Page 31 - ASM Book 9/2020

25
The Redcoats marched into Lexington around 5 a.m. History does not record who fired the first shots heard round the world, but suddenly several Americans fell to the ground. The minutemen returned fire and soon began to retreat to avoid the heavy barrage of musket balls flying rapidly towards them. When the shooting stopped, eight minutemen had been killed and nine wounded.
The Redcoats searched the village but did not find any arms or munitions to destroy because it had been hidden. They also had been ordered to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock, who had been meeting with other patriots. They could not be found.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith then marched his troops to Concord. An immediate search was ordered, but they only found three disabled cannons and several gun carriages that they burned. The patriots had been notified earlier by Dr. Samuel Prescott so they hid their arms and munitions.
A small battle took place on the North Bridge between the minutemen and a detachment of Redcoats. An exchange of gun fire took place, but since the British were vastly outnumbered, they retreated.
Around noon, Lieutenant Colonel Smith ordered his troops to begin the march back to Boston. He was not aware that word of the fighting had spread throughout the area and colonial militias were converging along Boston Road. As the Redcoats marched, minutemen fired at them from behind trees, fences and stonewalls.
Smith and his men were pleased that reinforcements were waiting in Lexington, but they had little effect. By the end of the day, British casualties totaled 73 killed and 173 wounded, with 50 Americans killed and 39 wounded.
“Stand your ground, don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” - Captain John Parker, Lexington Minuteman