orner of Main and Laurel Streets, was the
armory of the minute men, about forty of whom were enrolled and
regularly drilled; while by vote of the town fifty dollars was
appropriated for powder, lead and flints.

The eventful nineteenth of April, 1775, at last arrived and found the
little town ready for action. So rapidly did the news spread that at
nine o'clock in the morning the alarm was fired in front of the store of
Deacon Kimball. The company had spent the previous day in drill, and at
the summons the members promptly assembled, and being joined by a few
volunteers, about fifty men took up their line of march for Concord,
under the command of Captain Ebenezer Bridge, who afterwards became
Colonel, and whose regiment, in the battle of Bunker Hill, was engaged
in the fiercest of the contest. With the minute men was sent a large
wagon loaded with provisions, which followed them to Concord, where they
arrived in the evening, too late to take any part in the fight.

It was now necessary to organize a permanent army to defend the towns
around Boston; and Fitchburg and Leominster enlisted a company of
volunteers to serve for eighteen months. At the battle of Bunker Hill
John Gibson of Fitchburg was killed while fighting bravely in the
intrenchments.

When the Continental Congress asked the support of the Colonies to the
contemplated Declaration of Independence, the Massachusetts General
Court sent circulars, asking the opinion of the several towns in regard
to the measure. The answer of Fitchburg was as follows:

"Voted in town meeting, that if the Honorable Continental Congress
should for the safety of these United Colonies declare them
independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we, the
inhabitants of the town of Fitchburg, will, with our lives and
fortunes, support them in the measure."

In February, 1776, the warrant for town meeting ran thus: "In his
Majesty's name." In May the warrant ran as follows: "In the name of the
writ to us directed, these are in the name of the Governor and people of
Massachusetts Bay." After the declaration of independence the warrant
ran thus: "In the name of the State of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay."

For seven long years the little town of Fitchburg bore bravely and
unflinchingly the hardships of the war. The burden to the inhabitants of
furnishing their quota of men, money, and provisions, was a heavy one,
the depreciation of the currency was rui