Course/Grade Level: 5th grade
Lesson Title: The Battle of Lexington and Concord
Teacher: Sharon Keena (sharon.keena@rps205.com)
1. Set Induction: To introduce the lesson, have several students describe an event at school. Their
accounts probably will not be exactly the same, (which is what you want to happen.) Discuss with the
class how they would determine what actually happened, probably not exactly what either student
reported. Just as they report things differently, reports of the battles at Lexington and Concord differ
depending on the person writing the report.
2. Aims/Objectives and Standards:
a. Students will establish point of view and purpose of the authors of written accounts of the
battle.
b. Students will compare and contrast the information in the accounts of the battles.
c. Students will sequence events based on the information given.
d. Students will identify cause and effect relationships of the events described.
3. Procedures, Assessments and Materials Required:
a. Select the accounts appropriate for your students from those provided below or from one of
the websites and make copies.
b. Divide students into discussion groups and provide each group with at least two different
accounts of the battles.
c. Give groups time to read and discuss the information.
d. Have students create a timeline of events described.
e. Have groups create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the information they've read
and discussed.
f. Have students identify and write two or three cause and effect relationships.
g. Groups can share their diagrams and cause/effect relationships with the class.
h. Display the Venn Diagrams.
i. Assessment will be based on students timelines, Venn Diagrams, cause and effect
relationships identified, and presentations to the class.
j. Materials: Copies of selected text (included below), lined and blank paper, pencils
4. Resources and Scholarship:
http://www.kidport.com/RefLIb/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/LexingtonBattle.htm#BattleLexington
Concord
http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/MilSci/Resources/lexcon.html
http://www.britishbattles.com/concord-lexington.htm British account
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h655.html
Page 1 of 35
http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/battleaccounts/lexington2.html account by a milita member
http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/battleaccounts/lexington3.html account by British officer
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battles/bat_lex.asp
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/tline.asp timeline
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battles.asp
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/lexingtonconcorddef.htm
http://www.nps.gov/mima/
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/battle-lexington-concord.htm
5. Conclusion/Lesson Wrap-up: Briefly discuss point of view, cause and effect relationships, and how
they can determine what probably happened.
6. Supplied documents and information copied from websites (includes site) are on the following
pages.
Colonial Accounts:
Emerson Describes the Stand at Concord Bridge
http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/battleaccounts/lexington2.html
British Accounts:
Account presumably by Lieutenant John Barker of the King's Own.
http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/battleaccounts/lexington3.html
The Battle of Concord and Lexington 1775
http://www.britishbattles.com/concord-lexington.htm
Source Material:
Battle of Lexington and Concord
http://www.kidport.com/RefLIb/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/LexingtonBattle.htm#BattleLe
xingtonConcord
War for Independence, April 19, 1775
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h655.html
Battle of Lexington and Concord
http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/MilSci/Resources/lexcon.html
The Battles of Concord and Lexington
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battles/bat_lex.asp
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/battle-lexington-concord.htm
Timeline of the American Revolution
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/tline.asp
Page 2 of 35
Colonial Accounts
http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/battleaccounts/lexington2.html
EMERSON DESCRIBES THE STAND AT CONCORD BRIDGE
1775, 19 April. This morning, between I and 2 o'clock, we were
alarmed by the ringing of the bell, and upon examination found that
the troops, to the number of 800, had stole their march from Boston,
in boats and barges, from the bottom of the Common over to a point
in Cambridge, near to Inman's farm, and were at Lexington
Meeting-house, half an hour before sunrise, where they had fired
upon a body of our men, and (as we afterward heard) had killed
several
This intelligence was brought us at first by Dr. Samuel Prescott,
who narrowly escaped the guard that were sent before on horses,
purposely to prevent all posts and messengers from giving us timely
information. He, by the help of a very fleet horse, crossing several
walls and fences, arrived at Concord at the time above mentioned;
when several posts were immediately despatched, that returning
confirmed the account of the regulars' arrival at Lexington, and that
they were on their way to Concord.
Upon this, a number of our minute men belonging to this town, and
Acton and Lyncoln, with several others that were in readiness,
marched out to meet them, while the alarm company were preparing
to receive them in the town. Capt. Minot, who commanded them,
thought it proper to take possession of the hill above the meeting
house, as the most advantageous situation. No sooner had our men
gained it than we were met by the companies that were sent out to
meet the troops, who informed us that they were just upon us, and
that we must retreat, as their number was more than treble ours.
We then retreated from the hill near the Liberty Pole and took a new
post back of the town upon an eminence, where we formed into two
battalions and waited the arrival of the enemy. Scarcely had we
formed before we saw the British troops at the distance of a quarter
of a mile, glittering in arms, advancing towards us with the greatest
celerity. Some were for making a stand, notwithstanding the
superiority of their number; but others more prudent thought best to
retreat till our strength should be equal to the enemy's by recruits
from neighbormg towns that were continually coming to our as"
Page 3 of 35
sistance.
Accordingly we retreated over the bridges when the troops came
into the town, set fire to several carriages for the artillery, destroyed
60 barrels flour, rifled several houses, took possession of the townhouse, destroyed soo lb. Of balls, set a guard of l oo men at the
North Bridge, and sent up a party to the house of Col. Barrett, where
they were in expectation of finding a quantity of warlike stores. But
these were happily secured just before their arrival, by
transportation into the woods and other by places.
In the meantime, the guard set by the enemy to secure the pass at
the North Bridge were alarmed by the approach of our people, who
had retreated, as mentioned before, and were now advancing with
special orders not to fire upon the troops unless fired upon. These
orders were so punctually observed that we received the fire of the
enemy in three several and separate discharges of their pieces before
it was returned by our commanding officer; the firing then soon
became general for several minutes, in which skirmish two were
killed on each side, and several of the enemy wounded.
It may here be observed, by the way, that we were the more
cautious to prevent beginning a rupture with the King's troops, as
we were then uncertain what had happened at Lexington, and knew
[not? ] that they had begun the quarrel there by first firing upon our
people and killing eight men upon the spot.
The three companies of troops soon quitted their post at the bridge
and retreated in the greatest disorder and confusion to the main
body, who were soon upon the march to meet them. For half an
hour, the enemy, by their marches and countermarches, discovered
great fickleness and inconstancy of mind, sometimes advancing,
sometimes returning to their former posts; till at length they quitted
the town and retreated by the way they came. In the meantime, a
party of our men ( 150) took the back way through the Great Fields
into the east quarter and had placed themselves to advantage, lying
in ambush behind walls, fences and buildings, ready to fire upon the
enemy on their retreat.
Page 4 of 35
British Accounts
http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/battleaccounts/lexington3.html
British Account of the Battle
Account presumably by Lieutenant John Barker of the King's Own.
1775, April 9 th. Last night between l0 and 1 l o'clock all the
Grenadiers and Light Infantry of the army, making about 600 men
(under the command of Lt. Col. Smith of the loth and Major Pitcairn
of the Marines), embarked and were landed upon the opposite shore
on Cambridge Marsh; few but the commanding officers knew what
expedition we were going upon. After getting over the marsh, where
we were wet up to the knees, we were halted in a dirty road and
stood there till two o'clock in the morning, waiting for provisions to
be brought from the boats and to be divided, and which most of the
men threw away, having carried some with 'em. At z o'clock we
bega.1 our march by wading through a very long ford up to our
middles. After going a few miles we took 3 or 4 people who were
going off to give intelligence.
About 5 miles on this side of a town called Lexington, which lay in
our road, we heard there were some hundreds of people collected
together intending to oppose us and stop our going on. At 5 o'clock
we arrived there and saw a number of people, I believe between 200
and 300, formed in a common in the middle of the town. We still
continued advancing, keeping prepared against an attack tho'
without intending to attack them; but on our coming near them they
fired one or two shots, upon which our men without any orders
rushed in upon them, fired and put 'em to flight. Several of them
were killed, we could not tell how many because they were got
behind walls and into the woods. We had a man of the loth Light
Infantry wounded, nobody else hurt. We then formed on the
common, but with some difficulty, the men were so wild they could
hear no orders.
