apr 19, 1775 - Battle of Lexington and Concord

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British General Gage was planning to march on Lexington and then to seize an arms cache in Concord, using british troops quartered in Boston. American spies received word that the regulars were coming so Boston's North church hung 2 lanterns to indicate a British attack from the sea. Throughout the night, horseback riders warned the countryside that the regular were coming, the most famous of which was Paul Revere. Militias assembled to confront the British regulars that were marching on Lexington and Concord. 240 regulars were advancing on Lexington, where they were met by a force of 70 minutemen. It was here that the first shot of the Revolutionary War was fired. This shot is now known as "the shot heard around the world." 7 Americans were killed at Lexington and the British forces then advanced on Lexington. American militias forced the British to retreat to Boston after inflicting over 125 casualties. 49 Americans were killed along with 39 Americans being wounded. 73 British were killed along with 174 more being wounded and 53 going missing or being captured.

"Lexington and Concord." Ushistory.org. Accessed October 14, 2018. http://www.ushistory.org/us/11c.asp.


Sylvanus Wood was a militiaman at Lexington the day of the battle. He is known for capturing the first prisoner of the Revolutionary War. He captured a Grenadier standing guard on his way to Concord.

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