By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmer’s stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.
— from “Concord
Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
I remember a dawn drive to
the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts many years ago with my older
sister, Christine. I was too young to drive, but she was not. Confiscating the
family car keys, we stole away through the early morning, giggling at our
historical adventure.
Upon our arrival at the wooden
bridge that creaked beneath our sandals, a reverent stillness overtook us. We
were the only ones there—save the spirits immortalized on this landmark. Through
the morning mist, we envisioned lines of soldiers intent upon victory. And
through the hushed stillness, we felt their pain and fear as those shots fired
in bitter vitriol materialized in our minds and hearts.
We hushed at the hallowed
ground beneath us—and silently walked back to our car.
April 19, 1775—the day the
first shots of the American Revolution were heard throughout the world.
This date, so tenderly
described in Emerson’s poem, lives on in celebration of America’s freedom from
England every year in both Massachusetts and Maine. It is memorialized as
Patriot’s Day and is a state holiday on the third Monday of every April. (Not
to be confused with Patriot Day, held every September 11)
In Wisconsin, April 19th
is a special observance day for schools, when they are required to teach about
the events of the birth of our country.
In both Massachusetts and
Maine, parades and reenactments abound, especially along the route between
Boston and Concord. This was the 20-mile journey travelled by Paul Revere where
on that fateful, moonlit night, the rider screamed the words of warning to the
Colonists: “The regulars are coming! To arms!”
Through the years, I often
heard the words quoted as, “The British are coming.” However, most Colonists
thought of themselves as British—Englishman—so the context and accuracy of
those words are flawed.
Regardless of the words of
warning, the entire countryside that had prepared for this attack was awakened,
first by the riders and then by pealing church bells. Minutemen that had
trained for months, grabbed their muskets and congregated on their local
greens, then marched towards the scene of the action. By the time the 1,000
British regulars had reached Concord to confiscate weapons (that had already
been hidden by the patriots), word had spread about the killings in Lexington,
just to the east of Concord.
The enraged patriot’s
confronted the British in Concord and killed two enemy soldiers at the North
Bridge. Revolution had begun. Fighting like the Native Americans, the Colonists
hid behind stonewalls and trees, picking off one British soldier after another,
while the formally-trained King’s Army marched in lines down the road.
This retreat of the British
army back to Boston cost them 73 men killed and 174 wounded. The American
militia had suffered 49 fatalities and 41 wounded.
The war that had been brewing
for several years was now a reality.
When I was a child in
Massachusetts, I remember going to parades on what is now called Massachusetts
Avenue (the route of Paul Revere’s ride). Early on, I learned an appreciation
for this history—the founding of our country that was won through the blood of
those who came before me.
Since I grew up, both Colonial
and British militia re-enactors have staged mock warfare for public education
and amusement. These provide stirring portrayals of the battles that occurred
that day, all the way from Concord to Lexington to Arlington (then known as
Menotomy Village), my hometown. One of these Aprils, I will find my way back to
my hometown to see these re-enactments myself.
In the meantime, I have
obtained permission from the Lexington Minutemen to use the wonderful photos
from their website for this post. Click here for their website.
Here is a 12 minute video
that you might find interesting. Click here for video.
I highly recommend the
Hallmark movie entitled “April Morning” which so movingly portrays the events
of April 19, 1775. Click here for Amazon link.
Spirit, that made those heroes dare,
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare,
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
