"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, William Draper, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Colrain,
in the county of Hampshire, and colony of Massachusetts Bay, in
New England, do testify and declare, that, being on the parade of
said Lexington, April 19th instant, about half an hour before
sunrise, the king's regular troops appeared at the meeting-house
of Lexington. Captain Parker's company, who were drawn up back of
said meeting-house on the parade, turned from said troops, making
their escape, by dispersing. In the meantime, the regular troops
made a huzza, and ran toward Captain Parker's company, who were
dispersing; and, immediately after the huzza was made, the
commanding officer of said troops (as I took him) gave the
command to the said troops--"Fire! fire! damn you, fire!"--and
immediately they fired, before any of Captain Parker's company
fired, I then being within three or four rods of said regular
troops. And further say not.

"WILLIAM DRAPER."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, Thomas Fessenden, of lawful age, testify and declare, that,
being in a pasture near the meeting-house, at said Lexington, on
Wednesday last, at about half an hour before sunrise, I saw a
number of regular troops pass speedily by said meeting-house, on
their way toward a company of militia of said Lexington, who were
assembled to the number of about one hundred in a company, at the
distance of eighteen or twenty rods from said meeting-house; and
after they had passed by said meeting-house, I saw three
officers, on horseback, advance to the front of said regulars,
when one of them, being within six rods of the said militia,
cried out, "Disperse, you rebels, immediately!" on which he
brandished his sword over his head three times: meanwhile, the
second officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a
pistol, pointed at said militia, and the regulars kept huzzaing
till he had finished brandishing his sword; and when he had thus
finished brandishing his sword, he pointed it down toward said
militia, and immediately on which the said regulars fired a
volley at the militia, and then I ran off as fast as I could,
while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. I