AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR BEGINS ON LEXINGTON GREEN
Lexington, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On April 19, 1775, a force of more than seven hundred British regular army troops descended on the little village of Lexington*, outside of Boston, Massachusetts. They had marched here in hopes of 'nipping in the bud' a revolt that was brewing against the rule of the British Crown in the English Colonies.
Arriving with drums beating around 5 o'clock in the morning, they were met by about seventy local militia assembled on the town green led by Captain John Parker**.
The Captain gave the famous command which is carved in stone on the Lexington Green today...
"Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."
JFK+50 NOTE
Paul Revere, along with others, rode out ahead of the British troops spreading the word, "The Regulars Are Out!" He would not have said "The British are coming" because we were British as well. Because of their bright red uniforms, the Regulars were sometimes referred to as "Redcoats."
Despite the command of John Parker, a shot was fired but history doesn't confirm which side fired it. That shot was followed by a volley & a bayonet charge by the Regulars.
8 militiamen died in the battle with 8 more wounded. The Regulars were an experienced, trained army while the militia were citizen-farmers who were on call for emergencies. Many, if not all, had only used their muskets on game. Certainly, they most likely had never shot at or killed another man.
*Lexington is located in Middlesex County 10 miles from downtown Boston, Massachusetts.
**John Parker (1729-1775) was born in Lexington, MA & was dying of tuberculosis at the time of the battle of Lexington. JP died on Sept 17 1775 at the age of 46.
