2. • April 19, 1775
• The Lexington Road by the Meriams' Corner: Setting the Stage for
a tragic day in American History
On April 19, 1775 General Thomas Gage sent an expedition of
700 soldiers to Concord, MA to confiscate stolen and illegal
weapons and military supplies being stored in Concord in
preparation for conflict with British military forces. The Provincial
Congress in 1774 had ordered towns in Massachusetts to begin
storing supplies to prepare for what might happen if a conflict
broke out with the British military. Concord was considered a key
holding place for Provincial supplies particularly the farm of
Colonel James Barrett, commander of the militia from the
Concord area, as he was thought to be storing much of the arms
and supplies for his regiment at his farm.
3.
4. • The column of 700 soldiers was made up of the Grenadiers and
Light Infantry of the regiments in Boston at the time. Grenadiers
and light infantry were considered elite troops of the British army of
the 18th century, so this expedition was designed to be a surprise
strike by the elite soldiers of the time to seize supplies before open
violent conflict could begin. This was not to be the case.
5. •
After enduring numerous interruptions at the beginning of the march (late at
night on Tuesday April 18) the column began their march under the command
of Lt. Col. Francis Smith of the 10th Regiment of Foot. His second in command
was Major John Pitcairn of the British Marines. At Lexington Common the
regulars were met with the sight of the Lexington Militia assembled in 2 ranks in
a military manner. A few companies of the Light Infantry were tasked with
disarming the militia, who as the regulars approached began to disperse. As the
regulars closed in a single shot rang out and the regulars opened fire on the
militia. The officers and NCO's could not maintain control of the men who
chased the militia from the Common. It was only the sound of the drum which
drew the men back into their ranks.
6. Lt. Col. Smith ordered the column to continue the march to
Concord, which was done immediately. As they came into
town the regulars crossed the brook using the small bridge
near the Meriam Houses. Overlooking the house the hill
now known as Revolutionary Ridge. Seeing a number of the
Provincials gathered there (Capt. David Brown's Concord
Minute Company) the light infantry were dispatched to
move them from that hill. The provincials retired and
marched back to town in plain view of the regulars. This hill
is crucial to the story of the Meriam houses as we will see
later. This encounter made it clear to both sides that the
provincials would be able to pick the time and place of any
violent encounters were they to happen that day.
7.
8. Upon arriving in Concord center the column split up. One
contingent of four light infantry companies and some
artillerymen under the command of Capt. Laurence Parsons of
the 10th Light Infantry marched to Barrett's Farm to search for
the supplies being stored there. Another contingent under the
command of Capt. Mundy Pole of the 10th Foot took control of
the South Bridge and secured that. A third contingent of light
infantry took control of the North Bridge under the command of
Capt. Walter Sloane Laurie of the 43rd Light Infantry.
9. Several local minute and militia companies gathered nearby the
North Bridge at Major Buttrick's farm. The field in which they
gathered (now known as the "Muster Field") gave the minute and
militia companies a good vantage point of both the Bridge and
troops located there as well as looking beyond the bridge into
Concord Center.
10. The regulars under Capt. Laurie's command attempted to thwart the
provincials by pulling planks out of the bridge, but meeting with little
success as the provincials were upon them faster than expected, needed to
retreat to the far side of the Bridge. Once there, the regulars attempted to
form up in street firing, but being unable to do so a fire commenced from
both sides. It is unclear who fired first as the accounts vary, with several
provincial witnesses claiming that there were fired upon before firing at the
regulars, obeying orders given them by Col. Barrett which instructed them
to only fire if fired upon.
11. Most accounts by the regulars claimed that the provincials fired into the
regulars first, thereby justifying a return volley. We will probably never know
who fired first, but regardless both sides experienced casualties with two
provincials being skilled instantly, Capt Isaac Davis and Pvt. Abner Hosmer of
the Acton Minute Company, and two regulars killed instantly and a third
mortally wounded. In addition four of eight British officers at the Bridge
were wounded as were a number of other British soldiers
12.
13. Reverend William Emerson
•
Being outnumbered near four to one, the British regulars turned and "ran with a great
precipitance" according to Ens. Jeremy Lister of the 10th Regiment. The provincials followed
across the bridge and as they the wounded British regular left at the bridge reached out and
according to Rev. William Emerson of Concord (an outspoken Whig minister) was assaulted by
one of the young men serving in Capt. David Brown's Concord minute company, Ammi White.
According to Rev. Emerson: "not under the feelings of humanity, barbarously broke his
(soldier's) skull" using his hatchet. This incident would be one that would stick in the minds of
the regulars for the remainder of the day and was indeed used as justification by British
officials to explain why the British soldiers would behave in a similar manner later in the
day, particularly in the town of Menotomy (modern day Arlington).
