Once the Redcoats were set up to the best of their ability the militiamen continued to move forward. As the militiamen closed in the British fired the first volley, Private Abner Hosmer and Captain Isaac Davis were at the head of the march and were killed instantly. That volley was the start of the Revolutionary War and is now known as the “Shot Heard around the World”. The militiamen returned the volley which devastated the Redcoats. Eight officers were wounded and one British soldier lay dead and another mortally wounded. The Redcoats returned the volley but fired high missing their opportunity to do any damage to the colonists. The colonists knew that was a sign of inexperienced firer’s. As the fighting continued the militiamen …show more content…
The Revolutionary War had begun. It was clear to the colonists that in order to beat the British and a unified Army needed to be created. The Continental Congress would adopt and sponsor these men into the beginnings of the Continental Army. The Continental Army was created and the first Commander in Chief was put in place. General George Washington would take over command on June 14, 1775. The colonists had won the first Battle in the American Revolutionary War. (Lexington and Concord. 2013).
During the Battle of Lexington and Concord the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) played a huge role. HUMINT was the only intelligence capability they had before and during throughout the battle. HUMINT was the reasons the battle was won by the colonists. A source inside the British Parliament leaked vital information to Mr. Paul Warren. The information was secret plans to march to Concord and destroy any weapons. It was said that General Gage’s wife who had sympathy for the colonists was the source. That allegation has never been substantiated. Regardless of whom the source was that Intel gave the colonists an upper hand and ultimately helped them win the battle. (1775, 04/19: Battles of Lexington and Concord. 2007)
It is not hard to identify lessons learned from this battle. We have many lessons to learn from the Battle of Lexington and Concord in terms of leadership, communication, tactics, intelligence and strategy. However, the leak of intelligence was
Lieutenant John Barker wrote what happened in this event into his personal diary, in which he would have no reason to bend the truth. He wrote “...but on our coming near them they fired one or two shots, upon which our men without any orders rushed in upon them, fired, and put ‘em to flight”(2). Barker is saying that while the British troops were marching toward the colonists, the colonists fired one or two shots at the British troops, which them without any orders fired back. This seems very logical and it makes sense when you compare it to the other evidence. Major John Pitcairn’s evidence which was an official report of his activities sent to General Gage “I instantly called to the soldiers to not fire...some of the rebels who had jumped over the wall, fired four or five shott at the soldiers”(7). Pitcairn is saying that some colonists fired upon his troops, which then fired back at the colonists, all while he was ordering them to not fire. Both of the British evidence is quite similar and that bodes well for the reliability of these sources. Another piece of evidence saying that the Americans fired first is George Leonard, who was a British sympathizer, also said that the Americans fired first “...asked the wounded person what was the matter with him, he answered that the Regulars had shot him...some people fired upon the Regulars and they fell on us like Bull Dogs and killed eight and wounded nineteen”(5).
The Patriots were successful in their bid for Independence with the help of good leadership, adaptive strategy and good weapons. All three of these things led to America winning the Revolutionary War.
From the period of 1754 to 1763, the British engaged in a war with the French within American territory. This war, fought due to both French and Native American hostilities, affected both the Americans view on the British and British treatment of their colonies. Ultimately, the French and Indian war lead to political, economic, and geographical changes for the American colonists and Great Britain.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND THE EFFECTS OF THE ESPIONAGE SYSTEM ON THE WAR
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem, “Concord Hymn” supports that the first shot was fired at the North bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. The first stanza of the Concord Hymn is, “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.” Although, Emerson suggest that it was in Concord where the “shot heard around the world” was fired, desendents of the towns Lexington and Concord still debate this fact today. On Wednesday, April 19, 1775 at the village green in the village of Lexington in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay. Captain John Parker and around 60 militia men, many of the men being related to Parker faced off against 240 redcoats under General Gage’s comand. John Parker was a farmer and had previously fought along side the british. The militia men were not near as well trained or well equipt as the british regulars. There were over one hundred onlookers at the battle of Lexington. Both John Parker’s milita men and Gage’s redcoats were under orders to hold their fire. Nobody is exactly sure who fired the first shot at Lexington, some people believe that it could have been a spectator. Regardless of who fired the first shot.
The British did indeed fire first but fell back when more and more militiamen showed up. By the time British soldiers were prepared to return back to Boston, almost 2000 militiamen arrived and more were arriving. Fighting had started yet again with militiamen hiding behind bushes in trees. British soldiers pulled back to Lexington where they had came into contact with more reinforcements of Redcoats. This didn’t stop the Patriots from continuing to resume attacks. The British tried and tried with Redcoats flanking and canon fire. The Patriots had a chance to finish the Redcoats off but were commanded not to. The British Redcoats retreated to Charlestown Neck. The Americans had won the battle, neither Samuel Adams or John Hancock had been taken and they only destroyed very little military supplies! By the end of the day Britain lost 293 soldier and the colonials 93. The colonial Patriots proved they were more than a group of unorganized colonial rebels.
