Acton history students of all ages are lucky to live “on location” for commemorations of the start of the American Revolution. This year, “Revolutionary April” events drew re-enactors in full costume, some on horseback, marchers who accompanied them, and onlookers.
On Sunday, April 19, early risers hiked the same route from Acton to Concord that Captain Isaac Davis followed 251 years ago, along with his brave fellow farmers. The route was mapped out by scouts in the 1950s. The Minutemen’s Kathleen Bolen reports that, this year, “We had about 21 starting the march — 7 muskets, 10 distaff and 3 musicians. We had others join and participate along the way.”
The Acton Minutemen website includes the story of the march that is re-enacted each year.
“In the early dawn hours of April 19th, 1775, an alarm rider galloped his way throughout the town of Acton, warning of the British advance out of Boston. The objective of the march was Concord, where the British General, Thomas Gage, had heard there were stores of weapons, ammunition, and supplies for a protracted military campaign. As such, when the alarm came to Captain Isaac Davis, the leader of the Acton Minute Company, he sounded the alarm shots to rally his men to come to his house and prepare to head off for Concord, a journey of about 7 miles.
“Davis had said that when 30 men had arrived at his house, he would depart for Concord. As his men arrived, Isaac’s wife Hannah, who had been taking care of their four sick children, made the men breakfast and helped them to powder their wigs. Then they formed up in two long columns and headed out. They had only marched a few paces, when Davis halted them, walked back to Hannah as if to say something profound to her, and said only, ‘Take good care of the children.’ Those would be the last words she would ever hear him say, for the Acton Minutemen marched off to Concord, met the British head-on at the North Bridge, and Davis was shot and killed. He would go down in history as the first commissioned officer to die in the service of the new young republic.
“Each year, on the Monday of Patriots’ Day weekend, the Acton Minutemen recreate that famous march to Concord over the remnants of the original trail that Isaac Davis and his men traveled on that fateful day, referred to by stone markers labeled ‘Line of March, April 19, 1775’. We start off at the Isaac Davis homestead at 39 Hayward Rd. in Acton at 5:50am, where we hold a short ceremony of remembrance. From there, we head to Acton Center, arriving about 6:20am at the monument where Isaac Davis, Abner Hosmer, and James Hayward are buried, and have another short remembrance ceremony. From there we march to Concord over the original route, as closely as possible, arriving at the Old North Bridge about 9:00, where we will reenact the original battle that took place there, along with British reenactor units.”
The Stow Minutemen do a similar march to Concord, though even longer, and this year they marched on Monday, ending at the ceremony at the North Bridge.
The Acton Minutemen were lined up in front of the Minute Man statue, sculpted by Daniel Chester French, where they received wreaths in memory of fallen soldiers. After the ceremony and music, the parade continued back to Concord Center where a block party awaited.
On Saturday, April 18, riders Georgia Berry, on horse Tessa, and David Loda, on Huckleberry, re-enacted the alarm ride of Dr. Samuel Prescott of Concord and Captain Joseph Robbins of Acton, stopping at the Robbins house site on Concord Road, the Davis House on Hayward Rd., the Faulkner House on High Street, and Liberty Tree Farm on on Liberty Street.
The afternoon muster included a musket demonstration.
If readers attended any of the events of the season and have stories or photos to share with your neighbors, please send them to us!
Franny Osman is editor-in-chief of the Acton Exchange and writes occasional articles, too.
