Lt. Col. Smith remained at Concord to destroy military stores collected there but detached Capt. Parsons forward with six companies of light infantry in order to do the same at another place. Capt. Parsons left one company, the 43rd, at Concord Bridge, two companies, 4th and 10th, upon two hills to command the road he had to go and then proceeded with the other three companies, 23rd, 38th and 52nd to execute the purpose of his detachment. We had not been long in this situation when we saw a large body of men drawn up with the greatest regularity and approached us seemingly with an intent to attack, when Lt Kelly, who commanded our company, thought most proper to retire from our situation and join the 4th company, which we did, they still approached and in that force that was thought proper by the officers to join the 43rd company at the bridge, commanded by Capt. Laurie. We joined the 43rd company. Capt. Laurie of 43rd then commanded the three companies. He sent Lt. Robertson of his company to Lt. Col. Smith to beg a reinforcement might be sent immediately. The Rebels begun their march from the hill we before had retired from with as much order as the best disciplined troops. Before we got one plank of the bridge, they got so near as to begin their fire, which was a very heavy one, though our companies were drawn up in order to fire street firing, yet the weight of their fire was such that we were obliged to give way, then run with the greatest precipitance. At this place there were four men of the 4th company killed who were afterwards scalped, their eyes gouged, their noses and ears cut of. There were a good number wounded, among which was Lt. Hull, 43rd, through the right breast, of which with other wounds received that day died three or four days after. Lt. Gould, 4th, Lt. Kelly, 10th and Lt. Sutherland, volunteer. In consequence of the message sent to Lt. Col. Smith, he had considered to send the 47th company of grenadiers to our assistance. Though too late to be of any service at the bridge, served as a cover for us to draw up our scattered company. We then retired in regular order to Concord, I mean the 10th and 43rd companies with the 47th grenadiers. I don’t know that the 4th company was collected again that day, some of them joined our company and were permitted to remain some time.

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