by the first fire of the British: the others, after they had left the parade. Several were also wounded.

The British detachment proceeded to Concord. The inhabitants of that town, having received the alarm, drew up in order for defence; but, observing the number of the regulars to be too great for them to encounter, they retired over the north bridge at some distance beyond the town, and waited for reinforcements. A party of British light infantry followed them, and took possession of the bridge, while the main body entered the town, and proceeded to execute their commission. They disabled two twenty four pounders; threw five hundred pounds of ball into the river and wells; and broke in pieces about sixty barrels of flour. The militia being reinforced, Major Buttrick, of Concord, who had gallantly offered to command them, advanced toward the bridge; but, not knowing the transaction at Lexington, ordered the men not to give the first fire, that the provincials might not be the aggressors."

Engagement at the North Bridge, at Concord.

[The above cut is drawn from a large engraving, published in 1775. by Mr. Doolittle, of New Haven, Conn., entitled "The Engagement at the North Bridge, at Concord." This engraving represents what may be considered the first regular conflict of the Revolution.]

"The Americans commenced their march in double file. The British observing their motions, hastily formed on the east side of the river. When the Americans passed the angle near the river, the British began to take up the planks of the bridge; against which Major Buttrick remonstrated in an elevated voice. and ordered a burn. A handsome monument has been erected to their memory, on the green where the first of them fell.

quicker step of his soldiers. On this the British desisted from injury to the bridge, convinced, no doubt, that the Americans were determined and able to pass the bridge. At that moment two or three guns, in quick succession, were fired into the river on the right of the Americans, who considered them as alarm guns, and not aimed at them. In a minute or two, the Americans being in quick motion, and within ten or fifteen rods of the bridge, a single gun was fired by a British soldier, which marked its way, passing under Col. Robinson's arm, slightly wounding the side of Luther Blanchard, a fifer in the Acton company. This gun was instantly followed by a volley, which killed Captain Davis and Mr. Hosmer, both of the same company. On seeing this, as quickly as possible, Major Buttrick leaped from the ground, and partly turning to his men, exclaimed, " Fire, fellowsoldiers, for God's sake, fire." Mr. Tilly Buttrick, a respectable man now living, stood near the Major, and is positive that he distinctly heard the words and saw the motions of the speaker. He was in front of Captain Brown's company. No sooner were the words uttered, than the word fire ran like electricity through the whole line of the Americans, extending to the high land from whence they had marched; and for a few seconds, the word fire, fire, was heard from hundreds of mouths. The order of Major Buttrick was instantly obeyed. Two of the British were killed and several wounded. The firing on each side lasted but a minute or two. The British immediately retreated. When the Americans had fired, most of the forward companies leaped over a wall on the left and fired from behind it. Military order and regularity of proceeding were soon after broken up. A part of the Americans rushed over the bridge, and pursued the British till they saw a large reinforcement advancing, when they turned to the left, and ascended a hill east of the main road; and a part returned to the high ground, conveying and taking care of the dead."*

Soon after the firing at the bridge, the whole British detachment at Concord commenced their retreat. "All the people from the adjacent country were by this time in arms; and they attacked the retreating troops in every direction. Some fired from behind stone walls and other coverts; others pressed on their rear; and, thus harrassed, they made good their retreat six miles back to Lexington. Here they were joined by lord Piercy, who, most opportunely for them, had arrived with a detachment of nine hundred men and two pieces of cannon.† The enemy, now

In the engraving the British troops are seen on the right. On this spot a large granite monument has been recently erected, on which is the following inscription: Here, on the 19th of April, 1775, was made the first forcible resistance to British aggression. On the opposite bank stood the American militia. Here stood the invading army, and on this spot the first of the enemy fell in the war of the Revolution, which gave Independence to these United States. In gratitude to God and in the love of Freedom, this monument was erected, A. D. 1836."

+ Lord Piercy formed his detachment into a square, in which he inclosed Colonel Smith's party, "who were so much exhausted with fatigue, that they were obliged to

amounting to about eighteen hundred men, having halted an hour or two at Lexington, recommenced their march; but the attack from the provincials was renewed at the same time; and an irregular yet very galling fire was kept up on each flank, as well as in the front and rear. The close firing from hehind stone walls by good marksmen put them in no small confusion; but they kept up a brisk retreating fire on the militia and minute men. Á little after sunset, the regulars reached Bunker's hill, where, exhausted with excessive fatigue, they remained during the night, under the protection of the Somerset man of war; and the next morning went into Boston."

