y. From behind every tree, every bowlder, every
wall, every hedge, enemies trained in the warfare of the wilderness
poured their fire upon the retiring troops. It seemed to one of the
officers engaged in that memorable fight as if the skies rained down
foes upon them, unseen foes only made known by the accuracy of their
marksmanship and the pertinacity of their veiled pursuit. All the way
from Concord the retiring troops fought in vain with an enemy that was
seldom seen, but whose presence was everywhere manifested by the
precision of his aim and the tale of victims that followed each volley.
The retreat was becoming a rout when reinforcements sent out from
Boston under the command of Lord Percy stayed an actual stampede. But
it could not stay the retreat nor avert defeat. Lord Percy, who had
marched out with his bands playing "Yankee Doodle," in mockery of the
Americans, had to retreat in his turn with no mocking music, carrying
with him the remnant of the invaders of Concord. He {175} and his
force did not get within touch of Boston and the protection of the guns
of the fleet a moment too soon. Had a large body of insurgents, who
came hurrying in to help their brethren, arrived on the field a little
earlier, Lord Percy and his command must inevitably have been made
prisoners of war. As it was, this one day's business had given success
and the confidence that comes of success to the raw colonists, and had
inflicted a crushing defeat upon a body of soldiers who had been led to
believe that the sight of their scarlet coats would act like a charm to
tame their untutored opponents.

[Sidenote: 1776--Military success of the colonists]

Gage only recovered from the shock of this disaster to realize that
Boston was invested by an insurgent army. The victors of the fight and
flight from Concord were rapidly reinforced by bodies of men from all
parts of the country; their ranks were hourly swelled by levies roughly
armed but stubbornly resolved. Unpleasant facts forced themselves
thick and fast upon Gage's notice. But yesterday, as it were, he had
imagined that the mere presence of the forces under his command was
sufficient to overawe the colonists and settle any show of
insubordination forever; to-day he had to swallow in shame and anger a
staggering defeat. Still Gage did nothing and his enemies accumulated.
Royal reinforcements arrived under Burgoyne, Clinton, and Howe, to do
nothing in their turn. But the pea