Battles of Lexington and Concord American Revolution Articles- Road to Revolution Edition Article 9 April 19, 1775 After the First Continental Congress, the colonies created militias, or armies. These soldiers were called Minutemen because they were said to be Gage heard that these militias were formed and that they had weapons in Concord, Massachusetts. He also heard that Samuel Adams and John Hancock would be meeting in nearby Lexington. He planned to send more than 700 British soldiers to arrest Adams and Hancock, the leaders of the Sons of Liberty, and to take all of the weapons being stored in Concord. General Thomas Gage wanted to surprise the colonists. He wanted the soldiers to destroy the The Midnight Ride of Paul would go through Lexington to arrest Adams and Revere Hancock. The soldiers left Boston at night on April 18, 1775. They thought that no one had noticed that they left. They did not realize the colonists were watching them. The colonists had a plan. If the soldiers were moving by land, they would put one lamp in the church tower. If they were moving by sea, they would put two lamps in the church tower. This was the signal to the colonists that the soldiers were on the move. Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott were sent to warn the leaders. Revere saw two lamps in the church tower and knew that the soldiers were coming by ship to the Charles River. The three men took different routes and went by horseback warning the colonists that the Redcoats were coming. They made it to Lexington and warned Adams and Hancock, who also left their homes and headed towards Concord. However, after leaving Lexington, Revere and Dawes were spotted by British patrol and their horses were taken away. Luckily, Dr. Prescott was able to get away and made it to Concord to warn the colonists there. Lexington In the early morning of April 19, 1775, British soldiers marched into Lexington. Awaiting them were 70 Minutemen on the Lexington Green. Both sides were told not to fire unless they were fired upon. Battle of Lexington by Amos Doolittle © Cutesy Clickables Major John Pitcairn of the British told the colonists to lay down their arms and disperse. Captain John Parker, in charge of these Minutemen, told them to go home. Many men started walking away, but suddenly a shot was heard. It is unknown who fired the the Revolutionary War. Many more shots were fired, but the Minutemen were greatly outnumbered and retreated. In all, 8 Americans were killed and 10 more were wounded. Concord The British Army headed towards Concord, 5 miles away, expecting the colonists to run away here, too. The British entered Concord and began searching for the weapons and ammunition. Most of the colonists moved British entering Concord by Amos Doolittle to the other side of the North Bridge and watched the British. As they waited, The British began setting fire in more militia arrived from surrounding Concord. The Americans got very angry and towns. decided to cross the North Bridge towards the British troops standing guard. The British begin firing, and the Americans fired back. The British soon realized that the Patriot soldiers were growing in number so they retreated across the North Bridge. The Patriots did not stop. They continued firing from behind trees and stone walls. They followed the soldiers all the way back to Boston, and more militias joined them as they went. It was a devastating defeat for the British. This was the first battle that gave The Engagement at the North Bridge by the Americans confidence that they could Amos Doolittle fight for liberty. It also showed the rest of the world that the colonists would fight for their freedom. This was the beginning of the Revolutionary War. © Cutesy Clickables.