Lexington Alarm April 19 1775
Minutemen in Minute Battle of Lexington and Concord is Next Target!
At just past midnight Paul Revere cantered into Lexington. He found Samuel Adams and John Hancock at the home of Rev. Jonas Clark. A messenger was immediately sent to Captain John Parker at Buckman’s Tavern. By 1:00 AM 130 Minutemen had responded to the tattoo of drums. As they lined up for the initial muster, they were alerted that the Regulars were on the way. The news was sobering to most of the family men and farmers. Hancock and Adams were persuaded to take protective flight to Woburn. Adams was heard to say in parting, "What a glorious morning it is! ... I mean for America!" They were escorted by Paul Revere and Robert Lowell. In the excitement, John Hancock had to be persuaded not to stay with "his troops where he belongs". He was so focused on finding a musket that he left behind an important trunk of papers at Buckman's Tavern. He asked Lowell and Revere to retrieve them and keep them out of enemy hands.
Calm Before The Storm
By 3:00AM there was no sign of the Regulars. Captain Parker sent the farmer/soldiers home provided they stay on full alert. Some went to Buckman’s Tavern to pass the time. No scouts had alerted them because they had been captured by British patrols. Then news began to trickle in. There actually was an entire regiment of Regulars on the march. Just before dawn Captain Parker sounded the alarm. Men close to town began to parade on the green. It was to become a much larger part in the quest for Independence than the actual battle would be! A rider galloped in with the news. A group of Light Infantry has been sighted just down the road. About 70 men, from teenagers to Geriatrics were assembled on the Village Green. Some had muskets with powder and no shot. Some have shot with no powder. Parker ordered them to re-supply at the Meeting House. Most have never tasted battle.
Red Dawn
Paul Revere sped back from Woburn. Just as the Redcoats and the dawn began appear he and Robert Lowell rescued the trunk of papers and sprinted across the green. The Minutemen lined up in two loose rows on the Lexington Green. Captain Parker gave two strict instructions. “Do not fire on them unless they fire first; but if they want a war, let it begin here.” The second was more somber. “Do not run or you will be shot!” The Minutemen had an easier time obeying the first order than the second. As soon as the Regulars appeared, many drifted off. Major Pitcairn arrived on horseback and ordered, "Lay down your arms, you damned Rebels!” A second mounted officer said, "Disperse ye Rebels!". A third cried out, “Damn them, we will have them!" At that minute the Crimson Red Coats of the 10th Light Infantry formed 3 fearsome battle lines.
The First Shots
Somewhere in all of the confusion an unknown musket was fired. The trained Redcoats fired their first volley, which went high. However, most of the colonists began to disperse in earnest. Many had a very deep need to change their wardrobe and those who didn't were running as fast as they ever had. Even so, a few brave or maybe already disembodied souls stood their ground. Most would not see tomorrow. Those few Minutemen discharged their arms. Only one Regular had his thigh nicked and Pitcairn's Horse was creased. After this discharge almost every farmer/soldier turned to run. One, Jonas Parker, a Veteran of the French and Indian War and the Captain's Uncle, knelt calmly to reload his musket. Before the ball was rammed halfway home, he fell and was no more.
The End and The Beginning
Seventy brave men turned out on that great green. Fifty-two fled unhurt. Ten more were wounded. Eight brave and yet free men while they breathed their last lay on the Lexington common, never to be counted as common men again. Major Pitcairn "struck his sword downward with all earnestness as a signal to forbear or cease firing". He may as well have whispered the order. One of the 10th said, “The Soldiery and young Officers wanted to have at the damned dogs & in their impetuosity burst out into firing ... contrary to the command." The British Officers finally restored order. However, they could not help but perform one last act of indignity. When Rev. Jonas Clark preached his next sermon, he witnessed that “the troops drew up on the common, fired a fue de joie, and gave three Huzzah's by way of triumph and as an expressive of the joy of victory and the glory of conquest." The Regulars were in high spirits for the march to Concord. They had just proven to the world, their King and Country that these Rebels were no match for the might of the strongest army on earth. They had every right to believe the rebellion was over.
Sources
The Spirit of Seventy-Six edited by Henry Steel Commager and Richard B. Morris, 2002, Castle Books
The War of The Revolution by Christopher Ward, 1952, MacMillan Company
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