The Crossroads and Common

As evidenced by the responses to various ‘powder alarms’ in 1774 and 1775, the colonial militia were well equipped and had been making provisions to raise notice quickly in response to British actions. In the late hours of April 18, 1775, notice was received that the British were preparing to march. Notice was given, and riders sent out to alert militia in the surrounding towns. Though much like the historical fate of Mentomy, the identities of many of these riders have been lost in history, with riders Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott taking the historical credit. 

While there were undoubtedly many other riders, Paul Revere is credited as having traveled through Menotomy, crossing through Medford and along the Medford road, to warn sleeping colonists. Richard Devens, who had not yet reached this path, would not have encountered Revere prior to encountering several British officers.1 Revere continued through Menotomy, crossing from Medford Road onto Concord Road, and following through towards Lexington. While Revere’s path is well recorded in the historical record, no first-hand accounts related to Menotomy specifically describe an interaction with him. His route would have taken him directly past the Captain of the Menotomy Militia, so it is possible that there were minimal stops made by the rider on his hasty journey to Lexington. 

At just about the spot where Revere crossed from Medford Road onto Concord Road was the site of the Village Common. The space, now mostly a large municipal parking lot, was the site of several historical moments on April 19, 1775. As the British marched along Concord Road, hours before the first battles of the American Revolution began, the British columns came to a halt at the Common. It was from this space that Smith began to hear the pealing of bells and firing of guns as alarmed militiamen rose before dawn. Smith recalls in a letter to General Gage, “... we found the country had intelligence or strong suspicion of our coming, had fired many signal guns and rung the alarm bells repeatedly…”.2 General Gage describes the column, still within the bounds of Menotomy: “About 3 o’Clock the next Morning, the Troops being advanced within two Miles of Lexington, Intelligence was received that about Five Hundred Men in Arms, were assembled, and determined to oppose the King’s Troops…”.3 It was from alongside the village common that Smith ordered Pitcairn to advance ahead, and from where Smith sent back word to General Gage that reinforcements would be needed. Hours later, Smith’s forward thinking would prove fortunate along this very road and in these same spots.