Militia companies continued to arrive in the days following, and the british troops were besieged in boston. Why did general cage send british troops to lexington and. Today is an important anniversary in the history of this nation. This action led to the outbreak of hostilities that became the american revolution.
At lexington, a handful of embattled farmers, who had been tipped off by paul revere, barred the way. Were 72 people killed resisting gun confiscation in boston. The british general, gage, dispatched 2,300 troops under the command of major general howe to take control of the hill. So it came to be that general prescott did not actually fortify bunkers hill, but breeds hill instead. When gage heard that the colonists had stockpiled guns and powder in concord, he decided to act. He hoped to catch the colonists by surprise and thus to avoid bloodshed. The movement of so many soldiers out of boston came as no surprise to the american insurgents. British general thomas gage had ordered 700 soldiers to march in what he thought was a clandestine operation. Orders from general thomas gage to march to concord. Samuel adams pressed for county conventions to strengthen the revolutionary resistance. The militia was outnumbered and fell back, allowing the british to. Gage, however, did not order the arrest of adams or hancock and warned smith to seize. The american revolution began with the first shots at battle of lexington in april 1775. Jul 12, 2015 the units prearranged assignment from rebel leaders was to join other militiamen headed to the thomas farm, where british general thomas gage had dispatched 100 members of the queens guard.
Gage dispatched lieutenant colonel francis smith with a force of about 700 regulars to proceed to concord. The battles were fought on april 19, 1775 in middlesex county, province of massachusetts bay, within the towns of lexington, concord, lincoln, menotomy presentday arlington, and cambridge. Paul revere and other riders spread the word of the 800 british regulars who were dispatched to concord. Intelligence given to gage reported that colonial rebels were stockpiling weapons in the town of concord, massachusetts.
Battles of lexington and concord this is why we stand. Gage was a veteran of the french and indian war of 175463. British general thomas gage, the military governor and commanderinchief, received instructions, on april 14, 1775, from secretary of state william legge, the earl of dartmouth to disarm the rebels, who had supposedly hidden weapons in concord, and to. There were a few reasons why general gage sent his british troops to lexington and concord in 1775. On the evening of april 18, he received word from one of his informants that, under orders from british general thomas gage, troops were assembling on the shore of back bay. They reported that a march on worcester, a patriot stronghold and the largest storehouse of weaponry and powder, would be disastrous. In the few months preceeding the events known to history as the battle of lexington and concord in april 1775, every nerve was strained on the part of the american patroits to ready themselves dutifully so as to confront any threatening movements. Below is the transcript of the very order given by general cage gave to his troops that revere became aware of and rode to concord to prevent. What led up to the battles of lexington and concord answers.
General gage knew that a powder magazine was stored in concord, massachusetts, and he ordered troops to seize these munitions. Departing boston late in the evening of april 18, the kings troops marched into the small town of lexington around 5. How were the militias in lexington and concord alerted to the. On april 18th gage sent a detachment of 800 troops to lexington, where the traitors were staying. General gage also dispatched small squadrons of troops in the late afternoon to patrol the roads between boston and concord and prevent any messengers from getting through, and he ordered the sentries at boston neck. With the colonies in open rebellion, fighting spread and early campaigns included an attempt to invade canada. The troops were intercepted at the lexington town green by local militia. Then as they moved to concord troops under general gage plundered houses, abused men, embaressed women, and children and shot and killed elders. Aug 14, 2014 james barrett, colonel of the concord militia. Dec 09, 20 before sending out his troops, gage dispatched spies to determine where to attack. The siege of boston occurred after the battles of lexington and concord. British claimed that massachusetts was in open rebellion and ordered general gage to. In 1774, general thomas gage, the new governor of massachusetts, tried to enforce the intolerable acts, which were designed to remove power from the towns. On april 18, 1775, general thomas gage dispatched a contingent of british troops to lexington and concord, about fifteen miles from boston, massachusetts.
