Summary

The Night – Adam and Levi are awakened very late by the sound of horse hoof beats. Their parents join them at the window, followed by Granny. Moses dresses and heads over to the village common. Adam follows. There, a rider warns that British troops, 1,000-2,000 of them, have crossed the river from Boston, and are proceeding up Menotomy Road, toward Concord. The rider then continues on to Concord to shout the warning.

Jonas Parker calls for the militia to be mustered at once. Moses contends a Committee meeting should be called to decide how to proceed. The Reverend believes that facts should be checked before anyone does anything else. Sam Hodley believes the British have not left Boston. The local militia adds up to 79 men, none of whom have ever shot another man in anger or in battle. The British...