which the faid regulars fired a volley at the militia, and then I ran off as faft as I could, while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. I further teftify, that as foon as ever the officer cried " dife perfe, you rebels," the faid company of militia difperfed every way as faft they could, and while they were difperfing, the regulars kept firing at them inceffantly. And further faith not. THOMAS FESSENDEN.” Lincoln, April 23, 1775. I John Bateman, belonging to the fifty fecond regiment, commanded by Col. Jones, on Wednefday morning, on the 19th day of April inftant, was in the party marching to Concord, being at Lexington, in the county of Middlefex, being nigh the meeting-house in faid Lexington, there was a fmall party of men gathered together in that place, when our faid troops marched by, and I testify and declare that I heard the word of command given tó the troops to fire, and fome of faid troops did fire, and I faw one of faid fmall party lay dead on the ground nigh faid meeting-houfe; and I teftify that I never heard any of the inhabitants fo much as fire one gun on faid troops. JOHN BATEMAN." Lexington, April 23, 1775. "We John Hoar, John Whithead, Abraham Garfield, Benjamin Munroe, Ifaac Parks, William Hofmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, all of Lincoln, in the county of Middlefex, Maffachufett'sBay, all of lawful age, do teftify and say, that on Wednesday last we were affembled at Concord in the morning of faid day, in confequence of information received, that a brigade of regular troops were were on their march to the faid town of Concord, who had killed fix men at the town of Lexington; about an hour afterwards we faw them approaching, to the number, as we apprehended, of about twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the faid troops then took poffeffion of the hill, where we were first posted; prefently after this we faw the troops moving towards the North Bridge, about one mile from the faid Concord meeting-houfe, we then immediately went before them and paffed the bridge juft before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived; they there left about one half of their two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the reft towards Col. Barrett's, about two miles from the faid bridge; we then feeing feveral fires in the town, thought the houses in Concord were in danger, and marched towards the faid bridge, and the troops that were ftationed there, obferving our approach, marched back over the bridge and then took up fome of the planks; we then haftened our march towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge they fired on our men, first three guns, one after the other, and then a confiderable number more; and then, and not before (having orders from our commanding officer not to fire till we were fired upon) we fired upon the regulars and they retreated. On their retreat through the town of Lexington to Charlestown, they ravaged and deftroyed private property, and burnt three houfes, one barn, and one fhop Signed by each of the above deponents." Lexington, April 23, 1775. "We, Nathan Barret, Captain, Jonathan Farrar, Jofeph Butler, and Francis Wheeler, Lieute nants, nants, John Barret, Enfign, John Brown, Silas Walter, Ephraim Melvin, Nathan Buttrick, Stephen Hofmer, jun. Samuel Barret, Thomas Jones, Jofeph Chandler, Peter Wheeler, Nathan Pierce and Edward Richardfon, all of Concord in the county of Middlefex, in the province of Maffachusett's-Bay, of lawful age, teftify and declare, that on Wednesday the 19th inftant, about an hour after fun-rise we affembled on a hill near the Meeting-house in Concord aforefaid, in confequence of an information that a number of regular troops had killed fix of our countrymen at Lexington, and were on their march to faid Concord: and about an hour afterwards we faw them approaching, to the number, as we imagine, of about twelve hundred; on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the aforefaid troops then took poffeffion of a hill where we were firft pofted. Prefently after this we saw them moving towards the North Bridge, about one mile from faid Meeting-house, we then immediately went before them, and paffed the bridge juft before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived. They there left about one half of these two hundred men at the bridge, and proceeded with the reft towards Colonel Barret's, about two miles from the faid bridge. We ther feeing feveral fires in the town, thought our houses were in danger, and immediately marched back towards faid bridge, and the troops who were stationed there, obferving our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up fome of the planks. We then haftened our fteps towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men, first three guns one after the other, and then a confiderable number more: upon which, and not before, (having orders from our command 33 ing Officer not to fire till we were fired upon, we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. At Concord and on their retreat through Lexington, they plundered many houses, burnt three at Lexington, together with a fhop and barn, and committed damage more or lefs to almost every house from Concord to Charleftown. Signed by the above Deponents. "We, Jofeph Butler and Ephraim Melvin, do teftify and declare, that when the regular troops fired upon our people at the North bridge in Concord, as related in the foregoing depofitions, they shot one, and we believe two, of our people, before we fired a fingle gun at them. Lexington, ‚April 23, 1775. JOSEPH BUTLER, EPHRAIM MELVIN." Concord, April 23, 1775. "I, Timothy Minot, junior, of Concord, on the 19th day of this inftant April, after that I had heard of the regular troops firing upon Lexington men, and fearing that hoftilities might be committed at Concord thought it my incumbent duty to fecure my family-After I had fecured my family, fome time after that, returning towards my own dwelling, and finding that the bridge on the north part of faid Concord was guarded, by regular troops, being a fpectator of what had happened at faid bridge, declare, that the regular troops ftationed on faid bridge, after they faw the men that were collected on the wefterly fide of faid bridge marched towards faid bridge, then the troops returned towards the easterly fide of faid bridge and formed themselves, as I thought, for regular fight; after that they fired one gun, then two or three more, before the men that were ftationed on the wefterly part of faid bridge fired upon them. TIMOTHY MINOT, junior. Lexington Lexington, April 23, 1775. "I, James Barret, of Concord, Colonel of a regiment of militia in the county of Middlesex, dò teftify and fay, that on Wednesday morning laft, about day break, I was informed of the approach of a number of the regular troops to the town of Concord, where were fome magazines belonging to this province, when there was affembled fome of the militia of this and the neighbouring towns, I ordered them to march to the North Bridge (fo called) which they had paffed and were taking up. I ordered faid militia to march to faid bridge, and pafs the fame, but not to fire on the King's troops, unless they were first fired upon. We advanced near faid bridge, when the faid troops fired upon our militia and killed two men dead on the fpot, and wounded feveral others, which was the first firing of guns in the town of Concord: my detachment then returned the fire, which killed and wounded several of the King's troops. JAMES BARRET.” Lexington, April 23, 1775. "We, Bradbury Robinson, Samuel Spring, Thaddeus Bancroft, all of Concord; and James Adams, of Lexington, all in the county of Middlefex, all of lawful age, do teftify and fay, that on Wednesday morning laft, near ten of the clock, we faw near one hundred of the regular troops, being in the town of Concord at the North Bridge in faid town (fo called) and having paffed the fame, they were taking up the said bridge, when about three hundred of our militia were advancing toward faid bridge, in order to pafs faid bride, when, without faying any thing to us, they discharged a number of guns on us, which kil |