battles lexington concord battles lexington concord military engagements american revolutionary war battles fought april province massachusetts bay towns lexington concord lincoln present day arlington cambridge near boston battles marked outbreak open armed conflict thirteen colonies mainland late suffolk resolves adopted resist enforcement alterations massachusetts colonial government british parliament following colonial assembly responded forming illegal patriot provisional government known calling local militias train possible hostilities rebel government exercised effective control colony outside british controlled boston response british government february declared massachusetts state rebellion british_army regulars boston lieutenant colonel given secret orders capture destroy rebel military supplies reportedly stored massachusetts militia concord effective intelligence gathering patriot received word weeks expedition supplies risk moved locations received details british plans night battle able rapidly area militias british expedition shots fired sun rising lexington militia outnumbered fell regulars proceeded concord broke apart companies search supplies north bridge concord approximately engaged regulars companies king troops resulting casualties sides outnumbered regulars fell bridge rejoined main body british forces concord british forces began return march boston completing search military supplies continued arrive neighboring towns gunfire erupted sides continued day regulars marched boston returning lexington col smith expedition rescued reinforcements brigadier general future duke northumberland known combined force men marched boston heavy fire tactical withdrawal eventually reached safety accumulated militias blockaded narrow land boston starting concord hymn described shot fired patriots north bridge shot heard round world background british_army infantry nicknamed colonists occupied boston augmented naval forces marines enforce colonists called acts passed punish acts defiance general military governor massachusetts commander chief roughly british military forces garrisoned boston control massachusetts outside boston implementation acts increased tensions patriot whig majority pro british minority plan avoid conflict removing military supplies whig militias small secret rapid strikes struggle supplies led british success rebel successes series nearly conflicts known considered friend liberty attempted separate duties governor colony general occupying force described conflicted relationship massachusetts saying parliament englishman person earth argue englishman slavery colonists forming militias 17th century initially local defense indian attacks forces saw action french indian war fought alongside british regulars provincial law towns form militia companies composed males years age older categories assure members properly armed militias formally jurisdiction provincial government new_england militia companies elected officers effectively dissolved provincial government terms massachusetts government act existing connections employed colonists purpose resistance military threat britain british government preparations february address king houses parliament declared state rebellion existed find majesty subjects province massachusetts bay proceeded far resist authority rebellion time actually exists said province concern encouraged unlawful combinations engagements entered majesty subjects colonies injury oppression innocent fellow subjects resident rest majesty shall pay attention regard real grievances laid colonies shall proper application shall ready afford reasonable time majesty enforce obedience laws authority supreme legislature fixed resolution hazard lives properties stand majesty rebellious attempts maintenance rights majesty april received instructions secretary state earl rebels rebellion leaders gave considerable discretion commands decision act promptly influenced information received april spy telling congress divided need armed resistance delegates sent new_england colonies cooperate raising new_england army colonial soldiers morning april ordered mounted patrol men command major mitchell surrounding country intercept horseback patrol behaved differently patrols sent boston past staying dark asking travelers location effect residents increasing lexington militia particular began muster early evening hours receiving word boston known story nightfall farmer british patrol colonists asked heard regulars coming sword story incident published century later suggests little family myth lieutenant colonel received orders afternoon april instructions read troops underway proceed boston expedition secrecy concord seize destroy military stores care soldiers inhabitants hurt private property discretion issue written orders arrest rebel leaders feared spark uprising american preparations march issued following resolution army command thereof number shall march town boston artillery baggage ought deemed design carry execution force late acts parliament attempting resolve late honourable ought opposed military force province ought assembled army observation immediately formed act solely defensive long justified principles reason self preservation rebellion leaders exception paul left boston april received word secret instructions general sources london reached adams fled boston home relatives lexington thought safe immediate threat arrest massachusetts militias gathering stock weapons powder supplies concord west worcester expedition boston concord widely anticipated large contingent regulars alarmed countryside expedition boston march newspaper philadelphia reported supposed going concord sitting quantity provisions stores lodged said intending soon april paul rode concord warn inhabitants british appeared planning expedition townspeople decided remove stores distribute towns nearby colonists aware april date expedition despite efforts details hidden british rank file officers command mission reasonable speculation proven confidential source intelligence general new_jersey born wife sympathies colonial cause friendly