Posted on 02/11/2002 2:52:11 PM PST by 45Auto
On the 15 of April 1775, when General Thomas Gage, British Military Governor of Massachusetts, was ordered to destroy the rebel's military stores at Concord. To accomplish this he assembled the "Flanking units", including Light Infantry and Grenadiers, from his Boston Garrison. In charge he put Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith and Marine Major John Pitcairn. He also composed a relief column under the command of Lord Hugh Percy to leave 6 hours after the main column. In an attempt at secrecy he did not tell his officers his plan until the last minute. The problem with his security measures were that Boston had become a glass fishbowl. All rebel eyes were watching to see the British' next action, and when the garrison committed to an action, the Americans knew their every move.
At midnight on the 19th of April the British column, consisting of 650-900 troops left Boston, crossed the Charles River, followed closely by the alarm rider Paul Revere. As the British marched towards Concord, the entire countryside had been alerted to their presence, and rebel militia was deployed to meet them. Until this time there was no armed resistance to the British that had resulted in loss of British life. Several Months earlier, Gage had attempted to destroy miliary arms at Salem and met with resistance but no shots were fired, and the British retreated without completing their objective. Lexington Militia Captain John Parker had heard of the events at Salem, and collected his men on Lexington Green to face the British column.
At dawn Smith's advanced parties under the command of Major Pitcairn, arrived at Lexington Green to see a group of armed Militia in formation across the Green. Pitcairn ordered the militia, led by John Parker, to be surrounded and disarmed. In response Parker ordered his men to disperse. Then a shot rang out. No one really knows who fired first, but the British, hearing the shot, fired upon the small group of militia, killing 8, and wounding 10 more. The militia then retreated into the woods to avoid the Briti sh fire.
So started the first battle in the American Revolutionary War.
The British column then advanced to Concord, and in spreading out to destroy some cannons believed to be at Provincial Colonel Barrett's farm encountered a group of armed militia at Concord North Bridge. This time when shots rang out the Americans were more prepared, and fired back in "The Shot Heard Round The World.", and so began the American Revolution. The short battle at the bridge was a rout, and the British abandoned the bridge, retreating to Concord center. Knowing that he was in a dangerous situation, Smith decided to return to Boston as soon as possible. In his retreat the real battle began.
Militia and Minutemen from all surrounding towns had marched toward Concord, and when the retreating column ran into this army they were outflanked, out gunned and scared. The Americans did not fight as the British did. Instead of forming an offensive line the provincials used small squad and company tactics to flank the column and inflicted heavy damage. Because the American's never formed a firing line the inexperienced British had little to shoot at. This style of flanking and shooting from behind trees, walls etc. destroyed the British morale, and they broke ranks while retreating towards Lexington.
Had it not been for the relief brigade of Lord Percy the British retreat would have been a disaster. Waiting at Lexington, Percy used his two cannon to disperse the provincials and collected Smiths troops back into regiments. He then led the retreat back to Boston. Under Percy's command the retreating column maintained control, even under heavy fire, and the retreat to Boston was a success. The British suffered badly, nearly 20 percent casualties, but more importantly, this action led to the siege of Bos ton and the start of the Revolutionary War. Days later the men of Massachusetts used the engagement as propaganda to turn the public opinion to their cause. At the time of the battle only one third of the population believed in breaking from Britain.
At midnight on the 19th of April the British column, consisting of 650-900 troops left Boston
IIRC, the militia that stood against the British Army numbered only 77. 77 against 650+ of the most powerful army in the world. That took a lot of courage.
Revere and two companions were riding toward Concord to continue to warn the people when they were met by a roadblock comprised of ten British regulars. His companions outran the roadblock, but Revere was taken prisoner. During his interrogation by British officers, he embarrassed them by telling them even more than they themselves knew about their own mission. He also informed them that he had been riding around warning everyone in the vicinity of the British plans, and that, if they remained in the area much longer, there would soon be hundreds of men massing, and their lives would be in jeopardy.
A few shots began to ring out in the vicinity of Lexington's meeting house, making the British regulars very uneasy....at which point they released Revere (and other captives) so as to be able to retreat as quickly as possible.
Revere's story about the soon-to-be-massing hundreds of men was a bluff.
By D. Michael Ryan, company Historian with the Concord Minute Men, an 18th Century volunteer historic interpreter with the National Park Service and Associate Dean of Students at Boston College.
"No, I am not and I haven't a man that is!"
Thus on 19 April 1775 did Capt. Isaac Davis respond to the query if he was afraid to lead his Acton minute company and the colonial column "into the middle of the town (Concord) for its defense or die in the attempt".
