april 19, 1775
By January, 1775, there were 3,500 British troops in the city of Boston. Some of these “Lobster Backs,” as they were called by the Americans, had been sent to the city to quell (put down; control) the riots of the late 1760’s (such as the “Liberty” riots). The rest of the soldiers had been sent to help enforce the Coercive Acts (known as the Intolerable Acts by the American rabble-rousers). Lt. General Thomas Gage was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America, and he also was in Boston.
Gage actually liked the Americans and was sympathetic to some of their claims. He had seen service during the French and Indian war, and knew that the colonists were anything but docile cowards; he knew that they could be formidable when stirred up. His orders, however, were clear—to enforce the unpopular laws and round up the trouble makers. Naturally, the name Samuel Adams was at the top of the list.
Adams had organized the infamous Sons of Liberty during the Stamp Act crisis. This group had been responsible for a great deal of trouble since 1765—arson, assault and sedition (speaking out against your government) were among the charges pending (although some said that there were worse things to charge him with). Adams’ henchmen, John Hancock and Paul Revere, also were wanted by the British government. Outside of Boston, these men and their Sons of Liberty, held sway (were in control). Those who followed the law; those who supported the government; all those who did not support Adams and his followers, were terrorized and forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in the city of Boston. Adams’ gang was organizing local militias, preparing for armed conflict: weapons and supplies were being gathered and stored in towns like Lexington and Concord. By late winter, 1775, the situation had become critical.
The English Parliament sent Gage his final orders in March, 1775. He, in turn, issued his orders on April 14. The die was cast. Eight hundred soldiers were to be sent out into the surrounding area to confiscate all stockpiled arms and supplies; also, the leaders of the brewing rebellion were to be arrested and brought back to Boston. Colonel Francis Smith was to command the expedition; Major John Pitcairn was his second. Four hundred Grenadiers (heavy troops, who usually fought with the bayonet and in line) and four hundred Light troops (soldiers who fought more like Indians and Americans) made up the force under Smith’s command. Gage, who knew that there were spies in his camp, kept secret the route to be taken by his men.
Sam Adams did indeed have spies inside the English camp. The Americans knew where the English were going, what they did not know was the path to be taken. Adams had riders positioned outside of Boston ready to spread the word as soon as possible. At last, on the night of April 18, two signal lanterns were placed in the steeple of the Old North Church (the highest point in the city!!). This meant that the troops were going to cross over to the Charles Town peninsula and march along that route. The British, of course, had hoped to surprise the sleeping Americans; but, as the soldiers boarded the boats at 0200 hours (April 19), they heard alarm bells ringing away into the night.
After crossing to Charles Town, Colonel Francis Smith sent Pitcairn ahead with the Light troops; they would move quicker and perhaps have a chance at surprising somebody. Marching at the double pace (jogging), the English arrived at the village of Lexington at 0430. It was the cold, grey of dawn…torches cast an eerie glow over the quiet town Green (a big area of pasture in the center of the village). Pitcairn rode forward and saw figures moving about on the Green. He shouted at them:
“Disperse, ye damned Rebels! Lay down your Arms!”
Captain Jon Parker, who had served England in the French and Indian War, commanded a group of 130 Minute Men (everyday men who had volunteered to fight tyranny at a moment’s notice). They froze. Parker thought about what they were facing there that morning, and quietly he told the men to slip away….to melt into the gloomy morning. As the Minute Men began to move, a shot rang out! Pitcairn ordered a company of his men to return fire. The noise split the still air; the muzzle flashes looked like lightning. Eight Americans lay dead, torn apart by the British volley; ten lay writhing, wounded, in agony as their life’s blood flowed from them. The rest darted for safety. Pitcairn searched the town and found nobody and nothing.
Colonel Francis Smith and his Grenadiers arrived and the British marched on to Concord, where they arrived at 0800. The town was deserted and empty. The soldiers searched every building and found nothing….not even a sack of grain! The British could have, but did not, burn the town. Afterward, Smith and Pitcairn conferred. Picquets reported hundreds of armed colonials were assembling beyond the town, by the bridge along the road back towards Lexington. Smith ordered his men to assemble and get ready to depart.
As the grim Grenadiers formed up, the clear staccato of gun fire came to their ears. The outlying British soldiers fell back on Concord. Smith and Pitcairn knew what faced them now– a sixteen mile gauntlet. The Light troops fanned out and began to clear the bridge for the Grenadiers. A withering fire greeted the Lobster Backs. Americans seemed to be everywhere. The brave English fought for their lives and pushed the Americans back towards Lexington. Francis Smith ordered the Grenadiers forward; these men would carry the wounded and dead with them.
The English column moved slowly back toward Boston, fighting every inch of the way. As the morning waned, hundreds of Americans fired upon the retreating Redcoats. Pitcairn’s men fought nobly, valiantly, as they charged pockets of rebels here; as they cleared debris from the road there; as they emptied buildings of attackers. This was a grueling running battle, and the British were taking a fearful beating.
The Americans would not stand and exchange volleys with the British. The Light troops had to chase the wily Americans, and often were ambushed. Then, the Grenadiers would be sent to pick up their fallen comrades and carry them along. A few times, the Grenadiers actually were deployed and sent to charge against an American position. But, each time, the rebels would fall back before the veteran troops could close with them. As noon passed, the British realized that thousands of men now were shooting at them!
These British soldiers had been on the move for almost twenty four hours; they had not eaten dinner the night before, nor had they had a rest since starting their march twelve hours earlier. Casualties mounted, making their progress even slower and more difficult. Pitcairn and Smith encouraged their men, riding among them and rallying their spirits. Finally, late in the afternoon, the British came within sight of Boston. Thomas Gage had sent out a relief column commanded by Lord Percy to help Smith’s endangered command into safety. Also, the Royal warships in the harbor moved into position to cover the retreating soldiers.
In all, seventy three British soldiers had been killed; 200 were wounded. Over 25% of Smith’s forces, therefore, were casualties!!! Forty nine Americans died that day, and some forty were wounded.
As night fell on that bloody April day, Samuel Adams, from his hiding place out near Concord, remarked: “O, what a glorious morning is this!”
