The rebels, when they got near the bridge halted and fronted, filling the road from top to bottom. The fire soon began from a dropping shot on our side, when they and the front company fired almost at the same instant, there being nobody to support the front company. The others not firing, the whole were forced to quit the bridge and return toward Concord. Some of the grenadiers met them in the road and then advanced to meet the rebels, who had got this side the bridge and on a good height, but, seeing the maneuver thought it proper to retire over the bridge. The whole then went into Concord, drew up in the town and waited for the three companies that were gone on, which arrived in about an hour. Four officers of eight who were at the bridge were wounded. Three men killed. One sergeant and several men wounded. After getting as good conveniences for the wounded as we could and having done the business we were sent upon, set out upon our return. Before the whole had quitted the town we were fired on from houses and behind trees and before we had gone ½ a mile we were fired on from all sides but mostly from the rear, where people had hid themselves in houses until we had passed and then fired. The country was an amazing strong one, full of hills, woods and stone walls, which the rebels did not fail to take advantage of, for they were all lined with people who kept an incessant fire upon us, as we did too upon them but not with the same advantage, for they were so concealed there was hardly any seeing them. In this way we marched between nine and ten miles, their numbers increasing from all parts, while ours was reducing by deaths, wounds and fatigue and we were totally surrounded with such an incessant fire as it’s impossible to conceive. Our ammunition was likewise near expended.

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