A keg of gunpowder is a metaphor for the outbreak of military conflict between the Americans and the British used to describe the American Revolution. The slow build-up of tension over decades leading to escalating issues, violent protests, and Britain dispatching troops to quell these issues is the fuse, and the Battle of Lexington and Concord is what lights it, leading to war.
Battle of Lexington and Concord: Causes
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in September of 1774 in response to the Intolerable Acts passed as punishment for the city of Boston. This group of colonial delegates debated the proper course of action against the British in retaliation for these acts. Along with a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, one of the outcomes of the Congress was a suggestion of preparing colonial militias. Over the coming months, Committees of Observance, whose purpose was to ensure colonies were collectively boycotting British goods, also began to oversee the creation of these militia forces and the stockpiling of weapons and ammunition.
Outside the city of Boston, which was under heavy patrol of a British garrison under the command of General Thomas Gage, the militia stockpiled weapons in the town of Concord, approximately 18 miles from the city.
Battle of Lexington and Concord: Summary
To summarize the events that bring about the Battle of Lexington and Concord, it begins with the British Secretary of State for America, Lord Dartmouth. On January 27, 1775, he addressed a letter to General Gage, stating his belief that the American resistance was disjointed and ill-prepared. He ordered General Gage to arrest the principal participants and anyone assisting in creating an armed resistance to the British. Lord Dartmouth felt that if the British could take robust action quickly and quietly, the American resistance would crumble with little violence.
Due to poor weather, Dartmouth’s letter did not reach General Gage until April 14, 1774. By then, the prominent patriot leaders in Boston had already left, and General Gage was apprehensive that their arrest would serve the purpose of stopping any rebellion. Nevertheless, the order moved him to act against the opposition colonists. He sent out a portion of the garrison, 700 men, from Boston to confiscate provincial military supplies stockpiled in Concord.
Fig. 1 - Painted by William Wollen in 1910, this canvas shows the artist's rendition of the conflict between the militia and the British in Lexington.
In preparation for possible action by the British, the American leaders established a system to warn militiamen in the countryside. As the British troops moved out of Boston, Bostonians sent three messengers: Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott, out on horseback to rouse the militia. When the British expedition approached the town of Lexington at dawn on April 19, 1775, they encountered a group of 70 militiamen- approximately half the town's adult male population, drawn up in rank in front of them in the town square.
As the British approached, the American commander- Captain John Parker, ordered his men to withdraw, seeing that they were outnumbered and would not stop their advance. As they retreated, a shot rang out, and in response, the British troops fired several volleys of rifle shots. When they ceased, eight Americans lay dead and another ten wounded. The British continued their march to Concord five miles further down the road.
In Concord, the militia contingents were more significant; groups had joined the men of Concord from Lincoln, Acton, and other nearby towns. The American’s allowed the British to enter the town unopposed, but later in the morning, they attacked the British garrison guarding the North Bridge. The brief exchange of gunfire at the North Bridge spilled the first British blood of the Revolution: three men were killed and nine wounded.
The Outcomes of the Battle of Lexington and Concord
On the march back to Boston, the British encountered ambush after ambush by militia groups from other towns, firing behind trees, bushes, and houses. The outcome of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, by the end of the day on April 19th, the British suffered more than 270 casualties, 73 deaths. The arrival of reinforcements from Boston and the lack of coordination from the Americans prevented worse losses. The Americans suffered 93 casualties, which included 49 dead.
Fig. 2 - A Diorama of the engagement at the old north bridge in Lexington.
Primary Source: Lexington and Concord from the British Point of View.
On April 22, 1775, British Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith wrote an official report to General Thomas Gage. Note how the British Lt. Colonel places the actions of the British in a different perspective than the Americans.
"Sir- In obedience to your Excellency's commands, I marched on the evening of the 18th inst. with the corps of grenadiers and light infantry for Concord to destroy all ammunition, artillery, and tents, we marched with the utmost expedition and secrecy; we found the country had the intelligence or strong suspicion of our coming.
