History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

CHAPTER XXV.
REVOLUTION—PRISONERS OF WAR—TORIES.
Gov. Gage Precipi- While the people wePG thiis boldly asserttates
the Contest,
jjjg themselves, and preparing for the
struggle which the most sanguine of them
could but believe was inevitable, Gen. Gage not only proceeded
to carry out his instructions for enforcing the newly
promulgated laws, but he attempted to seize military stores
wherever they had been collected in the vicinity of Boston.
A detachment of troops was sent to Salem, but through
the determined action of the citizens, it failed of its object,
and came away empty-handed. Another party, ordered to
destroy the military stores at Concord, met with open
resistance, and the fearful struggle of the Revolution was
commenced at Lexington, on the lO'*" of April, It is not
necessarj^ to describe the well-known events of that mem-
orable day. Then was the first blood shed in the War for
Independence, and the inhabitants everywhere roused them-
selves for the fight.
Northampton Minute-
News of the battle of Lexiugtou reached
Men Start for the this towu ou the momiug of April 21'^
Scene of Hostilities. t n r> j j? • j.
and the first company ot mmute-men,
under the command of Capt. Jonathan Allen, to the number
of sixty, 1 set out within a few hours for the seat of war.
The following narrative of the march of this company was
related to the late Sylvester Judd, by Noah Cook, afterwards
Captain, who lived at the lower end of Pleasant
Street. He was the son of Joseph Cook, who was in 1777
1 For Muster-roll see Appendix.