Captain Souter Marine Light Company

  I found this account in the Allen French papers, donated to Minute Man NHP.  There are a number of letters from Souter  including notes and transcriptions from French.  He obtained these from a Rev. Hint of Cornwall England. These were not used in either of his books "Day of Lexington and Concord" or "General Gage's Informers." Possibly they were obtained after they were published.  The letter posted here has very good information which adds a lot to our understanding of the days events.  

  "On Tuesday ye 18th instance about ten in the evening the light infantry and Grenadiers of the army had orders to push to Concord, a village about twenty miles from this place, in order to destroy a magazine of powder, cannon, carriages and other military stores which had been laid up, (for a supposed campaign) by the Americans.  We marched all night without molestation and about daylight in marching through a village called Lexington, the van company of the light troops was staggered by seeing a flash of a pan from a man in arms, and soon after a report and whistling of two balls fired on it...

...in which the light company pushed forward and saw a dozen or eighteen men drawn up with arms, the light companies in hearing a shout from the leading company, immediately formed and a fire was given in their running off which killed most of them;  for my part I was amazed when I heard the shout, and being the third company that lead in the front, took it for granted we were surprised, not imagining in the least that we should be attacked or evan molested on the march, for we had but that instant loaded and had marched all night without being loaded. 

...the country by this time took ye alarm and were immediately in arms, and had taken their different stations behind walls and etc on our flanks, and thus were we harrassed in our front, flanks and rear from Concord to Charlestown (a place in the other side of the river opposition Boston) by a continual fire for eighteen miles, it not being possible for us to meet a man otherwise than behind a bush, stone hedge, or tree who immediately gave his fire and off he went;  our companies were not able to march more then half of its  front on the open road, or more properly speaking, in two platoons, the second in the rear of the first.  In our leaving Concord we were  immediately surrounded on every quarter, and expected to be cut off every moment, sometimes we took possession of one hill sometimes of another;  at last it was determined to push forward to Lexington, which we did though a plaugy fire...

...When we were joined by Lord Percy with the first brigade with four pieces of cannon, otherwise I do believe not one of us had got into Boston again;  as it was the fire did not cease till we reached Charlestown;  and our battalion lost sixty killed, wounded and missing, it falling heavy on us;  our Light Infantry and Grenadiers having nearly expended all their ammunition, and they were obliged to cover our retreat.  There are many killed and wounded on both sides on ours eight or ten officers and 260 privates.  I imagine on theirs the report four or five hundred - I accidentally was wounded in my leg flanking the Brigade with my company in ye woods, by a villain behind a stone wall who waited till he was sure of me, and then to the right about and off he went, not before I have him my gun, but missed him;  one of my men I think brought him down.  The ball just grazed the bone but has not shattered it in the least, as I was able to walk eight or ten miles after it;  I mention this that your sister may not in the least be worried by imagining there is any danger as I shall be able to walk in a day or two, and I am now as well as ever almost.  I am thus particular that no report may be credited, as many will be that are sent hence to England, and that the return of the killed wounded and missing, and etc. If ye  officers may possibly be badly ascertained, I think it right to be ingenious and hope a day of reckoning will come,when ample satisfaction will be given me, for a sound re urged by a rebel' s hand.  It is a flesh wound only and thankful I am to the great almighty it no worse. "

   There are lots of little snippets here that deserve attention.  I think this is the only mention I have found of a officer in flanking duty.  Also that in the six detached light infantry companies heading towards Lexington green the marines were the third from the van.  So the first three companies were the 10th, 4th and Marines.  Most importantly he describes the march formation for companies.  Two platoons or half companies.  This makes the command form much more understandable.  In Howe's light infantry discipline this was his you got columns or files to form a company front.  Most interesting!

   Should anyone like to use this please credit my post here.  I would appreciate it.

Light infantry company 10th Regiment of Foot 1775

Captain Thomas Hewett 
10th Regiment of Foot

   How many British soldiers were sent in the march to Concord on April 19 1775?  Various numbers are given, usually between 600 to 800 men.  These are of course estimates.  To give a snap shot into this I have looked at the War Office pay rolls for the period.  These files are at the Public Record Office in Krew.   These are listed as WO - 12/2750 muster or commissary rolls.  They are very large papers.  

