From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 137
soon as possible.
Mr. Weems states, what we should have mentioned before, that when England resolved to enforce the tax on
tea, and sent a fleet of vessels loaded with the article to Boston, and other American ports, in order to test the
matter, Lord Fairfax called upon Washington at his home.
"A letter from my agent," said Washington, "announces that several vessels with cargoes of gunpowder tea are
about to set sail to this country. Parliament is determined to tax our tea."
"Why do you call it gunpowder tea?" asked Fairfax.
"Why, I am afraid, my lord," replied Washington, "it will prove inflammable, and produce an explosion that
will shake both countries."
His prediction was fulfilled, showing that he took in the situation, with that sagacity for which he was
renowned.
General Gage was in command of the royal forces in Boston. When the Port Bill went into operation, he
removed the Legislature to Salem. But such was the indignation of the Colonists that, when the time of
opening its session arrived, he did not dare to proceed thither. The members assembled, however, and, after
waiting in vain for General Gage, they adjourned to Concord, where, immediately, the patriots began to
collect arms, ammunition, and other supplies for war.
The military force of General Gage in Boston was increased to such an extent that he soon exhausted his
supplies. For relief, he sent out small foraging parties secretly, to seize and appropriate whatever they could
lay their hands upon. Hearing that there was a magazine of supplies at Concord, on the night of April 18,
1775, he sent out eight hundred picked men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, to destroy it.
By some means Dr. Warren of Boston learned of General Gage's intentions, and, by a previously concerted
signal, gave the alarm. A light in the steeple of the Old North Church was the signal to certain patriots that the
people must be called to arms.
A courier on horseback dashed away from Charlestown, at breakneck speed, to give the alarm to the sleeping
inhabitants of villages between that place and Concord. At the top of his voice he cried, to startle the
minute-men from their beds, "The regulars are coming!"
Certain leading patriots on the way must be aroused and told the story of their danger. So, with a furious
pound upon their door, and the wild cry, "The regulars are coming!" the heroic patriots were routed from their
beds.
At Lexington Mrs. Harrington, a brave and trusty heroine, heard the midnight cry, and she sprang from her
bed, ran to the chamber door, and shouted to her son, who was a minute-man, "John, get up! The regulars are
coming!"
By the time day-light began to dawn, the minute-men were in arms, and the whole region round about was
fired with the courage and enthusiasm of men resolved to be free or die. When the British troops reached
Lexington at five o'clock on the morning of April 19, they found a hundred minute-men drawn up in battle
array. Major Pitcairn rode up to them, and shouted:
"Disperse, you rebels! Throw down your arms and disperse!"
His order was followed by a volley of musketry right into the faces of the Lexington soldiers, killing four and
wounding several others. The minute-men dispersed, and the British troops hurried on to Concord. Here they