About 9 o’clock we saw a smoke rise at the court house. It was proposed to march into town, were joined by Westford and Acton companies and were drawn up west of where Col. Jonas Buttrick now lives. Col. James Barrett rode along the line and, having consulted with the officers and shouted not to fire first, they began their march. Robinson and Buttrick led,Upon our beginning to march the company of British formed first on the causeway in platoons, they then retreated over the bridge and, in retreating, took up three planks and formed part in the road and part on each side. Our men the same time marching in very good order along the road in double file. At that a gun was fired. I saw where the ball threw up the water about the middle of the river, then a second and a third shot, and the cry of fire, fire, was made from front to rear. The fire was almost simultaneous with the cry and I think it was not more than two minutes, if so much, till the British run and the fire ceased, part of our men went over the bridge and part returned to the ground they had left. After the fire every one appeared to be his commander, it was thought best to go the east part of the town and take them as they came back. Each took his station. I took my stand south of where Dr. Minot then lived and saw the British come from Concord, their right flank in the meadows, their left on the hill. When near the foot of the hill, Lt. Col. Thompson of Billerica came up with three or four hundred men and there was a heavy fire but the distance was so great that little injury was done on either side, at least I saw but one killed, a number of wounded.

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