"
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.
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