Lexington And Concord 09/05/19

Boston Minutemen Campground, Littleton, Massachusetts

Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.  ~ Proverbs 14:7

NOTE: I had intentions of putting all our pictures interspersed amongst the appropriate paragraphs, but I’m soooo far behind on my posting, and after spending all day on the writing and picture editing for this post, you’ll find most of the pictures near the end of the day. Sorry.

Well-rested in body and mind, today was a return to some pre-Revolutionary history.  We went back in time to before Bunker Hill.  Back to the events that caused Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott to make their infamous ride in the first place.

We began our day in Concord at Minute Man National Park (founded in 1959), a narrow area covering about 5.5 miles of the road (known as Battle Road) between Lexington and Concord, where the Redcoats and Minute Men clashed on April 19, 1775.  The best place to start is almost always at a Visitor Center, and so we did.  But this Park actually has two completely different ones.  We stopped first at the North Bridge VC, where the first altercation took place.

We had the opportunity to question a Park Ranger about his job.  It seems they have to apply for a specific location.  The man we spoke with has been a re-enactor for years and volunteered here occasionally.  He lost his job and his wife asked him if he couldn’t turn his ‘hobby’ into a way to make a living.  He’d received 6 months of severance pay and unemployment, so he began volunteering full-time at this Park.  After a year, he applied and received the appointment.  He’s been a Ranger for 9 years.  When I said, “You must live close by then.”  He told us that it depends on the day.  Geographically, yes.  But his commute runs anywhere from 20-90 minutes.  When we questioned how you get to work on time, he said, “Ah.  Now that’s the trick.”  We wondered if that could be why the VC opened a half hour late today . . .

This Visitor Center is in the former homestead of the Buttrick’s, who lived here for over 375 years.  The house we were in was built in 1911 and the National Park purchased the home and grounds in 1962 from the eighth generation Buttrick.  The North Bridge was on (or very near) their property.   

Information from their small museum:

It was at the replica of the North Bridge, we learned from a Ranger about the events of that fateful day.  And it was also the first time that we considered that these men who fought were on opposite sides of the same nation.  These were all British men.  Very much like the Civil War. 

One side standing up for their rights as British subjects.  The other, following orders.  They cannot know what we know now, that one day, 16 miles, and 8 years would bring forth a new nation. ~ Nat’l Park brochure

We’ve already covered the reasons for the discontent in previous posts, but let’s revisit it because repetition helps us learn and most importantly, remember.  This is the story of how our nation began, some gleaned or copied from the Park brochure, some from the information we read along our route today:

Until 1774, Massachusetts Bay Colony relied upon a part-time citizen militia for its defense.  All free men ages 16-60 were required (by Britain) to serve in their town’s militia company and attend regular trainings.  They were farmers, artisans, merchants and laborers.  Rich men and poor served, as did some African and Native Americans.  In 1775 many towns had also recruited elite “minute companies” – the minute men – who were ready to march at a moment’s warning.

British “regulars” were professional soldiers who had volunteered to serve their king.  The average British soldier was in his late twenties and had been in the army five to six years.  All were far from home, and few had been in battle.  On April 19^th, they were also sleepless, wet, and nervous.  These factors and a breakdown in discipline may have led to the first shots being fired at both Lexington and Concord.

The famous line, “The shot heard round the world”, is from a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson written in 1837 and entitled “The Concord Hymn”.  It was written (and sung) for the July 4, 1837 unveiling of the first monument commemorating the fight at North Bridge.  I don’t know who set it to music.

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

   Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

   And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

   Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

   Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

   We set today a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

   When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

   To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

   The shaft we raise to them and thee.

1765-1770 – – To pay for the French and Indian War, Britain begins taxing its American colonies.  Colonials protest; they do not believe Britain has the right to tax them.  Tensions mount when British soldiers arrive in Boston to restore order.  Soldiers fire into a mob, killing five colonists in what rebels call the “Boston Massacre.”

1773-1774 – – Britain repeals most taxes except on tea.  The rebels respond with the Boston Tea Party, dumping tea into the harbor.  Britain closes the port and strips Massachusetts of self-government.  The Massachusetts Provincial Congress recommends towns raise companies of “minute men” from the militias who can respond “at the shortest notice”.

1775 – – The British Army begins patrolling beyond Boston.  Militia companies and minute men continue to drill; colonists continue to stockpile gunpowder and supplies, enough to supply an army of 15,000.  Rebels in Boston keep a close watch on British movements.  In turn, subjects loyal to Britain spy on the rebels.