We waited a considerable time there, and at length proceeded on our
way to Concord, which we then learnt was our destination, in order
to destroy a magazine of stores collected there. We met with no
interruption till within a mile or two of the town, where the country
people had occupied a hill which commanded the road. The Light
Infantry were ordered away to the right and ascended the height in
one line, upon which the Yankies quitted it without firing, which
they did likewise for one or two more successively. They then
Page 5 of 35
crossed the river beyond the town, and we marched into the tou n
after taking possession of a hill with a Liberty Pole on it and a
flag~flying, which was cut down. The Yankies had the hill but left it
to us. We expected they w ould have made a stand there, but they
did not chuse it.
While the Grenadiers remained in the town, destroying 3 pieces of
cannon, several gun carriages and about loo barrels of flour with
harness and other things, the Light companies were detached
beyond the river to examine some houses for more stores. One of
these companies was left at the bridge, another on a hill 1/4 of a
mile from that; the other 3 went forward z or 3 miles to seek for
some cannon which had been there but had been taken away that
morning. During this time the people were gathering together in
great numbers and, taking advantage of our scattered disposition,
seemed as if they were going to cut off the communication with the
bridge, upon which the two companies joined and went to the bridge
to support that company. The three companies drew up in the road
the far side the bridge and the Rebels on the hill above, covered by a
wall; in that situation they remained a long time, very near an hour,
the three companies expecting to be attacked by the Rebels, who
were about looo strong. Captn. Lawrie, who commanded these three
companies, sent to Col. Smith begging he would send more troops
to his assistance and infotming him of his situation. The Colonel
ordered 2 or 3 companies, but put himself at their head, by which
means stops 'em from being time enough, for being a very fat heavy
man he would not have reached the bridge in half an hour, tho' it
was not half a mile to it.
In the mean time the Rebels marched into the road and were coming
down upon us when Captn. Lawrie made his men retire to this side
the bridge (which by the bye he ought to have done at first, and then
he would have had time to make a good disposition, but at this time
he had not, for the Rebels were got so near him that his people were
obliged to form the best way they could). As soon as they were over
the bridge the three companies got one
behind the other so that only the front one could fire. The Rebels
when they got near the bridge halted and fronted, filling the road
from the top to the bottom. The fire soon began from a dropping
shot on our side, when they and the front company fired almost at
the same instant, there being nobody to support the front company.
The others not firing, the whole were forced to quit the bridge and
return toward Concord. Some of the Grenadiers met 'em in the road
and then advanced to meet the Rebels, who had got this side the
Page 6 of 35
bridge and on a good height, but seeing the manoeuvre they thought
proper to retire again over the bridge. The whole then went into
Concord, drew up in the town and waited for the 3 companies that
were gone on, which arrived in about an hour. Four officers of 8
who were at the bridge were wounded; 3 men killed; I sergt. and
several men wounded.
After getting as good conveniences for the wounded as we could,
and having done the business we were sent upon, we set out upon
our return. Before the whole had quitted the town we were fired on
from houses and behind trees, and before we had gone 1/2 a mile we
were fired on from all sides, but mostly from the rear, where people
had hid themselves in houses till we had passed, and then fired. The
country was an amazing strong one, full of hills, woods, stone walls,
etc., which the Rehels did not fail to take advantage of, for they
were all lined with people who kept an incessant fire upon us, as we
did too upon them, but not with the same advantage, for they were
so concealed there was hardly any seeing them. In this way we
marched between 9 and ro miles, their numbers increasing from all
parts, while ours was reduced by deaths, wounds and fatigue; and
we were totally surrounded with such an incessant fire as it's
impossible to conceive; our ammunition was likewise near
expended.
In this critical situation we perceived the I st Brigade coming to our
assistance: it consisted of the 4th, '3rd and 47th Regiments, and the
battalion of Marines, with two field pieces, 6-pounders. We had
been flattered ever since the morning with expectations of the
Brigade coming out, but at this time had given up all hopes of it, as
it was so late. I since heard it was owing to a mistake of the orders,
or the Brigade would have been with us z hours sooner. As soon as
the Rebels saw this reinforcement, and tasted the field pieces, they
retired, and we formed on a rising ground and rested ourselves a
little while, which was extremely necessary for our men, who were
almost exhausted with fatigue.
In about l/2 an hour we marched again, and, some of the Brigade
taking the flanking parties, we marched pretty quiet for about 2
miles. They then began to pepper us again from the same sort of
places, but at rather a greater distance. We were now obliged to
force almost every house in the road, for the Rebels had taken
possession of them and galled us exceedingly; but they suffered for
their temerity, for all that were found in the houses were put to
death.
Page 7 of 35
When we got to Menotomy there was a very heavy fire; after that
we took the short cut into the Charles Town road, very luckily for us
too, for the Rebels, thinking we should endeavour to return by
Cambridge, had broken down the bridge and had a great number of
men to line the road and to receive us there. However, we threw
them and went on to Charles Town without any great interruption.
We got there between 7 and 8 oclock at night, took possession of
the hill above the town, and waited for the boats to carry us over,
which came some time after. The Rebels did not chuse to follow us
to the hill, as they must have fought us on open ground and that they
did not like. The piquets of the army were sent over to Charles
Town and ~oo of the 64th to keep that ground; they threw up a work
to secure themselves, and we embarked and got home very late in
the night....
Thus ended this expedition, which from the beginning to end was as
ill planned and ill executed as it was possible to be. Had we not
idled away three hours on Cambridge Marsh waiting for provisions
that were not wanted, we should have had no interruption at
Lexington, but by our stay the country people had got intelligence
and time to assemble. We should have reached Concord soon after
day break, before they could have heard of us, by which we should
have destroyed more cannon and stores, which they had had time
enough to convey away before our arrival. We might also have got
easier back and not been so much harassed, as they would not have
had time to assemble so many people; even the people of Salem and
Marblehead, above zo miles oflf, had intelligence and time enough
to march and meet us on our return; they met us somewhere about
Menotomy7 but they lost a good many for their pains....
Thus for a few trifling stores the Grenadiers and Light Infantry had
a march of about so miles (going and returning) through an enemy's
country, and in all human probability must every man have been cut
off if the Brigade had not fortunately come to their assistance; for
when the Brigade joined us
there were very few men had any ammunition left. and so fatigued
that we have laid down our could not keep flanking parties out, so
that we must soon arms or been picked off by the Rebels at their
pleasure.
Page 8 of 35
http://www.britishbattles.com/concord-lexington.htm
The Battle of Concord and Lexington 1775
Battle: Concord and Lexington 1775
War: American Revolution
Date: 19th April 1775
Place: Boston, Massachusetts
Combatants: British Troops and the Militia of Massachusetts
Generals: Colonel Smith, Major Pitcairne and Lord Percy commanded the British Troops. Paul
Revere and William Dawes rode to warn the villages on the route to Concord and the Congress.
Militia were commanded by Barrett, Buttrick, Robinson and many others.
Size of the armies: 1,800 British. American numbers unknown.
Page 9 of 35
The fight on the bridge at Concord from a contemporary illustration
Uniforms, arms and equipment: The British were armed with muskets and bayonet. Some light guns
were used. The American militia were armed muskets, blunderbusses and any weapons they could find.
Winner: The British suffered extensive loss. The Americans considered the contest an encouraging start
to the war.
The British troops march into Concord from a contemporary illustration
Page 10 of 35
American Minutemen Militia early in the War (from Tim Reese’s CD Rom of 116
illustrations of British and American Regiments from the Revolutionary War.)
For details on how to buy the CD click on the illustration
British Regiments:
4th later King’s Own Royal Regiment and now the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment
5th later Northumberland Fusiliers and now the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
10th later the Suffolk Regiment and now the Royal Anglian Regiment
18th now the Royal Irish Regiment
23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers
38th later the South Staffordshire Regiment and now the Staffordshire Regiment
43rd later 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and now 1st Bn Royal Green
Jackets.
