[We are indebted to Mr. Herbert W. Kimball, of Boston, Registrar of the
Massachusetts S. A. R., for the two accounts of the “shot heard round
the world.” The first was prepared for the Boston News-Letter, in 1826,
and the second, although written many years ago, was not printed until
1896, and then only in a newspaper, hence will probably be as new to
most of our readers as it is to the Editor. The bill of Dr. Fisk has
never been published or printed in any form, and is especially
interesting as showing, what we believe has not been stated by any
writer, that several of the British wounded who were left behind, were
cared for by the patriots. The detailed list of the killed and wounded
of the patriots was also prepared especially for the S. A. R., and
published in their Register, a few years ago.—ED.]
I
Between the hours of 12 and 1, on the 19th April, 1775, news was
received at Lexington by express from the Hon. Joseph Warren, at Boston,
that a large body of King’s troops, supposed to be about 1200 or 1500
were embarked in boats from Boston, and gone over to land on Lechmere
Point (now East Cambridge) probably to seize the military stores at
Concord.
On receipt of this intelligence, signal guns were fired, the bell rung,
and the militia of the town were ordered to meet at the usual place of
parade. About the same time two persons were sent express to Cambridge
to gain intelligence and watch the route of the enemy.
The Lexington train band, or militia, and the alarm men, consisting of
the aged and others exempted from military duty, except in case of
alarm, met according to order, on the commons near the meetinghouse, and
waited the return of the messengers. There were present when the roll
was called about 120 militia and alarm men together. Between three and
four A. M., one of the messengers returned, saying there was no
appearance of troops neither on the Cambridge or the Charlestown roads.
Put off their guard by this information, and the night being chilly and
uncomfortable on the parade ground, the privates were dismissed, to
appear again at the beat of drum. Some, who resided in the neighborhood,
went to their homes, others to the public house at the east corner of
the common. Messrs. Hancock and Adams had been persuaded to depart from
the town, as the seizure of their persons was probably one object of the
enemy. The return of the second messenger was anxiously awaited by the
officers who had continued at their posts, but he had been taken
prisoner by the enemy, as every other person had been who passed up or
down the road; so that, after every precaution, the British troops were
actually in the town, and upon a quick march towards the place of
parade, within half an hour after the company was dismissed. The
commanding officer, however, thought it proper to muster them in the
very face of the enemy; alarm guns were accordingly fired and the drum
beat to arms about 4:30 o’clock. Part of the company, to the number of
about sixty, were soon on the parade; others were hastening towards it,
when the attack was made. The Lexington company, as they hastily formed
on the rising ground to the north of the meetinghouse, were placed in
two ranks, ordered to load with ball, and as previously agreed, were
determined to offer no aggression, but to repel it if offered by the
British.
The British van, commanded by Major Pitcairn, had thus stolen upon the
militia unawares, while temporarily dismissed, and it was in sight of
the formidable body that the little band of Americans was forming their
ranks when the enemy halted at about twelve rods distance. Major
Pitcairn with his aids, hastily rode up the Bedford road to right of the
meetinghouse, and returned by the Concord road to the left; and having
thus reconnoitered this handful of men, drew his pistol and cried:
“Disperse, Rebels; throw down your arms and disperse,” gave orders to
fire, and fired his own pistol. The soldiers at the same time ran up
huzzaing, and fired, at first some scattering guns, which were
immediately followed by a general discharge, which did no injury,
excepting slightly wounding one man; and the fire was not returned; but
the second discharge was fatal to several Americans. They returned the
fire, as far as the confusion in their ranks from the number of killed
or wounded would permit. The militia dispersed immediately after firing,
but were shot at as they retreated. The British troops then resumed
their march to Concord.