The topic of revolution is extremely subjective. What may appear as an insurrection to some might not be as extreme to others. When talking about the American Revolutionary War, however, the answer is clear. While the War certainly brought about change within the United States, it wasn’t necessarily very revolutionary. The most important aspects of the colonies, such as ideas about government, various types of societal equality, slavery and freed blacks, and the rights of women remained for the most part, unaffected.
Once the Redcoats were set up to the best of their ability, the militiamen continued to move forward. As the militiamen closed in the British fired the first volley, Private Abner Hosmer and Captain Isaac Davis were at the head of the march and were killed instantly. That volley was the start of the Revolutionary War and is now known as the “Shot Heard around the World”. The militiamen
The revolutionary war led to a new nation in America. The war started with the battle of Lexington and concord on April 19th, 1775. in less than 10 years conflict was brewing between the American colonies and great britian. Great Britian tried several solutions involving passing laws to try and keep the colonies in line. Americans are use to having this privilege of control over the local government. The people of the American colonies didn't agree with the new laws being passed against them and protested the illegal taxation. Britians Parliament found that Massachusetts was rebelling and at the center of the protest leading to British troops sent out to take care of the rebellious group. This led to a war a little after this and the American Colonies were
On March 5, 1770, a large group of colonists began to surround a group of soldiers in front of the State House. Soon it went from trading insults to shouting at each other, even throwing snowballs. Until, out of an act of self-defense because they thought they were about to be attacked, the British started to shoot the colonists. Five colonists were killed, including Crispus Attucks. This enraged the people of Boston.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord occurred on 19 April 1775 between the British Regulars and the Patriot Militia, also known today as Americans, in the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord. “The Battles of Lexington and Concord is often referred to as the “Shot Heard Around the World” and the beginning of the American Revolutionary War” (Fischer, 1994). The Battles of Lexington and Concord consisted of in four events: the skirmish in Lexington between the British Regulars and the Lexington Training Band, the search and seizure of arms, munitions and military stores in Concord, the battles between the Regulars and the militias during the march of the Regulars back to Boston and the surrounding of Boston by the
When the battle was over the headed toward Concord with new recruits. The American militia beat the British to Concord preventing them to advance. The British then retreated to Boston. More American militia intercepted them. American militia shot the British rim behind fences and trees. The American militia inflicted 125 soldiers including multiple officers. It surprised both sides to see how brutal it was. The first blood shed of Lexington and Concord crossed a line. Neither new what was going to happen next. Hatred ran high against the British in the colonies. The British shed American blood on American soil. People like Sam Adams took advantage of this to increase tension through rumors and propaganda. Americans surrounded the town of Boston. The rebel army had gained many new recruits. During the two initiative battles of Lexington and Concord seventy three British soldiers one hundred seventy four wounded, and twenty six soldiers
General Greene a master military strategist, was known as the fighting Quaker, not only for his inexplicable combination of military skill, but also for his peacenik faith; He had indeed helped our people to continue with the American Revolution, especially in the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Valley Forge. People in the colonies were with many expectations to win the battles, despite of several defeat. The future looked uncertain, only the faith and the desire to continue fighting for independence is what it could sustain the spirit of the colonies alive. Equally important, the management of the General Henry Knox, colonel in command of the Continental Regiment of Artillery was part of the strong military movement along with his strong leadership fought for victory until the last moment. His strategies of militia and army discipline led General Knox be a lieutenant of George
The battle of Lexington and Concord was possibly the most important battle in American History. It was in this battle where third and fourth generation Americans decided to take a stand against the stifling presence of the King of Britain’s troops. This is also where a powerful but vulnerable nation decided to take steps to quell a largely underestimated revolutionary force. The British were much better equipped and had more experienced soldiers and officers. The Americans had will, guerrilla warfare, and a much better understanding of the battle terrain. Despite this, the British should have easily won the battle. This paper will show that if the British would have exercised a little patience, established good OPSEC procedures, and developed proper counterintelligence
A motivating force behind the revolution was the American embrace of a political ideology called "republicanism", which was dominant in the colonies by 1775. The "country party" in Britain, whose critique of British government emphasized that corruption was to be feared, influenced American politicians. The commitment of most Americans to republican values and to their rights, helped bring about the American Revolution, as Britain was increasingly seen as hopelessly corrupt and hostile to American interests; it seemed to threaten to the established liberties that Americans enjoyed. The greatest threat to liberty was depicted as corruption. The colonists associated it with luxury and, especially, inherited aristocracy, which they condemned.