were the servants
of the province; they were martyrs in the cause of freedom.

"Their names mankind shall hold
In deep remembrance, and their memory shall be
A lasting monument, a sacred shrine
Of those who died for righteousness and truth."

Colonel Robinson was a native of the county of Essex, but then a
citizen of Westford. In 1775 he was forty years of age, a veteran of
the French War, and at the time of his death in 1805 he had been
engaged in nineteen battles. Of his courage there was no doubt.
Thaxter says of him, "a braver and more upright man I never knew." At
Bunker Hill he served under Prescott, who pronounced him both honorable
and brave.

His epitaph claims for him the honor of commanding at Concord Bridge,
but the weight of evidence is in favor of Major Buttrick as the active
commander. And Robinson's fame can well spare even so distinguished
an honor as the command at the North Bridge. The name of Major
Buttrick, with that of Captain Davis, was early consecrated by the
Legislature of the Commonwealth.

From ten to twelve o'clock, of the morning of the 19th, there was a
cessation of hostilities. This respite was the natural result of the
policy and purposes of the two parties. The Americans' great idea was
resistance. Whatever may be said to the contrary, the officers in
command did not regard it within their line of duty to make an attack.
The instruction of the Provincial Congress were explicit to the
contrary. It was deemed a great point to show that the British fired
first. But even admitting the purpose of the Americans to make an
attack, the village of Concord was most unfavorable. The British
would have had the advantage of position, and at any moment might have
inflicted irreparable injury in the destruction of the town. To
whatever reason the alleged apathy of the Americans during those two
hours is attributable, it was most fortunate for the cause they
defended.

The purpose of the invaders, it is quite certain, was a retreat to
Boston rather than a renewal of hostilities at Concord. The fierce
and continued attack of the Americans during the afternoon was
induced by a knowledge of what had happened at Lexington, by the
presence of large numbers of men, and possibly by the advice and
counsel of Adams and Hancock.

Of Davis' company there were men among the survivors who deserve well
of posterity. Thomas Thorp was an apprentice in Acton, having been
taken from th