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[60] that the enemy were all in motion and were certainly preparing to come out into the country. He soon afterward saw the signal agreed upon given—a lanthorn hung out in the upper window of the tower of the North Church toward Charlestown—and then sent off an express to inform Messrs. Gerry, &c., and Messrs. Hancock and Adams, whom he knew were at the Rev. Mr. Clarke's, at Lexington. He was the man who met Paul Revere, when he came over from Boston, at about eleven o'clock, and for whom he procured a horse, and sent him to give the alarm at Menotomy and Lexington (see Devens's narrative, in Frothingham's Siege, p. 57, &c.). The party of British officers mentioned, was apparently the same party which captured Revere and three citizens of Lexington, beyond that town, toward Concord, during the night before the 19th. Messrs. Gerry, Orne, and Lee, the members who remained at Wetherby's, in Menotomy, saw the silent march of the British troops, as they passed the tavern, in the moonlight, and narrowly escaped capture when an officer and file of men were detached from the column to search the house.1 The next important event in Menotomy after the passage of the first detachment of British troops through the place on the night of the 18th, was the assembling and departure of the company of local minute-men, early on the morning of the 19th, to which allusion has been made. Those inhabitants whose houses were near the main road, employed themselves in secrets
1 Heath, who on the 18th of April, had been sitting with the Committee of Safety at Menotomy, and on his return home, soon after he left the committee and about sunset, had met the party of British officers on horseback, with their swords and pistols, riding up the road toward Lexington, says, Memoirs, p. 12, ‘On the 19th, at day-break, our General was awoke, called from his bed, and informed that a detachment of the British army were out; that they had crossed from Boston to Phipps's farm, in boats, and had gone towards Concord, as was supposed, with intent to destroy the public stores. They probably had notice that the committees had met the preceding day at Wetherby's tavern, at Menotomy; for, when they came opposite to the house, they halted. Several of the gentlemen slept there during the night. Among them were Col. Orne, Col. Lee, and Mr. Gerry. One of them awoke, and informed the others that a body of the British were before the house. They immediately made their escape, without time to dress themselves, at the back door, receiving some injury from obstacles in the way in their undressed state. They made their way into the fields. The country was immediately alarmed, and the minute-men and militia turned out with great spirit.’
Boston: David Clapp and son. 564 Washington Street, 1880.
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