Part of what has made our mission to the Northeast special is the historical significance of the land and places. Even the town next to Bloomfield called Windsor was settled in 1633! It's humbling to know the land we walk on was also trod by early Americans, patriots, and possibly Doc's distant relatives. Here is a heritage and when we visit sites like Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, we feel a reverence for what took place here.
It's as though the land is whispering, remember, remember what we fought for. I believe the Revolutionary War was fought as part of the great plan so freedoms were in place so the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored. This is a promised land. We can feel it walking the trails in Lexington, Concord and the like.
So, on Sat., March 19, 2011, we journeyed to the Massachusetts Boston Mission office to deliver some items the new AMA will need. We were greeted warmly by President Evans and his Assistants to the President. Following our brief stop, we were off to Revolutionary War country.
Between Lexington and Concord is the Minute Man National Park. It's one of the starting places for numerous walking paths that trace the ride of Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott. The above picture is the huge mural depicting the first confrontation that took place at the Battle Green in Lexington.
Just as a refresher, in the early months of 1775, General Thomas Gage, commander of the British forces occupied Boston. The colonists were not happy with the mother country's iron fist toward economic policies. Gage had been ordered to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, two rebel rousers. Instead Gage decided to do a less inflammatory maneuver and confiscate the colonists arms. Gage learned the colonists were storing arms in nearby Concord. On the evening of April 18, he order over 800 of his finest men to conduct a raid and destory the weapons. Colonial intelligence learned of this plans and riders including Paul Revere, were sent to warm the country side that the British Regular troops were on the move.
On the triangle of land behind this Minute Man statue, the first conflict of the American Revolutionary War began on the morning of April 19, 1775.
Due to delays the British didn't arrive until almost 6 a.m. Captain John Parker's militia of 75 men had moved from Buckman Tavern and were assembed on the Green. They were ready to defend their town and their rights. Under orders to not fire unless fired upon first, the militia met the Regulars. The Red Coat muskets were loaded and bayonets attached. They formed a line where the flagpole is located on the Green. British officers at the front of the line on horseback tried to defuse the situation and ordered the militia to lay down their arms and disperse. Capt. Parker seeing the great discrepancy in manpower and arms, order his men to dispers and not to fire.
Suddenly a gun shot rang out and mayhem began. Who fired first is still a mystery. The rank and file Regulars believing they were being fired upon and itching for a chance to act forcibly against the rebels spontaneously opened fire. Several of the militia were felled during the ferocious volley. In a few minutes, eight of the colonists were dead and nine others wounded. One Red Coat was wounded. The British decided to proceed to Concord and complete their mission. Little did they know a long day awaited them.
The bodies of those who lost their lives that morning are entombed at the Battle Green.
Each April 19th, at 5:45 a.m., volunteers reenact the battle.
Isn't this cut out impressive of Paul Revere warning the countryside of the marching British?
Here'a a picture of the recreated North Bridge in Concord were the second real confict took place. The colonists had time to assemble and were ready to fight.
British soldiers began searching house-to-house for arms. Militia men advanced on the three British companies that were led to guard the bridge. The British fired a volly that killed two Minute Men. Major John Buttrick of Concord gave the order, "Fire, fellow soldiers, for God's sake, fire!" For the first time colonials fired a volley into the ranks of British soldiers. Two British soldiers were killed. The fighting continued. The British, out nunbered four to one and with half of their officers wounded, retreated to the center of town. A running skirmish ensued between the enlarging militia and Regulars back to Boston. The British encountered heavy, unrelenting fire from the hundreds of militiamen behind building, wall and tree, but the range was too great for the muskets to do much damage and the British escaped with relatively few injuries.
At the end of the day, the British had 73 dead, 174 wounded with 26 missing. Colonial losses were 49 dead, 40 wounded and 5 missing.
The battle at North Bridge became known as "the shot heard round the world."
We were greeted at North Bridge by a Revolutionary War volunteer. Even though it was cold, he was happy to answer our questions.
Next to North Bridge is the Old Manse home. Occupants watched the horrific battle. Later it became the home to several literary people.
At the North Bridge Visitor Center, several gardens and walking paths dot the landscape.
To complete the day, we just had to stop by Walden Pond that inspired Henry David Thoreau's writtings. It was more like a lake than a pond in our estimation and Doc was surprised that Thoreau had to transcend railroad construction and commercialization of the pond. Thoreau's small cabin was recreated. It's the size of a tent and had a cot, wood-burning stove, small desk and chair. His matra was live simply.
