Part 4

[32] “The Active and the Kingfisher ... were sent to guard the passages out of the harbor.... Orders were given ... to load guns at the castle so that no vessel ... might go to sea without a permit.”—_Idem_, p. 482.

[33] “A meeting of the people ... directed ... the owner of the Dartmouth to apply for a clearance. He did so ... accompanied by ... eight others as witnesses.... The collector and comptroller unequivocally and finally refused.... Then said they (_i.e._, the people) ... protest immediately against the custom-house, and apply to the Governor for his pass.”—_Idem_, pp. 483-5.

[34] “‘They find themselves,’ ... said Hutchinson, ‘involved in invincible difficulties.... The wealth of Hancock, Phillips, Rowe, Dennie, and so many other men of property, seemed to him a security against violence.”—_Idem_, pp. 480-2. “Hutchinson began to clutch at victory.”—_Idem_, p. 484.

[35] See note 15 under this Ballad.

[36] “‘The only way to get rid of it,’ said Young (speaking of the tea in one of the Boston public meetings), ‘is to throw it overboard.’”—_Idem_, p. 478.

[37] “‘Shouts and hozannas will not terminate the trials of this day ... insatiable revenge which actuates our enemies ... must bring on the most ... terrible struggle this country ever saw.’ Thus spoke the younger Quincy.”—_Idem_, p. 486.

[38] “The whole assembly of seven thousand voted unanimously that the tea should not be landed.”—_Idem._

[39] “A few hours would have placed the tea under the protection of the admiral at the castle.”—_Idem_, 487.

[40] See note 1 under this Ballad.

[41] “A quarter before six Rotch appeared ... relating that the governor had refused him a pass.... Samuel Adams rose and gave the word: ‘This meeting can do nothing more to save the country.’ On the instant, a shout was heard at the porch.... A body of men ... disguised as Indians, ... encouraged by ... others, repaired to Griffin’s wharf, posted guards to prevent the intrusion of spies, ... and in about three hours, three hundred and forty chests of tea, being the whole quantity ... were emptied into the bay without ... injury to other property.”—_Idem_, pp. 486, 487.

[42] “The people around ... were ... still.... After the work was done, the town became as still and calm as if it had been holy time.”—_Idem._

[43] “The next morning the Committee of Correspondence ... sent Paul Revere, as express with the information to New York and Philadelphia.”—_Idem._

[44] “The ministry had chosen the most effectual measures to unite the colonies.... Old jealousies were removed, and perfect harmony subsisted between all.”—_Idem_, p. 488.

THE CROWN’S FIGHT AGAINST THE TOWN’S RIGHT.

LEXINGTON, APRIL 19, 1775.

“A galloping horse is coming[1] Across the field!—do you mark?”— We woke and flew to the window, We peer’d away in the dark.

The cloud-black night was bringing The stir of a storm to fear. What flash’d and clash’d!—who brought it?— “I, I!” cried Paul Revere.[1]

“The British are off for Concord[1] To seize the colony’s arms! And Dawes[1] and I stole over The river and over the farms.”

“Wait, wait,” we cried, “a moment; You trust our lead awhile! A cross-cut here to the highway Will save you more than a mile!”

“Come quick!” said Paul. “Their plan is To bear the arms away, And store them safe in Boston Before the break of day.”

“Yet wait you, Paul, and, waiting, Tell how does Boston fare?” “Alas,” he sigh’d, “no telling How many will breakfast there.

“You know that, since the Port-Bill[2] Laid up our merchant-fleet, We had starved, unless the farmers[3] Had sent us food to eat.

“To stop this, chains of pickets Are strung on Boston Neck; Our bay is black with frigates, And all our trade they check.

“And thus they vow to treat us, Till, humbled by their might, We hold no courts nor meetings,[4] And yield each charter’d right.

“Ay, ay, and let our leaders, For serving us too well, Be borne in chains to Britain,[5] To fill some dungeon-cell.

“The men who call’d our Congress[6] They swear to seize to-day.— High time to rouse the country! High time to save the prey!”

“Off, off!” we cried, and parted; Then dragg’d from under the hay[7] The guns our goods had cover’d When borne from Boston Bay.

Our wives pour’d out the treasure They too had brought from town,[7] The powder, flint, and bullets Well tuck’d in box and gown.

We arm’d in haste, but hardly Had left with pouch and gun, Before the bell rang, telling Of Paul in Lexington.

