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Colonel Barrett’s Hustle BY BYJAIMEE JAIMEELEIGH LEIGHJOROFF JOROFF
22
Discover CONCORD
| Spring 2020
their theirown ownarmy armyififneeded. needed.The Thesupplies supplieswere were being beingstored storedininboth bothConcord Concordand andthe thefartherfartherwest westtown townof ofWorcester. Worcester.Barrett, Barrett,aamember member of the Provincial Congress’s of the Provincial Congress’sCommittee Committeeof of Safety, Safety,was wasresponsible responsiblefor foroverseeing overseeingthe the collection collectionand andsecurity securityof ofthe thesupplies suppliesinin Concord, the majority of which Concord, the majority of whichwere werestored stored on his farm. on his farm. Like Likespiderwebs, spiderwebs,extensive extensivenetworks networksof of both bothLoyalist Loyalistand andPatriot Patriotspies spiesinvisibly invisibly stretched stretchedover overthe theProvince Provinceof ofMassachusetts Massachusetts Bay, secret messengers constantly Bay, secret messengers constantlyon onthe the move. move.InInMarch Marchof of1775, 1775,General GeneralThomas Thomas Gage, Gage,the theroyally royallyappointed appointedmilitary militarygovernor governor of Massachusetts, received a tip that of Massachusetts, received a tip that provisions provisionsfor foran anarmy armywere werebeing beingcollected collected ininConcord. Concord.Gage Gagebegan beganto togather gatherinformation information and andplan planaaresponse. response. Back in Concord, Back in Concord,Barrett Barrettwrote wroteaadetailed detailed inventory of the items under inventory of the items underhis hiswatch. watch. His Hislist listincluded includedcannons, cannons,mortars, mortars,musket musket balls, balls,cartridges, cartridges,flints, flints,gunpowder, gunpowder,medical medical supplies, supplies,tents tentsand andtent tentpoles, poles,dishes dishesand and spoons, barrels of dried food, and more. spoons, barrels of dried food, and more.And And then thenthe thelist listfell fellinto intothe thewrong wronghands. hands. Their Theirname nameunknown unknownto tohistory, history,aaloyalist loyalist
Barrett BarrettFarm Farm
spy, spy,likely likelyaacitizen citizenof ofConcord, Concord,acquired acquired Barrett’s Barrett’slist listand andsent sentititto toGage. Gage.Writing Writinginin French Frenchas asaaform formof ofdisguise, disguise,lest lestthe theaverage average simply-educated colonist came across simply-educated colonist came acrossthe the correspondence, correspondence,the theinformant informantalso alsoprovided provided aadetailed, detailed,hand-drawn hand-drawnmap mapof ofConcord Concord showing: showing:the themain mainaccess accessroads; roads;the theNorth North and South Bridges that should be secured and South Bridges that should be securedinin case casecolonists coloniststried triedto tomove movesupplies suppliesover over them; them;Barrett’s Barrett’sfarm; farm;and andother otherhouses housesand and barns barnsininwhich whichmilitary militarystores storescould couldbe befound. found. Now well informed, Gage told the British Now well informed, Gage told the British army armyto toprepare preparefor foran anexpedition expeditionto toConcord Concord ininthe thecoming comingdays. days. InInthe thedaylight daylightof ofApril April8th, 8th,observing observing sudden increased activity of British sudden increased activity of Britishtroops troops ininBoston, Boston,Paul PaulRevere Revererode rodefrom fromBoston Bostonto to
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Have Haveyou youever evertried triedto toquickly quicklyclean cleanup upthe the house housebefore beforelast lastminute minuteguests guestscome comeover? over? Heart Heartpounding poundingdown downthe theseconds secondsuntil untiltheir their obnoxiously presumptuous fists knock obnoxiously presumptuous fists knockon onthe the door, door,you youdo doaalittle littlefrantic franticshoving, shoving,maybe maybe commit commitaalittle littlebit bitof oftreason, treason,and andhope hopethe the house looks presentable. house looks presentable. April April19th, 19th,1775, 1775,33AM: AM:65-year-old 65-year-oldfarmer, farmer, Massachusetts MassachusettsProvincial ProvincialCongress Congressmember, member, and andlocal localmilitia militiacommander commanderColonel ColonelJames James Barrett lay sleeping next to his wife Rebecca Barrett lay sleeping next to his wife Rebecca inintheir theirfarmhouse farmhousetwo twomiles milesoutside outsideof of Concord ConcordCenter. Center.The Thefields fieldsaround aroundtheir theirhome home and andnearby nearbymill millwere werequiet quietininthe thedarkness darkness --and andfull fullof ofartillery artilleryand andstores storesneeded neededto to support a Continental Army in the support a Continental Army in themaking. making. InInthe thedistance, distance,the thetown townbell bellstarted started frantically franticallyringing ringingand andaafew fewmoments momentslater later horse’s hooves galloped to a fast halt outside horse’s hooves galloped to a fast halt outside Barrett’s Barrett’shome. home.AAmessenger messengershouted shoutedfor for Colonel ColonelBarrett Barrettto toawake! awake!The TheKing’s King’stroops troops were werecoming comingto tosearch searchthe thetown townand andseize seizethe the war supplies. Not a moment or a head to lose war supplies. Not a moment or a head to lose for fortreason, treason,up upsprang sprangBarrett Barrettand andhis hiswife. wife. For months now, the colonists had For months now, the colonists hadbeen been amassing amassingweapons weaponsand andprovisions provisionsto tosupply supply
