The opening engagements of the American Revolutionary War, triggering a colonial uprising that led to American independence from Britain.
Key Facts
- Date
- April 19, 1775
- British force size
- ~1,700 men (including reinforcements)
- Militia casualties at Lexington
- 8 killed, 10 wounded
- Militia at Old North Bridge
- ~400 men vs. 100 Regulars
- Outcome for British supplies
- Most colonial supplies removed before raid
- Immediate consequence
- Siege of Boston began
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the Boston Tea Party (1773), Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts (1774), tightening control over Massachusetts. Patriot leaders formed a Provincial Congress, trained militias, and stockpiled military supplies. In February 1775, Britain declared Massachusetts in rebellion, and colonial leaders worked to protect their stores from British seizure.
On April 19, 1775, approximately 700 British Regulars under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith marched from Boston to seize colonial supplies at Concord. Forewarned by riders including Paul Revere, Patriot militias confronted the Regulars at Lexington and Concord. Day-long running battles across Middlesex County followed, with combined British forces of roughly 1,700 men fighting their way back to Charlestown under sustained militia fire.
The British forces returned to Boston having mostly failed to destroy the targeted supplies and suffering heavy losses. Militia units from surrounding towns converged and blockaded the land approaches to Boston and Charlestown, initiating the Siege of Boston. These engagements marked the start of armed conflict in the American Revolutionary War and galvanized colonial resistance across the Thirteen Colonies.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, Brigadier General Earl Percy.