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Thread: [History] American Revolution - The Battle of Lexington and Concord

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    Default [History] American Revolution - The Battle of Lexington and Concord



    Author: Farnan
    Original Thread: American Revolution - The Battle of Lexington and Concord

    American Revolution - The Battle of Lexington and ConcordThe first battle (because I know only a little about this battle, and the book doesn't include much information on it, Wiki is my main source)

    The Battle of Lexington and Concord - "The Shot heard around the World"

    Background
    The increase in the training of the militia and the stockpiling ammo worried the British military governor of Boston, General Gage. Knowing the sentiments of the people in the nearby countryside he predicted that the Americans were preparing to revolt against the crown and decided to defeat them before they could gather enough strength to challenge his forces. To do this he decided to capture a major stockpile of weapons and equipment held at Concord by sending his grenadiers and light infantry. He had planned that this attack would be made in secret, but this plan was foiled by rebel spies. No one knows who was the one that leaked the information to the spy, being that no one beside Gage and the commanders of the expedition knew of the attack, but many suspect it was Gage's wife who had sympathies with the American colonists. It could have merely been the fact that the British grenadiers and light infantry were being moved around the town. Either way the rebels in Boston knew there was going to be an attack and set up riders to deliver the news the day of the attack, and to warn the leader of the Sons of Liberty Samuel Adams to escape. When the British launched the attack, the riders rode out and warned the towns along the way and other towns in the area.

    Lexington
    The first town that the British came upon was the Lexington, Massachusetts. In Lexington, the militia of the town assembled on the town green, with orders not to fire unless fired upon. The goal of the militia in forming at the town green was to be a form of civil disobdience not to start a conflict with the British. When the British reached the town they lined up parallel to the Americans, also with orders to not fire unless fired upon. As both sides stared each other down, the British major in charge yelled for the militia to disperse and lay down their armes. The militia began to disperse, but kept their weapons. Just at that instance a shot rang out, the "Shot that was hear around the World." No one, except the man whose weapon fired, knows who shot that first shot. Some blame the British, some the Americans, others the onlookers, and there is even the extremely probable theory that it was a misfire. Either way after that shot the British opened fire on the Americans, who fire back for little effect. After that first volley, all discipline was lost in the British ranks, and the concentrated volley fire they had been drilled in had ended and soldiers fired and reloaded at thier own pace. Eventually the British major restored discipline, but by then eight Americans were dead and several others wounded. The British on the other hand had only had one soldier wounded. The British marched through Lexington and continued to Concord.

    To be continued...

    Lexington and Concord - Continued

    Concord and the Old North Bridge
    After Lexington the British marched to Concord virtually unopposed. They arrived in Concord meeting no resistance and moved to the location of the arms supply and found it virtually empty. They dealt with the supplies and began to move home when they saw there was a collection of militia on a hill accross the Old North Bridge. The commander of the British forces ordered a detachment to deal with the rebels. Again both sides were ordered not to fire unless fired upon. As the British contingent marched towards the rebels, the rebels marched towards the British. The British, after crossing the bridged, noticed they were greatly outnumbered by rebels and retreated back accross the bridge. The commander of the detachment then ordered his troops to fire upon the Americans, who returned fire to great effect against the British. Due to a combination of factors, including the commander of the British forces ordering his troops into the wrong formation for that combat, the British detachment was routed. The British forces then marched back to Boston.

    The deadly return to Boston
    By this time militia from all over the area had gathered, ready to do battle with the British. There were no more orders to hold fire, the war had begun. As the British force marched home it was constantly attacked by militia units, its flankers were constantly ambused. It was in danger of being completely destroyed when it met up with troops sent from Boston. These troops included an artillery piece which was able to keep the American militia from forming into units. That artillery and the additional troops did not stop the attacks. As it continued its march homes, militia men hid behind walls and trees and shot into the column. Both majors in charge of the force were killed or injured. The British detachment continued to suffer causaulties until it reached the relative safety of Boston.

    Aftermath

    British Causalties: 73 killed 26 missing 174 wounded
    American Causalties: 50 killed 5 missing 39 wounded

    Though causaulties seem light, this fight began a war that lasted eight years and resulted in the British losing a large amount of their American possessions. After this battle militia from all over New England gathered at Boston, putting it under siege.

    Merged double post-Valus
    Last edited by Acco; April 17, 2009 at 12:06 PM. Reason: Changed author's name to its current state.
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