Lexington and Concord
After the French and Indian War, the British had begun instituting increasingly strict taxes and restrictions on the American colonists which led many to move towards rebellion. Late in 1774 and early in 1775, American Patriots had seized the initiative and began mobilizing state militias in preparation for open conflict. They moved from mere social organizations to training in military skills. In addition, they began gathering arms and gunpowder.
On April 14, 1775, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage received orders from Great Britain to suppress the burgeoning rebellion by arresting the leaders of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Gage had previously dissolved the Congress but it continued to secretly meet with John Hancock as its president. On April 18, he sent out a military unit from Boston to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington, Massachusetts. They were then to proceed to Concord to destroy the supply depot located there. When the Boston Committee of Safety learned of these plans, they sent out Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn that "the British are coming." Revere warned Hancock and Adams at around midnight so that they could flee. He then continued on to Concord with Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott. British troops were stationed on the road between Lexington and Concord to stop word from getting to the town of the impending attack. When the three men came upon the troops, they separated.
Dawes fled but was knocked from his horse. Revere was captured by the British. He was later let go when they feared an attack back in Lexington. However, Prescott was able to slip through and warn the patriots in Concord about the upcoming attempt on the armory.
On April 19, the British led by Captain John Parker arrived in Lexington to find 70 Minute Men waiting for them. A fight started after one person fired a shot. By the end of the skirmish, eight Americans died and 10 were wounded. The British then moved on to Concord.
Because of Prescott's warnings, the Americans were able to remove most of their supplies from Concord, though the British destroyed what was left. In the meantime, news of the attack caused many of the militia to join and fight against the British at Concord's North Bridge. They killed 14 before the British left to march back to Boston. However, on the way they met a stiff resistance as farmers and patriots sniped at the British all the way back to Boston. By the end of the day, 250 British soldiers were either killed or wounded while the Americans lost about 100. The British could no longer ignore the will of the patriots to fight against them. The war would soon blossom into the full-fledged American Revolution with the Declaration of Independence being officially issued on July 4, 1776.
In 1837, poet Ralph Waldo Emerson would commemorate these fights in his poem titled "Concord Hymn." The poem starts with the stanza:
The British March to Lexington and Concord
On April 14, 1775, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage received orders from Great Britain to suppress the burgeoning rebellion by arresting the leaders of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Gage had previously dissolved the Congress but it continued to secretly meet with John Hancock as its president. On April 18, he sent out a military unit from Boston to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington, Massachusetts. They were then to proceed to Concord to destroy the supply depot located there. When the Boston Committee of Safety learned of these plans, they sent out Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn that "the British are coming." Revere warned Hancock and Adams at around midnight so that they could flee. He then continued on to Concord with Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott. British troops were stationed on the road between Lexington and Concord to stop word from getting to the town of the impending attack. When the three men came upon the troops, they separated.
Dawes fled but was knocked from his horse. Revere was captured by the British. He was later let go when they feared an attack back in Lexington. However, Prescott was able to slip through and warn the patriots in Concord about the upcoming attempt on the armory.
On April 19, the British led by Captain John Parker arrived in Lexington to find 70 Minute Men waiting for them. A fight started after one person fired a shot. By the end of the skirmish, eight Americans died and 10 were wounded. The British then moved on to Concord.
The Bloody Road Back to Boston
Because of Prescott's warnings, the Americans were able to remove most of their supplies from Concord, though the British destroyed what was left. In the meantime, news of the attack caused many of the militia to join and fight against the British at Concord's North Bridge. They killed 14 before the British left to march back to Boston. However, on the way they met a stiff resistance as farmers and patriots sniped at the British all the way back to Boston. By the end of the day, 250 British soldiers were either killed or wounded while the Americans lost about 100. The British could no longer ignore the will of the patriots to fight against them. The war would soon blossom into the full-fledged American Revolution with the Declaration of Independence being officially issued on July 4, 1776.
The Shot Heard 'Round The World
In 1837, poet Ralph Waldo Emerson would commemorate these fights in his poem titled "Concord Hymn." The poem starts with the stanza:
By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world.Emerson wrote the poem to commemorate the dedication of the Battle Monument in Concord, Massachusetts. The monument is an obelisk raised to honor the battle that occurred at the beginning of the Revolution. Emerson's poem ends with:
Spirit, that made those heroes dare, To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee.
Source...