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.