Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 28.

[p. 48] tenth regiment. It is probable that some, at least, of the Medford Minute Men were among the unorganized troops skirting the road on the higher level of the hills. Out of Concord about a mile is Merriam's corner, and here it is commonly said that Captain Hall's men fell in with the Reading company under Major John Brooks. Here the battle suspended at the North bridge was renewed, with fatalities on both sides. At this point American reinforcements came in, to the number of one thousand one hundred and forty-seven, bringing their forces, at the most, up to fifteen hundred, somewhat less than the five thousand who appeared in the exaggerated vision of the ensign. In no formal list of the reinforcements do the Medford men appear. Tradition, however, is to the contrary.

For present purposes we may again adopt the words of De Bernice when, in reference to the progress of the troops through Lincoln into Lexington he wrote, ‘The Provincials kept the road always lined and a very hot fire on us without intermission. We began to run rather than retreat in order.’ So, too, later reported his lieutenant-colonel, that the firing on his troops ‘increased to a very great degree and continued without the intermission of five minutes altogether for, I believe, upwards of eighteen miles.’

If the Medford men were not among the Provincials who carried on the running attack both on the main column and the flanking parties, there was other business for them along the road below Lexington.

When Smith reached Arlington on his advance twelve hours earlier, alarmed by the general uprising that was becoming evident he sent back to General Gage for reinforcements. A thousand men under Lord Percy proceeded to his relief. Their progress from Boston Neck through Roxbury, Brighton, Cambridge and Arlington was not unmolested. At Arlington, for instance, the old men of Menotomy lay in wait and captured his entire baggage train, driving the horses off to Medford. Between