relationship warren night april told british troops embark boats boston bound cambridge road lexington concord warren intelligence suggested likely objectives regulars movements later night capture worry possibility regulars marching concord supplies concord safe think leaders lexington unaware potential danger night sent warn alert colonial militias nearby towns militia forces assemble covered southern land route horseback great bridge lexington gave instructions send signal hung boston traveled northern water route crossing mouth slipping past british warship anchor crossings banned hour safely landed rode west lexington warning house route additional riders sent north arrived lexington adams discussed situation militia assembling believed forces leaving city large sole task arresting men concord main target lexington men dispatched riders surrounding towns continued road concord accompanied lincoln ran british patrol led major mitchell captured thrown horse escaped reach concord additional riders sent concord ride triggered flexible system alarm muster carefully developed months reaction colonists response system improved version old network use times emergency colonists periodically early years indian wars colony fell french indian war addition express riders delivering messages bells drums alarm guns trumpet rapid communication town town rebels dozens eastern massachusetts villages muster militias regulars leaving boston system effective people towns miles boston aware army movements unloading boats cambridge early warnings played crucial role assembling sufficient number colonial militia inflict heavy damage british regulars later day adams eventually moved safety later british forces advance dusk called meeting senior officers informed instructions lord arrived ordering action told senior colonel regiments lieutenant colonel smith command major executive officer meeting town folk according account discussion people turned unusual movement british soldiers town questioned man man replied regulars miss aim aim asked cannon concord reply hearing quickly returned relayed information stunned issued orders prevent getting boston late prevent leaving british regulars infantry drawn occupying infantry regiments major commanded elite light infantry companies lieutenant colonel commanded companies overall command lieutenant colonel smith troops assigned expedition companies drawn 4th king 5th 10th 18th royal irish 23rd 38th 43rd 47th 52nd regiments foot 1st battalion majesty protecting companies light infantry 4th 5th 10th 23rd 38th 43rd 47th 52nd regiments company lieutenant majority captains commanding volunteers attached minute drawn regiments stationed boston lack familiarity commander company cause problems battle british began troops night april assembled water edge western end colonel smith late arriving organized boat loading operation resulting confusion staging area boats naval barges packed tightly room sit disembarked near cambridge waist deep water midnight lengthy halt gear regulars began miles march concord wait provided extra ammunition cold salt pork hard sea carry carried food bags muskets marched wet muddy shoes uniforms marched sounds colonial countryside caused officers aware mission realize lost element surprise colonel smith sent major ahead companies light infantry orders quick march concord smith wise decision send messenger boston asking reinforcements battles lexington styled battle reality engagement lexington minor brush skirmish regulars advance guard entered lexington sunrise april lexington emerged stood ranks village common watching spectators watched road leader captain veteran french indian war suffering tuberculosis times difficult hear lined surname seven including company orderly sergeant parker reed fully quarter related captain parker way group lexington training band way organizing local militias dating styled company having waited night sign british troops wondering warning true parker got confirmation scout parker sent rode told coming coming force close captain parker clearly aware confrontation prepared sacrifice men purpose knew colonists powder military supplies concord hidden war declared declaration independence year future knew british gone expeditions massachusetts found marched boston parker reason expect occur regulars march concord find return boston tired handed positioned company carefully placed parade ground formation plain sight hiding walls blocking road concord political military determination effort prevent march regulars years later participants recalled parker words engraved stone site battle stand ground don fire fired mean war let begin according parker sworn deposition taken battle ordered militia meet common said lexington consult concluded discovered said regular troops approach insult sudden approach immediately ordered militia disperse fire immediately said troops appearance rushed fired killed party receiving turn left concord marine lieutenant head advance guard decided protect flank british column turning right leading companies common confused effort surround militia major arrived rear advance force led companies left halted remaining companies colonel smith lay road boston shot british officer probably accounts uncertain lieutenant rode forward waving sword called assembled militia disperse ordered lay arms damned rebels captain parker told men instead disperse home confusion parker voice hear left slowly laid arms parker ordered men hold fire shot fired unknown source clock arrived lexington saw number people believe formed common middle town continued advancing keeping prepared attack intending attack coming near fired shots men orders rushed fired flight killed tell walls woods man 10th light infantry wounded hurt formed common difficulty men wild hear orders waited considerable time length proceeded way concord according member parker militia americans discharged muskets faced oncoming british troops british suffer casualty slight wound deposition corporal stated fire regulars thought stated stood left fired powder second firing stated fired powder received wound