Revolutionary Viewpoints

Eyewitness Accounts Sylvanus Wood

Click on Picture to View Larger Image Patriot Engraving by F.O.C. Darley Author's Collection

June 17, 1826 Testimony

I, Sylvanus Wood, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy-four years, do testify and say that on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, I was an inhabitant of Woburn, living with Deacon Obadiah Kendall. An hour before the break of day, I heard the Lexington bell ring, and fearing there was difficulty there, I immediately arose, took my gun and, with Robert Douglass, went in haste to Lexington, which was about three miles distant. When I arrived there, I inquired of Captain Parker, the commander of the Lexington company. What was the news?

Parker told me he did not know what to believe, for a man had come up about half an hour before and informed him that the British troops were not on the road. But while we were talking, a messenger came up and told the captain that the British troops were within half a mile. Parker immediately turned to his drummer, William Diamond, and ordered him to beat to arms, which was done. Captain Parker then asked me if I would parade with his company. I told him I would. Parker then asked me if the young man with me would parade. I spoke to Douglass, and he said he… Read more

Click on Picture to View Larger Image "Let Us Stand Our Ground"Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1875)) Courtesy of Cornell University Library

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