CHAPTER III T ON THROUGH ARLINGTON O return once more to the retreating British whose condition was now well-nigh desperate. Although1 the men had started out with seventy-two rounds of cartridges each, within about one mile of the village they scarce averaged two apiece; moreover the strain on the flanking parties had been so great they could hardly hold out longer in any case. It is supposed if Smith had found any one in command he would have surrendered 3 at discretion to save his men. The retreat was much hampered by wounded men, including eight of the officers. Three, it will be remembered, had been wounded at the North bridge, another at Merriam's Corner, and more recently Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and Lieutenants Baker, Cox, and Hawkshaw - the latter in the cheek. This last mischance occasioned especial regret, since he had been accounted "the greatest beauty of the British Army." 4 ་ They showed "amazing bravery," says DeBernière, but little order, and in truth were running. A small fifer boy kept up with them pluckily until an old fellow hit him with wild goose shot, and he sat down with his fife stuck into the breast of his jacket, begging for help. This was given by one Lexington family, who received abuse right and left for their kindness." An attempt to check the retreat and form two deep 1 Memorial History of Boston, III, 67, note. 2 Henry Pelham writing to Copley. Atlantic Monthly, April, 1893. Mass. His. Soc. Coll., 2d ser., IV. Beneath Old Roof Trees, 40. Brown. failed. For the moment the confusion increased, but once down hill and in the town "the officers got to the front and presented their pistols and told the men if they did not advance they should die; upon this they began to form under a very heavy fire;" happily for them, at this very instant they were joined by the First Brigade -the relief forces under Lord Percy. These consisted of the 4th Battalion Royal Artillery, 23d Royal Welsh Fusileers, the 47th Regiment, and a battalion of Marines with two field-pieces, six-pounders. This put a different face on everything. Lieutenant Barker 2 says, "We had been flattered ever since the morning with expectations of the Brigade coming out, but at this time had given up all hopes of it, as it was so late." They met "at half after two," half a mile below the church at Lexington. Cæsar Ferrit and his son John, of the Natick company,' had just reached a house near the Green. They fired on the flying British from the entry way and then hid under the cellar stairs, waiting until the retreat was resumed. Cæsar had a French and French and a Dutch grandfather, an Indian and African grandmother. John Bacon,' the father of Captain David Bacon of Natick, is said to have been killed during the day. Captain Joseph Morse's company brought back several prisoners, who settled in Dover. Lieutenant Mackenzie of the 23d Regiment states that they formed a line across the road as regularly as the stone walls would admit, upon a slight rise, whence they looked on toward the village and the hills back of it, and waited. Seeing this welcome support, the Grenadiers and Light Infantry shouted repeatedly 1 Mass. His. Soc. Coll., 2d ser., IV. 2 Atlantic Monthly, April, 1877. History of Middlesex County, I, 523. Hurd. 4 History of Middlesex County, 194. Drake. 5 History of Middlesex County, I, 523. Hurd. Compare History of Natick, 42. Oliver N. Bacon. 1856. Mass. His. Soc. Pro., March, 1890. and made haste to come up. They had reason for fatigue, having been on the road at least sixteen hours, and marched between twenty-five and thirty miles, latterly disputing every inch of headway they gained. At the end of their strength, when enclosed by the hollow square of their comparatively fresh comrades, the stampeded redcoats flung themselves on the ground, "their tongues hanging out like dogs' after a chase." Lieutenant Mackenzie 2 could not see above fifty Americans in a body at this time, but many lay concealed behind the field walls. The largest group was near the church, and a few cannon-shot were directed that way, clearing the road. Major Loammi Baldwin of Woburn was then passing along between the meeting-house and Buckman's tavern, a prisoner before him, "when," as he tells it, “the cannon began to play, the balls flew near me, I judged not more than two yards off." He immediately went behind the meeting-house, and inside ten seconds was driven to fresh shelter by a ball which passed through the building and came out near his head. Lying in the meadow, north of the Green, he saw the balls strike the ground about him, but was not hit. The shot which passed out by the pulpit window fell at the door of a house occupied by one of Parker's company. It was subsequently given to Harvard College, but has since been lost." Most of the balls went high overhead, but the heavy plunging fire was disconcerting and kept the Yankees back. Chaplain Thaxter says of it, "No cannon ever did more execution; such stories of their effects had been spread by the Tories through our troops, that, from this time, more went back than pursued." Jonathan Harris of the Concord Minute Com 1 1 Harper's Magazine, May, 1875. 2 Mass. His. Soc. Pro., March, 1890. 3 History of Middlesex County, I, 447. Hurd. 4 Historical and Genealogical Register, October, 1877. 5 Lexington Hand Book to Points of Interest, 34. Historical Magazine, March, 1869. pany said that the falling branches in the woods were "full of alarm," until they gradually became accustomed to the sound. 1 The dress of the Royal Artillery may not be uninteresting to note. The men wore white breeches, white stockings with black half-spatterdashes, and clubbed hair. The officers had their hair clubbed, when on duty, and a gold button and loop to their hats, which were cocked like the men's, with the front loop just over the nose. White stocks were alone permitted, for officers and men alike. Perhaps their white hose may have shown some traces of the Roxbury, Brookline, and Allston dust by this time, but as rescuers their comrades looked wholly good to the Grenadiers. Near the fork where the Woburn and Boston roads meet stands the present high school, its yard, then a hill, marked by a memorial cannon in stone, pointed at the Green, bearing these words: ON THE HILL TO THE SOUTH WAS PLANTED APRIL 19 1775 TO COMMAND THE VILLAGE AND ITS APPROACHES AND NEAR THIS PLACE As the Patriots regained courage, a few crept near enough to fire on the Brigade. There was an open, "morassy" ground to the left of the troops, opposite which were trees and walls yielding cover to the Yankees; a difficult spot to charge, but that was not thought of only a breathing spell, and renewed retreat. Drawing up by the marsh, an officer was sent to bring up a six-pounder, and aided by some of their best marksmen endeavored to prevent the Yankees turning the British flank, as they had offered to do under protection 1 History of the Royal Artillery, I, chapter XXIV. Captain Francis Duncan. London, 1879. 3d ed. 2 Lieutenant Mackenzie. Mass. His. Soc. Pro., March, 1890. of the covered ground. During the halt the dead were collected, carriages were sought out for the wounded, and such articles in the way of bandages and bedding as might add to their comfort. Less legitimate plunder was taken in many instances, and wanton destruction done in the way of damaged furniture, while three houses, two shops, a barn, and a mill-house adjoining the latter, were in the end burned. This last may have been done with the view of detaining their pursuers to gain a little time. The losses were apportioned as follows.1 Jonathan Harrington's house was much exposed to the firing, and ninety-four squares of glass and forty-two wooden 1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress, 1774-5. |