Concord

Concord is the town in Massachusetts where the famous battle of the Revolutionary War took place. It is now a suburb of Boston. Emerson was connected to the town through his grandfather, who lived there and with whom he took up residence prior to composing “Concord Hymn.” The battle of Concord is often associated with corollary skirmish at nearby Lexington, which took place earlier on the day of April 19th, 1775.

North Bridge

This is the key point in the battle at Concord. The Massachusetts militia led by James Barrett pushed the British troops onto the bridge and caused their retreat across it. Holding the bridge was of key military importance to the British Army. Emerson refers to the bridge as a marker of the battle, shaping its form and outcome. The image of the bridge washed away to sea is suggestive of the need to consecrate the sites...