Lexington-Concord 250th Anniversary Commemorative Encampment IN Chehalis, WA

The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, marked the opening military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were pivotal events where initial confrontations between British soldiers and colonial militias escalated into a broader conflict, ultimately igniting the American Revolution.

• Rising Tensions: In the years leading up to the battles, colonial discontent with British rule was growing, particularly over issues like "taxation without representation" and the presence of British troops in the colonies.
• British Mission: British General Thomas Gage, stationed in Boston, received orders to confiscate colonial military supplies stored in Concord, Massachusetts, and to arrest rebel leaders. This mission set the stage for conflict.
• Intelligence and Warnings: Colonial spies and riders, including the famous Paul Revere and William Dawes, warned the militias that the British were on the move. This allowed the colonists to mobilize their forces quickly.

• Location and Timing: Early in the morning on April 19, 1775, a detachment of about 700 British soldiers arrived in Lexington.
• The Minutemen: Around 77 colonial militiamen, known as Minutemen because they were ready to fight at a moment’s notice, gathered on the Lexington Green.
• Confrontation: Tensions escalated as the British troops encountered the Minutemen. Details about the very first shot are murky—it’s often referred to as the “Shot Heard 'Round the World”—but it ignited the conflict.
• Outcome at Lexington: After the initial exchange of fire, the colonial forces were overwhelmed by the better-armed British. The skirmish resulted in several colonial casualties, and the Minutemen began to disperse.

• Moving to Concord: After the confrontation in Lexington, the British marched on to Concord to complete their mission of seizing and destroying military supplies.
• The North Bridge Skirmish: In Concord, at a site known as North Bridge, colonial militias had gathered. Here, a more organized resistance formed: 
  • The colonial forces confronted the British troops directly.
  • A short, intense battle broke out, during which the colonists managed to force the British back.
• Retreat and Ambushes: As the British began their retreat back to Boston, they were continuously harassed by the growing numbers of colonial militiamen. The retreat turned into a running battle: 
  • The colonists used guerrilla tactics, firing from behind trees, stone walls, and other cover.
  • This sustained attack inflicted significant casualties on the British, who were caught in an increasingly vulnerable position.

• Escalation of Conflict: The battles showed that the colonial militias were willing and capable of standing up to British military power.
• Catalyst for Revolution: These engagements galvanized the colonial resistance and marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
• Legacy: The events at Lexington and Concord have since been immortalized as the moment when ordinary citizens took up arms against what they saw as an oppressive government, setting the stage for American independence.