible only by @ trap, upon which the novelist placed his library phair, and, by thus keeping tne world at bay, Jus- ified the lines of the poet in which he is descrived as one —with That you hardly at frst there. A little further on and still nearer the village is Alcott’s residence, the home also of his two gited daughters.’ It is an old house, neglected im appearance, but surrounded by ample grounds, which are capable of being made very lovely in the springtime and summer. A rustic ence, now also much in decay, built of pine and cedar branches, gathered {rom the nelgnboring thickets and woven together by Mr, Alcott’s own hands, encloses the grounds and separates them from the street, Across the way and still a little arer the village, just before the turn of the road and the ridge, which forms the background of all this picture, reveals the more thickly set- tled part of the town, is the dwelling of Ralph Waldo Emerson, it 18 @ square house, without pretensions, and lacks charms of any kind in its situation and surroundings. The ground on which it stands is low and almost marshy, and being across the street it has not the ridge benind it as Dave the others to lend it picturesqueness. Then comes the village proper, hugging the hill on the north and east and kissing the river to the south and west, Here the main str intersects the road, extending from a point opposite the old graveyard, which forms’ the centre of the ridge, almost in the direction of the ola South Bridge, held by 8 company of British grenadiers April 19, 1775, while their comrades were being beaten & mile below. On this street is the house where next Sunday President Grant, like Hosea Biglow, othacic ed —a-visitin’ the judge, Whose garding whispers with the river’ 5 “Near to Judge Hoar’s ts the rural retreat of Mr. Frederic Huason, whose ‘History of Journalism in the United states” is a proud monument to Dis pwn achievements in the journalistic proses- sion. Thoreau, who was a reclose, lived iarther away at len Pond, while near the North Bridge, where the first battle of the Revolatiun ook place is tne Old Manse, celebrated as the resiaence of the Key. William Emerson, the grand- tatber of the Carlyle of Concord and the minister here in the Revolutionary era. Mr. Emerson Witnessed the battle between the men whom his grandson has so grandly named the “embattied farmers” and tne British grenadiers from an apper Window of bis house, which commanded a ew of both positions, and he testified in his fiery that alter tne invader dischi rged bis first shot he “was uneasy till the fire was returoea,”’ thoagh he knew that “their numbers were more than trebie ours.” THE PROVINCIAL PARADE GROUND. fhe spot overlooked by the bold and patriotic Concord clerzyman, soon to become so famous in history, 18 now known as the Provincial Parade Ground, Tne Engiish were urst on the ground and beld the town. It was a long wait which the patriots nad that night, ior Mr. Longfellow has told us in his cantering verse of the midnight tide of Paul Re that— It was ons ‘4 the village clock When he galloped into Lexington. And the poet added, with something of poetic license, it must be coniessed, tuat— It was two by the village cloc! When he came to the bridge 10 omeore town, He heard the bleating o1 the flock And the twitter of birds among the trees, And feit the breath of the morning breez Blowing over the meadows brown. It Paul Revere nad reached Concord at all t! night he would nave come to the town before he got to the bridge; bat the truth is that he was captured at Lexington, and the rest of his seli- imposed duty was performed by Samuel Prescott, & young doctor belonging to Concord, who carried +n sof the affray oo the green to his towns- man, But this is history, and we have only to do with the parade ground, where the provinciais marched down from the contiguous siopes to pattie for their country. It @ beautiful spot by nature, and capable of every adornment which art can bestow. The iazy stream creeps idly by, and on its banks, where they /ell that day, sleep the two British soldiers, the first of the enemy to fallin the struggle ior American Independence. A Stone wall, extending irom the river to the highway, hasbeen ouilt over their grave, anda rude stone, rudely carved, te! the place of their sepulture. Near by is the votive tablet raised in 1836 to commemorate the deed, and across the stre now as th