Details of the moments just preceding the eventful Bridge fight are limited or shrouded in the silence of time and report. It is certain that upon sighting smoke rising from Concord, Col. Barrett ordered Maj. Buttrick to march the assembled force into the town. How and why the Acton minute company led this expedition have been debated and interpreted for years even to the point of tirades in support of Acton by the Hon. Josiah Adams in 1835 and 1850.
Several explanations of Acton's activities at the Bridge have been set forth. Rev. Ezra Ripley wrote that upon arriving at the muster field, Davis' company "... passing by the other companies, took the right of the whole, which placed him nearest the Bridge, and in front, when they marched toward the enemy." Was this an act of brashness or military ignorance? Davis and his company were junior in rank and the place of senior honors was on the right.
Lemuel Shattuck and several others claim that the colonials were in the process of marching when Acton arrived on the west road, passed in front of the column, moving toward the Bridge and halted. Capt. Brown's Concord minute company then moved two abreast up the north side of the road equally in front. This might indicate that both the Acton and Concord units advanced to the Bridge alongside each other. Indications exist that discrepancies in the manner of march might have been due to the way in which the old roads meandered to the Bridge. Yet even Shattuck admits that precise positions of each company present could not be fully ascertained.
What most likely occurred can best be surmised through participant depositions, first hand accounts, letters and other documents. Upon receiving the alarm, Davis mustered his company noting, "I have a right to go to Concord on the King's highway and I will go to Concord." His men were perhaps the best trained and equipped each with a musket, cartridge box (to facilitate rapid firing) and bayonet supplied by gunsmith Davis. Since November 1774, they had trained twice weekly including marksmanship at a firing range behind Davis' house.
Acton's route of march took it over the Strawberry Hill Road near Barrett's farm where they turned east, passing the Widow Brown's tavern. Charles Handley, age 13, watched them disappear up the back road (upper or east) to Buttrick's farm and the Bridge. Upon reaching the high ground, Davis noted the troops aligned as they had been at the 13 March regimental muster (minute companies on the right, militia on the left facing the Bridge) and thus took his assigned position on the appropriate left of the line. He then joined the officer's conference in progress.
Barrett listened as officers and supposedly civilian representatives nervously discussed the situation and possible courses of action. It was a tense moment for citizen soldiers making military decisions. What should be done about the stores at Barrett's farm? Would the British attack? If so, would they fire or charge bayonets? As smoke rose from town, the decision was made to march. Capt. Smith volunteered his Lincoln minute company to dislodge the British from the Bridge. Buttrick, commander of the column, supposedly offered the lead to a Concord captain who allegedly noted that he would rather not. As bayonets had been discussed and only Acton was so equipped and best trained, Davis was asked if he was afraid to go and gave his famous answer.
Tales have circulated that the veteran warrior Barrett, not Buttrick, selected the energetic, respected, thoughtful, fearless Davis for the task since trouble was expected. Suspected frictions (maybe political and/or church related) among the officers has been put forth as a basis for decisions. Regardless, Davis drew his sword, wheeled his company from the line to the right and proceeded down the hill to the causeway leading to North Bridge. With him marched Buttrick and LTC Robinson of Westford. During the insuing fight, Davis was killed immediately, perhaps snatching the spirit from the colonial troops. In April 1875, Rev. Grindall Reynolds stated that to debate the position of units belittles and insults a great event and those who participated. Whether Acton led or marched alongside Concord; whether it was chosen due to courage or bayonets, will never fully be known. The courage of Concord's men and their captains (3 of 4 would be wounded by day's end) cannot be doubted.
It is enough that in fact Acton men joined forces with fellow citizens of Old Puritan Concord to which they had once belonged and that their captain "sealed devotion to liberty as the first officer to shed blood" because neither he nor his men were afraid to go.
End of article
My remarks: His men were perhaps the best trained and equipped each with a musket, cartridge box (to facilitate rapid firing) and bayonet supplied by gunsmith Davis. Since November 1774, they had trained twice weekly including marksmanship at a firing range behind Davis' house.
So much for only a few weapons in poor condition.
By D. Michael Ryan, company Historian with the Concord Minute Men, an 18th Century volunteer historic interpreter with the National Park Service and Associate Dean of Students at Boston College.
"No, I am not and I haven't a man that is!"
Thus on 19 April 1775 did Capt. Isaac Davis respond to the query if he was afraid to lead his Acton minute company and the colonial column "into the middle of the town (Concord) for its defense or die in the attempt".
Details of the moments just preceding the eventful Bridge fight are limited or shrouded in the silence of time and report. It is certain that upon sighting smoke rising from Concord, Col. Barrett ordered Maj. Buttrick to march the assembled force into the town. How and why the Acton minute company led this expedition have been debated and interpreted for years even to the point of tirades in support of Acton by the Hon. Josiah Adams in 1835 and 1850.
