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.