arm said use words gun took aim main body british troops smoke preventing seeing heads horses discharged pieces witnesses regulars reported shot fired colonial corner tavern observers reported mounted british officer firing sides generally agreed initial shot come men ground immediately facing speculation arose later lexington man named fired shot inside tavern wall witnesses claimed fired witnesses claimed know theory shot fired british killed prisoner running away told walk away let panicked began run historian proposed actually multiple near simultaneous shots claims british forward ready way provoking scattered shots militia response british troops orders fired devastating volley lack discipline british troops key role violence witnesses scene described intermittent shots fired sides lines regulars began fire receiving orders believed regulars firing powder ball realized truth militia managed load return fire rest ran lives men testify declare nineteenth morning informed body regulars marching boston concord clock morning hearing drum beat proceeded parade soon found large body troops marching company coming parade reached time company began disperse whilst backs turned troops fired number men instantly killed wounded gun fired person company regulars knowledge fired continued firing escape regulars charged forward captain parker cousin run lexington men killed wounded british soldier 10th regiment foot wounded colonists killed fatally wounded british musket ball managed crawl home died wounded man prince black slave serving militia companies command got officers control unaware actual purpose day mission fired different directions prepared enter private homes colonel smith arriving remainder regulars heard musket fire rode forward column action quickly found drummer ordered beat assembly arrived shortly order restored soldiers light infantry permitted fire victory volley column reformed marched concord concord response raised alarm concord lincoln mustered concord received reports firing lexington sure wait reinforced troops towns nearby stay defend town east greet british_army superior terrain column militia marched road lexington meet british traveling miles met approaching column regulars regulars numbered militia time numbered militia column turned marched concord preceding regulars distance yards militia retreated ridge overlooking town officers discussed caution prevailed colonel withdrew town concord led men north bridge hill mile north town continue watch troop movements british activities center town step proved ranks militia continued grow companies arriving western towns joined search militia supplies british troops arrived village concord col smith divided carry orders company secured south bridge captain seven companies light infantry captain parsons numbering secured north bridge visible cleared fields assembling militia companies captain parsons took companies 5th 23rd 38th 52nd regiments road miles north bridge search intelligence indicated supplies found companies 4th 10th regiments stationed guard return route company 43rd remained guarding bridge companies relatively inexperienced command captain aware significantly outnumbered plus concerned captain sent messenger col smith requesting reinforcements detailed information provided loyalist spies companies searched small town military supplies arrived tavern jail south bridge road found door barred shut jones refused entry according reports provided local loyalists knew cannon buried property jones ordered gunpoint guns buried turned massive pieces firing pound shot heavy use defensively effective fortifications sufficient range bombard city boston parts nearby mainland smashed guns mounted burned gun carriages found village fire spread local resident persuaded soldiers help bucket brigade save building nearly barrels flour food thrown pounds musket balls damage cannon significant shot food recovered british left search regulars generally treatment locals including paying food drink consumed excessive advantage locals able searches smaller militia supplies arsenal weeks weapons remained according family legend quickly buried furrows look like crop planted troops sent find supplies consequence north bridge colonel troops seeing smoke rising village square british burned cannon carriages seeing light infantry companies directly decided march town point hill lower closer flat yards north bridge militia advanced british companies 4th 10th regiments held position near road retreated bridge yielded hill men companies militia concord lincoln occupied hill groups men streamed totaling captain light infantry companies force totaling men ordered massachusetts men form long line abreast highway leading bridge called consultation overlooking hill col captains discussed possible courses action captain troops arrived late declared willingness defend town saying afraid haven man afraid told men load weapons fire fired ordered advance ordered british companies guarding bridge retreat officer tried pull loose bridge colonial advance major began regulars stop bridge militia concord handful advanced column formation led major col robinson davis light infantry keeping road surrounded spring captain poor tactical decision summons help produced results ordered men form positions street firing bridge column running perpendicular river formation appropriate sending large volume fire narrow alley buildings city open path bridge confusion reigned regulars retreating bridge tried form street firing position troops lieutenant rear formation saw mistake ordered sent company different men command soldiers remainder tried best confusion follow orders superior officer shot likely warning shot fired panicked exhausted british soldier 43rd according captain report commander fight regulars fired immediately shots river narrow group possibly thinking order fire given fired ragged volley stop private captain head line marching bridge hit killed instantly recalled americans commenced march double file minute americans quick motion rods bridge single gun fired british soldier marked way passing col robinson