52nd later 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and now 1st Bn Royal Green
Jackets
Page 11 of 35
59th later the East Lancashire Regiment and now the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment
Marines: now the Royal Marines
Colonel Smith, The British officer who led the march to Concord
Account:
This engagement was the first encounter of the Revolutionary War. General Gage commanded the
British garrison in Boston. A Provincial Congress determined on independence for the American
colonies had been established in Cambridge, Massachusetts outside Boston and the New England militia
was drilling for war.
The route of Lieutenant Colonel Smith's force to Concord on 19th April 1775 and of Brigadier
Lord Percy's relieving force from Boston
Gage determined to send a force to seize the weapons and ammunition held by the Congress in the
armoury at Concord some 15 miles from Boston. Lieutenant Colonel Smith was dispatched with the
grenadier and light infantry companies from each of the regiments in the garrison. Boston was sealed
overnight to prevent word being passed of the departure of the force which was rowed across the
harbour late on the night of 18th April 1775 to Charles River. The troops landed and began the march,
but the sound of bells ringing showed that the countryside had been alerted.
Page 12 of 35
Major Pitcairne's troops fire on the militia on the Green at Lexington
in the first shots of the war from a contemporary illustration
Smith sent forward a force of light infantry under Major Pitcairne to secure the bridges at Concord.
Pitcairne entered Lexington to find a body of militia drawn up on the village green. Shots were fired in
which 18 Americans were hit and the militia dispersed.
The troops marched on to Concord where such supplies as had not been removed were destroyed. In the
meantime American militia attacked a body of Light Infantry on one of the bridges and drove them
back.
Page 13 of 35
The scene in Lexington as the militia squared up to the British troops
for the first shots of the war.
Smith’s troops then began the march back to Boston, shot at from hidden positions by American militia
along the whole route until they met Percy’s relieving force and the whole force withdrew into Boston.
On the route British soldiers burned and looted houses of the colonials. In one or two cases colonial
militia caught were summarily executed.
Casualties: The British Regiments suffered 19 officers and 250 soldiers killed and wounded. The
American losses did not exceed 90 men.
Page 14 of 35
Follow-up: This serious reverse encouraged the spirit of revolt across the American colonies and was
the immediate cause of New York being seized for the revolution. A strong force of American’s moved
spontaneously to Boston and invested the city, being eventually formed into Washington’s Continental
Army.
Regimental anecdotes and traditions:
It is claimed that the fight at Lexington was begun by Major Pitcairne firing his pistols at the Americans.
First shots fired at Lexington
References:
• History of the British Army by Sir John Fortescue
• The War of the Revolution by Christopher Ward
Page 15 of 35
Resource Information
http://www.kidport.com/RefLIb/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/LexingtonBattle.htm#BattleLexington
Concord
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first shots starting the revolution were fired at Lexington, Massachusetts. On April 18, 1775,
British General Thomas Gage sent 700 soldiers to destroy guns and ammunition the colonists had
stored in the town of Concord, just outside of Boston. They also planned to arrest Samuel Adams
and John Hancock, two of the key leaders of the patriot movement.
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
Dr. Joseph Warren learned
of the British plans and
sent Paul Revere to alert
John Hancock and Samuel
Adams. Paul Revere
promised to warn them
when the British soldiers
started to march. Since he
wasn't sure that he would
be able to get out of
Boston with the message,
he made plans to alert
people by putting lanterns
in the Old North Church
steeple. He would light
one lantern if the British
were coming by land, and
two lanterns if the British Picture of the Church Steeple in which Paul Revere hung
were coming by sea.
his lanterns to warn the colonists the British were
coming (Source: Library of Congress)
On the evening of April
18th, the British troops
were ferried across the
Boston Harbor to start
their march on Lexington.
Paul Revere hung two
lanterns in the church
steeple. Then Paul Revere,
William Dawes and Dr.
Samuel Prescott rode to
warn the colonists that the
British were coming.
Page 16 of 35
Paul Revere rode to
Lexington and alerted
Samual Adams and John
Hancock. By the time the
British soldiers reached
Lexington, Samual Adams
and John Hancock had
escaped.
The colonists had been
expecting a fight with the
British. They had
organized a group of
militia, called the
Minutemen. They were
called Minutemen because
they needed to be prepared
to fight on a minutes
notice.
When the British soldiers
reached Lexington,
Captain Jonas Parker and
75 armed Minutemen were
there to meet them. The
Minutemen were greatly
outnumbered. The British
soldiers fired, killing 8
Minutemen and injuring
10 others.
Minute Man Memorial, Concord, Massachusetts
(Source: Library of Congress)
Although Paul Revere was
captured by British scouts
before reaching Concord,
other messengers managed
to get through and warn
the people. While the
British soldiers continued
on their way to Concord,
the men and women of
Concord were busy
moving the arms and
ammunition to new hiding
places in surrounding
towns. When the soldiers
Page 17 of 35
arrived they were only
able to destroy part of the
supplies.
The British Retreat to Boston
Minutemen from
nearby towns were
now responding to
the messengers'
warnings. The smoke
from the burning
supplies was also
attracting local
farmers and
townspeople. A large
force of patriots was
now gathered in
response to the
British troops.
As the British
soldiers headed back
to Boston, they were
attacked by the
Minutemen. All
along the route,
Minutemen, local
farmers and
townspeople
continued the attack
against the British.
By the time the
soldiers reached
Boston, 73 British
solders were dead
and 174 more were
wounded.
In the days fighting,
49 patriots were
killed, and 39 more
were wounded.
Page 18 of 35
http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/MilSci/Resources/lexcon.html
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Minute Man Monument at Lexington Green
"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."
A Brief History:
On the 15 of April 1775, when General Thomas Gage, British Military Governor of Massachusetts, was
ordered to destroy the rebel's military stores at Concord. To accomplish this he assembled the "Flanking
units", including Light Infantry and Grenadiers, from his Boston Garrison. In charge he put Lieutenant
Colonel Francis Smith and Marine Major John Pitcairn. He also composed a relief column under the
command of Lord Hugh Percy to leave 6 hours after the main column. In an attempt at secrecy he did
not tell his officers his plan until the last minute. The problem with his security measures were that
Boston had become a glass fishbowl. All rebel eyes were watching to see the British' next action, and
when the garrison committed to an action, the Americans knew their every move.
At midnight on the 19th of April the British column, consisting of 650-900 troops left Boston, crossed
the Charles River, followed closely by the alarm rider Paul Revere. As the British marched towards
Concord, the entire countryside had been alerted to their presence, and rebel militia was deployed to
meet them.
Until this time there was no armed resistance to the British that had resulted in loss of British life.
Several Months earlier, Gage had attempted to destroy miliary arms at Salem and met with resistance
but no shots were fired, and the British retreated without completing their objective. Lexington Militia
Captain John Parker had heard of the events at Salem, and collected his men on Lexington Green to face
the British column.
At dawn Smith's advanced parties under the command of Major Pitcairn, arrived at Lexington Green to
see a group of armed Militia in formation across the Green. Pitcairn ordered the militia, led by John
Parker, to be surrounded and disarmed. In response Parker ordered his men to disperse. Then a shot rang
out. No one really knows who fired first, but the British, hearing the shot, fired upon the small group of
Page 19 of 35
militia, killing 8, and wounding 10 more. The militia then retreated into the woods to avoid the Briti sh
fire.
So started the first battle in the American Revolutionary War.
The British column then advanced to Concord, and in spreading out to destroy some cannons believed to
be at Provincial Colonel Barrett's farm encountered a group of armed militia at Concord North Bridge.
This time when shots rang out the Americans were more prepared, and fired back in "The Shot Heard
Round The World.", and so began the American Revolution. The short battle at the bridge was a rout,
and the British abandoned the bridge, retreating to Concord center. Knowing that he was in a dangerous
situation, Smith decided to return to Boston as soon as possible. In his retreat the real battle began.
Militia and Minutemen from all surrounding towns had marched toward Concord, and when the
retreating column ran into this army they were outflanked, out gunned and scared. The Americans did
not fight as the British did. Instead of forming an offensive line the provincials used small squad and
company tactics to flank the column and inflicted heavy damage. Because the American's never formed
a firing line the inexperienced British had little to shoot at. This style of flanking and shooting from
behind trees, walls etc. destroyed the British morale, and they broke ranks while retreating towards
Lexington.