panned by a simpie bridge, is the spot where the ‘embattled farmers” stood and Davis and Hosmer fell. Tne new statoe of the “minute man” leaving his plough turned in the furrow, but bearing bis trusty rifle with him, bas been erected here; and here, in sight of the hilis from which the provin- @ials flied two and two to the music of the ‘White Cockade,’? it will be unveiled on Monday. The scene has changed but little in a hundred years, and the spirit whicn animated the American people then still sarvives to find expression on this spot. The hills and fields are still the same, a 1ew fences more and a few stones less being the only changes ‘wrought by time in the arena of the Concord fignt, As L stood on this Historic ground this morning, the early sunshine bathing the biils with life and light, and recalled all that had ever been teid me of that glorious day, tne whole scene seemed to reawaken im my imagination, and | could almost soe the astonished grenadiers turn and flee by the Toad they had come, while —the farmers gave them ball for bail From >ebind each fence and barnyard wail, Chasing the redcoats down ‘he lane, Toen crossing the deids to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, Anu only pausing to fire and joad. UNCHANGING CONCOR! battle scenes have undergone so few ‘%, In twelve years the marks of tne great struggle at Gettysburg have been more obiiter- ated than the fleld of Concord fignt tn a hundred, But Concord is siow to change ip any respect. It clings as tenaciously to its old customs to ite old memories, So strikingly 19 this act tlastraced that it i almost a Puritan village to-day, True, the Irish have come here as they come everywhere where they are needed—Pat to do the farmwork, which Jonn Hancock, as a boy, would hardly have deigned to refuse, and Bridget todo the cooking aud baking, in which Dorothy Quincy was an adent: oud they have built thelr anv livtie Cath- nius so shrinking and rare je the strength that is olic church, surmounted with the symbol so hurt- 1ul to the Puritan conscience, right in the heart of the village. So also the poet could sing with truth of Emerson, who is the great bigh priest of Oon- cord philosophy to-day, as his grandiather was the cnief judge and arbiter of Concord theology @ hundred years ago, that ’Tis refreshing to old-fashioned people like me To meet such a primit' pagan as In whose mind all creation is daly r ted As parts of himsel(—just a little projected, But, in spite of its Catholic church and its Unitarian departure from old-fashioned Presby- im and its pagan philosophy, Concord is I said before, almost a Puritan town, and in prooi of it I submit the following curious docu- ment, which I encountered everywhere in my rambles over the village :— COMMON WEALTH —or— MASSACHUSETTS. Mrppigssgx, 88, To either of the Constables of the Town o! Concord, GREETING :— You ave hereby authorized and eisostet to notify iN of the Meeting House of on MonDayY, the 12th day of April St seven and one-half o’clock 1n the g and there to act and vote upon th articles, to wit:— 1st—To choose a Moderator. 2dTo near and act upon the report of the Perish Commitree. 3d—To hear ahd act upon the report of the Trustees of tne Congregational Ministerial Fund, 4ta—To caoose uli Parish OMicers jor che ensuing ear, : 6th—To see if the Parish will dispense with the Evening Service during the summer montha, 6th—1o raise mouey Jor all Parochial purposes P will Ox any time for ent ol Taxes, or actin any way in regard me. directed to serve this war- Pot thereol, by you attested, in at least tnree pubilo placesin said town, one of which shall be at tne door ox thi A your doings tne ng. Wit our ds this th jay of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. JOHN BROWN, HENRY F. SMITH, GEORGE P. HOW, A true copy: Attest. P The Constable attests this with his own hand and publishes it, and all the members of the First church are as much bound by itas the people o! New Yor« are bound by the action of the Tax Com- missioners or whatever body it is that has authority tu assess them, so that it will be seen that in Concord religion is still a matter of the State of which the minions of tne iaw have oficial cognizance, Only one or two parishes besides— probably only Quincy—stiil retams tals relic of Puritanism; but it is, | think, cone:usive proof that Concord is unchanging Concord, THE TOWN LIBRARY OF CONCORD. But