Once Capt. Parsons returned to the center of town the column assembled and began to march.
The Light Infantry were dispatched again on the ridge to ensure that the provincials were
unable to hold that high ground. As the regulars marched out of town a quiet gripped them as
they made their way towards Meriam's Corner at the base of the ridge.
•
14. •
Meriam's Corner is the site where the Battle Road begins. It is where April 19 went
from a day of a couple of small violent skirmishes to becoming a running 16 mile long
battle which became the opening salvo in a war which would last eight years.
Meriam's corner is the site where the people of Massachusetts openly committed
treason and turned a fight for rights and self government into a fight to defend their
homes and families from those who meant to do them harm. It is here at Meriam's
Corner that people remember the bravery of the minutemen and militia who took up
arms against their government in order to protect their property and loved ones.
Much of what we know about Meriam's Corner is still up for debate. There are
multiple accounts which claim different actions at different places.
15.
16. Reading # 1
The Account of Lieutenant John Barker
Light Company, His Majesty's 4th (King's Own) Regiment of Foot
•
From his diary, later published (first in 1876) as The British in Boston, being the daily diary of Lt. John
Barker of the King's Own Regiment from November 15, 1774 to May 31, 1776.
"We waited a considerable time there, and at length proceeded on our way to
Concord, which we then learnt was our destination, in order to destroy a magazine
of stores collected there. We met with no interruption till within a mile or two of
the town, where the country people had occupied a hill which commanded the
road. The Light Infantry were ordered away to the right and ascended the height in
one line, upon which the Yankies quitted it without firing, which they did likewise
for one or two more successively..."
An officer of the 4th (King's Own) Regiment of Foot(1776-1780)
17. Reading # 2
Captain William Soutar
Commander of the Light Infantry Company of the British Marines in Boston
•
Correspondence from 1775
"The country by this time had took Ye alarm, and were immediately in
Arms, and had taken their different stations behind Walls &c....On our
leaving Concord we were immediately surrounded on every Quarter, and
expected to be cut off every moment..."
Unknown Officer, Marine Corps
18. Reading # 3
Ensign Jeremy Lister
Volunteer, Light Infantry Company, His Majesty's 10th Regiment of Foot
•
From his diary written in 1782, reprinted as The Concord Fight, The Narrative of Jeremy Lister
• "On Capt. Parsons joining us [we] begun our march toward Boston again
from Concord. The Light Infantry marched over a hill above the town, the
Grenadiers through the town, immediately as we descended the hill into
the Road the Rebels begun a brisk for but at so great a distance it was
without effect, but as they kept marching nearer when the Grenadiers
found them within shot they returned their fire. Just about that time I
received a shot through my right elbow joint which effectually disabled
that arm. It then became a general firing upon us from all quarters, from
behind hedges and walls…”
19. Reading # 4
Lt. William Sutherland
Volunteer from His Majesty's 38th Regiment of Foot
•
Letter written by Sutherland to British commander in chief Thomas Gage, dated April 26, 1775.
On the march out to Concord at about 8:30 in the morning:
"On our approaching Concord we saw upon the heights what appeared to me to amount to 12 or 1500
people, on which we halted…to make a disposition to go up the hill… which we did…still as we marched on
they retreated…but the main body of them kept still together till they retreated over the Bridge beyond
Concord..."
On the return march to Boston at about 12:30 in the afternoon:
"On our being joined by all partys & the Wounded Officers put into two one horse Chairs we marched from
Concord, just at the end of the Town next to this a few Concealed Villains fired on us, of which we killed
1, but they wounded 1 of
ours, here I saw upon a height to my right hand a vast number of Armed men drawn out in Battalia order, I
dare say near 1000 who on our coming nearer dispersed into the Woods & came as close to the road on
our
flanking partys as they possibly could, upon our as-cending the height to the road gave us a very heavy
fire,..."
20. Reading # 5
Letter from a Private Soldier in the Light Infantry
•
•
•
This account comes from an enlisted man in one of the Light Infantry companies of Col. Smith's
expedition
Dated: Boston, August 20, 1775
Soldier's account of the march out to Concord:
"...On a hill near Concord there was assembled a number of people, about 700, at
exercise; they were ready prepared for us, being all loaded with powder and ball.
We then halted, and looked at them, as cocks might do on a pit before the fight.
But it was not our business to wait long looking at them; so we fixed our bayonets,
and immediately charged them up the hill, in order to disperse them but we were
greatly mistaken for they were not to be dispersed so easily, the whole of them
giving us a smart fire, but we returned the compliment, and pursued them with
charged bayonets till we entered the town of Concord, where we cut down what
they call their Liberty Pole."
