Militiamen from the towns of Acton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Westfield and Littleton, led by a full band of fife and drummers, advanced on the British just outside of Concord. They halted out of British musket range, wheeled around and taunted the invaders back through Concord to the tune of “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
The rebels crossed North Bridge and formed ranks on Punkatasset Hill, as British troops ransacked the nearly deserted town and searched surrounding areas for weapons.
The first skirmish took place when a group of militia advanced on six light infantry companies attempting to destroy the North Bridge. British infantry fired into the militiamen, killing two Acton men and badly wounding the Acton fifer. Militia returned fire, killing three British and wounding seven others, including four officers.
Three pieces of cannon, several gun carriages and 100 barrels of flour were hauled to the Concord green and put to flames by the grenadiers. Apparently, the fire spread to the Concord meeting house. Mrs. Martha Moulton, a 71-year-old widow, was seen pleading with British officers to save the structure which was close to her own small house. Major Pitcairn ordered a bucket brigade and the fire was extinguished. One thousand additional British troops were seen marching out of Boston to reinforce the grenadiers and light infantry who are now receiving heavy gunfire from rebel militia. Estimates of the number of rebels vary between several hundred and several thousand.
In related news, it was learned a flotilla of troopships, with 3,000 British regulars, embarked from England for the colonies earlier this month. The troops will reinforce the 4,000 troops in Boston, under Commanding General Thomas Gage. It is rumored that Major Generals William Howe, Henry Clinton and John Burgoyne are to accompany the British troops.
“The barbarous murders committed on our innocent brethren ... have made it absolutely necessary that we immediately raise an army to defend our wives and children from the butchering hands of an inhuman soldiery who, incensed at the obstacles they met with their bloody progress, and enraged at being repulsed from the field of slaughter will, without a doubt, take the first opportunity in their power to ravage this devoted country with fire and sword.”
Massachusetts Committee of Safety at Cambridge
To Surrounding Towns
April 28, 1775
BRITISH ON THE RUN!
Militia Give Chase, Surround Boston
Thus for a few trifling stores, the Grenadiers and light Infantry had a march of about 50 miles ... through an enemy’s country, and in all probability must every man have been cut off if the Brigade had not fortunately come to their assistance; for when the Brigade joined us there were very few men had any ammunition left, and so fatigued that we could not keep flanking parties out, so that we must soon have laid down our arms or been picked off by the rebels at their pleasure.
Lt. John Parker, British Officer
April 19, 1775
Boston, Massachusetts: Apr. 20, 1775. An estimated 4,000 armed but disorganized militia routed four British brigades returning to Boston after an abortive raid on a rebel armory near Concord yesterday morning. Early reports indicate the British suffered over 300 casualties as they retreated to their barricades in Charlestown, four miles northwest of the Boston peninsula.
Hampered by fatigue and 85-degree temperatures, the outnumbered British raiding party was an easy target for local militia who set up several ambushes along the 16-mile march. Rebel tactics of firing at the British rear and retreating into wooded areas before the brigades could return fire were branded as “cowardly behavior” by some British officers.
Other British officers who had fought with the rebels in the French and Indian wars are privately criticizing their superiors for underestimating the militia. Lord Percy, who commanded the infantry and grenadiers who rescued the retreating brigades, was quoted as saying, “Whoever looks upon (the rebels) as an irregular mob will be much mistaken. They have men amongst them who know very well what they are about.”
Many in the rebel camp voiced displeasure with their command, or lack of it. Of the estimated 75,000 rounds of ammunition fired at British troops, less than 300 hit their mark. Several militiamen contend that the British raiding party was out of ammunition when they retreated back from Concord and could have been destroyed. But no militia officer would give an order to advance on the town. Lord Percy’s brigades marching from Boston arrived in time to relieve their beleaguered comrades.
The rebels suffered less than 100 casualties. Local rebels have been joined by militia from all of Massachusetts and from towns in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Rebel troops, estimated at 9,000, have virtually cut off British occupational troops in Boston from the Massachusetts mainland.
A CONVERSATION WITH A REBEL LEADER
Samuel Adams
New Jersey: Apr. 1775. Samuel Adams, a short, stocky, plain dressed (when not in Congress, Mr. Adams wears homespun clothing) gentleman in his mid-fifties, who until a short time ago practiced law in Boston, is credited with organizing the “Sons of Liberty,” a loose-knit association of radicals claiming thousands of members throughout the colonies.
A Harvard graduate and Massachusetts delegate to the rebel Continental Congress, Mr. Adams is considered a fugitive by English Parliament. He recently evaded capture when British troops invaded Lexington where he and John Hancock, another fugitive, were in hiding.
In the course of our conversation, when a subject came up that particularly excited Mr. Adams, his head would move back and forth and his hands seemingly trembled out of control. His general countenance and the calming tone of his voice, however, allayed any suspicion that Mr. Adams was not entirely in control of his faculties.
Mr. Adams, we’ve learned that General Gage is considering a pardon to all Americans taking part in the recent events at Lexington and Concord. You and John Hancock are specifically named as exceptions. Why do you think he excepted you and Hancock?
It seems to me, Thomas Gage considers us a threat because we’ve been more vocal in denouncing his acts. What he refuses to believe is that Mr. Hancock and I represent the outrage of most of the citizens of Massachusetts.
What acts of General Gage outraged you besides Lexington and Concord?
When Parliament named that man Governor of Massachusetts, they gave him absolute power over us. And he acknowledges Parliament by turning our city of Boston into an armed fortress. His ships have closed our port and he has provided himself with one professional killer for every five of Boston’s citizens; some have been forced to quarter his killers in their homes. I ask you, after what his people accomplished at Lexington and Concord, shouldn’t we be alarmed at the thought of what he might do next?
It’s been estimated that over 15,000 militiamen are surrounding Boston at this time. Is that an accurate count?
I believe the figure is around 15,000, at least.
Fifteen thousand armed men give the militia a three-to-one advantage over General Gage’s troops. Do you intend to attack Boston?
I’m