And now we’ve arrived at the events of April 19, 1775.  The day that changed America forever.

Following the information received on April 18^th, Paul Revere and William Dawes are sent out to Lexington and Concord to warn the militia that the British are on their way.  It’s done covertly because there are still many British loyalists along the way.

At 1am, just as April 19^th is beginning, Revere and Dawes encounter Samuel Prescott on his way home, who joins them in spreading the alarm.  A British patrol surprises them just outside of Lexington and captures Revere, while Dawes escapes and Prescott evades capture and continues on to Concord.  With the alarms sounded, the militia minute men begin to gather, and men from other militias begin to arrive throughout the day.

At 5am, 77 militia men await the British Army on Lexington Green.  77 vs 700.  A shot rings out and British soldiers fire a volley.  Eight colonials die, infuriating the rebels.

At 7am, several hundred militia men have gathered in Concord and are watching from nearby hills as the British start searching Concord.  They’ll find very little thanks to the early alarm that allowed the munitions to be moved to safety.

At 9am, British soldiers burn the weapons and military supplies they do find, but some of the militia men who are on the hills believe their homes to be burning.  They advance to North Bridge.

At 9:30am, the militia men (400) confront British soldiers (96), who fire and kill two colonials.  The militia officer then orders his men to return fire, an act of treason against the British government that would become know as the “shot heard round the world”.  This is the act that is considered the beginning of the War because it’s the first time a militia officer orders his men to fire upon the British Regulars.

At 12:30pm, the British Army has regrouped and begins marching back to Boston.  Militia open fire at Meriam’s Corner, and so begins the running battle back to Boston along the Bay Road.  (aka Battle Road now)

At 3pm, exhausted British soldiers stagger into Lexington while reinforcements fire cannon at the colonials.  After a short rest, the British resume their march.

At 4:30pm, militia men hide in deserted houses and open fire.  Soldiers charge into the houses with their bayonets.  More men die here than anywhere else. 

At 6-7pm, the British reach safety in Charlestown; fighting ends.  The British count 73 dead and 174 wounded soldiers.  Colonials have 49 men dead and 41 wounded.  The war has begun.

At midnight, the weary, battle-worn British troops begin arriving in the safety of Boston. They’ve traveled 40 miles in the past 26 hours, engaged in battle for at least half of those miles.

To continue the story’s timeline . . . .

1775-1776 – – Through 1775, colonists keep fighting to restore their rights as British subjects while leaders consider a larger goal.  In January, 1776, New Hampshire declares its independence from Great Britain.  On July 4, the Continental Congress issues the Declaration of Independence for the new nation.

1777-1781 – – The Continental Army wins and loses many battles during 1777.  They spend winter in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and emerge rested, well-trained, and supported by France.  But another three years of war pass until British General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 18, 1781.

1782-1783 – – Fighting continues one more year.  In November, 1782, Britain and the United States sign a preliminary peace treaty.  General George Washington declares the war has ended in April, 1783, exactly eight years after the Lexington and Concord battles.  The Treaty of Paris is signed September 3^rd.  The war is officially over.

There’s a 5 1/2 mile hiking/biking trail that follows alongside Battle Road for the most part.  It’s an actual road (Rt 2A), and if you’re driving, you can make roadside stops along the way.  We chose to bike, which meant we had to drive a bit from the North Bridge section of the Park to the start of the trail.  There were frequent stops for us along the way, too, including the other Visitor Center at the end of the road. But the ride back to the Jeep was quick!

We left the Visitor Center and headed back to the Jeep, picking up a few more stops along the way.

Driving back home, we stopped for a few minutes and walked around Lexington. The most interesting thing we saw was the cemetery. Never seen the like!

Switching gears – sort of.

Do you know much about the French Revolution that began in 1789?  The beheading of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette?  I didn’t really know anything except that there was one, and Marie’s name, along with “Let them eat cake” and “Off with their heads!” (which is actually from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and not the French Revolution 😊).  But I recently began reading a book about Madame Tussauds, you know, the wax museum lady?  Anyway, it got me curious about what the King did that instigated the French Revolution and the Crown’s beheadings.  One of the biggest factors goes right along with what we’ve recently been learning about the birth of our country!  The King financially supported us in our revolution against Britain, so much so that his country acquired a huge debt and he wanted to raise taxes to replenish the coffers.  Of course, the people didn’t like that, and inspired by the American Revolution, they began their own!  There were other factors, to be sure, but still.  Who knew?