Battle+of+Lexington+and+Concord

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 * The Battle of Lexington and Concord **
 * By: David Forman**

= Mapped out path of the minutemen in Lexington, and Pitcairn's troops in Concord. = == In the early mornings of April 19, 1775 saw soldiers of the British [|army] approaching. They arrived at the Massachusetts' town Lexington. Their main goal on arrival was to destroy the militia's [|ammunition] and [|weapons]. The local militia at Lexington, known as [|minutemen] stood on Lexington green awaiting their arrival. The British troops were led by Lieutenant Colonel Smith and General Thomas Gage. Both led the war together and they both had a good amount of experience in war. By the end of the day, the British casualties was 273, while the [|colonials] only suffered 94. == == The [|first shots] were fired at sunrise in the town of Lexington. The militia were outnumbered and slowly retreated, and the regulars proceeded on to Concord where they searched for the supplies. At the [|North Bridge] in Concord, exactly 500 militiamen fought and defeated three [|companies] of the King's troops. The outnumbered regulars fell back from the minutemen after a [|pitched battle] in open territory. ==



From Lieutenant Colonel Smith's report to General Gage, April: 22, 1775
== I think it proper to observe, that when I had got some miles on the march from [|Boston], I detached six light infantry companies to march with all expedition to seize the two bridges on different roads beyond Concord. On these companies' arrival at Lexington, I understand, from the report of Major Pitcairn, who was with them, and from many officers, that they found on a green close to the road a body of the country people drawn up in military order, with arms and [|accoutrement], and, as appeared after, loaded. == ||
 * == In the obedience to your Excellency's commands, I marched on the evening of the 18th inst. with the corps of grenadiers and light infantry for Concord, to execute your Excellency's orders with respect to destroying all ammunition, artillery, tents, &c, collected there. ==

Lieutenant Colonel Smith sent this letter after receiving a letter from John Pitcairn. This was the response to what was said in the letter he received.
== General Thomas Gage was born into an aristocrat family in England. Thomas Gage was most well known for his many years of service in North America. One of his main roles was being the military commander in the early days of [|American War for Independence]. He entered military service and saw action in the[| French and Indian war] where he fought along side his soon to be opponent, [|George Washington] in the 1755 Battle of the Monongahela. Between 1763 and 1765, he served as the commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America. His attempts to seize military stores of Patriot militia in April 1775, sparked the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and beginning the war for independence. He was later replaced in the Battle of Bunker Hill by [|General William Howe]. General Thomas Gage was the second born to Viscount Gage. Thomas enlisted in the army at a very young age. He was with [|Braddock] at his defeat on [|Monongahela] where he was a lieutenant colonel. In this war, he was wounded. Late in 1758, Thomas Gage married a daughter of Peter Kemble, president of the council in New Jersey. ==

media type="youtube" key="hiIFRCk1hxY" width="425" height="350" == This is a [|documentary] on the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It goes into detail about the types of people that fought in the war, and what occurred during the battle itself. ==