Had it not been for the relief brigade of Lord Percy the British retreat would have been a disaster.
Waiting at Lexington, Percy used his two cannon to disperse the provincials and collected Smiths troops
back into regiments. He then led the retreat back to Boston. Under Percy's command the retreating
column maintained control, even under heavy fire, and the retreat to Boston was a success. The British
suffered badly, nearly 20 percent casualties, but more importantly, this action led to the siege of Bos ton
and the start of the Revolutionary War.
Days later the men of Massachusetts used the engagement as propaganda to turn the public opinion to
their cause. At the time of the battle only one third of the population believed in breaking from Britain.
Overview Of Events Precipitating Battle
1. French And Indian War
2. British Pass Coercive Acts
3. Boston Tea Party
4. Boston Massacre
5. British Infantry move on Salem Mass.
6. Provincial Congress meets in Concord
Page 20 of 35
Key Events Prior to Start of Action
Events Leading to Deployment of British Troops:
DATE
AMERICAN ACTIONS
BRITISH ACTIONS
Mass. Provincial Congress continues to
14 APRIL 1775 illegally meet in Concord Mass with John
Hancock and Sam Adams.
General Gage receives orders to take
decisive action against colonials. It was
recommended he arrest Mass.
Provincial Congress. Gage decides to
seize the military supplies at Concord.
15 APRIL 1775 Mass. Provincial Congress adjourns.
Eight Regiments of Grenadiers and
Light Infantry are relieved from normal
duties to learn "New Drill Formations."
Naval vessels were loaded with
longboats for troop transport.
Dr. Joseph Warren sends Paul Revere to
Concord to warn Hancock and Adams of
unusual British activities. Paul Revere
16 APRIL 1775
arranges the signal of "One If By Land, Two
if By Sea" with Charlestown residents to
signal the route British were taking.
Gage keeps his objective secret from
commanding officers in an attempt at
security.
At ten that evening observing British
maneuvers Dr. Joseph Warren sends for
18 APRIL 1775
William Dawes and Paul Revere to take the
message to Concord.
Smith is put in charge of "Flanking
Units" and is given his orders to leave
at midnight by sea to destroy military
stores at Concord. Percy is put in
charge of relief units to be deployed at
0600.
Definition of Subject Matter
1. When the Battle Occurred:
19 April 1775
2. Where the Battle Occurred:
Lexington and Concord, MA. A Running Battle from Concord to Boston.
Map of The Battle
3. Who was Involved:
(a) Key American Leaders
Major Loaomi Baldwin Commander of the Wouburn militia at bloody curve.
Colonel James BarrettCommander of provincials at the old North Bridge
Page 21 of 35
Major John Buttrick Militia commander led provincial s in Attack on old North Bridge
Captian Isaac Davis Militia captain comanding leading provincial minutemen on the attack on
old North Bridge
General William Heath First General to take command of American forces against the British.
He attempted to lead the Milita and Minutemen into an effective fighting force.
Captain Parker Led the Militia unit on Lexington Green and later on helped attack the retreating
column.
Dr. Joseph Warren Commanded militia attack on retreating British column.
(b) Key British Leaders
General Gage Commander in Chief and Governor of Massachusetts
Captain Laurie Commanded the two companies at the Old North Bridge
Captain Parsons Led three companies to Barrett's Farm
Lord Percy Led a relief column that rescued Smith
Major Pitcairn Marine Commander led troops into Lexington Green
Lt. Colonel Smith Led the British forces into the field to destroy the Concord Stores.
Lieutenant Sutherland British Lieutenant at Old North Bridge.
(c) Units Involved
American Militia
American Minute Men
A partial list of American Units and their Commanders.
British Light Infantry
British Grenadiers
Staff Ride Qualifications
1. Echelons of Command: Americans -Company and under; British -Company
2. Terrain Quality: Fair
3. Types of Units Involved: Light Infantry, Grenadiers, Militia and Minutemen
4. Integrity of Historic Setting: Good. The Towns of Concord and Lexington have bot h been
developed, but the National Historical Park of The Battle Road has not been developed since it's
establishment.
5. Availability of Sources: Very Good
6. Availability of Logistic Support: Good
Lexington Concord Staff Ride Pages

Preliminary Study Phase Package

Field Study Phase Package

Integration Phase Package
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: October 02, 2006 15:36:45
Department of Military Science - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Page 22 of 35
100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280 | Phone: +1-508-831-5268 | Fax: +1-508-831-5809 | armyrotc@wpi.edu
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h655.html
War for Independence, April 19, 1775
The town of Concord was alerted to the advance of
British forces by Dr. Samuel Prescott shortly after
midnight on April 19. Church bells rang out the alarm,
summoning Minutemen from the vicinity. By the early
morning hours several hundred men had gathered in the
town and began a slow march toward the oncoming
redcoats, who had easily scattered the militia in
Lexington. However, when the Americans first sighted
the British advance force, they abruptly reversed
direction and retreated to a hilltop outside of town.
By 7:30 a.m., the British force entered Concord intent on two objectives — destroying weapons and
eating breakfast. A local man was forced at gunpoint to reveal where the town cannon had been buried a
few hours earlier; it was quickly unearthed and disabled. Other redcoats searched homes in the town for
arms and purchased food from reluctant residents.
The nearby militia had grown to a force of more than 400 men. From their vantage point they saw
smoke billowing from the town and assumed that their homes had been torched. In fact, the British had
simply built a bonfire to dispose of some military equipment and the local liberty pole.
The militia left their hilltop retreat and moved back toward town. On the way, they confronted a
contingent of British forces at the North Bridge over the Concord River. Several shots rang out from
uncertain sources. No one fell and some of the militiamen assumed that the redcoats were simply trying
to intimidate them and that they had no intention of opening fire. That illusion was quickly shattered
when a crackling volley was loosed from the British side. Two Americans were killed and the fire was
promptly returned. The British ranks broke and the soldiers hurried back to Concord where they waited
until noon for reinforcements from Boston. The anticipated relief had not departed from the city until 9
a.m. and was still miles away. The British decision to leave Concord without reinforcements at first
appeared to be wise. The American militiamen initially stood silently and watched the departure, but
later the local men began to take positions behind trees and fences and pour fire into the departing army.
The church bells continued their tolling and increasing numbers of farmers and workmen left their tasks
to join the rout.
The British were outraged by the American tactics, believing that real soldiers would confront their
enemies in the open. Instead, the colonists would open fire from hidden positions as the army passed,
then sprint ahead to another protected spot and repeat the process. The tired and angry British soldiers
Page 23 of 35
broke into houses along the path of retreat; any man remotely suspected of being one of the snipers was
shot and his house burned.
British prospects improved somewhat in Lexington where they finally linked up with the relief forces.
Two cannon had been brought from Boston and were used with some effect on the march back.
Nevertheless, sniper attacks dogged the British to the city outskirts. At the end of the day, American
militiamen began to encircle their opponents and started preparations for a siege.
One of the day’s heroes was Dr. Joseph Warren, the Patriot leader, who risked his life repeatedly while
tending the wounded and dying. The fighting at Lexington, Concord and along the road back to Boston
had negligible long range military consequences. The British suffered horribly, sustaining 73 killed, 174
wounded and 26 missing. The Americans listed 49 killed, 39 wounded and five as missing. The
colonists, however, received a tremendous boost in morale by embarrassing the vaunted British army.
Off-site search results for "Battle of Concord"...
From Revolution to reconstruction: Essays: The Battle of Concord: The Battle of Concord
FRtR > Essays > The Battle of Concord The Battle of Concord By Marike Blauw *** Quote ***
Concord is a village twenty miles northwest of Boston, and was the objective of a British expedition in
1775 that opened the War of IndependBattle of Concord The Battle of Concord By Marike Blauw ***
Quote *** Concord is a village twenty miles northwest of Boston, and was the objective of a British
expedition in 1775 that opened the War of IndependBattle of Concord By Marike Blauw *** Quote ***
Concord is a village twenty miles northwest of Boston, and was the objective of a British expedition in
1775 that opened the War of Independence with the ...
