This article appeared in the Spring 2005 edition of “The Florida Patriot” Magazine

A Misfire on Lexington Common

By Compatriot “Bud” Casey

The British Parliament declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion and the decision was made to use force to restore order. On April 18, 1775, Thomas Gage, commander-in-chief of His Majesty’s Forces in North America and governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote to Lt. Col. Francis Smith, “Sir: You will march with the corps of Grenadiers and Light Infantry put under your command with the utmost expedition and secrecy to Concord, where you will seize and destroy all the artillery and ammunition you can find...”

That night the expeditionary force began moving out of Boston by boats. Two lighted lanterns were hung in the belfry of the Old North Church and Paul Revere was rowed across the harbor. He and William Dawes mounted horses for the ride to Concord to give warning to the residents and to John Hancock and Samuel Adams in particular.

British Major John Pitcairn was ordered ahead with six companies of light infantry to secure the bridges over the Concord River. Just after dawn, on April 19th, Pitcairn reached Lexington and found about seventy minutemen gathered on the village green. After ordering his own men not to fire, Pitcairn demanded the minutemen drop their weapons and disperse. The American commander, Captain John Parker, a veteran of the French and Indian War, assessed the situation. He saw that his men were badly outnumbered and wisely told them to withdraw.

As they started to move off, someone’s musket flashed in the pan. To this day it is not known whether it was a British or an American gun that misfired. However, the shot drew a volley from the British and several of the rebels fell. A few stood their ground and returned the fire. But in fifteen minutes it was over. George Bancroft¹, a 19th century historian, describes the event from an American perspective: “There they now stood, side by side, under the provincial banner, with arms in their hands, silent and fearless, willing to shed their blood for their rights, scrupulous not to begin civil war …”

“John Parker, the strongest and best wrestler in Lexington, had promised never to run from British troops; and he kept his vow. A wound brought him to his knees. Having discharged his gun, he was preparing to load it again, when he was stabbed by a bayonet, and lay on the post which he took at the morning’s drumbeat. So fell Isaac Muzzey, along with the aged Robert Munroe, who in 1758 had been an ensign at Louisburg. Jonathan Harrington was struck in front of his own house on the north of the common. His wife was at the window as he fell. With blood gushing from his breast, he rose in her sight, tottered, fell again, then crawled on hands and knees toward his dwelling; she ran to meet him, but only reached him as he expired on their threshold.

Caleb Harrington, who had gone into the meeting- house for powder, was shot as he came out. Samuel Hadley and John Brown were pursued, and killed after they had left the green. Ashahel Porter, of Woburn, who had been taken prisoner by the British on the march, endeavored to escape, was shot within a few rods of the common. Seven men of Lexington were killed, nine wounded; a quarter part of all who stood in arms on the Green.”

At Concord, six miles further, more rebels had assembled, but they withdrew across the river. The British entered the town without resistance about eight o’clock. They searched for arms and supplies but most of it had been carted away earlier. They burned some gun carriages and destroyed some flour. Then, some of the Americans made an attempt to return and take the North Bridge. The British fired first and killed two men. The rebels then opened fire and killed three redcoats and wounded nine. The exchange lasted about five minutes.

About noon, Colonel Smith considered his mission accomplished and started his men on the march back to Boston. But, unhappily for him, all morning the nearby towns had been ordering out their militia. They concealed themselves behind trees and other objects and lined the road to Boston. The solid lines of redcoats presented tantalizing targets and the Americans had a “turkey shoot.”

The slaughter continued until dusk. Under cover of darkness, the British soldiers were rowed from Charlestown to Boston. They had lost 70 men killed, 182 wounded and 22 missing, in addition to their earlier casualties, a total of 287. American dead, wounded or missing amounted to 93.

Three days later, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress authorized the raising of an army of thirteen thousand, six hundred troops and soon units from neighboring colonies began pouring in. Morale was high as American militiamen were no longer afraid of British regulars.

They surrounded the city and the siege of Boston was on. And already the war in the American Colonies had become a stalemate.

1. George Bancroft was born in 1800 and, therefore, not an eyewitness to events on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775. A prominent historian, Bancroft became Secretary of the Navy in 1845. During his tenure, the United States Naval Academy was established at Annapolis, Maryland.