Lexington and Concord

Considered important because they were the first official battles of and began the American Revolution.

• On the evening of April 18, 1775 warning came that the British troops in Boston were coming to Concord, MA to confiscate a stash of weapons.

  • Wanted to take these weapons before the colonial militia could use them.

  • Paul Revere road through several towns warning of the approaching **Redcoats/Lobsterbacks (offensive terms for British soldiers).

    • “The British are coming!”

• On the morning of April 19, 80 MA Minutemen under the command of Captain John Parker confronted the British troops at Lexington, MA.

  • The Captain expected no fighting, but confusion set in with the shouting of order and someone opened fire.

    • Unknown which side shot first.

    • “The shot heard round the world:” First shot of the war.

  • The British quickly scattered the Colonial Militia and then continued on to Concord.

• The Colonists had more success in Concord.

  • While the British were finding and confiscating a small number of weapons, more Colonial Militia entered the area.

    • Grew from 250 to 400 men.

    • British originally had 800 soldiers but troops were sent back to Boston, leaving them with under 100.

  • The British were devastated in an initial scrimmage and then were pushed back to Boston.

    • Colonists used flanking maneuvers and snipers.

    • Militiamen numbers grew to 1500 by the time they were forced back into Boston and surrounded by MA Militiamen.

  • The drive from Concord to Boston killed 279 British men compared to 93 Militiamen.