arm slightly wounding men wounded major militia fire god sake fellow soldiers fire point lines separated bridge yards apart rows colonists bound road blocked forming line fire managed fire heads shoulders regulars bridge british officers leading troops wounded volley musket fire 4th killed mortally wounded wounded reverend wrote eyewitness following facts people concord faced british concord bridge british placed ninety men guard north bridge certain information killed lexington saw british making destruction town concord proposed advance bridge colonel robinson major took lead strict orders given fire british fired advanced halfway causeway british fired gun second body killed colonel davis people fired heads long column killed wounded said greatest beauty british army badly wounded complained british fled assembled hill north concord dressed wounded began retreat descended hill near road comes pursued colonel bridge men came killed men regulars found trapped situation outnumbered lacking effective leadership terrified superior numbers enemy spirit broken likely having experienced combat abandoned wounded fled safety approaching companies coming town center captain parsons companies searching arms fight colonists stunned success actually believed shoot kill advanced retreated went home safety homes families colonel eventually began recover control moved militia yards away sent major bridge defensive position hill stone wall lieutenant colonel smith heard exchange fire position town moments received request reinforcements quickly assembled companies lead north bridge troops marched met shattered remnants light infantry companies running smith concerned companies route town unprotected saw distance wall halted companies moved forward officers closer look wall observed fired believe killed officer orders fire wasn gun fired tense lasting minutes mentally ill local man named sides selling hard point detachment regulars sent farm marched fruitless search area passed deserted battlefield saw dead wounded comrades lying bridge looked angered shocked british soldiers crossed bridge returned town eyes colonists continued maintain defensive positions regulars continued search destroy colonial military supplies town ate lunch marching left concord noon delay departure gave colonial outlying towns additional time reach road boston return march concord lexington lieutenant colonel smith concerned safety men sent follow ridge protect forces roughly field british marched east concord ridge ended near corner crossroads mile outside village concord main road came bridge small stream cross narrow bridge british pull main column close ranks mere soldiers abreast colonial militia companies arriving north east point presented clear numerical advantage regulars british witnessing general hoped avoid expedition secrecy dark night ability colonial rise converge thousands british forces ventured boston british column marched narrow bridge british rear guard wheeled fired volley colonial firing irregularly distance closed musket range colonists returned fire time deadly effect regulars killed wounded colonial casualties smith sent flanking troops crossing small bridge known hardy hill mile past corner nearly assembled south road awaiting opportunity fire british column road smith leading forces charged hill drive colonists withdraw inflicting significant casualties attackers smith withdrew men column continued small bridge lincoln militia companies intensified attack north road regulars soon reached point road referred bloody angle road rises curves sharply left lightly wooded area place militia company positioned southeast bend road rocky lightly wooded field additional militia flowing parallel road engagement corner positioned northwest road catching british militia companies road closed attack yards road took sharp curve time right british column caught large force firing sides passing sharp curves british force lost thirty soldiers killed wounded colonial militia killed including captain captain british soldiers escaped breaking pace maintain woods terrain colonial forces road british densely packed disorganized mount attack rear militia forces towns continued arrive colonial forces risen men road straightened east cleared fields sides col smith sent succeeded trapping militia inflicting casualties british casualties mounting engagements persistent long range fire exhausted british running ammunition british column neared boundary lincoln lexington encountered ambush hill overlooking road set captain lexington including encounter lexington earlier day point col smith wounded thigh knocked horse major assumed effective command column sent light infantry companies hill clear militia forces light infantry cleared additional hills column continued east bluff hill took casualties set fresh militia companies joining battle musket colonial soldiers major horse throwing ground injuring arm principal leaders expedition injured men tired exhausting ammunition surrendered captured broke formation ran forward lexington words british officer began run retreat order attempted stop men form deep purpose confusion increased officers got presented told men advanced die began form heavy fire british officer remained companies head british column approach understood column situation men ammunition left flanking parties soon laid arms picked rebels pleasure nearer able heard cheering ahead brigade men artillery command arrived rescue british column march clock morning wrote account pursued killed got lexington close pursued soon surrendered lord met large reinforcement field pieces fired balls went high heads cannon execution stories effects spread troops time pursued retired cambridge army collected cambridge colonel regiment minute men lieutenant colonel prompt post accounts afterward british officers soldiers alike noted frustration colonial fired trees stone walls confronting large linear formations style european warfare image individual colonial farmer musket hand fighting command fostered american myth chasing red coats lane crossing fields emerge trees turn road fire