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Documents on the Battles of Concord and Lexington
... The Story of Paul Revere American Account of Concord Bridge British Account of Concord Bridge
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From Revolution to reconstruction: Essays: The Battle of Concord: Quotation-information
... Title :The Battle of Concord Creator :Marieke Blauw Subject :Essay on the battle of Concord
Description :--- Publisher :Department of Alfa-informatica, University of Groningen Contributors
:Sander Warmerdam, W.J. Overeijnder DatBattle of Concord Creator :Marieke Blauw Subject :Essay on
the battle of Concord Description :--- Publisher :Department of Alfa-informatica, University of
Groningen Contributors :Sander Warmerdam, W.J. Overeijnder Datbattle of Concord Description :--Publisher :Department of Alfa-informatica, University of Groningen Contributors :Sander Warmerdam,
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http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battles/bat_lex.asp
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
Date: April 19th, 1775
Location: Lexington and Concord Massachusetts
Weather: ~55-65`F, winds calm
Casualties:
Leaders:
95
Capt. Parker/Col. Barrett
273
Col. Smith / Maj. Pitcairn
Lexington:
As a response to hearing the hearsay of possible revolts from the rebels in the areas surrounding
Boston, Major General Thomas Gage, the commander of all British forces in North America, who is
stationed at Boston, orders a column of seven hundred men to demolish the weaponry depot at Concord.
The column is under the command of Lt. Colonel Francis Smith, and his second, Major John Pitcairn. It
is Pitcairn, who we well see, is in command of the front forces in Lexington.
Back in Boston, before seeing the total advance, Paul Revere makes his famous ride, which stops at
Lexington to warn the patriots of the oncoming British regulars. Captain John Parker, who is in
command of the minutemen and militia at Lexington, watches as a scout, Thaddeus Bowman, gallops
with his horse over the rise and reports the situation. Bowman reports that not only are the British
regulars coming, but Bowman recounts that there are almost a thousand of them, and that the redcoats
are over an hour away, and quickly approaching. Parker does not believe that there will be much of a
fight at all. He thought that there would be a "small brush" and then the regulars would continue onto
Concord. Knowing that the regulars will soon be upon them, Parker orders him men to disperse and hide
in the underbrush.
With the arrival of the full British column, reports differ. Pitcairn writes that the minutemen were in a
line formation, waiting out in the middle of the green pastures of Lexington for the regulars. Pitcairn
recounts that he rode out to the middle of the field and yells "Disperse, ye rebels, disperse!" Parker’s
Page 25 of 35
version, with the minutemen still in the underbrush, are found out by the regulars, and instead of a
formal parley, the regulars, about thirty of them, come running out to the underbrush and yell "damn
them, we will have them!"
Either way, a single and evoked shot rang out from behind a stone wall. "The shot that was heard
‘round the world", is still unknown from which musket, or which side the shot came from. Responding,
the British fire without orders. Next, they get into line formation and begin pouring volley upon volley
into the minutemen. Finally, the regulars turn the firing into a full-fledged charge. Lt. Colonel Smith
himself must then ride out into the field and stop the charge. The British killed eight minutemen, and
wounded nine others. The war has begun.
Concord:
Colonel James Barrett, commander of the local militia of Middlesex, acknowledges false reports on a
British assault on Lexington ten days earlier then it actually happened, hides twenty thousand pounds of
musket balls and cartridges, fifty reams of cartridge paper, thirty-one barrels of flour, seventeen
thousand pounds of fish and thirty-five thousand pounds of rice throughout the community.
Massachusetts is defiantly ready for war. Samuel Prescott, the famous “other rider” and Son of Liberty,
rides into Concord at 2:30 AM on April 19 to warn the population of the oncoming British presence.
By 8:00 that same morning, Smith and Pitcairn have already entered Concord. The city is to be found
devoid of men, but the women and children are still there. Smith orders his Grenadiers to search houses
and barns for powder. He decides not to attack when none of his men find any powder, and has a feeling
that the militia could have possibly surrounded the town. Smith did not know it, but he was right. Over
six thousand militia surrounded the town on the hills and ridges above. Smith stations men to secure
bridges and roads. Grenadiers find a small cannon brace, and burn that.
Seeing this on the hills above, the curses start flying, and the men get restless. Rallies start to come
up, including the main one, “Will you let them burn the town down?” by Lt. Joseph Homer. The militia
rally around the yell, and Barrett gives out the orders: Concord's two minuteman companies and two
militia companies were mustered in front of Wright's Tavern. From nearby Lincoln, another company of
minutemen who brought rumor of gunfire at Lexington, joined in as well. A horseman by the name of
Reuben Brown (a Concord saddle maker) returned from Lexington with an eyewitness account of the
first British volley, which had sent him galloping back to Concord. He reported to Barrett that the
regulars were probably firing ball, although he was not really sure. It was a momentous report. Powder
would have frightened, but ball was intended to kill.
Barrett decided to seize the high ground and sent most of his men onto a long ridge that commanded
the road leading into Concord. Hoping to give the approaching British a show of force, he sent another
company down the road toward Lexington, hoping this might persuade the British to turn back to
Boston. However, Colonel Smith was in no mood to be intimidated. He had his orders from General
Gage, and he meant to carry them out. The move would require them to cross the North Bridge, which
at the time was being guarded by three companies of regulars totaling 120 men. Barrett had 400 militia
behind him and thought that by advancing on the bridge, the regulars, facing such an overwhelming
force, would turn and fall back to allow the Americans to proceed on into Concord. Under the current
rules of engagement, the British would not fire unless the Americans fired first.
Barrett ordered the Acton militia, under the command of Captain Isaac Davis and along with Major
Buttrick, to advance his company to the bridge in a long, snaking column, two men abreast. Barrett
cautioned them to be sure not to fire first. As the Americans approached the bridge, the stunned British
at first did nothing. When their commanding officer, Captain Walter Laurie, realized the situation, he
Page 26 of 35
had his men retreat to the opposite side of the river and massed them around a narrow span. They had to
hold the bridge or the four companies that had marched to Barrett's farm would be cut off.
The Americans advanced. The British raised their muskets. The Americans marched onto the bridge.
With their guns pointed down and toward the river, several British soldiers fired warning shots. The
Americans kept coming. Suddenly, an instant later, a full volley was fired at the head of the American
column. Captain Isaac Davis was killed instantly with a bullet in his heart. Beside him, Abner Hosmer
went down with a bullet to the head. Four other men were wounded. The Americans stared in disbelief.
"Goddamn it," one man shouted, "they're firing ball!" Major Buttrick shouted, "Fire fellow soldiers, for
God's sake fire!" With the ability to know the land, and the obvious manpower advantage, the
minutemen are able to fend off the British regulars, and they inflict two hundred and seventy-three
casualties.
Conclusion:
The British then retire to Boston to lick their wounds. A new-found respect is now found for the
minutemen, and the militia, who will soon turn into the Continental Army.
Recommended readings: (Click on link to purchase)
Author: David Hackett Fischer || ISBN: 0-195-09831-5 || Released: April 1994
The title here is a bit misleading. I remember little about the biography of Paul Revere,
but the recollection of the events which occurred on April 19th, 1775 are permanent.
Now one of the foremost American historians offers the first full-scale history of this
monumental event. In Paul Revere's Ride, David Hackett Fischer fashions an exciting
narrative that offers deep insight into the outbreak of revolution and the emergence of the
American republic. Beginning in the years before the war, Fischer illuminates the figure
of Paul Revere, a man far more complex than the simple artisan and messenger of
tradition. Drawing on intensive new research, Fischer guides readers through the world
of Boston's revolutionary movement, recreates the fateful events on the eve of battle, and
provides a fresh interpretation of the battle that began the war at Lexington and Concord.
