His eyes are bronze, formed in fire; and if you walk from Concord Center two blocks up Monument Street, you will find him staring at you from where he stands high atop a granite base, overlooking the North Bridge battle site and the straight gravel path from the bridge to the road. He is the Minute Man statue created by Concord sculptor Daniel Chester French, and was witness to part of the story you’re about to read. 

In her engaging biography, Emerson’s Daughters, Kate Culkin brings out of the shadows two of “Concord’s favorite daughters,” Ellen and Edith, who had a “sisterhood built on correspondence,” and whose contributions have been all but lost until now. 

The American Revolution, often viewed through the lens of soldiers and statesmen, holds a lesser-known narrative: the experiences of its civilian children. These young witnesses provide a unique, albeit often overlooked, perspective on the war’s impact. However, authentic contemporary accounts written by children are scarce. Most of these stories emerged decades later, passed down through generations, and were documented in the 19th century or beyond. Here are four such narratives, starting with those from the Battles of Lexington and Concord and concluding with the Battle of Bunker Hill.