At midnight saw he Charlestown; Not two had struck the clock[8] Yet here the trembling belfry Was rallying all its flock.

They sought the green together; Set guards on every road; Then sought the inn to measure The fate they might forebode.

Ten times their band in number Were those they watch’d before; And here should they withstand them? Or fly to join with more?

“Stand here!” said Jonas Parker[19]; “The law has arm’d the town.” “And here,” said Clark,[9] their pastor, “Be right, and shame the crown.

“What, though they fire, and fight us?— Make every heart rain blood? Their guns, if heard in Concord, May save it from the flood.

“And if the blood we give them Shall save the colony-stores, Like fruit shall we be falling, Red-ripe to all our cores.

“And if the blood we give them Be given to make us free, The court may learn a lesson And let our charters be.

“We are few, but what are numbers?— This church may proof supply That right may move to triumph With only one—to die!”

He paused—the door flew open; All heard a watch call out: “Full drive a horseman coming! Perhaps an army-scout!”

And out they flew to face him; But on the charger fleet No enemy, only a neighbor,[10] Came galloping up the street.

“The foe are coming!” he stammer’d; “They capture all they meet; I dodg’d a man and musket; And hark!—you hear their feet!”

We hush’d and heard a tramping That well might bring despair, And cause the nerves to tremble Their loads of fear to bear.

“Sound drum[11] and gun,” said Parker,[10] “And bell! If they but halt, Where time is all we plan for, We win without an assault.”

They halted,[12] then drew nearer;— What need of halting more? They came, a veteran army; We never had fought before.

We stood but sixty farmers,[13] Our homes and wives between, Whose hands, up waved or wringing, Seem’d fringing half the green.

“Be theirs the blame,” said Parker[14]; “Fire not till they fire first. God’s house is here, and heaven, If worse should come to worst.”

Athwart the gray of morning, None knew how large a force Came crowding against the common, With cries and orders hoarse.

But yet across the common, And just beyond the church, We form’d a line to check there The crown’s illegal search.

At double quick, and onward, With bayonets fix’d, they came; Then wide and wild their red coats About us burst like flame.

Before them rode their leader, And cried with many a curse: “Lay down your arms, you villains![15] You villains you, disperse!”

But, true to law and country, Scarce one his musket dropt[16]; And then their column falter’d, Broke up, moved slower, stopt.

“You rebels!” roar’d the leader, While up his pistol came—[17] A hint his minions welcomed; We saw them all take aim.

We saw them, but we waited, Till “Fire!” their leader cried,[17] And shot, and howl’d, “Surround them!” And round us turn’d to ride.

They fired and surged about us,[18] Ah me, a fiery flood!— All overwhelm’d, our brothers Were falling, drench’d in blood.

“Serve God before the Briton!” Cried Parker,[19] where he bled; And nine of us were wounded; And seven of us were dead.[20]

“Away!” a voice repeated,[21] “Away while yet we may. To stay were now but murder! To wall and fence away!”

Off sped we then to shoot them, Like Indians, one by one, But walls, in smoke between us, They deem’d it wise to shun.

They cheer’d[22] and left for Concord. Our wounded home we bore: Then we too left for Concord, To meet them there once more.[23]

FOOTNOTES

[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.

THE RALLY OF THE FARMERS.

CONCORD, APRIL 19, 1775.

The Concord men had warning,[1] And flew from all their farms, Long hours before the daybreak, To save the colony’s arms.

And, days before the warning, Our Salem Congress, too, Had known their stores were menaced, And here had left but few.[2]

Yet these to drag and bury[1] Or hide in woods and rills, Men flock’d to town and from it, Like ants about their hills.

But soon, when came the morning, The “red-coats”[3] rose in sight, With guns above them flashing Like surf in seas of light.

Then, one by one, escaping What could but bode them ill, The farmers cross’d the river, And climb’d, anon, a hill.[4]

To the hill there came from Bedford,[4] And Littleton, and Carlisle, And Lincoln, Chelmsford, Westford, More men through each defile.

To the hill there came a rumor[5] How Lexington had fared, But no one spoke of yielding, And all for strife prepared.

From the hill they watch’d the village,[6] Where every house to scout, Like busy bees the red-coats[3] Went bustling in and out.