load contrary beginning north bridge british retreat colonial militias repeatedly operated coordinated companies dispersed advantage cover reflecting british experience day understood significance american tactics affair rebels attacked scattered irregular manner resolution dare form regular body knew proper looks irregular mob find mistaken men know having employed rangers indians canadians country covered wood hilly method fighting rescue general anticipated col smith expedition require reinforcement drafted orders reinforcing units assemble boston obsession secrecy sent copy orders adjutant 1st brigade servant left envelope table british column miles lexington col smith clear indication element surprise lost alarm spreading countryside sent rider boston request reinforcements rider reached boston 1st brigade ordered assemble line infantry companies 4th 23rd 47th regiments battalion command unfortunately british copy orders sent commander order delivered desk major lexington common smith column hour delays brigade strong left boston headed lexington way story told marched tune yankee inhabitants area months later song popular anthem colonial forces took land route great bridge quick thinking colonists stripped delay british men came absent minded tutor asked road lexington harvard man apparently oblivious reality happening showed proper road thinking later compelled leave country inadvertently supporting enemy troops arrived lexington hear gunfire distance set cannon deployed lines regulars high ground commanding views town colonel smith men approached like fleeing mob complement colonial militia close formation pursuing ordered artillery open fire extreme range colonial smith men collapsed exhaustion reached safety lines advice master ordnance left boston spare ammunition men artillery pieces brought thinking extra wagons slow man brigade rounds artillery piece supplied rounds carried boxes left city directed ammunition wagons guarded officer thirteen men follow convoy intercepted small party older veteran alarm list join militia companies years age men rose ambush demanded surrender wagons regulars ignored drove horses old men opened fire shot lead horses killed wounded officer british survivors ran threw weapons pond surrendered lexington assumed control combined forces men let rest eat drink wounds tended field headquarters resuming march set lexington formation emphasized defense sides rear column wounded regulars rode cannon forced hop fired gatherings militia men surrounded tactical advantage interior lines shift units easily needed colonial militia required outside formation placed smith men middle column 23rd regiment line companies column rear guard information provided americans attacking ordered rear guard rotated mile allow troops rest briefly flanking companies sent sides road powerful force marines acted vanguard clear road ahead respite lexington brigadier general arrived took command militia earlier day traveled discuss tactics left boston morning members heath warren reacted artillery ordering avoid close formations attract cannon fire instead surrounded marching square moving ring distance inflict maximum casualties minimum risk mounted road fire muskets approaching regulars ahead repeat tactic militia fire long range hope hitting somebody main column soldiers road surviving british muskets effective combat range yards infantry units apply pressure sides british column moved range units forward engage column road heath sent intercept arriving militia units directing appropriate places road engage regulars towns sent supply wagons assist feeding militia heath warren lead small actions battle presence effective leadership probably greatest impact success tactics wrote colonial tactics rebels attacked scattered irregular manner resolution dare form regular body knew proper looks irregular mob find mistaken fighting grew intense forces crossed lexington fresh militia poured gunfire british ranks distance individual began fight property homes sniper positions turning situation soldier nightmare house house fighting pleaded friends fight alongside defend house saying englishman home castle stayed killed doorway friends depending account believed hid cellar died house bullets shooting soldiers followed jason russell house stands contains bullet holes fight militia unit attempted ambush russell orchard caught men killed allegedly surrendered lost control men british soldiers began commit atrocities repay supposed north bridge casualties hands distant unseen enemy based word wounded officers smith command learned stone walls trees buildings settled towns closer boston hide shoot column ordered flank companies clear colonial places junior officers flank parties difficulty stopping exhausted enraged men killing found inside buildings example innocent refused hide basement tavern killed suspected involved day events accounts exaggerated later colonists propaganda value financial compensation colonial government certainly true road liquor stolen troops cases drunk church communion silver stolen later recovered sold boston aged resident killed regulars attacked british contingent left dead recovered wounds later died age told far blood shed cambridge day colonists lost men killed wounded british lost killed wounded 47th foot marines suffering highest casualties half day fatalities british troops crossed today known cambridge fight grew intense fresh militia arrived close array instead scattered formation artillery pieces crossroads called watson corner inflict heavy damage earlier day heath ordered great bridge dismantled brigade approach broken bridge filled militia directed troops narrow track beech street near present day porter square road militia numbering unprepared movement circle fire broken american force moved occupy modern day dominated road moved cannon dispersed rounds ammunition large militia force arrived salem cut route men halted nearby allowed british escape accused commander force colonel permitting troops pass hoped avoid war preventing total defeat regulars later claimed stopped heath orders heath denied nearly