The Begining of the Republic! Concord "The Old North Bridge"!

[Timothy]

British Side of Old North Bridge

Minuteman Monument



Colonists Side



Old North Bridge from Colonists Side



David Brown House



Emersons “Shot heard 'round the world!”


A few Brits RIP..


The Hancock Cannon




The Hartwell Tavern - On the Battle Road to Lexington

[PegLeg45]

Way cool, Tim!!!!

[twyacht]

Thanks Timothy,

Thankfully, the surrounding area hasn't been messed with, and it still looks identical to how it probably looked back then.

[Timothy]

It's my first visit to the park and for those who care, I was armed as the Federal law that allows it.  I saw no signs to the contrary, including the house that houses the Hancock Cannon!

The Bridge, obviously, isn't the original.  That one was gone shortly after the revolution and wasn't rebuilt until 1875 for the Centennial.  There have been four more rebuilds since then.

There is more to visit on a warmer day.  I may go to the re-enactment in April with my BIL...

I was pretty impressed with my cell phone pictures!  

[Big Frank]

Great pics. Hard to believe that was with your cell phone.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

 Great pics Tim.
It is worth noting that on the morning of the 19th the planks of the bridge had been removed.
I forget if the colonists did it to trap the Troops, or if the troops did it to control access to the area.

[JLawson]

Great pics Tim.
It is worth noting that on the morning of the 19th the planks of the bridge had been removed.
I forget if the colonists did it to trap the Troops, or if the troops did it to control access to the area.

I believe it was a redcoat officer attempting to slow the Minutemen's advance.  Thanks for the pics Timothy... I would love to see it for myself.

[Timothy]

I believe it was a redcoat officer attempting to slow the Minutemen's advance.  Thanks for the pics Timothy... I would love to see it for myself.

Correct..."Barrett ordered the men to load their weapons but not to fire unless fired upon, and then ordered them to advance. The British companies guarding the bridge were ordered to retreat across it, and one officer then tried to pull up the loose planks of the bridge to impede the colonial advance. Major Buttrick began to yell at the regulars to stop harming the bridge. The Minutemen and militia advanced in column formation on the light infantry, keeping to the highway only, since the highway was surrounded by the spring floodwaters of the Concord River."

If you find yourself in this area, Concord and Lexington are 17 miles west of Boston and really easy to navigate.  It is worth the time to visit.  I can't believe that I've lived this close for 30 years and never gone until this morning.  

Knowing a bit of the history and standing on the "Muster Hill" above the bridge to the west, walking down the hill past David Browns homestead toward the bridge and understanding that this man and his family were literally fighting for everything they held dear was humbling!

Father and son, fighting side by side, in the face of an unknown, well funded and armed force of British regulars is something that was probably considered madness by most of the surrounding towns!  By the grace of God and good fortune they persevered and pushed them back to Boston and eventually lit the match of revolution that changed the course of history forever!

I'm getting a bit verklempt...

[shooter32]

Thanks for sharing Tim, very cool. 

[RTFM]

I'll add a few of my own, as I use to live in Waltham (Right next to Concord)















Min Man memorial British side
Here on the 19th of April 1775 was made the first forcible resistance to British aggression.
On the opposite bank stood the American Militia.
Here stood the Invading Army and on this spot the first of the enemy fell in the war of the Revolution which gave Independence to the United States.
In gratitude to GOD and in the love of Freedom this monument was erected ad 1836.






Min Man memorial Colonial side
By the rude bridge that arched the flood.
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled.
Here once the embattled farmers stood.
And fired the shot heard round the world.




Isaac Davis stone
On the morning of April 19, 1775 approximately 400 Colonials stood on the hill overlooking the North Bridge, as smoke rose from Concord Center.
The order to march was given, in the exchange of fire that followed, Captian Issac Davis, who had exclaimed “I haven’t A man who is afraid to go” was killed together with Abner Hosmer, a Private, also from Acton.

This memorial was erected by the Captain Isaac Davis chapter if the Daughters of The American Revolution, April 1975.




Concord Fight small
The remains of those who fell in the Battle of Lexington were brought here from the Old Cemetery April 20 1835 and buried within the railing in the front of this monument




Concord Fight
On the morning of April Nineteenth 1775, while the British held this bridge, the Minute Men and Militia of Concord and neighboring towns gathered on the hill across the river.
There the Concord adjutant Joseph Hosmer, demanded “Will you let them burn the town down?”
There the Lincoln Captain William Smith offered to dislodge the British, the Acton Captain Isaac Davis, said “I haven’t a man that’s afraid to go” and the Concord Colonel James Barrett ordered the attack on the Regulars.
   The column was led by Major John Buttrick, marching form his own farm his aid was Lt. Colonel John Robinson of Westford. The Minute Men of Acton, Concord, Lincoln and Bedford followed. After them came the militia. At the British volley Isaac Davis fell, Buttrick cried “Fire fellow soldiers for God’s sake fire” and himself fired first. The British fled and here began the separation of Two kindred nations now happily long united in peace.
By Allen Freech