Patriots Day

[August]

Yesterday the wife and I went to see the historical reenactment of the battle of Concord Bridge. It's the first time i've been there since the 200th anniversary in back 1975 when then President Ford came to speechify and get heckled by hippies.

For those who do not know the history it goes like this: In the early hours of April 19th 1775 a force of British troops departed Boston with the aim of confiscating arms and powder from the Colonists located 17 miles away in the town of Concord in a dawn raid. After routing a much smaller colonist force on the Lexington green ("Disperse Ye damned Rebels")the British then marched on to Concord where they began burning the town. Getting word that much stronger Colonist militia forces were approaching they began tearing up the north bridge over the Concord river in order to impede their progress.

They had only started when several Colonist units showed up, deployed into line and opened fire. After a few volleys the British began a retreat back to Boston being sniped at and attacked all along the way.

239 years later this is how it's commemorated:

First the British reenactors arrive and take possession of the bridge:



As the colonists arrive and begin deploying the British retreat back across the bridge and deploy into a firing line.


After several volleys from each side the British retreat and the colonists advance across the bridge.



Then in the spirit of conciliation with our British cousins both re-enactor units march together back onto the bridge and fire a volley salute to the the fallen.


The graves of the fallen British troops (Colonist dead were brought back to their respective towns for burial.



The Queen still remembers her fallen subjects. I'm told one of these has
been delivered to the grave site yearly since the centennial in 1875.


Monument on the "British side"


Detail of the Inscription


The monument on the "American side"


Detail of the inscription


Fife players (Fifers?) serenading the dead