said troops marched by, and I testify and declare, that I heard
the word of command given to the troops to fire, and some of
said troops did fire, and I saw one of said small party lay dead
on the ground nigh said meeting-house, and I
testify, that I ne-
ver heard any of the inhabitants so much as fire one gun on said
troops.
JOHN BATEMAN.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
April 23d, 1775.
THE above-named John Bateman, voluntarily (being
pre-
viously cautioned to relate nothing but the truth) made
solemn oath to the above deposition by him subscribed. Before
us,
John Cumming, Duncan
Ingraham,
Justices of the Peace.
Lexington April
23 d, 1775.
WE JOHN HOAR, JOHN WHITEHEAD, ABRA-
HAM GARFIELD, BENJAMIN MUNROE, ISAAC
PARKS, WILLIAM HOSMER, JOHN ADAMS,
and GRE-
GORY STONE, all of
Lincoln, in the county of
Middlesex,
Massachusetts-Bay, all of lawful age, do testify and say, that
on
Wednesday last we were assembled at
Concord, in the morning
of said day, in consequence of information received, that a bri-
gade of troops were on their march to the said town
of
Concord, who had killed six men at the town of
Lexington :
About an hour afterwards we saw them approaching to the num-
ber as we apprehended of about twelve hundred, on which we
retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the said troops
then took possession of the hill where we were first posted ;
pre-
sently after this we saw the troops moving towards the
North-
bridge about one mile from the said
Concord meeting-house, we
then immediately went before them and passed the bridge, just
before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred
arrived : They there left about one half of their two hundred at
the bridge, and proceeded with the rest towards Colonel Barret's
about two miles from the said Bridge ; we then seeing several
fires in the town, thought the houses in
Concord were in danger,
and marched towards the said bridge, and the troops who were
stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the
bridge, and then took up some of the plank, we then hastened
our march towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge
they fired on our men first three guns one after the other, and then a
considerable number more, and then and not before (having orders
from our commanding officers not to fire till we were fired upon) we
fired upon the regulars, and they retreated, on their retreat through
this town and
Lexington, to
Charlestown, they ravaged and destroyed
private property and burned three houses, one barn, and one shop.