On the night of April 18, 1775, roughly 700 British regulars marched out of Boston under sealed orders to seize colonial military supplies reportedly stored at Concord. By the next evening they had fought their way back to Boston under fire the entire route, having killed colonial militiamen at Lexington and been driven back from the North Bridge at Concord. The war that would run for eight years began that morning. General Gage's actual written orders survive. So does a British soldier's diary account and the colonial militia's own record of events.
On the evening of April 18, 1775, General Thomas Gage issued written orders to Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith of the 10th Regiment of Foot. The orders directed Smith to march to Concord with the grenadier and light infantry companies under his command and seize military stores reportedly collected there. Gage specifically instructed that the soldiers were not to plunder the inhabitants or damage private property.
Having received intelligence, that a quantity of ammunition, provision, artillery, tents and small arms, have been collected at Concord, for the avowed purpose of raising and supporting a rebellion against his majesty, 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 arms, and all military stores whatever. But you will take care that the soldiers do not plunder the inhabitants, or hurt private property.
Patriot intelligence networks had learned of the planned march in advance. Riders including Paul Revere and William Dawes carried warning into the countryside on the night of April 18, alerting militia companies across Middlesex County. By the time the British column reached Lexington at sunrise on April 19, militia under Captain John Parker had assembled on the town green.
What happened on Lexington Green in the first moments of contact has been disputed since the day it occurred. The colonial militiamen who were present gave sworn testimony six days later, on April 25, 1775. Their deposition states plainly that the British fired first, before any shot was fired by the militia.
We were faced toward the Regulars then marching up to us & some of our Company were coming to the parade with their backs towards the troops and others on the parade began to Disperse when the Regulars fired on the Company before a gun was fired by any of our company on them. they killed eight of our company & wounded several.
The British column continued to Concord and searched the town for military stores, most of which had already been moved by colonial leaders who had advance warning. At the North Bridge outside town, colonial militia confronted a British detachment. Shots were exchanged. The British were forced back toward the town center and began their long retreat to Boston under fire from militia companies along the entire route, an action that became known as the Battle Road.
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