Instructions from london called for the arrest of rebel leaders samuel adams and john hancock. The concord forces had been warned earlier in the week by paul revere that something was up the sons of liberty in boston didnt know quite what. On the night of april 18, 1775, general gage sent 700 men to seize munitions stored by the colonial militia at concord. The troops continued their march to concord, entered the town, and refreshed themselves in the meeting and town house. When general gage dispatched troops to concord to search for military supplies the colonists had stored there, alarms were raised, and colonists and soldiers clashed in lexington and concord on april 19. He left his home early on the morning of april 19th, 1775 to join his troops first in town, then on punkatasset hill. The battles of lexington and concord are generally considered the start of the american revolution. Jun, 2019 thomas gage march 10, 1718 or 1719april 2, 1787 was a british army general who commanded troops during the beginning of the american revolution. British troops land in boston to maintain order1768 the actions of the colonist in response to the townshend act convinced the british that they needed troops in boston to help maintain order. Sep 04, 2019 in the few months preceeding the events known to history as the battle of lexington and concord in april 1775, every nerve was strained on the part of the american patroits to ready themselves dutifully so as to confront any threatening movements. When the british troops arrived in the village of concord, lt. On august 19, 1775, lieutenant colonel francis smith, under the orders of british general thomas gage, secretly led a large group of british troops to the town of concord, massachusetts, with the purpose of destroying the massachusetts militias store of arms and military supplies.
Britains lawandorder strategy and its consequences us. Facing an impending rebellion, british general thomas gage decided to seize weapons and gun powder being stored in concord, massachusetts, twenty miles northwest of boston, to prevent violence. His objective was to destroy the cache of colonial weapons located in the town of concord. Apr 12, 2019 this page provides a brief overview of the battles of lexington and concord, the first military engagements of the revolutionary war.
Boston was the american headquarters of the british army in 1775 led by general thomas gage, he was commanderinchief of british troops in north america. They marked the outbreak of armed conflict between the kingdom. The british had heard that the colonists were storing gunpowder in concord. By all accounts thomas gage was a decent man but he lived in the bubble of the american coloniess prerevolutionary angloamerican elite who were loyalists to a man. Attempted capture of john hancock and samuel adams. Within twentyfour hours, more than 70 of the kings finest troops lay dead and many more wounded. In an effort to restore law and order in boston, the british dispatched general thomas gage to the new england seaport. In order to secure an arms cache, on april 19, 1775, general thomas gage dispatched troops from boston to an armory in nearby concord. The national guard troops in this encounter were british soldiers, the paramilitary extremist faction was rebellious colonials, thomas gage was the military governor of massachusetts. On april 18, 1775, paul revere and william dawes set out to warn militias across the massachusetts countryside of approaching british troops. American revolution early campaigns of the american. An army of 20,000 militiamen mobilized to safeguard other military locations.
On april 19, 1775, british general thomas gage dispatched 700 british troops commanded by lt. General gage dispatched troops toward concord because. American revolutionlexington and concord wikibooks. Resolved unanimously, that they be advised still to conduct themselves peaceably towards his excellency general gage, and his majestys troops now stationed in the town of boston, as far as can possibly be consistent with their immediate safety, and the security of the town. The militia was outnumbered and fell back, allowing the british to proceeded. Three british generals would arrive at boston shortly after the battles around lexington and concord on the ship ironically named the. Prior to this, he served as the colonial governor of massachusetts bay. British taxes and resistance by the colonists lakes to. Embattled farmers and the shot heard round the world.
Account of the battles of lexington and concord teaching. Jul 05, 20 the national guard troops in this encounter were british soldiers, the paramilitary extremist faction was rebellious colonials, thomas gage was the military governor of massachusetts. The concord town meeting raised a defensive force, the famous minutemen. The battles of lexington and concord, fought on april 19, 1775, kicked off the american revolutionary war 177583. Smiths request, members of his artillery, to march down the neck and out to concord. The troops were to arrest the 2 men, then push on to concord to destroy military supplies stores. The siege of boston was part opening stages of the american revolutionary war. How were the militias in lexington and concord alerted to. Why did general gage send british troops to lexington and. Before sending out his troops, gage dispatched spies to determine where to attack.
