Lexington and Concord

This page was created by M.R.

   On February 1775, Massachusetts was in open rebellion. This meant that those British troops could treat colonist like rebels and then shoot them. The king wished to avoid war by destroying the orders from Boston. In April General Gage received secret orders from the British Government that they were to attack Massachusetts trouble makers and then arrest their leaders.  Unfortunately, Boston patriots knew about the plans before Gage did. The rebellion leaders left so they could avoid arrest. Gage decided to destroy arms and gun powder owned by Boston patriots in Concord. On April 18,1775 over 700 British soldiers marched toward Concord. When Joseph Warren found out that the British were on their way to Concord, he sent two speedy couriers named Paul Revere and William Dowes to go to Concord and warn the people about the red coats. The redcoats were at Lexington still on their way to Concord.  On April 19, 1775 Paul warned the soldiers who were reedy to fight.   Seventy minutemen waited for redcoats in Lexington.  No one knows who fired the first shot; however, when all was said and done, eight minutemen were dead and ten were injured.  Only one British soldier was hurt. 

The British continued on to Concord where they searched for hidden arms.  Minutemen met them there and killed three soldiers.  All along the way, minutemen shot at soldiers from behind trees and stone fences killing around 250 British, compared to a mere 90 minutemen.

News of these attacks spread quickly and inspired many people to take up arms and go to Boston to help defend the city.