ely burning cannon wheels and
spoons. The officers consulted, and Captain Smith, of Lincoln, urged
that the bridge be forced. Davis of Acton, speaking of his company,
said, "I haven't a man that's afraid to go!" The movement was decided
upon, and the militia, in double file, marched down toward the bridge.
The Acton company had the lead, with Davis at its head; beside him
marched Major John Buttrick, of Concord, in command, with
Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, of Westford, as a volunteer aid. As the
provincials drew near, the British hastily retreated across the bridge,
and their commander awkwardly marshalled his three companies one behind
the other, so that only the first could fire. As some of the soldiers
began to take up the planks of the bridge, the Americans hastened their
march, and presently the British fired. There is no question that they
began the fight, with first a few scattering guns, "up the river," and
then a volley at close range.

The whole was seen by the Concord minister, William Emerson, from his
study in the Manse, close by. For a moment, he records, he feared that
the fire was not to be returned; but he need not have doubted. The
British volley killed the Acton captain, Davis, and Hosmer, his
adjutant. Then Major Buttrick, leaping into the air as he turned to his
men, cried, "Fire, fellow-soldiers; for God's sake, fire!"

"We were then," records Amos Barrett, of the second company, "all
ordered to fire that could fire and not kill our own men." The return
fire, though from the awkward position of double file, was effective.
Two of the British were killed outright, another fell wounded, and the
whole, apparently doubting their ability to hold the bridge, hastily
retreated upon the main body. "We did not follow them," records Barrett.
"There were eight or ten that were wounded and a-running and a-hobbling
about, looking back to see if we were after them."

As reminders of the fight, besides the bridge which Concord, many years
after its disappearance, rebuilt on the centenary of the day, the town
points to the graves of the two soldiers killed in the fight, who were
buried close by. Another memorial is seen in the bullet-hole in the
Elisha Jones house near at hand, at whose door the proprietor showed
himself as the regulars hastily retreated. On being fired at, Jones
speedily removed himself from the scene, and from subsequent history.

There were no further immediate consequences. The Americans cr