Lexington and Concord
There were many battles of the American Revolution starting with Lexington and Concord. The
Provincial Congress of Massachusetts set up a militia and supplies for 1500 men to fight. The
American's who were going to fight chose Concord to be the place to keep their supplies. They chose Concord because it was far away from the British. During this England decided to make a new bill, they called this "The Fisheries Bill". This bill forbade the New England colonies to trade anywhere except for England and the British Indies. "The curtains were beginning to open on the stage of the American Revolution".
An entire brigade had been let out by Lord Percy on a practice march. This practice march swung through Watertown and Cambrige. They had been ready, so that when the British came marching in they were ready to fight. The British general Thomas Gage had to enforce the acts of parliament. Major John Pitcairn commanded the British troops he marched his soldiers all night and arrived at Lexington at dawn. At Lexington he found a line of minutemen all ready to fight. From behind a wall a shot rang out. It was called "The shot hears 'round the world. Eight minute men were killed, ten were wounded, and one British soldier was wounded before the patriots withdrew. The British continued six miles to Concord. The Americans retreated to the North Bridge. "The curtains had finally opened…The stage was set…The American revolution had begun".
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The battle that came up next in the American Revolution was called The Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle was on June 17, 1775. This battle was fought between the British regulars and the New England minute men. The British lost 1,150 men out of 2,500 men. One out of every four officers were killed out of 92 officers. Each British soldier was armed with a full kit with a knapsack, blanket, and ammunition. In several hours of bloody fighting the Americans were removed from their position. Bunker Hill was a British victory. Bunker Hill was "A battle that should have never been fought on a hill that should have never been defended".