Lincoln in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
The Bluff & Fiske Hill
Minute Man Nat'l Hist Park, Mass
— National Park Service —
The British soldiers were outnumbered and totally exhausted. Near here, the commander of the ill-fated expedition, Lt. Colonel Francis Smith, suffered a painful leg wound. The British situation grew desperate.
“The enemy were then rising and passing over Fiske’s Hill. An officer, mounted on an elegant horse, and with a drawn sword in his hand, was riding backwards and forwards, commanding and urging on the British troops. A number of Americans behind a pile of rails raised their guns and fired with deadly effect. The officer fell, and the horse took fright, leaped the wall, and ran directly towards those who had killed his rider. The enemy discharged their musketry in that direction, but their fire took no effect.”
- Edmund Foster, Reading Minute Man
Note that the British officer described, Major John Picairn, was not actually killed.
“All the hills on each side of us were covered with rebels . . . so that they kept the road always lined and a very hot fire on us without intermission . . .”
- British Ensign Henry DeBerniere
1:40 p.m. April 19, 1775 The Bluff & Fiske Hill
Colonial Militia 1600 Men
British Regulars 700 Men
12¼ miles & 5 hours, 20 minutes to Boston
Erected by Minute Man National Historical Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1842.
Location. 42° 26.93′ N, 71° 15.462′ W. Marker is in Lincoln, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. Marker can be reached from Battle Road, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located on the Battle Road in the east end of Minute Man National Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lincoln MA 01773, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ebenezer Fiske House Site (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); At This Well (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Ebenezer Fiske House Site (about 700 feet away); The Story Continues (about 700 feet away); This Bluff (approx. 0.4 miles away); Whittemore House (approx. half a mile away); April 19, 1775-The Dawn of Revolution (approx. 0.6 miles away); Minute Man Visitor Center (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lincoln.
More about this marker. The left side of the marker contains a picture of the exhausted British soldiers being fired upon by Colonial troops. The right of the marker features a painting of Lt. Colonel Francis Smith. A map of the retreat from Concord to Lexington, indicating the location of the Bluff & Fiske Hill, appears at the top of the marker.
Also see . . .
1. Minute Man National Historical Park. National Park Service website. (Submitted on April 19, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Concord. The American Revolutionary War website. (Submitted on May 7, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,467 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.