Battle of Lexington and Concord

Tensions mounted between the colonies and England. General Thomas Gage, the British commander, learned that munitions were being stockpiled in various locations in Massachusetts. On February 25, 1775, Gage sent Colonel Alexander Leslie and 250 of his men to Salem to destroy 19 cannons that were stockpiled in the town. However, this action failed because the Alarm Riders rode to Salem to alert the town of the British attack. The Salem Patriots moved the cannons to the opposite side of Salem forge and drew the drawbridge so the British could not cross the forge.

Gunpowder, musket balls, cannons, and food supplies were also stored in Worcester, Cambridge and Concord. However, Concord was considered the ideal location because it was located on a major route to Boston, and the hilly geography of the town gave it a natural defense from the Redcoats. The Patriots knew that the British would try once again to steal their supplies.

A few days before his famous ride, Boston's Patriot Paul Revere noticed that the British troops were changing their routine duties. He reported it to the Committee of Safety, suspecting that the British were going to seize the military supplies in Concord. Revere continued to keep track of British activity and devised a signal that if the British came by land, one lantern would be lit in the North Church Steeple. If the troops came by sea, two lanterns would be lit.

On the morning of April 18, 1775, the people of Concord began moving the military supplies out of town. Some were moved to Groton, about 18 miles away. Other munitions were buried, such as the ones stored at Col. John Barrett's home. Some supplies were hidden in barrels in the attic and covered with feathers. By 10:30 that night, Paul Revere saw two lanterns in the North Church steeple. About 700 British soldiers assembled in the Boston Common, ready to march to Lexington and Concord to steal munitions and capture Patriots John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
Revere arrived at Lexington at midnight and sounded the alarm that the British regulars were on the way. William Dawes joined Revere as he continued his ride to Concord. As they were riding, they were joined by Dr. Samuel Prescott, who had been visiting his girlfriend in Lexington and was returning home to Concord. As the men were riding, they were surprised by two British officers. Dawes and Prescott escaped, but Revere was captured by a group of British soldiers, but was released two hours later. Prescott continued on to Concord to spread the alarm.

The British arrived in Lexington around 5:00AM. The Minutemen were lined up on Lexington Green and were given instructions from their leader, Captain Parker, not to fire unless fired upon. Parker told his men to withdraw when he saw 700 British soldiers before him. Suddenly, a single gun shot rang out, and the Redcoats charged. News of the attack spread quickly and by 9:00AM, 400 Minutemen from Acton, Lincoln, Groton, Westford, and Bedford gathered on Concord's Punkatasset Hill. As they moved closer to North Bridge, they noticed smoke rising from the direction of Concord Center. Thinking that the British were burning down the town, Col. Barrett gave the order to march to the middle of town by way of the North Bridge, but not to fire unless fired upon. As they approached, they saw the British pulling up the planks of the bridge. Minuteman Major Buttrick ordered the British soldiers to stop, which they did. British Captain Laurie arranged his troops to fire upon the Minutemen and began shooting. The Minutemen returned their fire and advanced on the British, who promptly ran in the other direction.

The Concord Fight only lasted about two or three minutes, but was a significant event that changed the course of history forever. “The shot heard ‘round the world” was the first step toward independence and liberty for all citizens in America.


Tensions mounted between the colonies and England. General Thomas Gage, the British commander, learned that munitions were being stockpiled in various locations in Massachusetts. On February 25, 1775, Gage sent Colonel Alexander Leslie and 250 of his men to Salem to destroy 19 cannons that were stockpiled in the town. However, this action failed because the Alarm Riders rode to Salem to alert the town of the British attack. The Salem Patriots moved the cannons to the opposite side of Salem forge and drew the drawbridge so the British could not cross the forge. Gunpowder, musket balls, cannons, and food supplies were also stored in Worcester, Cambridge and Concord. However, Concord was considered the ideal location because it was located on a major route to Boston, and the hilly geography of the town gave it a natural defense from the Redcoats. The Patriots knew that the British would try once again to steal their supplies. A few days before his famous ride, Boston's Patriot Paul Revere noticed that the British troops were changing their routine duties. He reported it to the Committee of Safety, suspecting that the British were going to seize the military supplies in Concord. Revere continued to keep track of British activity and devised a signal that if the British came by land, one lantern would be lit in the North Church Steeple. If the troops came by sea, two lanterns would be lit.
On the morning of April 18, 1775, the people of Concord began moving the military supplies out of town. Some were moved to Groton, about 18 miles away. Other munitions were buried, such as the ones stored at Col. John Barrett's home. Some supplies were hidden in barrels in the attic and covered with feathers. By 10:30 that night, Paul Revere saw two lanterns in the North Church steeple. About 700 British soldiers assembled in the Boston Common, ready to march to Lexington and Concord to steal munitions and capture Patriots John Hancock and Samuel Adams.		Revere arrived at Lexington at midnight and sounded the alarm that the British regulars were on the way. William Dawes joined Revere as he continued his ride to Concord. As they were riding, they were joined by Dr. Samuel Prescott, who had been visiting his girlfriend in Lexington and was returning home to Concord. As the men were riding, they were surprised by two British officers. Dawes and Prescott escaped, but Revere was captured by a group of British soldiers, but was released two hours later. Prescott continued on to Concord to spread the alarm.
The British arrived in Lexington around 5:00AM. The Minutemen were lined up on Lexington Green and were given instructions from their leader, Captain Parker, not to fire unless fired upon. Parker told his men to withdraw when he saw 700 British soldiers before him. Suddenly, a single gun shot rang out, and the Redcoats charged. News of the attack spread quickly and by 9:00AM, 400 Minutemen from Acton, Lincoln, Groton, Westford, and Bedford gathered on Concord's Punkatasset Hill. As they moved closer to North Bridge, they noticed smoke rising from the direction of Concord Center. Thinking that the British were burning down the town, Col. Barrett gave the order to march to the middle of town by way of the North Bridge, but not to fire unless fired upon. As they approached, they saw the British pulling up the planks of the bridge. Minuteman Major Buttrick ordered the British soldiers to stop, which they did. British Captain Laurie arranged his troops to fire upon the Minutemen and began shooting. The Minutemen returned their fire and advanced on the British, who promptly ran in the other direction. The Concord Fight only lasted about two or three minutes, but was a significant event that changed the course of history forever. “The shot heard ‘round the world” was the first step toward independence and liberty for all citizens in America.