My brother Nathaniel was near the line between Lexington and Lincoln and received the alarm from Samuel Prescott. The Lincoln militia gathered at the brook by Flint’s pond, near the house of Zachary Smith.
Abijah Pierce of Lincoln was captain of the minute men.
I saw the British troops coming up the road that leads on to the common at Concord. The sun shone very bright on their bayonets and guns.
When we were going to march down to the bridge, it was mentioned between Major Buttrick and Captain Isaac Davis that the Acton minute men had better be put in front, because they were the only men that had bayonets and was not certain whether the British would fire or would charge bayonets without firing.Capt. Davis’ company of minute men was brought up on the right. Then they saw the smoke of the town house and Major Buttrick said, “Will you stand here and see them burn the town down?” The order was given to march and we all marched down.
