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Lexington, Battle of
Lexington, Battle of 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.
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"Lexington, Battle of." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Lexington, Battle of." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-LexingtonBattleof.html "Lexington, Battle of." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-LexingtonBattleof.html |
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Lexington, battle of
Lexington, battle of, 1775. The first serious encounter in the American conflict occurred when General Gage, surveying the drift towards war, dispatched on 18 April a force of 700 men from Boston to Concord, some 20 miles, to recover arms and ammunition. To effect surprise, the troops set off on a night march. Just over half-way, at Lexington, they clashed with a small force of rebel militia. By the time they reached Concord to conduct a search, the Americans were in arms and heavier 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. They had suffered well over 200 casualties and tasted a new kind of warfare.
J. A. Cannon |
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JOHN CANNON. "Lexington, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Lexington, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Lexingtonbattleof.html JOHN CANNON. "Lexington, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Lexingtonbattleof.html |
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Lexington and Concord, Battle of
Lexington and Concord, Battle of (19 April 1775) The first engagement of the American War of INDEPENDENCE. When General GAGE learnt that patriots were collecting military stores at Concord, 32 km (20 miles) north of Boston, he sent a force of about 800 men to confiscate them. Forewarned by Paul REVERE and others, the troops were met by 70 militia (the MINUTEMEN) at Lexington. It is not known who fired the first shot, but in the ensuing skirmish eight minutemen were killed. The British marched on to Concord and confiscated some weapons, but retreated to Boston the same day, harried by patriots, who inflicted over 250 casualties on them.
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"Lexington and Concord, Battle of." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Lexington and Concord, Battle of." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-LexingtonandConcordBattlf.html "Lexington and Concord, Battle of." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-LexingtonandConcordBattlf.html |
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Lexington, battle of
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.
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Lexington, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Lexington, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Lexingtonbattleof.html JOHN CANNON. "Lexington, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Lexingtonbattleof.html |
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