Battle of Lexington

April 19, 1775 The early months of 1775 were a period of great anxiety in Boston, insults and fights between the Redcoats and American were commonplace. The tension was increased by economic dislocation. In the town of Lexington, west of Boston, the residents had been preparing for a fight they thought was imminent. They had accumulated powder, guns and bullets during the winter. The presence of John Hancock and Samuel Adams the two men most wanted by Royal Authorities, made Lexington a logical choice for the Redcoats' attention. Also, the neighbor town of Concord had stashed the stockpiled gunpowder and weapons.

The British had marked these two objectives and mobilized to arrest the members of the Congress and retrieve the gunpowder. Thanks to Paul Revere and William Dawes the towns got notice of the approaching hoard of Redcoats. The towns' militia minutemen gathered in the Lexington "Town Green" or Central Park As the British advance party approached shortly after dawn, 77 Minutemen were instructed by Captain Parker: "Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." The British commander, who was pleasantly surprised by the small size of the American force, ordered the colonists to throw down their arms and disperse. But at this actions a shot was fired and it started a cross-firing which ended with 8 deaths and 10 wounded to the Militia and wounds to the Redcoats.

Lexington's Aftermath