battle of Lexington

A conflict marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War in Lexington, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775. An American force of about seventy minutemen under Capt. John Parker assembled on Lexington green after receiving word from dispatch riders, including Paul Revere, that a British force of about 250 men, under Maj. John Pitcairn, was advancing to Concord to confiscate provincial military supplies. British soldiers fired on Parker's force after hearing a gunshot, although which side the shot came from is uncertain, and it may have been accidental. When the British force arrived at Concord, the supplies had already been removed. A firefight ensued at the North Bridge over the Concord River (Battle of Concord), and the Americans demonstrated that they were capable of using armed force to resist the British regulars. As the British retreated to Boston, colonists fired at them, mostly from behind stone walls. The two battles led to the siege of Boston.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

Lexington, battle of, 1775. The first serious encounter in the American conflict occurred when General Gage dispatched on 18 April a force of 700 men from Boston to Concord, some 20 miles, to recover arms and ammunition. By the time they reached Concord to conduct a search, the Americans were in arms and heavy fighting took place. On the retreat back to Lexington, the British forces were harassed by snipers, but were met in the town by a sizeable relief party under Lord Algernon Percy.