In this expedition the British loss was 65 killed, 180 wounded, and 28 missing; total 273. The American loss was 50 killed, 34 wounded, and 4 missing; total 88.

Surprisal of Ticonderoga.-Soon after the bloodshed at Lexington, it was readily perceived that if the controversy with the parent state were to be decided by the sword, the possession of Ticonderoga and Crown Point would be of essential importance to the security of the colonies.

"The first steps for this object seem to have been taken by some gentlemen in Connecticut; and Messrs. Deane, Wooster, Parsons, and others engaged in the affair. The success depended on the secresy with which the affair could be managed. Their first object was to obtain a sum of money to bear the necessary expenses. They procured this to the amount of about eighteen hundred dollars, from the general assembly of Connecticut, by way of loan. Several of the militia captains pushed forward to Salisbury, the northwestern town in that colony; and after a little consultation concluded not to spend any time in raising men, but to procure a quantity of powder and ball, and set off immediately for Bennington, and engage Ethan Allen in the business. With his usual spirit of activity and enterprise, Allen undertook the management of the scheme; and set off to the northward, to raise and collect all the men that he could find. The Connecticut gentlemen having procured a small quantity of provisions, went on to Castleton; and were there joined by Allen, with the men that he had raised from the new settlements. The whole number that were assembled amounted to two hundred and seventy, of which two hundred and thirty were raised on the New Hampshire grants, distinguished at that time by the name of Green Mountain Boys; so called, from the green mountains, among which they resided tries were immediately placed on all the roads, and the necessary measures taken to procure intelligence of the state of the works and garrison at Ticonderoga.

Sen

While Allen and his associates were collecting at Castleton, Col. Arnold arrived, attended only by a servant. This officer belonged

lie down for rest on the ground, their tongues hanging out of their months, like those of dogs after a chase."-Stedman.

to New Haven in Connecticut. As soon as the news arrived at that place that hostilities had commenced at Lexington, Arnold, then a captain, set out at the head of a volunteer company, and marched with the greatest expedition to Cambridge. The day after his arrival, he attended the Massachusetts committee of safety, and reported to them that the fort at Ticonderoga was in a ruinous condition; that it was garrisoned by about forty men, and contained a large quantity of artillery and military stores; and might easily be captured. The committee wished to avail themselves of his information and activity; and on the third of May, appointed him a colonel, and gave him directions to enlist four hundred men, and march for the reduction of Ticonderoga. Under these orders, and with this design, he joined the men that were assembling at Castleton; but was unknown to any of them but a Mr. Blagden, one of the Connecticut officers. His commission being examined, it was agreed in a council, that he should be admitted to join and act with them; but that Allen should also have the commission of a colonel, and have the command; and that Arnold should be considered as his assistant.

To procure intelligence, captain Noah Phelps, one of the gentlemen from Connecticut, disguised himself in the habit of one of the poor settlers, and went into the fort, pretending he wanted to be shaved, and enquired for a barber. Affecting an awkward appearance, and asking many simple questions, he passed unsuspected, and had an opportunity to observe the state of every thing within the walls. Returning to his party, he gave them the necessary information, and the same night they began their march to the fort.

With so much expedition and secresy had the enterprise been conducted, that colonel Allen arrived at Orwell, opposite to Ticonderoga, on the ninth of May at night, with his two hundred and thirty green mountain boys, without any intelligence or apprehension on the part of the garrison. It was with difficulty that boats could be procured to pass the lake; a few however being collected, Allen and Arnold passed over, with eighty-three men, and landed near the works. Arnold now wished to assume the command, to lead on the men, and swore that he would go in himself the first. Allen swore that he should not, but that he himself would be the first man that should enter. The dispute beginning to run high, some of the gentlemen that were present interposed, and it was agreed that both should go in together, Allen on the right hand, and Arnold on the left. On the tenth of May, in the gray of the morning, they both entered the port leading to the fort, followed by their men. The sentry snapped his fusee at Allen, and retreated through the covered way. The Americans followed the sentry, and immediately drew up on the parade. Captain De la Place commanded, but he was so little apprehensive of any danger or hostility, that he was surprised in his bed. As soon as he appeared, he was ordered to surrender the fort. Upon what authority do you require it, said De la Place. I demand it,' said Allen, in the name of the great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress.' Surrounded by the Americans who were already in pos