[Pamphlets. American history]

CAMBRIDGE REVOLUTIONARY MEMORIAL. 25
at Lexington, where Hancock and Adams were in
waiting. The messengers hurried on to arouse the
people beyond. As the news spread, the people
prepared for the emergency which was upon them.
Many secured their most valuable possessions, in some
cases making their wells their treasury. The women
and children, the old and infirm, were removed to
secure places. The men awaited their foes.
Meanwhile, the British troops, numbering about
eight hundred, and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Smith, about ten o'clock in the evening embarked at
the foot of Boston Common, and landed at Phipps's
farm, now Lechmere Point. They struck across the
marshes to the old road from Charlestown to ~West
rnlbridge, and proceeded on their way. They soon
founl that the country was alarmed. Many persons
saw them and heard them. It was almost two o'clock
in the clear, chilly morning of the 19th of April, when
they reached W~est Cambridge. BVice-President Gerry,
and Colonels Lee and Orne who were with him, all
of whom were members of the Committee of Safety,
very nearly fell into their hands. At the centre of
the town the troops halted. As it was evident that
their task was larger than they had anticipated, a
messenger was sent back to Boston to ask for reinforcements. A detachment of six companies of
light infantry, under command of Major Pitcairn, was
ordered forward to Concord. These pressed on,
arresting every man they met. One of their prisoners
escaping carried to Lexington the first certain news
of their approach. Pitcairn found some sixty or
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