History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

376 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
British are on their way to Concord, and I have
alarmed all tlie towns from Cliarlestown to here."
One of the cliildreii, who were sleeping in a trundlebed
in the room with tlieir parents, — a boy about
eight years old,— said it was about two in the morn-
ing. This boy, in his maidiood, often told the story
to his son, Deacon Nathaniel Trull, who furnishes
these reminiscences. Immediately on receiving the
alarm from the horseman, who at once disappeared,
the captain sprang from liis bed and seized the
gun which hung over it. To open the window and
disciiarge the gun was the work of but a moment.
Almost instantly a response in the same manner
was received from Captain Yarnum, across the river
in Dracut. Soon the whole region was alarmed,
and was echoing and re-echoing with the discharge
of fire-arms. This was tlie preconcerted signal by
which the country was to be aroused.
Long before the numerous reports had ceased, and
while tliis section was arousing, Captain Trull was on
his liorse, hurrying to the centre of Tewlcsbury,
where tlie arsenal was located. On his arrival he
found his company of minute-men drawn up in order, Congress, the committee of safety was formed, and
and awaiting only the word of their commander to committees having various patriotic duties were
march to the defence of Concord or to face the raised. Page after page is found whose every
common foe. The messenger wlio had awakened brief entry is of money paid to or for the Continen-
Captain Trull had aroused the sleeping village on tal soldiers. Their families are duly cared for. This
his way to the captain's house, the limit apparently
of his ride, on account of the river. Tewksbury
once alarmed, her minute-men broke into the arse-
nal, obtained tlieir arms, and placed tliemselves in
readiness to march on the appearance of their leader.
He was not long in coming, and soon the little band
was on its way toward Concord and Lexington. Con-
cord is some fifteen miles from Tewksbury. Charles-
town, by way of Concord, is at least thirty-five miles
from tliis town. Yet our men appear to have fol-
lowed the retreating British, and to liave assisted in
turning tlieir retreat into a terrible fiiglit. A grand-
son of Captain Trull still relates how, in his earlier
years, when on his way from Salem to Tewksbury,
to spend Thanksgiving, he was often hailed by the
aged and enfeebled Eliphaict Manning, one of the
survivors of tliat memorable march, wlio would
tlius address him: "I fonglit witli your graudfatlier
from Concord to Cliarlestown." The Tewks-
bury men arc believed to liave begun their part
in (!iat opening of the coiillirl al Mciriaiu's
Corner, where it is stated lliat tlic I'illcrica iiini
and several small jiarties met the British and
the pursuing Americans. Ca])taiii Trnli fre(|nen(ly
related how the regulars " ran well " under some
galling fire from the minute-men closely following
their rear. He had hard work to restrain the
eagerness of his excited and valiant men as they
M'cre picking off the red-coats from beliind the
sheltering trees. The men were so engaged in
their deadly work that they would frequently
expose their elbows, which were almost sure
to be pierced by a British bullet. Hence tlie
need of their leader's frequent warning, " Stand
trim, men, or the rascals will shoot your elbows
off!"
Tewksbury did her part not only from Concord
to Charlestown, but from the beginning to the close
of the glorious struggle. The scanty records, at
times amounting to little more than a bare catalogue
of accounts, are full of votes to raise troops for the
Continental army, •— to furnish them with clothing,
arms, and ammunition, and to recompense them
for past services at Boston, Dorchester, Boxbury,
Cambridge, New York, Ticonderoga, and the various
high places of the field. When it was deemed
necessary, delegates were sent to the Provincial
brief history of the town might be indefinitely ex-
tended by copying the long list of votes which
record the patriotic action of Tewksbury during
this trying period.
The name of Captain John Trull is a frequent
one in the records of this period. The son, for
whose services a recompense was voted, was one of
the town's quota called for by the Provincial Con-
gress. He died of disease at New York while in
the service of his country. The circumstances of
his enlistment and tlie manner in which that (piota
was filled, according to tradition, are very interest-
ing to illustrate some of the customs of those stir-
ring days.
Captain Trull was accustomed to drill and ])a-
rade his company of minute-men on one of the fields
of his farm, — afield situated on the cross-road
whieli now connects the Lawrence and the Lowell
main roads. The company numbered some sixty
men. When the call for troops came, the captain
dclcrmined to see if the town's quota could not be
raised by volunteers at one of these parades. Five
men were retpiired. He decided to make them a
s|)eeeli. They slood in their ranks, in the elevated
field alreadv mentioned, which commands a beauti-