if Concord is slower than most placesin some respects it is also faster than all other towns in others, It has, for instance, the best town library im the United States; the most anique, the bandsomest and the airiest building; the best selection of books and the largest number and best set of r rs. The building 1 the gift of William Munroe, Who was a Boston merchant rest- dent in the town. He planned and built it at his own expense, and left a sufficient tund to pre- vent it from ever going to decay, and then dia not even ask or consent thatit should be called by bis name. Mr. Munroe’s bust has been placed im the library apartment, just in front of the alcove devoted to “Concord authors,” and this is the only evidence of his munificence to be seen anywhere about the building, The Concord alcove contains the writiugsof emerson, Haw. thorne, Thoreaa, the Alcotts, father and daughter; Mrs. Jane Austin, and others of scarcely jess note than some of these. Among the curiosities of this alcove is @ volume of sermons preached in Con- cord more than 230 years ago. ‘The title of this book is as follows:— THE GOSPRL COVENANT; GRACE 01 wherein are explained 1. The difference between the covenant of grace and covenant of works. 2. The different administration of the covenant beiore and since Christ. 8, The benefits and viessings of it, 4. Tne condition. 6. The properties of it. ched in Concord, In New England, by Peter sometime feilow of John’s Colledge, in 8 according toorder. London, printed by M. 3. for Benjamin Allen ana are to ve sold at the Croune, in Popesne: Alley, 1646, This old book was picked up in London by Mr. George F. Hoar, member of Congress from Wor- cester, and by him it Was presented to the library of his native town two years ago. [n such a town, with such @ library and such associations and such great men, it is no wonder we shuuid be told— Yonder, calm as & cloud, Alcott And fancies himseil in thy grove catem With the Parthenon nigh aad the olive bees o'er And sever a fact to perplex him or bore nim, With a snug room at Plato's when night comgs to alk tO, And poopie irom morning till midnight to talk to. The inhabitants are as remarkable as the town itself; but tt would (ake a volume to teli even balf of What I know about them, CONCORD CELEBRATIONS IN THE Past. As Concord fight began the American Revoin % Parish Committee, OR, THE COVENANT OF PENED— NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1874 tion, so» Concord town has been celebrating it ever since. In 1825, fity years alver the confitct at North Bridge, the corner stone of a monument was !aid in the centre ol the village to commem- orate the event, Edward Everett, then in the tresbnet ind splendor of his powers orator, delivered the oration—one of the greatest efforts Of his life, In 186 the modest monument on the site of the British position was erected, and tt was for that occasion Ralpn Waldo Emerson wrote the splendid hymn nowso oiten quoted, In 1860 there was a general celebration at Concord of ali the towns, Lexington participattmg. On this o-casion Robert Rantoul, Jr., of Beverly, was the orator, and Everett was present and made one of the aiter-dinner speeches, Rufus Choate was also among the guesis, and responded to the toast of “Lexington Common and Concord North Bridge,” closing with his famous wentiment of “American Nationality.” On the ptatform were Jonathan Harrington, of Lexington, aged ninety-two, and Amos Baker, of Lincoln, of the age of ninety-iour, bota participants in the events of that grand 1th of April. Saker was in whe fight at the bridge, and Harrington the Mier of the Lexington compaby. Both now sleep with their comrades who before, and there are tew even of the chi these grand old pacriots left 10 participate in centennial of their glory. Wheu the next centen” nial anniversary of the “Concord fight” 1s reachad, one of those who now celebrate its first centuty Of Dlessings will be altve to commemorate the sec- ond ; but who can doubt that out of these patriouec estivities, and those which are to follow in the next eight years, liverty will take a new birth aad our grandchildren and great-grandchbildren re- ceive through us the gilt which came from oar grandfathers and great-grandfathers. It is a con- summation most devoutly to be wished, and we can omy pray that the exclamation of Samuel Adams, when he heard the guns at Lexington, “This is @ glorious morning!” may prove as truly prophetic in the :umure as they have proved in tae past. OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION. CoxcorD, Mass,, April 15, 1875, ay this rade bridge that crossed the flood, ‘heir flag to April's breeze unfuries here once the embattied tarmers Anu Ored the shot beard round the world. Iv is only natural, perhaps, that a handred years aiter the American Revolution Lexington and Concord should be tignting the first battie of the War over again. Whatever pains we may take to secure the truth of history it ts never sure. It ‘Was a great point with our ancestors the war for independence should begin as a war of resist- ance, and this being the case it becomes a grave and important question with us who fired that first snot, which Lora Chatham predicted would separate the two countries. On the part of the British many blows were struck before tne cruel massacre at Lexington aroused the American peopie to action; but the blows were not returned til that April morning when “a flock of Yankees” met the flower or the Britisn army at Concord Bridge. Ali this is now @ mooted 4 Point; but as to the Jact, ithink tnere is they amplest testimony. One day those “embatsied farmers” fought against the King, and they swore to the occurrences the next beiore the King’s jus tices of the peace. At that time Lexington aid hot claim to have returned Major Pitcairn’s fre, while Concord boldly avowed the resistance which gave the Old North Bridge the first piace in Ames ican history. Mr. Eaward Everett Hale tells w that whena New England historian related to Henry Ulay the story of the depositions wabo followed the batties of the 19th of April, 1775, he great orator and statesman was much amusd and said, “Tell me that ." It somenow seems necessary to tell it once more aiter the lapse of 100 years, for, notwithstandiag the pains that were taken to secure the truta of histoty, of Lexington and Concord are far from agreeiag about it to-day. Each is getting up » celevratha ofits own, and there 1s almost as m oie! over itas when it was learned from Paul ke and Ebenezer Dorr and Dr. Samuei Prescott’ vit Lieutenant Colonel Smith's column had been reed over ftom Boston to Phipp’s arm, ia briage, during the night, and was on the wayto destroy the previneial stores at Concord. Itis@ very pretty quarrel as it stands,” and has been the source of s01 bright wit as well as warn controversy. Major Pitcairn’s unfortunate pisto- shot on Lexington Common led to the first loss of life in the American Kevolution. The volley fred by the British in that historic town killed eignt «r the patriots and wounded many others, but thee Was no resistance, and the co! Pressed on to Concord. Here Smitn’s force was met by the “Minute Men’ {rom Acton and other neigbburing towns, the determination of Revere to ——-+pread the alarm Through every Middlesex village and fam For the country folks to be up and arm n accomplisned far and wide, and the two men Killed on the spot where the new statue has been erected were both Acton This ied to the famous toast at the Union celebration a quarter of a century ago, proposed by wi 0 man:—“Concord fight—Concord gave the grout an cton furnished the men.” But as between Lexington and Concord it has come to by no jowing matter, though the fact that they snoald be quarreling over the glories of the past io their present determined way is im itself a joke, the Whole point at issue betug at WATERTOWN What point the war began. This isa poor pan I know, but Ido not believe the after-dinner speeches next Monday will supply a better one, and at any rate it is not more absurd than to see these people fighting the first battle of the Revo- lation all over again. To my mind the quaint Phraseology of a hundred years ago determines the whole matter in dispute, and forever setties the question asto which place is entitled to the ‘Most credit for that day when ——<the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world. It was the custom of our grandfathers to 5 of “Lexington alarm” and “Concord fight, “the shot heara round the world” was not tired till grepadier and patriot met tace to face at Uon- cord Bridge. There never wi jattle of Lex. ington’ at alluntil afer “Concord fight,” as the bridge has been telling the “moniment’ now hese many yeurs, and I for one, while confessing ® proper American reverence for everybody's