set a guard of a hundred men at the North Bridge,
and sent up a party to the house of Colonel Barrett, where
they were in expectation of finding a quantity of warlike 25
stores; but these were happily secured just before their
arrival by transfer into the woods and other by-places.
In the meantime, the guard set by the enemy to secure the
pass at the North Bridge were alarmed by the approach
of our people, who had retreated, as mentioned before, 30
and were now advancing with special orders not to fire
upon the troops unless fired upon.

These orders were so punctually observed that we received
the fire of the enemy in three several and separate
discharges of their pieces before it was returned by our
commanding officer. The firing then soon became general
for several minutes, in which skirmish two were killed on 5
each side and several of the enemy wounded. It may here
be observed, by the way, that we were the more careful
to prevent beginning a rupture with the King's troops as
we were then uncertain what had happened at Lexington
and knew not that they had begun the quarrel there by 10
first firing upon our party and killing eight men upon the
spot. The British troops soon quitted their post at the
bridge and retreated in great disorder and confusion to the
main body, who were soon upon the march to meet them.
For half an hour the enemy, by their marches and countermarches, 15
discovered great fickleness and inconstancy of
mind, sometimes advancing, sometimes returning to their
former posts, till at length they quitted the town and retreated
by the way they came. In the meantime a party of
our men (one hundred and fifty) took the back way through 20
the great fields into the East Quarter and had placed themselves
to advantage, lying in ambush behind walls, fences,
and buildings, ready to fire upon the enemy on their retreat.

--_Journal._

1. This entry in Mr. Emerson's journal was made on
the day of the Lexington-Concord battle. Give the
date of it.

2. What poem did the Reverend Mr. Emerson's
grandson write about the battle of Concord? Bring
it to class and read it.

3. What famous ride is connected with this battle?

4. Describe the fight. Was Mr. Emerson actu