d to dismiss and
disperse."[62] The minute men were still standing in their ranks when
the British suddenly appeared.

The succeeding events caused much controversy at the time. Gage reported
"that the troops were fired upon by the rebels out of the
meeting-house, and the neighboring houses, as well as by those that were
in the field; and that the troops only returned the fire, and passed on
their way to Concord."[63] But in number the little company of minute
men were, according to Revere, who had just passed through them, "about
fifty"; the Reverend Jonas Clark says "fifty or sixty, or even seventy."
Had there been even the two or three hundred of the British reports,
these men, drawn up without protection on an open green, are scarcely
likely to have attacked a force of more than twice their number. The
logic of the situation seems against Gage.

There is one more factor to consider. It is well enough known that both
the British officers, and the Americans as a whole, were under
instructions not to fire, and earnest to obey. But what of the British
privates? Their eagerness for blood at the time of the Massacre was so
great as to account for that tragedy; it was now not likely to be less.
There were even among the troops at Lexington two companies from one of
the "Sam Adams regiments." When we learn from Lieutenant Barker that
after the skirmish "the Men were so wild they cou'd hear no orders," we
may even suspect that, as at the Massacre, the men may have taken
matters into their own hands.

"For," says the minister of Lexington, "no sooner did they come in sight
of our company, but one of them, supposed to be an officer of rank, was
heard to say to the troops, 'Damn them, we will have them!'--Upon this
the troops shouted aloud, huzza'd, and rushed furiously towards our
men.--About the same time, three officers (supposed to be Col. Smith,
Major Pitcairn and another officer) advanced, on horse back, to the
front of the body, and coming within five or six rods of the militia,
one of them cried out, 'ye villains, ye Rebels, disperse; Damn you,
disperse!' or words to this effect. One of them (whether the same, or
not, is not easily determined) said, 'Lay down your arms, Damn you, why
don't you lay down your arms!'--The second of these officers, about
this time, fired a pistol towards the militia, as they were
dispersing.--The foremost, who was within a few yards of our men,
brandishing his sword, and then pointing to