Despite our wives protesting, Their hostile blows would shower, Till scores of barrels, bursting, Beclouded all with flour.[7]

Ere long, they spiked our cannon, And fill’d our pond with balls,[7] And piled the cannon’s wagons To block the roads like walls.

And then this foe that fear’d it, Our “liberty-pole” cut down,[7] And burn’d it with the wagons That yet might burn the town.

Soon seem’d our court-house burning,[7] With none the flames to stay;[8] But “Justice,” cried our leader, “Will house in heaven to-day.

“Now wait we till these troopers Of luck have had their fill, And part of them drift hither, Or all assault our hill.

“The hill, if they move up it, Their lines can never take; Like waves that dash at headlands, Their wavering ranks will break.”

Just then, they most had started, Though some were plundering still, To seize two bridges crossing The stream beneath the hill.[9]

To seize them was to sever Our women from our men, Our homes from those who own’d them, And what would follow then?

“The north bridge,”—argued Hosmer[10]; “Keep back from it the foe!” “No man of mine from Acton,” Said Davis,[10] “fears to go.”

And then our leader Barrett[11] The order “Forward!” gave, Where moved the men of Acton[11] Behind their captain brave.

With arms beside them trailing, In double file and slow,[12] Not daunted by the danger, These farmers faced their foe.

The British ran to ruin The bridge, and then retire.[13] “Hold!” cried our Major Buttrick[14]; They answer’d but to fire.

Dead Davis fell, and Hosmer.[15] “In God’s name,” Buttrick[16] cried, “Fire, fire!”—and two fell dying Upon the British side.

Thus Heaven, where hung the purpose A grander man to mould, Had Saxon hurl’d on Saxon, The new world on the old.

Our foe in haste retreated.[17] Their colonel, where they sped, March’d forth to reinforce them; Then all for Boston led.[18]

But now our men from Reading[19] And Sudbury hurried out, And Woburn, wild to flank them: Their march became a rout.[19]

We had but half their number[20]; But, wrongs avenging thus, Their red coats had been safer With Spanish bulls than us.

Though guards at every turning, Would cover well their flanks; Our smoke, from ambush leaping,[21] Shot, ghost-like, through their ranks.

From Dedham, Essex, Danvers, From Chelsea, Marblehead, From Dorchester, and Brookline,[22] Our men to meet them sped.

Back slunk their line before us, A weary, wounded snake: Up hill, down dale, round river, It wound and bled and brake.

The whole reserve in Boston[23] Pour’d out to help them back; But all the trees and houses Were haunting now their track.

They turn’d to shoot our mothers; They turn’d our babes to kill; Our vengeance rose at Cambridge,[24] And raged at Prospect Hill.[25]

Down sweeping, Heath and Warren A charge to break them led; Then Pickering’s men from Salem[25] Burst, flood-like o’er their head.[26]

Full night had known its fullest, Ere all their fears were still’d; Full ninescore had we wounded, And more than threescore kill’d.[27]

Nor, till they touched the river,[28] And by the fleet had pass’d, Our eyes that faced the danger Were once behind us cast.

And then, alas to view it! Hot, bitter tears we shed; Full thirty found we wounded, And wellnigh sixty dead.[27]

Our wives had lost their husbands; Our mothers lost their boys; Our homes were fill’d with mourning, And gone were all our joys.

Yet, when we clasp’d those corpses, As over Huns of old, It seem’d the skies were filling With souls for ours enroll’d.

Our prayers when all were buried, Were vows to Heaven o’erhead, From hearts that hail’d the glory Of joining there their dead.

Then, too, we held our weapons; Had foil’d the British aims; And held our homes:—our women[29] Had quench’d the court-house flames.

Our men had met the army, And fought, and from that hour They all had grown to soldiers, Who knew and felt their power.

And so, despite the anguish That fill’d the morrow’s morn, The voice that wept betoken’d A nation, newly born.

“And I,” said Samuel Adams,[30] “Thank God this day to see!” “And I,” came back from Hancock[30]; “It makes the new world free!”

FOOTNOTES

[1] “There, at about two in the morning, a peal from the belfry of the meeting-house” called the inhabitants.—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. vii., ch. 27, p. 290. “There, in the morning hours, men ... were hiding what was left of cannon and military stores.”—_Idem_, ch. 28, p. 297.

[2] “The attempt had for several weeks been expected; ... in consequence, the committee of safety removed a part of the public stores and secreted the cannon.”—_Idem_, ch. 27, p. 288.