    Each regiment had these taken twice a year;  ending in June and December of that year.  Information would be for the previous six months.  They are fascinating as they give little histories of what was going on with the company during that time.  who was promoted, or demoted; transferred into the company or out of the company.  Who was sick and excused duty for the period.  And who was in leave.  

    Here is the information  for the Light Infantry company of the 10th Regiment of Foot for the period December through June 1775.  This will include both 19 April and 17 June.  Note that additional men were transferred into the company after June to bring them up to war strength.  I have picked the 10th Light Company as they were on Lexington green and at Concord Bridge.  

Officers:

Captain Lawrence Parsons.  - Was wounded later in the day 19 April.  Is listed on next roll as "sick"

Lieutenant Anthony Botet - listed as in "Kings leave."  Next roll transferred to Captain Mundy Pole's company.

Lieutenant James Hamilton - reported  " sick" on 19 April so did not go on expedition. ( In his place Ensign Jeremy Lister volunteered to go on expedition.  He was wounded at North Bridge and eventually retired from service).

Lieutenant Waldren Kelly - transferred into company 12 April.  Wounded at North Bridge fight.  Next roll listed as "on leave."

Sergeants:

William Eakin - next roll reduced to private on 2 June and reported dead 24 June.

George McEvan -promoted to sergeant 8 November.

Richard Green  -   transferred from lt. col. Smith's comany on 17 June.  Listed as dead 23 June.

John McConkey. -  transferred from Captain Basset's co.many 24 June.

Corporals:

Edward Cherry. 

William Boarman

John Robinson - transferred  from Captain Macintosh's company November.   Dead 7 July.

Drummer:

Robert McMullen

Private Men:

David McDonald - promoted to corporal 8 July

William Atkins - sick

Edward Cassey

Edward Webb - sick

Henry Wilkes

Samuel Cross. - died 24 june

Andrew Highland - sick.  Transferred to it col. Smith's company 24 April

Thomas Campbell 

William Dean - sick.  Transferred to Captain Herbert's company 24 June.

John Cruse 

Daniel Robinson

Peter Grant - sick.  Discharged 6 October

Phillip Floyd

Isaac Ladd - on duty

Owen Hamilton - Died 1July 

James Laureston - Transferred to Captain Delway's company 24 April.

John Rickey

William Cuttes - Died 4 August

Charles Martin - Transferred to Lt.col. Smith's company 24 june.

William Munro

John Wright

Matthew McGray - Died 6 August

William Parker - Died 18 August

William Willits

John Thomas - Sick

Phillip Leahy - Sick

George white - Sick

Charles Hickey

Thomas Gardiner - Transferred to Colonel's company 24 june.

Peter Foxwell - Died 31 July.

Hiram Reed - Transferred to Lt. Col. Smith's company 24 june

John Baird - Sick

Alexander Hamilton - Sick.  Transferred to Captain Pole's company 24 April.

Mustered on roll as of 19 January for 25 June 1775 to 24 December 1775. Effective and fit for duty.

1 Captain

1 lieutenant

2 Serjeants

3 Corporals

1 drummer

29 private men

Excused duty:

1 lieutenant

4 private men

1 casual - died 19 June 1775

Total 6

Total strength of 43 men

How prepared were the British For Concord?

  From a recent discussion on the Fife and Drum miniatures forum.  The question was asked how prepared were the British for the raid on Concord on April 19, 1775?  I though that this item has a really good insight into British intelligence.  While the actual orders General Thomas Gage gave to Lieutenant Francis Smith have been repeated and republished numerous times the actual draft of the orders have not.  They are much more detailed about the items they were sent to destroy, where they were hidden and how to dispose of them.  I thought some of the readers here may be interested in reading this document so I transcribed it From the original in the Gage Papers at the University of Michigan.

