U.S. Army Center of Military History
otnSodreps 30u6191ia31ii701t9m1pul1cr5A531 ·
19 APRIL 1775 - BATTLES of LEXINGTON and CONCORD - #RevolutionaryWar
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BEGINS!
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith led a brigade of 700 British soldiers to Concord, Massachusetts, to search for weapons and ammunition. On the way, Major John Pitcairn and the advanced guard of 300 redcoats encountered 80 men of Captain John Parker's militia company on the Lexington village green.
Pitcairn demanded the militia disperse. As Parker ordered his men to comply someone unknown fired a shot. The British deployed, fired a volley and charged with fixed bayonets in a short fight that killed eight and wounded ten Americans. After their officers restored order, the redcoats resumed marching to Concord, where Colonel James Barrett had mustered that area's militia and minuteman companies before taking position on a hill across the Old North Bridge about a mile from town.
As the British searched the town, companies from neighboring communities arrived and formed into battalions. A detachment of redcoats arrived at the bridge, part of which crossed to search Barrett's farm while the rest guarded the span. When the militiamen saw smoke and believed the enemy was burning Concord, Barret ordered his men to load muskets, but only fire if fired upon, and they advanced in column toward the bridge. Captain Walter Laurie's command of three companies - 95 nervous redcoats - opened fire on about 400 approaching militiamen with a ragged volley that killed two and wounded four Americans.
In response Major John Buttrick excitedly yelled, "Fire, for God's sake, fellow soldiers, fire!" Their return volley killed three and wounded thirteen British soldiers, including four officers or sergeants. The British retreated back to Lexington where they were reinforced, but continued the retreat to Boston in a running fight.
At the end of the day, they were besieged in Boston and the Revolutionary War had begun.
#Armyhistory #USArmy #TRADOC Secretary of the Army U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command U.S. Army U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) The National Guard
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