April 19th 1775 "Shot Heard Round the World"

hoosier · April 19

The Opening Shot of the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19th 1775, winch sparked the American Revolutionary War and the Creation of the United States of America.

At dawn on April 19, some 700 British troops arrived in Lexington and
came upon 77 militiamen gathered on the town green. A British major
yelled, “Throw down your arms! Ye villains, ye rebels.”

The heavily outnumbered militiamen had just been ordered by their commander
to disperse when a shot rang out. To this day, no one knows which side
fired first. Several British volleys were subsequently unleashed before
order could be restored. When the smoke cleared, eight militiamen lay
dead and nine were wounded, while only one Redcoat was injured.

The British then continued into Concord to search for arms, not realizing
that the vast majority had already been relocated. They decided to burn
what little they found, and the fire got slightly out of
control. Hundreds of militiamen occupying the high ground outside of
Concord incorrectly thought the whole town would be torched. The
militiamen hustled to Concord’s North Bridge, which was being defended
by a contingent of British soldiers. The British fired first but fell
back when the colonists returned the volley.

After searching Concord for about four hours, the British prepared to
return to Boston, located 18 miles away. By that time, almost 2,000
militiamen—known as minutemen for their ability to be ready on a
moment’s notice—had descended to the area, and more were constantly
arriving.

At first, the militiamen simply followed the British
column. Fighting started again soon after, however, with the militiamen
firing at the British from behind trees, stone walls, houses and sheds.
Before long, British troops were abandoning weapons, clothing and
equipment in order to retreat faster.

When the British column reached Lexington, it ran into an entire brigade
of fresh Redcoats that had answered a call for reinforcements. But that
did not stop the colonists from resuming their attack all the way
through Menotomy (now Arlington) and Cambridge.

Brookwood · April 19

Love these history posts! Thanks for the reminder hoosier!

Horse Plains Drifter · April 19

What Brookwood said.

Brookwood · April 19

There is a very good movie made back in 1988 starring Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Blakely, Rip Torn, and Chad Lowe, titled "April Morning".

While it may not be totally period correct, it is truly worth watching!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094673/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_april%2520morning

Lady Rae · April 19

Concord Hymn

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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.

The foe long since in silence slept;

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

We set today a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee.

Brookwood · April 19

Photo of the trunk bed George Washington used during the Revolutionary War.

I can honestly say that George Washington slept here! 😁

4205raymond · April 19

Never piss a old man off. When the British retreated from Concord on this day 4/19/1776 Samuel Whittemore age 80 fired on them with his musket then his pistols. Then he pulled his sword and killed two Redcoats and mortally wounded another. He was shot in the face and bayonetted six to eight times and left for dead by the Brits. He was carried off to the doctor who said their was no hope for him but he recovered and lived to be 98 years old.

When reading about Samuel lying there almost dead, I always think of Sgt. Roy Benavidez spitting so they knew he was alive in Vietnam. ————————Ray