Arandfather, do not hesitate to say that on the 20th of April, 1775, Raiph Waldo Emerson’s had the advantage of Theodore Parker's. It may be true enough that when old Jonn Parker saw the gr@p- coming as o@ waited ior them by the m D jouse in Lexington, his single drum beating the first noie of resistance all the while, he uttered the words attributed to mim by tradition, “If they mean to ha war, let it begia here.” But itis more certain that the response to Pit- cairn’s even more famous utterance, “Ye villains, ye rebels, disperse! Damo Why don’t ye lay down your arms and ais 1 was complete, if not imstant obedienci Willlam Emerson, of Concord, on the other hand, testified in bis diary that he “was uneasy till the fire was re- turned,” and he saw it returned with inte soon almost 1% Was received, Captain Parker bimselt declared that he ordered bis company to disperse ana not to fire, and itis only repeating an old story to say that the Lexington patriots did not return the fire of their enemies, Mr. Edward Everett Haie to the contrary notwith- standing, It must have been so or else the depo- sitions whion Mr. Hale cells us were to “secure the truth of history” were a cowardly le. This is aconciusion I, for one, would be slow to accept, and it certainly reflects no discredit upon the 180 militia of the Lexington company—only sixty of Whom could be hastily got together when tne cry was raisea, ‘The Keguiars are coming’—that they failed to resist 800 grenadiers trained to arms and seeking to provoke a confilct, THE PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. Before attempting to picture the historic scenes, #0 full of fruitial themes for the his'orian and poet aswell as the patriot, it is necessary to havea clear understanding of the events which led to the “Concord fight,” The province of Massachusetts, and, indeed, ail the provinces, under the leader- ship of men like Hancock and the Adamses, Jonn and Samuel, were ripe for rebellion, if not yet pre. pared ior revolution. A provincia! Congress had oeen established at Salem ana Concord, and the militia was organized for resistance in case of necessity. Military stores were provided, and this quiet Massachusetts village, now espec- ally remarkable as the home of philosopny and the seat of the muses, then the princi- pai injand town in New Engiand, 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 alled with the mupiments and munitions of war. Tents, can- non, cartridges, canteens, cartouch boxes, round shot, grape, canister, sbells, spades, picks, biil- hooks, axes, wheelbarrows, wooden pilates and spoons, bolsters, belts and saddles, rice, fish and flour and many other articles “too numerous to mention,” were collected here, and Colonel James Barrett was made the custodian of ail these treasures. Tne Committee of Safety ana Supplies by whieh this astonishing outh: had been gathered—the tents alone numbering 1,100— aware of ite dangerous character as well as its precious quality, not only enjoined Colonel Bar- rett to “keep watch day and night” over the stores, but never to ‘so much as mention the name powder, lest our enemies should take advantage of it.” At the same time Gen- eral Gage had an army at Boston ready to quell the spirit of ce everywhere mani- fest, and as the Concord secret could not be Kept, such secrets being as ansafe as a Woman's, the cap- ture of the Concord store houses and the destruo- tion of the stores was & necessity. He took his measures accordingly, but ois movements were as diMeult of conceaiment as the presence of the military stores at “Concord. If tories stole to Boston to tell of the doings of tne patriots the patriots were equally alert and active in watching the operations of the British, Gage’s intonded movement was revealed cven before it begun, A babbling Woman, partiy intoxicated, spoke of it in Hall’s distillery, A sergeant major communt cated it to Jasper, thi iasmith, No sooner had it begun than Dorr, tne | jer dresser, carried the news over Boston Neck and through Roxbury to Lexington, while Paul Revere, impatientiy waiting for the signai lights in the spire of the oid orth church, Was ready to gallop away on the same errand, The story of that midmignt journey has o-ten been fold, bat never so well as in Long- fellow’s Ddeautifal verse, which rivais even Bu- chanan Read's dashing description of the not less jamous ride of “Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavairy Sheri- dan,” nearly a hundred years later. It was neces. CONCORD--l_EXINGTON. Showing the Positions in the Memorahle Fight and the Line of March of the British Troops from Fioston to Concord. 