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An excerpt from 1885 "The Concord Guide Book" by George B. Bartlett, Lothrop Publishing. See our next article for a portrait of this guidebook's author.
The legends of the Fight being somewhat contradictory in minor parts, it has been thought best to follow in this brief sketch...[the] full...extract from the diary of the Rev. Mr. William Emerson, which was discovered and first published in 1835 by his grandson, Mr. R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson. "1775, 19 April. This morning, between one and two o'clock, we were alarmed by the ringing of the bell, and upon examination found that the troops, to the number of eight hundred, had stolen their march from Boston in boats and barges, from the bottom of the Common over to a point in Cambridge, near to Inman's Farm, and were at Lexington meeting-house half an hour before sunrise, where they had fired upon a body of our men and, as we afterward heard, had killed several. "This intelligence was brought us first by Dr. Samuel Prescott, who narrowly escaped the guard that were sent before on horses, purposely to prevent all posts and messengers from giving us timely information. He, by the help of a very fleet horse, crossing several walls and fences, arrived at Concord at the time above mentioned, when several posts were immediately despatched, that, returning, confirmed the account of the regulars' arrival at Lexington, and that they were on their way to Concord.
"We then retreated from the hill near the Liberty Pole, and took a new post back of the town, upon an eminence, where we formed into two battalions, and waited the arrival of the enemy. Scarcely had we formed, before we saw the British troops, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, glittering in arms, advancing towards us with the greatest celerity. Some were for making a stand, notwithstanding the superiority of their number; but others, more prudent, thought best to retreat, until our strength should be equal to the enemy's, by recruits from neighboring towns that were continually coming in to our assistance. Accordingly, we retreated over the bridge. "The troops came into the town, set fire to several carriages for the artillery, destroyed sixty barrels of flour, rifled several houses, took possession of the town-house, destroyed five hundred pounds of balls, set a guard of a hundred men at the North Bridge, and sent up a party to the house of Col. Barrett, where they were in expectation of finding a quantity of warlike stores. But these were happily secured, just before their arrival, by transportation into the woods and other by-places.
"It may here be observed, by the way, that we were the more cautious 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 firing upon our people, and killing eight men upon the spot. "The three companies of troops soon quitted their post at the bridge, and retreated in the greatest 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 counter-marches, discovered great fickleness and inconsistency of mind: sometimes advancing sometimes returning to their former posts, til at length they quitted the town, and retreated by the way they came. "In the mean time a party of our men (one hundred and fifty) took the back way through 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." Drawings courtesy of Art Today 
 
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The Battle Ground was presented to the town by the Rev. Dr. Ripley, who remarked in Town Meeting a half century ago that the time would come when the spot would be a place of great interest to many. How well the prediction has been fulfilled, the daily stream of visitors bears abundant witness. It is on Monument St., nearly half a mile from the center of the town, and near the Old Manse, having been a part of the farm belonging to it since the course of the road was changed which formerly crossed the old North Bridge.
"Upon this, a number of our minute men belonging to this town, and Acton and Lincoln, with several others that were in readiness, marched out to meet them, while the alarm company was preparing to receive them in the town. Capt. Minot, who commanded them, thought it proper to take possession of the hill above the meeting-house as the most advantageous situation. No sooner had our men gained it, than we were met by the companies that were sent out to meet the troops, who informed us that they were just upon us, and that we must retreat, as their number was more than treble ours. 
"In the mean time, the guard sent by the enemy to secure the posts at the North Bridge were alarmed by the approach of our people, who had retreated, as mentioned before, 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 each side, and several of the enemy wounded. 