At Lexington, we found on a green close to the road a body of the country people drawn up in military order, with arms and accouterments, and, as appeared afterward, loaded, our troops advanced towards them without any intention of injuring them; but they in confusion went off, principally to the left, only one of them fired before he went off, and three or four more jumped over a wall and fired from behind it among the soldiers; on which the troops returned it, and killed several of them. They likewise fired on the soldiers from the Meetinghouse and dwelling houses.
While at Concord, we saw vast numbers assembling in many parts; at one of the bridges, they marched down, with a considerable body, on the light infantry posted there. On their coming near, one of our men fired on them, which they returned; on which an action ensued, and some few were killed and wounded. In this affair, it appears that, after the bridge was quitted, they scalped and otherwise ill-treated one or two of our men who were either killed or severely wounded.
On our leaving Concord to return to Boston, they began to fire on us behind walls, ditches, trees, etc, which, as we marched, increased to a very great degree and continued for, I believe, upwards of eighteen miles; so that I can't think, but it must have been preconcerted scheme in them, to attack the King's troops the first favorable opportunity that offered; otherwise, I think they could not, in a such short time from our marching, have raised such a numerous body. " 1
By the evening of April 20, 1775, an estimated twenty thousand American militiamen gathered around Boston, summoned by the local Committees of Observance that spread the alarm across New England. Some stayed, but other militiamen disappeared back to their farms for the spring harvest after a few days—those who stayed established defensive positions around the city. Close to two years of relative calm between the two belligerent groups followed.
Battle of Lexington and Concord: Map
Fig. 3 - This map shows the route of the British army's 18-mile retreat from Concord to Charlestown in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. It shows the significant points of conflict.
Battle of Lexington and Concord: Significance
Twelve years -starting with the end of the French and Indian War in 1763- of economic conflict and political debate culminated in violence. Spurred by the outbreak of militia action, the delegates of the Second Continental Congress met in May of 1775 in Philadelphia, this time with a new purpose and the looming British Army and Navy. As the Congress convened, the British took action against the defenses at Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill outside Boston.
For many delegates, the Battle of Lexington and Concord was the turning point towards complete independence from Britain, and the colonies should prepare for a military fight to do so. Before these battles, during the First Continental Congress, most delegates sought to negotiate better trade terms with England and bring back some semblance of self-government. However, after the battles, sentiment changed.
The Second Continental Congress created a Continental Army by combining the militia groups from the colonies. Congress appointed George Washington as the Commander of the Continental Army. And Congress created a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.
Lexington and Concord Battle - Key takeaways
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in September of 1774 in response to the Intolerable Acts. Along with a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, one of the outcomes of the Congress was a suggestion of preparing colonial militias.
For months, colonial militiamen outside the city of Boston stockpiled weapons and ammunition in the town of Concord, 18 miles from the city. Lord Dartmouth ordered General Gage to arrest the principal participants and anyone assisting in creating an armed resistance to the British; having received the letter late and seeing no value in arresting the leaders, he decided to obtain the militia stockpile.
He sent out a portion of the garrison, 700 men, from Boston to confiscate provincial military supplies stockpiled in Concord. As the British troops moved out of Boston, Bostonians sent three messengers: Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott, out on horseback to rouse the militia.
When the British expedition approached the town of Lexington at dawn on April 19, 1775, they encountered a group of 70 militiamen. As the militia began to disperse, a shot rang out, and in response, the British troops fired off several volleys of rifle shots.
In Concord, the militia contingents were more significant; groups had joined the men of Concord from Lincoln, Acton, and other nearby towns.
The outcome of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, by the end of the day on April 19th, the British suffered more than 270 casualties, 73 deaths. The arrival of reinforcements from Boston and the lack of coordination from the Americans prevented worse losses. The Americans suffered 93 casualties, which included 49 dead.
Spurred by the outbreak of militia action, the delegates of the Second Continental Congress met in May of 1775 in Philadelphia, this time with a new purpose and the looming British Army and Navy.
References
- Documents of the American Revolution, 1770–1783. Colonial Office series. ed. by K. G. Davies (Dublin: Irish University Press, 1975), 9:103–104.
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