Soldier's account of the retreat to Boston:
"...After this we began a retreat back towards Boston but we were but a poor
handful of men, being only about 756, and they were so numerous, that we were
not able to withstand them. They manned the hills on every side, and lined the
stone walls by the roads in such a manner, that it was almost impossible for us to
make a retreat..."
Pencil sketch of British Light Infantryman - Study by
Phillipe Jacques de Loutherbourg, 1778
for The Mock Attack at Warley Common
21. Reading # 6
Reverend Edmund Foster
Marched with the Reading Minute Company under the command of John
Brooks
•
From a letter dated 1825 to his friend Col. Daniel Shattuck
“A little before we came to Merriam’s Hill, we discovered the enemy’s flank guard, of about 80 or
100 men, who, on their retreat from Concord, kept that height of the land, the main body on the
road. The British troops and the Americans, at that time, were equally distant from Meriam’s
Corner. About 20 rods (330 feet) short of that place, the Americans made a halt. The British
marched down the hill with very slow, but steady step, without music or a word being spoken that
could be heard. Silence reigned on both sides. As soon as the British had gained the main road, and
passed a small bridge near that corner, they faced about suddenly, and fired a volley of musketry
upon us. They overshot; and no one, to my knowledge, was injured by the fire. The fire was
immediately returned by the Americans, and two British soldiers fell dead at a little distance from
each other, in the road near the brook...
“The battle now began, and was carried on with little or no military discipline and order, on the
part of the Americans, during the remainder of the day. Each one sought his own place and
opportunity to attack and annoy the enemy from behind trees, rocks, fences, and buildings, as
seemed most convenient...”
22. Reading # 7
Gov. John Brooks
Commander of one of the Reading Minute Companies
on April 19, 1775
This account was shared with the author William Sumner who recounts in his 1851 book, "A History of East
Boston" having walked the grounds near Meriam's Corner with John Brooks, presumably in the early
part of the nineteenth century. Brooks, though a major at this time, would go on to later become
Governor of Massachusetts during the War of 1812.
"The mere names of Lexington and Concord remind the writer of his duty to the
memory of his much respected friend, the late Gov. Brooks, which has so long a
time been omitted. The account which follows was received from him when riding
with him to attend a review near Concord. On the way, in passing over the
bridge, he pointed out the very barn under cover of which he made the attack. The
site of these brought to his mind the circumstances which he then related; or
otherwise, from his well-known modesty, it is probable the public would never
have been informed of the particulars of this attack of the gallant captain, with a
single company, upon the whole British Army, which would hardly have been
justifiable had not the enemy been on a hasty retreat.
23. Reading # 7 Continued
• When speaking of the valor of our undisciplined militia in the first day’s
conflict at Lexington and Concord, which spread so much alarm through
the country, he observed that the Reading company of minute-men, which
he was chosen to command when he first commenced the practice of
medicine in that town, were a little better drilled, although he did not
claim for the greater courage, than those who were earlier engaged in the
conflict. When he took command of that company he judged the from the
signs of the times that it was first duty to those who had placed
confidence in him, to acquire what knowledge he could of military
matters. Accordingly he made a visit to Salem to consult Col.
Pickering, who was then considered the best tactician with whom he could
readily confer. He found the instructions he thus received of great use
when, soon afterward, he fired upon the British army on their retreat from
Concord.
24. Reading # 7 Continued
• As soon as the news of the fight at Lexington reached Reading, he called
out his company and marched directly towards Concord, where were the
stores which they supposed Gen. Gage had in view to destroy. On his
march, at the intersection of the road from Chelmsford with the one that
led from Bedford to Concord, upon which he was travelling, he came in
contact with Col. Bridge, to whose regiment his company belonged. He
was on his way to Concord with the rest of the regiment, or as much of it
as he had been able to collect. Capt. Brooks saluted, and reported himself
for orders. Col. Bridge said, “I am glad you have come up, Captain. We will
stop here and give our men some refreshment, and then push on to
Concord.” The answer was, “My men have just refreshed themselves, and
as I think there is no time to be lost, with your leave I will go ahead; and as
neither of us is aware of what is taking place, if I get into any difficulty I
shall know that you will soon follow me, and shall have the main body of
your regiment to fall back upon.”