Page 27 of 35
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/battle-lexington-concord.htm
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
Original 1775 Map of the Battle of Lexington
Lexington and Concord, Battle of. In the early spring of 1775, General Gage had between 3,000
and 4,000 troops in Boston, and felt strong in the presence of rebellious utterances that filled the air
He observed with concern the gathering of munitions of war by the colonists. Informed that a
considerable quantity had been deposited at Concord, a village about 16 miles from Boston, he
planned a secret expedition to seize or destroy them. Towards midnight, on April 18, he sent 800
men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn, to execute his designs. The vigilant
Page 28 of 35
patriots had discovered the secret, and were on the alert, and when the expedition moved to cross th
Charles River, Paul Revere, one of the most active of the Sons of Liberty in Boston, had preceded
them, and was on his way towards Concord to arouse the inhabitants and the minute-men. Soon
afterwards church bells, musketry, and cannon spread the alarm over the country; and when, at
dawn, April 19, Pitcairn, with the advanced guard, reached Lexington, a little village 6 miles from
Concord, he found seventy determined men, under Capt. Jonas Parker, drawn up on the green to
oppose him. Pitcairn rode forward and shouted, "Disperse! disperse, you rebels! Down with your
arms, and disperse!" They refused obedience, and he ordered his men to fire. The order was obeyed
and the Revolutionary War was thus begun. Eight minute-men—good citizens of Massachusetts —
were killed, several others were wounded, and the remainder were dispersed. It was now sunrise. O
that occasion Jonathan Harrington, a youth of seventeen years, played the fife.
Battle of Lexington
The British then pressed forward towards Concord. The citizens there had been aroused by a
Page 29 of 35
horseman from Lexington, and the militia were flocking towards the town from every direction. Th
stores were hastily removed to a place of concealment, in carts and other vehicles, by men, women,
and children. The Middlesex farmers, armed with every conceivable kind of firearms, were drawn
up in battle array in defense of their homes and their chartered rights. Major Buttrick and Adj.
Joseph Hosmer took the chief command. The British had reached the North Bridge. Colonel Barrett
then in command of the whole, gave the word to march, and a determined force, under Major
Buttrick, pressed forward to oppose the invaders, who were beginning to destroy the bridge. The
minute-men were fired upon by the British, when a full volley was returned by the patriots. Some o
the invaders fell; the others retreated. They had destroyed only a few stores in the village. The
invaders were terribly smitten by the gathering minute-men on their retreat towards Lexington.
Shots came, with deadly aim, from behind fences, stonewalls, and trees. The gathering patriots
swarmed from the woods and fields, from farmhouses and communities. They attacked from
ambush and hidden places along the open highway. It was evident to the Britons that the whole
country was aroused. The heat was intense; the dust intolerable. The 800 men would have been
killed or been captured, had not a reinforcement, under Lord Percy, met and relieved them near
Lexington. After a brief rest, the whole body, 1,800 strong, retreated, and were terribly assailed
along the whole 10 miles to their shelter at Charlestown, narrowly escaping 700 Essex militia, unde
Colonel Pickering, marching to strike their flank. Under the guns of British war vessels, the remnan
of the detachment rested that night, and passed over to Boston the next morning. During the
expedition the British lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, 273 men; the Americans lost 103.
Minutemen at the Battle of Lexington
When news of the affair at Lexington and Concord went over the land, the people were everywhere
aroused to action, and never before nor afterwards was there so unanimous a determination to resist
British oppression. In wavering New York there was unity at once, and the custom-house was
immediately closed, and all vessels preparing to sail for Quebec, Newfoundland, Boston, or Georgia
Page 30 of 35
were detained—the latter colony not having yet sent delegates to the Continental Congress. The
New - Yorkers addressed a letter to the mayor and aldermen of London—from whom Boston, in its
distress, had received sympathy and aid—declaring that all the horrors of civil war could not compe
the colonists to submit to taxation by the British Parliament. The inhabitants of Philadelphia
followed those of the city of New York. Those of New Jersey took possession of the provincial
treasury, containing about $50,000, to use for their own defense. The news reached Baltimore in six
days, when the people seized the provincial magazine, containing about 1,500 stand of arms, and
stopped all exports to the fishing-islands, to such of the islands as had not joined the confederacy,
and to the British army and navy at Boston. In Virginia a provincial convention was held, which
took measures for the defense of the Colony.
Drawing of the Battle at Lexington in the Revolutionary War
Page 31 of 35
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/tline.asp
Battles
Important People
Important Places
Historical
Viewpoints
Historical Events
Historic Documents
Timeline
Recommended
Readings
Message Board
Chat
Home
Online Degrees
Timeline of the
American
Revolution
This time line is drawn largely from the work of Richard B. Morris, in particular his
Encyclopedia of American History.
1764
Page 32 of 35
Sugar Act. Parliament, desiring revenue from its North American colonies, passed the first
law specifically aimed at raising colonial money for the Crown. The act increased duties on
non-British goods shipped to the colonies.
Currency Act. This act prohibited American colonies from issuing their own currency,
angering many American colonists.
Beginnings of Colonial Opposition. American colonists responded to the Sugar Act and
the Currency Act with protest. In Massachusetts, participants in a town meeting cried out
against taxation without proper representation in Parliament, and suggested some form of
united protest throughout the colonies. By the end of the year, many colonies were practicing
nonimportation, a refusal to use imported English goods.
1765
Quartering Act. The British further angered American colonists with the Quartering Act,
which required the colonies to provide barracks and supplies to British troops.
Stamp Act. Parliament's first direct tax on the American colonies, this act, like those passed
in 1764, was enacted to raise money for Britain. It taxed newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets,
broadsides, legal documents, dice, and playing cards. Issued by Britain, the stamps were
affixed to documents or packages to show that the tax had been paid.
Organized Colonial Protest. American colonists responded to Parliament's acts with
organized protest. Throughout the colonies, a network of secret organizations known as the
Sons of Liberty was created, aimed at intimidating the stamp agents who collected Parliament's
taxes. Before the Stamp Act could even take effect, all the appointed stamp agents in the
colonies had resigned. The Massachusetts Assembly suggested a meeting of all the colonies to
work for the repeal of the Stamp Act. All but four colonies were represented. The Stamp Act
Congress passed a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances," which claimed that American
colonists were equal to all other British citizens, protested taxation without representation, and
stated that, without colonial representation in Parliament, Parliament could not tax colonists.
In addition, the colonists increased their nonimportation efforts.
1766
Repeal of the Stamp Act. Although some in Parliament thought the army should be used to
enforce the Stamp Act (1765), others commended the colonists for resisting a tax passed by a
legislative body in which they were not represented. The act was repealed, and the colonies
abandoned their ban on imported British goods.
Declaratory Act. The repeal of the Stamp Act did not mean that Great Britain was
surrendering any control over its colonies. The Declaratory Act, passed by Parliament on the
same day the Stamp Act was repealed, stated that Parliament could make laws binding the
American colonies "in all cases whatsoever."
Page 33 of 35
Resistance to the Quartering Act in New York. New York served as headquarters for
British troops in America, so the Quartering Act (1765) had a great impact on New York City.
When the New York Assembly refused to assist in quartering troops, a skirmish occurred in
which one colonist was wounded. Parliament suspended the Assembly's powers but never
carried out the suspension, since the Assembly soon agreed to contribute money toward the
quartering of troops.
1767
Townshend Acts. To help pay the expenses involved in governing the American colonies,
Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, which initiated taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and
tea.
Nonimportation. In response to new taxes, the colonies again decided to discourage the
purchase of British imports.
"Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British
Colonies." Originally published in a newspaper, this widely reproduced pamphlet by John
Dickinson declared that Parliament could not tax the colonies, called the Townshend Acts
unconstitutional, and denounced the suspension of the New York Assembly as a threat to
colonial liberties.
1768
Massachusetts Circular Letter. Samuel Adams wrote a statement, approved by the
Massachusetts House of Representatives, which attacked Parliament's persistence in taxing the
colonies without proper representation, and which called for unified resistance by all the
colonies. Many colonies issued similar statements. In response, the British governor of
Massachusetts dissolved the state's legislature. British Troops Arrive in Boston. Although the
Sons of Liberty threatened armed resistance to arriving British troops, none was offered when
the troops stationed themselves in Boston.