dark marines defended final attack rear entered regulars took strong positions hills sleep days marched miles hours hours spent fire held high ground protected heavy guns quickly sent line companies fresh regiments 10th occupy high ground build fortifications begun fortifications completed later starting point militia works built months later june general heath studied position british_army decided withdraw militia cambridge aftermath morning boston surrounded huge militia army numbering marched new_england unlike rumors blood true revolutionary war begun leadership general arrived 20th replaced brigadier general formed siege line extending boston effectively surrounding boston sides days immediately following size colonial forces grew militias new_hampshire rhode_island connecticut arrived scene adopted men beginnings continental_army open warfare started refused impose martial law boston persuaded town surrender private weapons return promising leave town battle major terms tactics casualties terms supporting british political strategy military strategy battle significant failure expedition contributed fighting intended prevent weapons actually seized battle followed war british political opinion days battle collected scores sworn british prisoners word leaked week battle sending official description events london sent detailed signed participants events faster ship documents presented sympathetic official printed london newspapers weeks report arrived official report vague influence opinion friend colonists wrote right king troops claim victory politicians london tended blame conflict instead policies instructions british troops boston variously blamed general colonel smith failures lexington concord day battle left home ride convinced die cast crossed philadelphia previously thought argument colonies kind law suit news battle reached rejected hardened tempered forever george_washington received news wrote friend happy peaceful plains america blood inhabited slaves sad alternative man choice group hunters frontier named lexington heard news battle june eventually city lexington kentucky legacy important early american government image british fault american innocence maintained battle war history patriot preparations intelligence warning signals uncertainty shot rarely discussed public sphere decades story wounded british soldier north bridge combat struck head purported strongly suppressed mentioning activities published returned participants notably happened paul paintings portrayed lexington fight slaughter issue blame grew early nineteenth century example older participants testimony later life lexington concord differed greatly taken oath said british fired lexington years weren sure said fired said able battle took mythical quality american consciousness legend important truth complete shift occurred patriots portrayed actively fighting cause suffering paintings lexington skirmish began portray militia standing fighting defiance events north bridge concord hymn important commemorated beginning american revolution 19th century means americans learned revolution helping forge identity nation generations poem paul ride historically inaccurate example paul concord captures idea individual change course history 20th century popular historical opinion varied events historic day reflecting political mood time anti war sentiments world wars bred skepticism nature contribution efforts militia united_states turn twentieth century led balanced approaches history battle world war film ride seized espionage act promoting united_states britain cold war patriotic symbol capitalist novelist published april morning account battle fictional year old perspective reading book frequently assigned american secondary schools film version produced television starring 1990s parallels drawn american tactics vietnam war british_army lexington concord site battle lexington known lexington battle green listed national_register_of_historic_places memorials commemorating battle established lands surrounding north bridge concord approximately miles road surrounding lands period buildings corner western lexington walking trails displays routes colonists road personnel usually dressed period dress offering descriptions area explanations events day bronze relief major designed executed park french minute man statue current units units derived american units participated battles lexington concord thirty current units colonial roots ships united_states_navy including world war aircraft carriers named honor patriots day celebrated annually honor battle massachusetts maine wisconsin public schools monday april ride staged battle lexington green ceremonies held north bridge centennial commemoration april president members cabinet joined people mark 100th anniversary battles sculpture minute man located north bridge unveiled day formal ball took place evening agricultural hall concord commemoration april issued stamps commemorating anniversary battles lexington concord lexington concord commemorative stamps issued honor events surrounded america war independence stamps placed sale washington massachusetts cities towns played major roles lexington concord story lexington concord boston cambridge known locations involved battles commemoration town concord invited prominent citizens leaders worlds government military diplomatic corps arts sciences commemorate anniversary battles april crowd estimated gathered view parade celebrate concord president delivered major speech near north bridge televised nation freedom american soil principles declaration independence flourished land principles years ago dream reality today real equality matured america rights sacred government land consent governed lands freely accepted principles liberty freedom declaration independence fashioned independent principles freely taken freely shared world volley fired concord centuries ago shot heard round world echoes today anniversary president ford laid base minute man statue observed sir british ambassador united_states laid grave british soldiers killed battle
Battles of Lexington and Concord