   From the draft of Gate's orders to Smith:

"Sir, a quantity of ammunition and provision together as number of cannon and small arms having been collected at Concord for the avowed purpose of raising a rebellion against his Majesty 's Government, you will match with the corps of Grenadiers and Light Infantry put under your command with the utmost expedition and secrecy to Concord, and where you will seize and destroy all the artillery and ammunition, provisions, tents and all other military stores you can find you will knock off one trunnion at least of each of the iron guns and destroy the carriages and beat in the muzzles of the brass ones so as to render them useless. The powder and flour may be shaken out of the barrels into the water, the tents burnt and the men may put the balls and lead into their ( knapsacks crossed out)  pockets throwing  them away by degrees as they go into fields and ditches ponds and etc. (When you shall crossed out) you have a plan (a return crossed out)  Which is marked off the places where the artillery and ammunition is reported to be lodged, and after destroying the same you will return, and if your men appear much fatigued you may lodge them at Lexington or Cambridge and let them rest in barns or other outbuildings and may (get crossed out) hire waggons at Lexington for weak and fatigued men.  If any body of men dares to  (attack is crossed out) oppose you with arms you will warn them to disperse (and crossed out) or attack them.

 Four brass cannon and two mortors or cohorn with a number of small arms in the cellar or out houses of Mr Barrett a little on the other side of the bridge where is also lodged a quantity of powder and lead.

Ten iron cannon before the town house and two within it which town house is in the center of the town.  The ammunition for said guns within the house.
Three guns of 24 pounders lodged in the prison yard with a quantity of cartridges and provision.

A quantity of provisions and ammunition in other places, the principal deposits are the houses of Mr Hubbard, near the meeting Butler, Jones the tailor near the Hubbard's, two men of the rear of (ineligible) Bonds, and particularly at the entrance of the town, at a house plaisteted white a small fence in front and divergence a large quantity of powder and ball is reported to be deposited in his store adjoining the house.

Cannon hid in the wood a mile and half from the center of the village between the river and Malden pond.  The wood thick, a good deal of Underwood. The ground no little wet but not a marsh. Three guns still mounted, the rest dismounted and carefully hid and even buried.   In the same place some boxes of arms hid like the cannon.

The medicine chests and powder barrels, tents and etc distributed in the chief  houses, particularly Mr Barrett's, Captain Wheeler's , Mr Hubbard's stores and the two Bonds.  The three guns in the prison court remain their beside many different articles. "

"They came three thousand miles and died..."

   If there is a single date in American history that is familiar to everyone, it is April 19, 1775.  Either through Longfellow 's poem about Paul Revere's Ride, or Emerson's "Shot Heard Round the World", or as the day that started America's War for Independence it is still remembered.  Close to a million visitors a year come to Concord Massachusetts to visit the reconstructed North Bridge and Daniel Chester French's Minute Man statue.  Most also pause by the humble grave of the British soldiers killed at the bridge to read the haunting beautiful words of James Russell Lowell;

                 " They came three thousand miles and died,
                    To keep the past soon it's throne;
                    Unheard beyond the ocean tide,
                     Their English mother have her moan. "

    But the question, how many are buried there and what were their names is unanswered.  In this short article I will attempt to answer that question.

   The British column that came to Concord marched from Boston about 1:00 in the morning of April 19, 1775.  Made up of ten companies of Light Infantry and eleven companies of Grenadiers, about 600 to 700 men, they were to destroy the munitions and supplies gathered by the Provincial Congress in Concord.  The march had been uneventful until the British advanced guard arrived in Lexington.  There shots were exchanged with the Lexington Militia company;  eight militia men were killed and ten others wounded.  The British pushed on and arrived at concord about 7:30 AM.  There the majority of troops set about destroying the supplies they could locate.  Seven light infantry companies, commanded by Captain Lawrence Parson of the 10th Regiment were sent to secure the North Bridge and search Colonel James Barrett's house for supplies.  Captain  Parson dropped off three companies to hold the bridge and took the remaining four companies of the force to Colonel Barrett's house.  Captain Walter Laurie of the 43rd Light Infantry company commanded the small force at the bridge consisting of his own company as well as those  of the 4th and 10th light infantry companies.

Colonel James Barrett house

  During this time the Concord companies of Militia and Minute Men, joined by the Lincoln Minute Men company had left the town, crossed the bridge and retired to a hill one mile north of the bridge.  There they soon received reinforcements as both individuals and complete companies arrived from neighboring towns.  About 9:00 A.M. Feeling strong enough with about 450 men, and wishing to learn more about what was happening in the town they marched towards the bridge.  On a hillside overlooking the bridge referred to as the "muster field " they halted and waited. From here they could observe the British at the bridge and see the roofs of Concord.   The British 10th company retired down the hill from the muster field to join the 4th at the road junction to Barrett's farm.  Both companies soon retired to the North bridge.  Captain Laurie sent for reinforcements to assist his 90 - 100 soldiers.  The colonists were concerned about what was happening in town;  Laurie with how to handle the overwhelming numbers against him.

