Lexington and Concord 18–19 April 1775

This was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War and is considered an American victory. On 18 April 1775, a total of 700 British soldiers (Redcoats) marched from Boston to take Lexington, followed by Concord, in Massachusetts. An American spy, Paul Revere, alerted the colonial militia to the approaching British forces. The militia, a rag-tag army of 77 part-time soldiers, many of whom were farmers, had their headquarters in a Lexington tavern. It seemed that the sophisticated British forces were more likely to win. 250 of the British soldiers confiscated weapons at Lexington and fought with the militia. After this skirmish, they advanced into Concord, where they destroyed three cannons. However, the local militia successfully challenged and harassed the British troops. The Redcoats withdrew, collecting further reinforcements at Lexington, and headed towards Charlestown, Massachusetts.