The Beginnings of the American Revolution - Based on Contemporary Letters Diaries and Other Documents #264559

The pause at Lexington was invaluable to Concord, giving its people just so much more time in which to remove and conceal the stores entrusted to their keeping. "Many thousands were saved to the Colony, and (the British) were in a great manner frustrated in their design," writes old Parson Clark.<br><br>From Lieutenant Barker 2 we find that his first knowledge of the object of the march was at this moment, when they set forth from Lexington Green on the Concord road. As the troops moved along, with the alarm signals sounding from the outlying villages, they kept a sharp outlook, but were not interfered with. Some were seen in the woods by Colonel Smith's report, but nothing further happened on their way. It was now getting toward six or perhaps a little after, and the usual peaceful travel along the highway had begun; so soon to be abruptly interrupted. Captain Samuel Farrar, of the Lincoln Militia, on his way early to mill, we are told, when he heard of the trouble tossed his saddle-bags filled with grist over a wall, and rallied his men.