The Battles of Lexington and Concord Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Battles of Lexington and Concord - Essay Example oiling conflict between the British and the colonists which stemmed from the determination of George III and the British Parliament to make the colonies pay the tea tax and force them to abide by the coercive regulations that followed the Tea Party. General Gage, the military governor of Massachusetts, was ordered to enforce the tax laws. His first move was to send troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith and Major John Pitcairn, to Concord to seize stores of arms from which the rapidly forming companies of militia were being supplied. On the night April 18, the British started from Boston. Three colonists known as the riders became pivotal in the colonists answer to this move. Paul Revere and William Dawes, riding by different routes, warned Hancock and Adams of their arrest and aroused the whole countryside along the fifteen miles to Lexington. The third rider, Dr. Samuel Prescott, got the warning to Concord so that when the British arrived, the colonials were ready and expecting them. By April 19, the colonials were ready and they were led by Captain John Parker. The Triangular town common at Lexington was where the British encountered the colonials. Both of the military leaders have ordered their men not fire unless fired upon. Captain Pitcairn, who was leading the assault, declared: â€Å"Ye villains, ye rebels disperse! Lay down your arms!† (Uschan 2003, p. 28) The heavily outnumbered rebels started to leave when, suddenly, a shot was fired. No one know who fired first but after the shot hundreds the firefight began. There were eight dead rebels in the wake of the British army which started for Concorde. At Concord, the people of the town had been busy hiding the Patriots store of arms and ammunition when the British arrived. They set fire to some wooden houses believed to have housed cannons and firearms. By this time, the countryside was swarming with colonial militia and they were angry. (Cook, Perry and Ward, p. 217) From Concord to back to