[1] April 18, 1775. “Gage ... secretly prepared an expedition to destroy
the colony’s stores at Concord.... Warren ... at ten o’clock despatched
William Dawes through Roxbury to Lexington, and Paul Revere ... by way
of Charlestown. Revere ... five minutes before the sentinels received
the order to prevent it ... rowed ... across Charles River ... beyond
Charlestown Neck ... intercepted by two British officers ... he ...
escaped to Medford. As he passed on he ... continued to rouse almost
every house on the way to Lexington.”—_Bancroft’s Hist. U. S._, vol.
vii., ch. 27, pp. 288, 289.
[2] “The privilege of its harbor was to be discontinued, and the port
closed against all commerce ... until the king should be satisfied that
... it would obey the laws.”—This the Boston port bill.—_Idem_, vol. vi.,
ch. 52, p. 511.
[3] For contributions in food and money sent at this time to Boston, see
_Lossing’s Pic. Field Book of the Am. Rev._, vol. i., p. 535.
[4] “The second penal bill ... abrogated so much of its charter as
gave to its legislature the election of the council, abolished town
meetings ... and ... intrusted the returning of juries to the dependent
sheriff.”—_Bancroft’s Hist. U. S._, vol. vi., ch. 52, p. 525.
[5] “A third penal measure ... transferred the place of trial of any
magistrates, revenue officers, or soldiers indicted for murder, or other
capital offense, ... to Nova Scotia or Great Britain.”—_Idem._ “Letters
were written to Gage ... to arrest ... all ... thought to have committed
treason ... that the Massachusetts Congress was a treasonable body. The
power of pardon ... did not extend to the president of ‘that seditious
meeting,’ nor to its most forward members, ‘who ... were to be brought to
condign punishment’ ... either in America or in England.”—_Idem_, vol.
vii., ch. 26, p. 284.
[6] “Adams and Hancock ... whose seizure was believed to be
intended.”—_Idem_, ch. 27, pp. 291, 292.
[7] In anticipation of an attack from the British, the Americans had
been collecting stores for some time. Cannon-balls, and muskets had
been brought from Boston into the country under loads of manure; and
cartridges and powder by the women, in candle-boxes, baskets, etc.—See
_Lossing’s Pict. Field Book of the Rev._, vol. i., p. 522.
[8] “At two in the morning about one hundred and thirty answered their
names.... A watch was ... set and the company dismissed.... Some went
to their own homes, some to the tavern.”—_Bancroft’s Hist. U. S._, vol.
vii., ch. 27, p. 292.
[9] “Lexington ... having for their minister ... Jonas Clark, the bold
inditer of patriotic state papers which may yet be read on the town
records.”—_Idem_, p. 291.
[10] One Bowman escaped, and on horseback notified Capt. Parker ... of
the enemy’s approach.—_Lossing’s Pic. Field Book_, vol. i., p. 524.
[11] “The last stars were vanishing ... when the foremost party led by
Pitcairn ... was discovered.... Alarm guns were fired, and the drums
beat.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. vii., ch. 27, p. 292.
[12] “The British van, hearing ... halted ...; the remaining companies
came up; and ... the advance party hurried forward at double quick
time.”—_Idem_, p. 293.
[13] “Less than seventy, perhaps less than sixty ... were paraded ... a
few rods north of the meeting-house.”—_Idem_, p. 292.
[14] “The captain, John Parker, ordered every one to load with powder and
ball, but ... not to be the first to fire.”—_Idem._
[15] “Pitcairn rode in front and ... cried out: ‘Disperse, ye villains,
...; lay down your arms.’”—_Idem_, 293.
[16] “The main part of the countrymen stood motionless.”—_Idem._
[17] “At this, Pitcairn discharged a pistol, and with a loud voice cried,
‘Fire.’”—_Idem._
[18] “The order was instantly followed, first by a few guns ... then by a
heavy close and deadly discharge”—_Idem._
[19] “Jonas Parker (not the captain) ... had promised never to run from
British troops, and he kept his vow ... he lay on the post which he took
at the morning’s drum beat.”—_Idem_, pp. 293, 294.
[20] “Seven of the men of Lexington were killed; nine wounded.”—_Idem._
[21] “In disparity of numbers, the common was a field of murder, not a
battle; Parker therefore ordered his men to disperse. Then, and not till
then, did a few of them return the British fire.”—_Idem._ Behind stone
walls and buildings. See _Lossing’s Pict. Field Book_, vol. i., p. 524.
[22] “The British ... huzzaed thrice by way of triumph, and after ...
less than thirty minutes, marched on for Concord.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._,
vol vii., ch. 28, p. 297.
[23] “In Lincoln (after the affair at Concord) the minute-men of
Lexington, commanded by John Parker, renewed the fight.”—_Idem_, p. 305.