1769
Virginia's Resolutions. The Virginia House of Burgesses passed resolutions condemning
Britain's actions against Massachusetts, and stating that only Virginia's governor and
legislature could tax its citizens. The members also drafted a formal letter to the King,
completing it just before the legislature was dissolved by Virginia's royal governor.
1770
Townshend Acts Cut Back. Because of the reduced profits resulting from the colonial
boycott of imported British goods, Parliament withdrew all of the Townshend Act (1767) taxes
except for the tax on tea.
Page 34 of 35
An End to Nonimportation. In response to Parliament's relaxation of its taxation laws, the
colonies relaxed their boycott of British imported goods (1767).
Conflict between Citizens and British Troops in New York. After a leading New York
Son of Liberty issued a broadside attacking the New York Assembly for complying with the
Quartering Act (1765), a riot erupted between citizens and soldiers, resulting in serious wounds
but no fatalities.
Boston Massacre. The arrival of troops in Boston provoked conflict between citizens and
soldiers. On March 5, a group of soldiers surrounded by an unfriendly crowd opened fire,
killing three Americans and fatally wounding two more. A violent uprising was avoided only
with the withdrawal of the troops to islands in the harbor. The soldiers were tried for murder,
but convicted only of lesser crimes; noted patriot John Adams was their principal lawyer.
1772
Attack on the "Gaspee." After several boatloads of men attacked a grounded British
customs schooner near Providence, Rhode Island, the royal governor offered a reward for the
discovery of the men, planning to send them to England for trial. The removal of the "Gaspee"
trial to England outraged American colonists.
Committees of Correspondence. Samuel Adams called for a Boston town meeting to
create committees of correspondence to communicate Boston's position to the other colonies.
Similar committees were soon created throughout the colonies.
1773
Tea Act. By reducing the tax on imported British tea, this act gave British merchants an unfair
advantage in selling their tea in America. American colonists condemned the act, and many
planned to boycott tea.
Boston Tea Party. When British tea ships arrived in Boston harbor, many citizens wanted
the tea sent back to England without the payment of any taxes. The royal governor insisted on
payment of all taxes. On December 16, a group of men disguised as Indians boarded the ships
and dumped all the tea in the harbor.
1774
Coercive Acts. In response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed several acts to punish
Massachusetts. The Boston Port Bill banned the loading or unloading of any ships in Boston
harbor. The Administration of Justice Act offered protection to royal officials in Massachusetts,
allowing them to transfer to England all court cases against them involving riot suppression or
revenue collection. The Massachusetts Government Act put the election of most government
officials under the control of the Crown, essentially eliminating the Massachusetts charter of
government.
Page 35 of 35
Quartering Act. Parliament broadened its previous Quartering Act (1765). British troops
could now be quartered in any occupied dwelling.
The Colonies Organize Protest. To protest Britain's actions, Massachusetts suggested a
return to nonimportation, but several states preferred a congress of all the colonies to discuss
united resistance. The colonies soon named delegates to a congress -- the First Continental
Congress -- to meet in Philadelphia on September 5.
The First Continental Congress. Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent a total of fifty-six
delegates to the First Continental Congress. Only Georgia was not represented. One
accomplishment of the Congress was the Association of 1774, which urged all colonists to avoid
using British goods, and to form committees to enforce this ban.
New England Prepares for War. British troops began to fortify Boston, and seized
ammunition belonging to the colony of Massachusetts. Thousands of American militiamen
were ready to resist, but no fighting occurred. Massachusetts created a Provincial Congress,
and a special Committee of Safety to decide when the militia should be called into action.
Special groups of militia, known as Minute Men, were organized to be ready for instant action.
1775
New England Restraining Act. Parliament passed an act banning trade between the New
England colonies and any other country besides Great Britain.
New England Resists. British troops continued to attempt to seize colonial ammunition, but
were turned back in Massachusetts, without any violence. Royal authorities decided that force
should be used to enforce recent acts of Parliament; war seemed unavoidable.
Lexington and Concord. British troops planned to destroy American ammunition at
Concord. When the Boston Committee of Safety learned of this plan, it sent Paul Revere and
William Dawes to alert the countryside and gather the Minute Men. On April 19, Minute Men
and British troops met at Lexington, where a shot from a stray British gun lead to more British
firing. The Americans only fired a few shots; several Americans were killed. The British
marched on to Concord and destroyed some ammunition, but soon found the countryside
swarming with militia. At the end of the day, many were dead on both sides.
The Second Continental Congress. The Second Continental Congress convened in
Philadelphia on May 10. John Hancock was elected president of Congress.
George Washington is named commander-in-chief. On June 10, John Adams proposed
that Congress consider the forces in Boston a Continental army, and suggested the need for a
general. He recommended George Washington for the position. Congress began to raise men
from other colonies to join the army in New England, and named a committee to draft military
rules. On June 15, Washington was nominated to lead the army; he accepted the next day. To
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pay for the army, Congress issued bills of credit, and the twelve colonies represented in the
Congress promised to share in repaying the bills.
Bunker Hill. On June 12, British General Gage put martial law in effect, and stated that any
person helping the Americans would be considered a traitor and rebel. When Americans began
to fortify a hill against British forces, British ships in the harbor discovered the activity and
opened fire. British troops -- 2,400 in number -- arrived shortly after. Although the Americans
-- 1,000 in number -- resisted several attacks, eventually they lost the fortification.
Olive Branch Petition. Congress issued a petition declaring its loyalty to the king, George
III, and stating its hope that he would help arrange a reconciliation and prevent further
hostilities against the colonies. Four months later, King George III rejected the petition and
declared the colonies in rebellion.
Congress Treats with the Indians. Acting as an independent government, Congress
appointed commissioners to create peace treaties with the Indians.
Congress Creates a Navy. Congress began to plan for aggressive action against British ships
stocked with ammunition. It authorized the building of four armed ships, and began to
formulate rules for a navy. On December 22, Congress named Esek Hopkins commodore of the
fledgling American navy. Soon after, Congress authorized privateering, and issued rules for
dealing with enemy vessels and plunder.
Congress Searches for Foreign Aid. When a congressional committee began to investigate
the possibility of foreign aid in the war against Great Britain, France expressed interest.
1776
"Common Sense." Thomas Paine moved many to the cause of independence with his
pamphlet titled "Common Sense." In a direct, simple style, he cried out against King George III
and the monarchical form of government.
The British Evacuate Boston. American General Henry Knox arrived in Boston with
cannons he had moved with great difficulty from Fort Ticonderoga, New York. Americans
began to entrench themselves around Boston, planning to attack the British. British General
William Howe planned an attack, but eventually retreated from Boston.
Congress Authorizes the Colonies to Write Constitutions. In May, the Second
Continental Congress adopted a resolution authorizing the colonies to adopt new constitutions;
the former colonial governments had dissolved with the outbreak of war.
Congress Declares Independence. When North Carolina and Virginia empowered their
delegates to vote for American independence, Virginian Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution
stating that the colonies "are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." A
committee was appointed to draft a declaration of independence, and Thomas Jefferson was
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chosen to write it. On July 2, Congress voted in favor of independence, and on July 4, the
Declaration of Independence was approved. Copies were sent throughout the colonies to be
read publicly.
Battle of Long Island. After leaving Boston, British General Howe planned to use New York
as a base. The British captured Staten Island and began a military build-up on Long Island in
preparation for an advance on Brooklyn. Washington succeeded in saving his army by secretly
retreating onto Manhattan Island. Washington eventually retreated from Manhattan, fearing
the prospect of being trapped on the island, and the British occupied New York City.
Congress Names Commissioners to Treat with Foreign Nations. Congress sent a
delegation of three men to Europe -- Silas Deane, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee -- to
prepare treaties of commerce and friendship, and to attempt to secure loans from foreign
nations.
The Battle of White Plains. British and American forces met at White Plains, New York,
where the British captured an important fortification. Washington once again retreated, still
attempting to save his army from the full force of the British army.
