s the Cadet company, being perfectly
compleat and under the best order you can conceive of, with a band of
musick likewise, that perform admirably well. What with these and
Paddock's company of artillery make y^e completest militia in America;
not a drummer, fifer, and scarcely a soldier but what are in compleat
uniforms and thoroughly instructed in the military exercises."

It was this Boston Cadet company that, at the affront to its leader
Hancock had returned its standard to the governor and disbanded. Gage
knew too well that others of the companies were thoroughly disaffected.
In fact, many of the Boston young men left the town before hostilities
began, and were ready to join with their country brethren in showing
that their military training was worth something.

Yet early in the fall it was recognized in the colony that the militia
system was not sufficient, being too slow of movement to meet any such
sudden expedition as that which Gage sent to seize the powder. It is not
surprising, therefore, to find John Andrews reporting on October 5 the
existence of a new body of troops, "which are call'd _minute men_,
_i.e._ to be ready at a minute's warning with a fortnight's provision,
and ammunition and arms." There is doubt of the origin of this body, but
it was first officially accepted in Concord, where the town adopted
definite terms of enlistment, the more important of which reads:--

"We will ... to the utmost of our power and abilities, defend all and
every of our charter rights, liberties, and privileges; and will hold
ourselves in readiness at a minute's warning, with arms and ammunition
thus to do."[56]

Tradition says that the terms of the enlistment were interpreted
literally, and that wherever the minute men went, to the field, the
shop, or to church, gun and powder-horn and bullet-pouch were ready to
hand. It is scarcely an exaggeration to suppose that, as represented by
French's statue, the farmers actually left the plough in the furrow and
snatched up the ready rifle.

One further preparation was also made. The rallying point was possibly
Worcester, where were the courts and some few stores; but it was more
probably Concord. The shortest route to Concord, or to the road between
Concord and Boston, was known to the captain of every company of minute
men within a hundred miles. But that the captains should be notified of
any emergency was essential. A complete system of couriers for
spreading news was