midnight
Samuel Adams said it , and one of Sergeant Munroe 's men ran to the green , seized the bell-rope , and set the meetinghouse bell to clanging , sending the alarm far and wide upon the still night air . In the farmhouses candles were quickly lighted , and the minute-men , who had agreed to obey a summons at a moment 's warning , came running with musket , bullet-pouch , and powder-horn , to the rendezvous . They formed in line , but , no redcoats appearing , broke ranks and went into Buckman 's tavern . * * * * * Silently , without tap of drum , the grenadiers and light infantry under Colonel Francis Smith , at midnight , marched from their quarters to Barton 's Point , together with the marines under Major Pitcairn . `` Where are we going ? '' Lieutenant Edward Gould of the King 's Own put the question to Captain Lawrie . `` I suppose General Gage and the Lord , and perhaps Colonel Smith , know , but I do n't , '' the captain replied , as he stepped into a boat with his company .