Retreat through New Jersey. Washington and his army retreated across New Jersey,
crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. Congress, fearing a British attack on
Philadelphia, fled to Baltimore.
Battle of Trenton. On December 26, Washington launched a surprise attack against a British
fortification at Trenton, New Jersey, that was staffed by Hessian soldiers. After one hour of
confused fighting, the Hessians surrendered. Only five American soldiers were killed.
1777
Battle of Princeton. British General Howe reacted to the Battle of Trenton by sending a
large force of men to New Jersey. At Princeton, Washington once again launched a surprise
attack, and succeeded in defeating the British. His efforts cleared most of New Jersey of enemy
forces, and greatly boosted American morale.
America Has a Flag. On June 14, Congress declared that the flag of the United States would
consist of thirteen alternating red and white stripes, and a blue field with thirteen white stars.
The British Attack Philadelphia. British and Americans met at Brandywine Creek,
Pennsylvania. The Americans retreated, and the British soon occupied Philadelphia, forcing
Congress once again to flee the city. After retreating further during the Battle of Germantown,
Washington settled his army for the winter in Valley Forge -- a winter of extreme cold and
great hunger.
Saratoga. On October 7, British and American troops engaged in New York. Fatigued from
battle and short of supplies, British General John Burgoyne's troops were repulsed by
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American forces under General Horatio Gates. On October 8, Burgoyne retreated to Saratoga;
by October 13th, he asked for terms of surrender. The "Convention of Saratoga" called for
Burgoyne's army to be sent back to England, and for each soldier to pledge not to serve again in
the war against the colonies.
The "Conway Cabal." Many in Congress were unhappy with Washington's leadership; some
murmured the name of General Horatio Gates as a possible replacement. Thomas Conway, the
army's inspector general, wrote a critical letter to Gates about Washington, leading many to
believe there was an organized effort to replace Washington. Conway resigned from the army,
and eventually apologized to Washington.
Articles of Confederation. When Richard Henry Lee made a motion for independence
(1776), he also proposed a formal plan of union among the states. After a discussion lasting
more than a year, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by Congress, although the states
did not ratify the Articles until 1781.
1778
France and America Become Allies. France and America formed an alliance, negotiated
by Benjamin Franklin, stating that each would consider the other a "most favored nation" for
trade and friendship; France would be obligated to fight for American independence; and
America would be obligated to stand by France if war should occur between France and Great
Britain. Within four months, France and Great Britain were at war.
The British Attempt to Make Peace. Threatened by the alliance between France and
America, Parliament proposed the repeal of the Tea Act (1773) and Coercive Acts (1774),
pledged not to tax the colonies, and sent peace commissioners to America. However, most
Americans were interested only in British recognition of American independence. When a
British commissioner tried to bribe congressmen Joseph Reed, Robert Morris, and Francis
Dana, Americans became even less interested in reconciliation. Competing for support from
the American people, both Congress and the desperate commissioners appealed directly to
them with broadsides, but the British commissioners soon returned to Great Britain, their
mission a failure.
John Paul Jones Wins Victories. Although Esek Hopkins was never very successful with
the American navy, Captain John Paul Jones won several victories against the British with his
ship, the "Ranger."
The Battle of Monmouth. When the British headed for New York, Washington left Valley
Forge to follow. At the Battle of Monmouth, American General Charles Lee gave several
confused orders, and then ordered a sudden retreat. Washington's arrival on the scene saved
the battle, although the British escaped to New York during the night. Lee was later courtmartialed.
1779
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The British Attack in North and South. Fighting continued in both the northern and
southern states. In the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania, Loyalists and Indians led by
Mohawk Joseph Brant attacked American settlers. The Loyalists soon were defeated, and
Americans went on to destroy many Native American villages whose residents were fighting on
the side of the British.
Spain Joins the War. Spain asked Britain for Gibraltar as a reward for joining the war on
the British side. When Britain refused, Spain joined with France in its war against Britain,
although refusing to recognize American independence.
1780
The British Take Charleston, South Carolina. After a brief fight, the British took
Charleston, capturing 5,400 men and four American ships in the harbor. It was the worst
American defeat of the war.
A Mutiny in the Continental Army. When the value of Continental currency sank to a new
low, Congress had problems supplying the American army. Great shortages of food led to a
short-lived mutiny among some Connecticut soldiers at Washington's camp in New Jersey.
The Treason of Benedict Arnold. American General Benedict Arnold, frustrated and
ambitious, began dealing with British General Sir Henry Clinton. After he was promised the
command at West Point by General Washington, Arnold told Clinton that he would give the
strategic American fortification to the British. But when British Major John André, acting as
messenger, was captured, Arnold fled to a British ship, revealing his involvement in the
treasonous plan. André was executed as a spy, and Arnold was made a brigadier general in the
British army.
1781
Congress Creates a Department of Finance. American finances were in such dire straits
that Congress saw the need for a separate department of finance. Robert Morris was appointed
superintendent of finance.
The Articles of Confederation Are Ratified. With the ratification of the Articles of
Confederation, under discussion since 1777, Congress assumed a new title, "The United States
in Congress Assembled."
The Battle of Yorktown. French and American forces joined at Yorktown, on land and at
sea, and attacked British fortifications. Key British points were soon held by the Americans and
French, and British General Cornwallis soon surrendered, giving up almost 8,000 men. With
this defeat, Britain lost hope of winning the war in America.
1782
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Peace Negotiations Begin in Paris. British, French, and American commissioners met in
Paris to discuss peace. The United States sent Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.
By November, the commissioners had drafted a peace treaty. Its terms called for Great Britain
to recognize American independence and provide for the evacuation of all British troops. Great
Britain also gave up its territory between the Mississippi River and the Allegheny Mountains,
doubling the size of the new nation.
1783
The Army Complains. When a delegation of army officers complained to Congress about
their unpaid salaries and pensions, Congress had no quick solution. An anonymous letter urged
officers to unite and attempt one last appeal to Congress. If its attempt was ignored, the army
was prepared to revolt against Congress. Washington, addressing the army in person at its
headquarters in Newburgh, New York, convinced them to be patient, and not to dishonor
themselves after their glorious victory. Visibly moved, the officers adopted resolutions to
present to Congress, and pledged not to threaten violence or rebellion.
Congress Ratifies the Preliminary Articles of Peace. After Spain, France, and Britain
successfully came to terms, the treaty between France, Britain, and America was put into effect,
and warfare formally ceased. Congress ratified the Articles of Peace on April 15.
The Loyalists and British Evacuate New York. New York City was the last Loyalist
refuge in America. Starting in April, nearly 30,000 Loyalists, knowing that the British soon
would leave New York, packed their belongings and sailed to Canada and England, followed
shortly by the British army. In November, when the British sailed away, Washington entered
the city and formally bade farewell to his officers. Soon after, he resigned his commission.
The American Army Disbands. In June, most of Washington's army disbanded and
headed for home just before the British evacuated New York. A small force remained until all
the British had departed.
Congress Is Threatened. A group of soldiers from Pennsylvania marched on Congress,
demanding their pay. Armed and angry, they surrounded Independence Hall. The members of
Congress eventually were allowed to leave the building; they fled to Princeton, New Jersey.
1784
The Western Territories. Thomas Jefferson headed a committee that proposed a plan for
dividing the western territories, providing a temporary government for the West, and devising
a method for new western states to enter the Union on an equal basis with the original states.
The plan was adopted, but not put into effect.
Congress Creates a Board of Finance. When Robert Morris resigned as superintendent of
finance, he was replaced by a Board of Finance consisting of three commissioners.
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New York the Temporary Capital. Congress decided to make New York City the
temporary capital of the United States, until the location of a permanent federal city was
decided upon.
1785
Congress Lacks Power over Commerce. When American commissioners attempted to
make trade arrangements with Britain, the British Ambassador refused, because any state
could decline to abide by Congress's trade regulations. The inability of Congress to regulate
commerce on a national scale led to the formation of a committee dedicated to appealing to the
states
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