American History Central@AHC1776
The Battle of Menotomy Starts at the Foot of the Rocks
Date and Time — April 19, 4:00-4:30 p.m.
The British Expedition marched up and over Pierce’s Hill into Menotomy. There was a crossroads on the west side of the town where American forces had been gathering all day. They had come from Middlesex County, east of town, and Essex County, south of town.
By the time the British arrived, more than 30 militia companies were waiting for them. This does not include the companies following them along the road on the sides and behind.
At the bottom of the hill outside Menotomy, there was a long stretch of road between the “Foot of the Rocks” and Spy Pond. Stone walls, houses, and barns lined both sides of the road, and the Americans were behind every wall and inside nearly every building.
General Hugh Percy had the British artillery fire on the Americans at his rear, forcing them to scatter. However, the battle quickly intensified as militia companies from various towns joined the fight, including Watertown, Medford, Malden, Dedham, Needham, Lynn, Beverly, Danvers, Roxbury, Brookline, and Menotomy.
General Heath’s account of the fight at the Foot of the Rocks said:
“On descending from the high grounds in Menotomy, on to the plain, the fire was brisk. At this instant, a musket-ball came so near to the head of Dr. Warren as to strike the pin out of his ear lock. Soon after the right flank of the British was exposed to the fire of a body of militia which had come in from Roxbury, Brookline, Dorchester &c. For a few minutes the fire was brisk on both sides; and the British had here recourse to their field pieces again; but they were now more familiar than before…”
Near the Foot of the Rocks, Dr. Eliphalet Downer of Roxbury fought a British soldier in hand-to-hand combat. During the struggle, the soldier dropped his rifle. Dr. Downer picked it up and killed the soldier with the bayonet.
The historical marker at the Foot of the Rocks says:
“British troops in retreat from bloody first skirmishes at Lexington and Concord were here opposed by colonial forces gathering from four counties and thirty towns. More men fell at the foot of the rocks and on the plains of Menotomy than in every other locale through which the adversary forces fought that long day, April 19, 1775.”
During the battle, Joseph Warren was nearly seriously wounded when a musket ball grazed him.