The units prearranged assignment from rebel leaders was to join other militiamen headed to the thomas farm, where british general thomas gage had dispatched 100 members of the queens guard. Sep 18, 2007 in lexington the british fired on regulars killing eight and wounding servral others while the british troops led by general gage made it out unharmed. Siege of boston, massachusetts in april 1775 march 1776. On the night of april 18, 1775, he dispatched nearly 1,000 troops from boston. Also, an account of the transactions of the british troops, from the time they marched out of boston, on the evening of the 18th, till their confused. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The 10th regiments company of grenadiers secured south bridge under captain mundy pole, while seven companies of light infantry under captain parsons, numbering about 100, secured the north bridge, where they were visible across. Unt history 2610 topic 06 arts and humanities flashcards. Even fewer colonists harbored doubts about britains intentions after lieutenant general thomas gage, acting on orders passed down from george iii, dispatched hundreds of redcoats to seize gunpowder and artillery pieces that colonists had stored in concord, about eighteen miles from bostonand to capture, if possible, john hancock and. On learning of the battles of lexington and concord, the militias of massachusetts, connecticut and new hampshire communities. The order was issues to british lieutenant colonel francis smith on the afternoon of april 18, 1775, just few hours before the midnight ride began. How did british general thomas gage deal with the uprising.
Around boston, the american revolution continued with the battle of bunker hill and arrival of general george washington. The first serious encounter in the american conflict occurred when general gage, surveying the drift towards war, dispatched on 18 april a force of 700 men from boston to concord, some 20 miles, to recover arms and ammunition. The midday ride of paul revere history smithsonian. General thomas gage commanded the british forces that occupied boston. Even fewer colonists harbored doubts about britains intentions after lieutenant general thomas gage, acting on orders passed down from george iii, dispatched hundreds of redcoats to seize gunpowder and artillery pieces.
The battles of lexington and concord were the first military engagements of the american revolutionary war. Intelligence given to gage reported that colonial rebels were stockpiling weapons in the town. These troops had been sent to concord to confiscate the weapons there and dispatched to bring back the bodies of messr. Joseph ran a spy ring for the sons of liberty out of his home medical office. General gage ordered british troops in boston to seize patriot armories in charlestown and cambridge. The battle of lexington and concord college of william. The real story behind the battle of lexington and concord 1775. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. General gage also dispatched small squadrons of troops in the late afternoon to patrol the roads between boston and concord and prevent any messengers from getting through, and he ordered the sentries at boston neck to challenge anyone trying to leave the city. Below is a june 1517,1775 newspaper from the wallbuilders library. Apr 17, 20 in the very early hours of april 19 general gages troops, 400 in all, boarded barges to cross the charles river. Gage received orders to arrest sam adams and john hancock, rumored to be near lexington. Just over halfway, at lexington, they clashed with a small. Early on the morning of april 19, 1775, general thomas gage, commander of british forces in america, dispatched regular troops to concord, massachusetts, where spies informed him the americans had stored weapons.
Attempted capture of john hancock and samuel adams on april 18, 1775, paul revere and william dawes set out to warn militias across the massachusetts countryside of approaching british troops. In lexington the british fired on regulars killing eight and wounding servral others while the british troops led by general gage made it out unharmed. Gage tried to seat his own court in worcester, but the townspeople blocked the court from sitting. Gage was attempting to maximize his chances of success.
Thomas gage, born 1721, firle, sussex, englanddied april 2, 1787, england, british general who successfully commanded all british forces in north america for more than 10 years 176374 but failed to stem the tide of rebellion as military governor of massachusetts 177475 at the outbreak of the american revolution gage was the second son of the 1st viscount gage. Attempted capture of john hancock and samuel adams wallbuilders. In the very early hours of april 19 general gages troops, 400 in all, boarded barges to cross the charles river. Colonial militiamen successfully laid siege to the britishheld city of boston. The battles of lexington and concord changed the world forever, marking the beginning of the american revolutionary war. There was a decorated general with a heart of gold that likened him to all the stories he told of past battles won and lost, and legends of old a seasoned veteran in his own. Thomas gage march 10, 1718 or 1719april 2, 1787 was a british army general who commanded troops during the beginning of the american revolution. He arrived in boston in may 1774 as the new royal governor of the province of massachusetts, accompanied by several regiments of british troops. Gages troops were readying to march to concord, where a stockpile of rebel armaments was. Why did general gage send troops to lexington and concord. Francis smith to concord, massachusetts to seize munitions that the patriots had been stockpiling. In april 1775, general gage, the military governor of massachusetts sent out a body of troops to take possession of military stores at concord, a short distance from boston.
209 924 1029 523 543 757 197 593 630 747 748 1126 866 549 902 1021 1258 136 421 7 1455 1529 81 17 1294 426 326 1267 579 276 794 1392