MAN, _Sec. P. T._"

The depositions relative to the commencement of hostilities are as
follows:--

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"We, Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, and Elijah Sanderson, all of
lawful age, and of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and
colony of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, do testify and
declare that, on the evening of the 18th of April, instant, being
on the road between Concord and Lexington, and all of us mounted
on horses, we were, about ten of the clock, suddenly surprised by
nine persons, whom we took to be regular officers, who rode up to
us, mounted and armed, each having a pistol in his hand, and,
after putting pistols to our breasts, and seizing the bridles of
our horses, they swore, if we stirred another step, we should be
all dead men, upon which we surrendered ourselves. They detained
us until two o'clock the next morning, in which time they
searched and greatly abused us, having first inquired about the
magazine at Concord, whether any guards were posted there, and
whether the bridges were up, and said four or five regiments of
regulars would be in possession of the stores soon. They then
brought us back to Lexington, cut the horses' bridles and
girths, turned them loose, and then left us.

"SOLOMON BROWN,
"JONATHAN LORING, ELIJAH SANDERSON."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, Elijah Sanderson, above named, do further testify and
declare, that I was on Lexington common, the morning of the 19th
of April aforesaid, having been dismissed by the officers above
mentioned, and saw a large body of regular troops advancing
toward Lexington company, many of whom were then dispersing. I
heard one of the regulars, whom I took to be an officer, say,
"Damn them, we will have them;" and immediately the regulars
shouted aloud, run and fired upon the Lexington company, which
did not fire a gun before the regulars discharged on them. Eight
of the Lexington company were killed while they were dispersing,
and at a considerable distance from each other, and many wounded;
and, although a spectator, I narrowly escaped with my life.

"ELIJAH SANDERSON."