The Great Bridge

Although the original Great Bridge is no longer standing, its significance in Revolutionary Cambridge, particularly its role during the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, is important. Leading up to and during the years of the American Revolution, The Great Bridge was the only bridge that connected Boston to Cambridge and the surrounding towns. 

In April of 1775 Boston Patriots, including Paul Revere, noticed the movement of British ships and troops. The movements of British were believed to be preparations for the British to go to Concord to seize gunpowder and arrest leading Patriots John Hancock and Samuel Adams. On the night of April 18, 1775 Dr. Joseph Warren, a Patriot of Boston, sent Paul Revere and William Dawes out to warn the towns of Massachusetts that the British were on their way. William Dawes rode over the Great Bridge to warn to the citizens of Cambridge that the British were coming and that they should destroy the Great Bridge to slow British troops moving toward Lexington and Concord by land.

At about 11:30 pm on the night of April 18th the Cambridge militia tore up the planks on The Great Bridge. However, instead of disposing of the planks, so the British troops could not find them, the militia just left the planks by the side of the bridge. When British reinforcements, lead by Lord Percy and headed toward Lexington and Concord arrived at The Great Bridge they found it dismantled. However, Lord Percy had anticipated that the bridge would be tampered with so he had brought carpenters with him. While some of Percy’s men were able to cross the bridge they needed to be able to bring the supply wagon across.  The work of the Cambridge Militia did not stop Lord Percy and his troops, but they were significantly delayed by the repairing of the bridge.  Once across, they headed to Lexington and Concord with part of the Cambridge militia following them closely, prepared to attack Percy’s troops on their retreat.

Once Lord Percy and his troops were on their way to Lexington and Concord the rest of the Cambridge militia headed to The Great Bridge to destroy the repairs Percy’s troops had made. The planks of the Great Bridge were taken out and more effectively disposed of. The Cambridge militia was also ordered to fortify the south end of the bridge, by General Heath, in order to block any British retreat over the bridge.

The events that occurred at The Great Bridge on April 19, 1775 during the Battle of Lexington and Concord were not only significant to Cambridge, but to the entire war. Had the Cambridge militia not destroyed The Great Bridge and delayed Lord Percy’s reinforcements, the outcome of The Battle of Lexington and Concord could have been different. 

The Great Bridge no longer stands today.  The Larz-Anderson Bridge stands where The Great Bridge was located, however, The Great Bridge would have looked quite different than what is there today. It was larger, being the only bridge between Boston and Cambridge and it crossed the Charles before it was dammed.

 

 

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