   Rising over the town of concord, easily seen from the muster field was a cloud of smoke. What the colonists could not know was this was from some cannon carriages that were being burned.  They thought it was the town that was being burned.  Forming the troops into two divisions;  Minute Men companies in front, and Militia companies following the colonists marched down towards the bridge in a silent, disciplined column. Captain Laurie first deployed his command on the west bank with his back to the bridge.  Then, as the colonists drew closer he ordered his command to retire by divisions to the eastern side of the bridge placing the bridge between him and the advancing enemy.  Conflicting accounts prevent us from knowing exactly what happened next.  It seems possible that the British skirmishers along the banks opened fire with a scattered fire that killed two men from Acton leading the column.  Both sides then fired, with the British suffering heavy casualties.  and then breaking and running back towards the town.  About half the colonists pursed for a short distance before retiring back up towards the muster field to rejoin the rest of the command.  Captain Parson and his companies arrived at the bridge about an hour after the fight and recrossed  with no incident.  About 12:00 the British left concord to return to Boston. A trip that would see a running fight from concord to Charlestown before the day was finished.

North Bridge fight diorama.

    How many British soldiers were killed, what company did they come from and who were they?

   Ensign Lister, attached to the 10th company thought that "4 men of the 4th" were killed.  Captain Laurie if the 43rd and Lieutenant Baker of the 4th both states three killed.  General Thomas Gage , in letters to Governor's Trumbull and Dunmore stated "...killed three men...". Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, in command of the expedition in his report to Gage said that "...they scalped and otherwise ill treated one or two of the men who were either killed or severely wounded... "  Lieutenant William Sutherland, a volunteer from the 38th Regiment who participated at the fight stated that there were two killed at the bridge;  but thought they had been with him in the field to the left of the bridge.   Although they were not at the bridge fight, being with captain parson on the march to Barrett's Captain John Battier if the 5th light company wrote down the observation of a corporal and four privates from his company.  When they marched over the bridge after the fight they saw a dead man from the 4th light company who had been mutilated.

   What can we deduce from the available evidence?  Lister was the only one to say four men were killed.  He wrote long after the event from memory, and was severely wounded.  So the number of men dead might have been a slip of memory.  Sutherland thought two were killed.  He had also been wounded at the bridge, and might have been thinking of only those left behind when the command routed.  He suggests but never states for certain they might have come from the 43rd, who were assigned to the flanks.  Yet Captain Battier supports Lister's statement that the dead came from the 4th.  Both Smith and Sutherland thought two were left at the bridge.  Unfortunately Battier does not confirm this, as he was concerned only about the state of one of the bodies.  Smith, as commander probably talked the matter over with all the officers present, and put together that two men were killed and probably left at the bridge and the third died later in town.  That the dead came from the 4th makes sense because they were the company in the front position facing the Colonists.

   The pay rolls for the 4th Regiment of Foot are in existence.  The roll closest to April 19th is dated 24 April.   In the light infantry company four men are listed as having been killed in 19 April; privates Thomas Smith, Patrick Gray, James Hall and James Marr.  Interestingly, James Marr as a prisoner in Concord give a deposition to the Provincial Congress dated April 24, 1775.   He is not in Boston when the roll is taken, but is a prisoner.  He might have been wounded when taken prisoner, or used the chance to "go over the hill.". No matter, he's alive as if April 24.  As our sources suggest three men from the 4th light infantry company were killed, with two of them being buried at the bridge and one in the town center of Concord it appears that our mystery is as close to being solved as can be with the little information on hand at this late date.  Privates Thomas Smith, Patrick Gray and James Hall were killed at the bridge fight with two of them buried at the bridge and the other in a unmarked grave somewhere in Concord.  

In 2002 the National Park Service placed grave markets at all know locations along the Battle Road where British soldiers were buried.  My job was to research possible locations.   This paper was part of this research.

Note:  copyright @ by Mark Nichipor