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 weathorcock Swim in the moonlicnt ns he passed: * And the meeting house windows, blank and bare, Gaze athim with 2 spec rat glare, Asif they already stood aghast Atthe bloody work they would look upon. MARCH OF THE GRENADIERS. The news thus scattered over the country was responded to by the miuute-men in all the towns from Cambridge to Concord, ani Colonel Smith, Who was in command of the column, saw the Necessity of sending back for retniorcements, even before he was fairly on nis way. These, under Lord Percy, did not reach him till he was far on nis return, beaten, dispirited and almost destroyed, and it 18 no wonder that Percy, too, was doomed to disaster when it is remembered that a Roxbury boy, who sat on a wall to see him pass, recailing the legend of bis nobie house, ominously said to him, “You go out by Yankee Doodle but you will come back by Chevy Chase.’? The main force leit Bostom altér ten o'clock at Right on the 18th, the goad) people of that town oeing usually in tnol beds bdeiore that hour, Embarking in boats supplied by the naval vessels in the harbor, ittle army was conveyed irom the no'tom of tie Common, near Where the old Providence depot stood, to Leon- Mero’s Potnt, not iar from where the Insane Asylum now stands, Theuce it took up its through Camoridge and Metonomy, now West Cambridge, toward Lexiogton, Major Pitcaira wasin the advance with six compantes oi light infantry. 1t1s not certain whether he knew that old Jonn Parker, the grandiather of Theodore, was waiting to receive bim on the little green in irunt of Lexingion church, but at ali events he did nis work 80 well that Parker believed o0 enemy was coming, in spite of the news which Revere had brought, and dismissed his company to mect at the tap o: tne drum, Pitcairn captured all bis scouts except one, Thaddeus Bow- man, who reache! Lexington just in time to allow the militia to form im two ranks a little orth of the meeting house, while the Englisn ere so near they could hear the drum call the Men to arms. The march was immediately hast- end to @ double-quick, Pitcairn galloping in ad- vance and uttering that historic exclamation which will make bis name execrated while the Ristory of the American Revolution is recited. There were some desuitory shots from the Eng- hsb, and theo a volley from the whole liae, the Americans being quickly dispersed, witn a loss of eight killed and nine wounded. They sieep near where they Jell, a modest monument noting their last resting place. There may have been one or two shots fired in response, though even on this point authorities differ, but the English gave three cheers in recognition of victory, and pressed on to Concord, where they captured the town and took possession of born bridges. HE SCENE OF ACTION. Sunday was a splendid day. Tne skies were biue and bright and the air as oalmy as in mid- summer, Though the prospect was not so fine as on the 19th of April, 1775, the grass not yet deing green nor the trees in blossom, it was just the Gay to see, jor the first time, the scene of action at North Bridge, Concord, one hundred years ago. Jn the afternoon | waiked down Monument street to the bridge to look at tne spot wlere ireedom’s Dattie in America began with shot and shell. Somebody told me jcestor of General Grant was in the fray, and as I looked upon the scene— two hilisides gently sloping down ,to the piacté river which creeps rather than runs between, and recalled the fact that the President is to be here ina ‘ew 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 peculiar appositeness when ap- piled to the events of the field upon which I was og. This was the conversation :— “You have lately returned from Cuba, Mr. Cor respondent?" “Yes, Your Exceliency.” “How do the Spaniards and Cubans fight ?”" “From different sides of hill, Mr. President.” “And where do they put the hills?” “Betw thom.” “An |” be said, laughing very beartily, “Idon’t think we ever did that, but in our war both sides occasionally tound a stream between the two armies a greateonvenienc’.” It must be Coniessed it was a decided con- venieuce to botn sides at “Concord fait.” If there