[3] “Red-coats,” a nickname given to the British soldiers, who wore red coats.

[4] “About seven o’clock the British marched ... under the brilliant sunshine into Concord.... The Americans ... therefore retreated ... till ... they gained high ground about a mile from ... the town.... There they waited for aid.... Between nine and ten the number had increased to more than four hundred ... from Bedford, ... Westford, ... from Littleton, from Carlisle, and from Chelmsford.”—_Idem_, ch. 28, pp. 298, 299.

[5] “The Americans had as yet received only uncertain rumors of the morning’s events at Lexington.”—_Idem_, p. 300.

[6] “The Americans saw before them ... British troops ... occupying their town.”—_Idem._

[7] “Sixty barrels of flour were broken in pieces; ... five hundred pounds of ball were thrown into a mill-pond. The liberty-pole and several carriages for artillery were burned; and the court-house took fire.”—_Idem._

[8] “At the sight of fire in the village, the impulse seized them ‘to march into the town for its defence.’”—_Idem._

[9] This is literally true. See description of the circumstances.—_Idem._

[10] “James Hosmer urged to dislodge the enemy at the North Bridge.... Capt. Isaac Davis, of Acton, said: ‘I have not a man that is afraid to go.’”—_Lossing’s Pict. Field Book_, vol. i., pp. 526, 527.

[11] “Barrett, the colonel, ... then gave the order to advance, but ‘not to fire’ unless attacked.... Davis, looking at the men of Acton, ... cried: ‘March.’ His company ... led the way towards the bridge, he himself at their head, and by his side Major John Buttrick, of Concord, with John Robinson, ... lieutenant-colonel, ... but on this day a volunteer without command.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. vii., ch. 28, p. 302.

[12] “In double file with trailed arms.”—_Lossing’s Pict. Field Book_, vol. i., p. 527.

[13] “The British began to take up the planks.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. vii., ch. 28, p. 302.

[14] “Major Buttrick called on them to desist.”—_Lossing’s Pict. Field Book_, vol. i., p. 190.

[15] “A volley followed, and Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer ... fell dead.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. vii., ch. 28, p. 303.

[16] “Buttrick ... cried aloud: ... ‘Fire, fellow-soldiers, for God’s sake, fire!’... Two of the British fell.”—_Idem._

[17] “The British retreated in disorder toward the main body.”—_Idem._

[18] “In ... Concord, Smith ... showed by marches and counter-marches, his uncertainty of purpose. At last ... he left the town, to retreat the way he came.”—_Idem_, p. 304.

[19] “The minute-men and militia ... ran over the hills, ... placed themselves in ambush, ... reinforced by men who were coming in from all around, and ... the chase of the English began. Among the foremost were the minute-men of Reading, ... of Billerica, ... the ... Sudbury company. The men from Woburn came up in great numbers and well armed.”—_Idem_, pp. 304, 305.

[20] “Of the Americans, there were never more than four hundred together at any one time; but, as some grew tired, others took their places.”—_Idem._, p. 308. The first detachment of British troops numbered “not less than eight hundred.”—_Idem_, ch. 27, p. 288.

[21] “Every piece of wood, every rock ... served as a lurking-place ... ‘the road was lined’ by an uninterrupted fire from behind stone walls and trees.”—_Idem_, p. 305.

[22] “Two waggons, sent out to them with supplies, were waylaid and captured by Payson, the minister of Chelsea. From far and wide minute-men were gathering. The men of Dedham, ... from Essex, and the lower towns, ... The company from Danvers, ... lost eight men.... Below West Cambridge, the militia from Dorchester, Roxbury, and Brookline came up.”—_Idem_, pp. 307-9.

[23] Lord Percy reinforced them with “about twelve hundred men.”—_Idem_, ch. 28, p. 306.

[24] “West Cambridge, where Joseph Warren and William Heath, ... the latter a provincial general officer, gave ... organization to the resistance, and the fight grew sharper.”—_Idem_, p. 308.

[25] “The Americans pressed upon the rear of the fugitives, whose retreat could not have been more precipitate ... had Pickering with his fine regiment from Salem and Marblehead been alert enough to have intercepted them in front ... they must have surrendered.”—_Idem_, p. 309.

[26] See _Lossing’s Field Book_, vol. 1, p. 528, etc.; also _Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. vii., ch. 28, p. 308.