Several explanations of Acton's activities at the Bridge have been set forth. Rev. Ezra Ripley wrote that upon arriving at the muster field, Davis' company "... passing by the other companies, took the right of the whole, which placed him nearest the Bridge, and in front, when they marched toward the enemy." Was this an act of brashness or military ignorance? Davis and his company were junior in rank and the place of senior honors was on the right.
Lemuel Shattuck and several others claim that the colonials were in the process of marching when Acton arrived on the west road, passed in front of the column, moving toward the Bridge and halted. Capt. Brown's Concord minute company then moved two abreast up the north side of the road equally in front. This might indicate that both the Acton and Concord units advanced to the Bridge alongside each other. Indications exist that discrepancies in the manner of march might have been due to the way in which the old roads meandered to the Bridge. Yet even Shattuck admits that precise positions of each company present could not be fully ascertained.
What most likely occurred can best be surmised through participant depositions, first hand accounts, letters and other documents. Upon receiving the alarm, Davis mustered his company noting, "I have a right to go to Concord on the King's highway and I will go to Concord." His men were perhaps the best trained and equipped each with a musket, cartridge box (to facilitate rapid firing) and bayonet supplied by gunsmith Davis. Since November 1774, they had trained twice weekly including marksmanship at a firing range behind Davis' house.
Acton's route of march took it over the Strawberry Hill Road near Barrett's farm where they turned east, passing the Widow Brown's tavern. Charles Handley, age 13, watched them disappear up the back road (upper or east) to Buttrick's farm and the Bridge. Upon reaching the high ground, Davis noted the troops aligned as they had been at the 13 March regimental muster (minute companies on the right, militia on the left facing the Bridge) and thus took his assigned position on the appropriate left of the line. He then joined the officer's conference in progress.
Barrett listened as officers and supposedly civilian representatives nervously discussed the situation and possible courses of action. It was a tense moment for citizen soldiers making military decisions. What should be done about the stores at Barrett's farm? Would the British attack? If so, would they fire or charge bayonets? As smoke rose from town, the decision was made to march. Capt. Smith volunteered his Lincoln minute company to dislodge the British from the Bridge. Buttrick, commander of the column, supposedly offered the lead to a Concord captain who allegedly noted that he would rather not. As bayonets had been discussed and only Acton was so equipped and best trained, Davis was asked if he was afraid to go and gave his famous answer.
Tales have circulated that the veteran warrior Barrett, not Buttrick, selected the energetic, respected, thoughtful, fearless Davis for the task since trouble was expected. Suspected frictions (maybe political and/or church related) among the officers has been put forth as a basis for decisions. Regardless, Davis drew his sword, wheeled his company from the line to the right and proceeded down the hill to the causeway leading to North Bridge. With him marched Buttrick and LTC Robinson of Westford. During the insuing fight, Davis was killed immediately, perhaps snatching the spirit from the colonial troops. In April 1875, Rev. Grindall Reynolds stated that to debate the position of units belittles and insults a great event and those who participated. Whether Acton led or marched alongside Concord; whether it was chosen due to courage or bayonets, will never fully be known. The courage of Concord's men and their captains (3 of 4 would be wounded by day's end) cannot be doubted.
It is enough that in fact Acton men joined forces with fellow citizens of Old Puritan Concord to which they had once belonged and that their captain "sealed devotion to liberty as the first officer to shed blood" because neither he nor his men were afraid to go.
End of article
My remarks: His men were perhaps the best trained and equipped each with a musket, cartridge box (to facilitate rapid firing) and bayonet supplied by gunsmith Davis. Since November 1774, they had trained twice weekly including marksmanship at a firing range behind Davis' house.
So much for only a few weapons in poor condition.
Do you think that any of this is presented at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington DC? Nope - the only RevWar scene they have is about a Springfield MA man who was looted because he was a Loyalist. It really burned me up, and I complained, but got no satisfaction - just a smug look that the yokel complaining can't know anything about history...
You are apparently descended from hearty stock. You must be proud of them (and they of you).
I apologize for my over-generalization [regarding Massachusetts]. Being stuck here in Kalifornia, I am only too aware of the fact that there are plenty of people who would make our Founders proud in any of our states.
Well a lot of those ancestors moved out of Massachusetts some time back.
The ancestors of my dads family arrived in Massachusetts in 1640 and later family fought in the Continental Army… Granddad moved out west in 1914…
Dad was to inherit a pair of shoes (really just the bucket were left) wore when Great, Great, (Great ?) Granddad was in the Continental Army.. but dads sister got them
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