25. Reading # 7 Continued
• The colonel replied, “You may go; but as you are unaqcuainted with
the posture of affairs, be careful and not go too far ahead.” Having
this authority from his colonel, Capt. Brooks hastened on toward
Concord, and when he came near the main road from Concord to
Lexington, he saw the flank guard of the British army on this side of
a hill which intervened and kept the main body from his sight. He
imagined that the soldiers he saw belonged to the Charlestown
Artillery Company (having the same colored uniform) on their
retreat from the scene of conflict. He halted until he discovered his
mistake by seeing the flank guard fall in with the main body to cross
a bridge over a large brook on the road. Finding that his position
could not be outflanked, he ordered his men to advance, and taking
a position at Merriam’s Corner, covered by a barn and the walls
around it, told them to fire directly at the bridge, which was twenty
or thirty rods off. As the British Army was in great haste to make
good its retreat, it fired but one volley in return. When the enemy
had passed, examination was made to see what had been the effect
of the fire, and several persons – the writer thinks he said nine –
were hors de combat on or near the bridge."
26. Reading # 8
Amos Barrett
Capt. David Brown's Minute Company
One of two Concord Minute Companies
Part of a letter written in 1825, recounting his experiences on April 19, 1775
On the British march to Concord:
"Before sunrise thair was I beleave 150 of us and more of all that was
thair. --We thought we wood go and meet the British. We marched down
to ward L about a mild or mild half and we see them a comming, we
halted and stayd till they got within about 100 rods then we was orded to
about face and marchd before them with our drums and fifes agoing and
also the B. We had grand musick. We marched into town..."
On the British retreat from Concord:
“After a while we found them a marching back toward Boston, we was
soon after them. When they got about a mil half to a road that comes
from Bedford to Bildraa (Billerica?) they was way laid and a grait many
killd when I got their a grait many lay dead and the road was bloddy..”
Amos’ powder horn
27. Reading # 9
Thaddeus Blood
Capt. Nathan Barrett's Militia Company
One of two militia companies from Concord on April 19, 1775
Thaddeus Blood recounted what he remembered from April 19, 1775 in a letter written in 1825.
On the British march to Concord:
"...About 4 o'clock the several companys (companies) of Concord
were joined by two companies from Lincoln. The malitia (militia)
commanded by Capt. Perce...we were then formed, the minute on
the right & Capt. Barrett's on the left . & marched in order to the
end of Meriam's Hill then so called. & saw the British troops a
coming down Brook's Hill. The sun was arising & Shined on their
arms & they made a noble appearrance (appearance) in their red
coats & glising (glistening) arms - - we retreated in order, over the
top of the hill to the liberty pole erected on the heighth (heights)
opposite the meeting house & made a halt..."
28. Reading # 9
• On the British retreat from Concord:
"...After the fire every one appearred (appeared) to be his own
commander it was thot (thought) best to go to the east part of the
Town & take them as they cam back each took his own station, for
myself I took my stand south of where Den. Minot then lived, & saw
the British come from Concord their left on the hill when near the
foot of the hill, Col. Thomeson of Billerica came up with 3 or 4
hundred men and there was a heavy fire but the distance so great,
that little injury was done on either side, at least I saw but one
killed. number wounded I know not. - - I know it has been said that
Genl (General) Bridge commanded the Regiment from Chelmsford
& Billerica he might be some officer in the Reg. But it can be easily
proved that Col.Tomson went with the Regt to cambridge & stodd
(stood) till the troops was organized. & bring old Bridge was made
Col..."
29. Reading # 10
Joseph Meriam
Son of Nathan Meriam who was a private in Capt. Minot's Militia Company
One of two in Concord on April 19, 1775
This account is from Concord by John McKinstry Merriam published in 1894. His grandfather was Joseph Meriam, who lived at
Meriam's corner on the 19th of April 1775 and was seven years old on that day.
"On the morning of the nineteenth of April, when the alarm was given in Concord that
British soldiers were coming, Josiah Meriam, with his older sons, Josiah, Jr., and
Timothy, went to the village, and later were among the forces at the North
Bridge, and probably crossed the meadows and appeared again at the encounter
near their house. Joseph, the youngest son, my grandfather, then seven years
old, remained at home, as he always said, "to take care of the women," and soon
went with them to a place of refuge in the woods behind the hill. The British
soldiers entered the house, helped themselves to whatever breakfast they could
find, taking the unbaked pies from the oven, took the kettle of soft soap from the
crane over the open fire, spilled it upon the floor, and scattered the ashes from the
fireplace. It was fortunate that they helped themselves liberally in the morning, for
later in the day they repassed the same house when hot johnny cake and new
baked bread and fragrant pies could not tempt them to linger.
30. Reading # 10
• " My grandfather lived to be eighty-nine years old. He must have
been among the very last who could, from actual recollection tell
the story of the 19th of April. Toward the end of his life he was
asked if he thought the British soldiers understood the art of war.
His reply was that "he did not know whether they did or not when
they came into Concord, but he was pretty sure they did before
they went out of it."