bad been no river there would nave been no bridge and if there bad been nu bridge, I believe, there would have been no batrie. it was a nice, romantic baitle Held to march down to; it was even, as the British founda it, ag@ood place to run away irom. 1 think the stream gave courage to both sides—to the Americans to attack, to the Engiish to fee. As I looked upon the scene I could fancy isaw Colonel Swith’s force holding the bridge, while tue lovely slopes beyond were made to appear terribly earnest by the little band of patriots whom kmerson has so felicitousiy called the “embattled farmers.” Slowly the gathering «mipute-men,” too Weak In numbers to meet the evemy, had retreated betore the forces of His Ma- jesiy the King until ive town was completely m te hands oj the invader, while its defeacers were on Ponkawtaaset Hill, nearly a mile away on the other side of the river, The village of Ooneord is . ” ‘ built along the outer vase of a semicirouier ¢ | which extends irom Hawthorne's new | the Old Manse, from which he gathere. «» | delicate mosses, The enemy eutered by ington road, covering the ridge with mishers as he advanced. When first seen Concord militia he had passeu the spot Ralph Waldo Emerson resides and was | {8 now the centre or tho town, ag Bad been taken the day before to row stores Colonel Smith found litre ¢ but ne halted uls forces for some time ing for the reinforcements he had “emond Daring his stay Mujor Piteuirn, who wos « ing iellow, but no Lerd Dundreary for «: enrered the village tavern and poured ou! «© of brandy, which he sweetened to nis tei: Dot finding a spoon to stir tt he mixed i! Wiha Mogers, At the samo time he sald in oluil ))\ fashion that that was the way he wow stir ap the biood of the Yankees beiore the day war over. Some hours ‘ater ne was unhorsed us %) was going away, deieatea und disgraced, 15 2 ear Nest ensraving of these scenes he is represented a8 standing with @ spy-giass in Mis hun in Oe old cemetery in the middie of thy vilor it graveyard jorming a partot the ridge, 90) c to this day a striking feature of rhe ola toy “CONCORD FIGHT." While Pitcairn was drinklogin the tavern. iad surveying the scene :rom the ridge et Cemetery, the patriot force was rapidly sycciene ing. and Smitn's delay proved precious tie ta them. At last the main body of the ener ed once more, however, and, passing tue 0) i Where the young minister of the tows, Moipo Waido Emerson's grandiather, the? oridod gaiherea bear the North Bridge, won manded the village and separated tt tr Jenders, A detachment was sent acros Jor the stores believed to be secrated Barrett's house, two miles distant, while other detachment guarded the Souty Byid which was farther up the river. It was stil a early as nine o'clock im the morning, vn’ asthe spring was a forward one the scene mus have been exceedingly lovely and pio‘vresque The present season isa late one. and water sil) covers much of the ground that was solid earrh on April 19, 1775; Dut in spite of this tt is difficult even now to find many lovelier spots, Concord is Jortupate not only in owning a battle fle! de he first in the history of the Republic—put in o one that is so beautiiul. It is impossivic Upon this grouad, so rich in historic es and made so grand by the beroic deter Of afew men, without Jecling that nature did wel in lavishing 80 much beauty upon 11, are the bills as of yore, changed only a few unimportant particuiars, There sre toy boulders, perhaps, and some stone fences cu up the slopes into felds; bat the fi are tb same, and they torm the Butrrick estite now as they dia then, Major Jonn Buttrick, who owned the battle fleld, commanded tne attacxine party and he left a proud ev to his children ana grandchildren and great-grandchiidren, uot onl tn lis farm, but in his fa His grandsoo e man Buttrick, ated only last December: pat bis descendants srili look with pride upon tie scene ot his exploits, and there aro still (hose of bie blood to ceieorate his deeds of one hun ired yours ao tous a ago. Down the King’s highwar, side by side with Major Butirick, marched Captain Isaue Davis, of Acton, who, with a momber of his mpany, Abner Hosmer, was the only man to!!! in the struggle at the bridge. It had been ‘le pure pose of the Concord men all the morsing 10 resiat——to return shot for shut, “Le ui saad our ground,” satd William Emerson, whey tie luberty pole had been abandoned and # "OW pow tion taken. “It we die let us die here.” Mors Prudent counsels prevailed, and an jour later, When urged to attack Colonel Eleazer, Erooks de murred, “it will not do,” ne said, “for as (0 begin the war.” tut Isaac Davis had startet thas Morving from Acton, declaring, “itis the Kive's highway, and we have the right to march upon ie ir maron to Boston." Smoke rese irom the town, and Colonei Barrett gave Malor Burcr.cs be order to lead the attacking party down (oi “Men, if you will tolow mo,” Bu trick salt, “we Will go DOW and see what they are aoe’. Oa the way he met Davis at the nead of the minute-men, aod while the iwo wore march. ing into the jiws of rt side by side, (he Actou hero said, “There is not a man ol my company Who 18 airaid.” Two pianks bad been takes up from the bridge, and more were to oe remuved, but the Americans ordered tne Brivish (0 doriwt. The response was the volley which k ec { and Hosmer, The fre was returned wit) effect, and in @ moment the astonished gi ouac io contusion and retroating, !)eir cond were lett where they tell, Reinforcemer's checked the stampede for the moment, but tie eximpio of those at the bridge was contagious, ani» oo the whole column was fying by the road it came. The Americans crossed the hills in the rear of ar, Keyes’ house, stiil standing between te bo tig feid and the village, alter travermog the meadows beyond the ridge and being oived the men trom Billerica and Reading, ageic «( the enemy battle at Merriam’s Corner. cannor more firiy descrine the scene at (ho! \ ime than those chosen by Mr. Longfellow when "eo ils us:— How the farmers gave them ball for bail, From behind each nee and farmyard wall chi *he red-coats down the lain tn trees at the turn (the rosa, And only pausing to fire an. THE STAMPEDE OF THE GRENADIENS. It was nigh noon when the stamped» ¢ irretrievable, and such was his despai: tha dition sa) s Colonel smith would hi aurre at Merriam's Corner if he could b: ound came any one to accept his sword. Bat tne pursuit wo os aisorderly as the retreat, and battie followed bar ali the way to Cambridge. The King's + went by the King’s hichway, and the Prov . kept to the Jeids and woods. Most of the since disappeared, and only a few pines g: clusters here and there denote the ap; the country must fe presented. The road oo longer runs over t! surface of the bile | ’ been cut down and graded to meet movers cessities, Over the rough and uneven Weeon f the British grenadier ran and battled as oes ar Could, while the farmers, skilled in the tee of th rifle, and deadly tn its aim, dropped thi * wounded m great mombers by ti Merriam’s Corner is Merriam’s Corner &° no longer shows avy traces of the secor brook where two mor: soldiers bit the dust, A little further oo © toe wood, and on both sides of it there was ore struggle, first with the Sudbury any, and then with the whole purs sorce just wt the edge of Lincoln, where the severest enoo unter of the day took piace. But every Dillsite was « battle fleid, almost every tree @ fortress, end # the attack contaned tui the grenadiers rashes down the hill into Lexington, up which they ha: marened so gayly inthe early morning. lier Captain Parker and his militia had their opportu nity, and they improved it, and here, at two « in the afternoon, occurred the last rezular oon dic of the day, This was the real battic of Lex!) «ton but the massacre of (h@ morning did more % arouse the American people on that day av | tor many days than all the straggles of that ove sifu 10rn of Apfil, At Lexington Colonel Smir) wa joined by Lord Perey’s brigade; bat the re rear was conunued after a Short rest and there was no respite for tae uderring im ot the = Provincials enw the bears grenadiers reached Camoridge and wee sie wader the gans In the harbor, Tae Brit) robably many m American loss was less than 100. The Ki or besides, an empire in America, for tne ir o Indepencence had at last begun. Out ol y ir regular pursuit sprung reguiar organization soon there was an army of patriots im Ua town. It was indeed “a glorious mornings Samuci Adams said when he heard the #0)» the massacre ac Lexington, but the glories evening were even mute efulgent, and Go» fight” gave birth to Bunker Mul and the Fou July and ail the grand achtevements Wiiclr have mate the American name honored wherever ‘ng atory of thats told, ’ va

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