04/05/2026
On April 19, 1775, the American Revolutionary War began with a bang at the Battle of Concord in Massachusetts. Seeking to seize colonial gunpowder, 700 British troops ("Redcoats") marched from Boston to Concord, having already engaged colonial militia in a morning skirmish at Lexington.While British soldiers searched for supplies, hundreds of colonial militia, warned by Paul Revere, gathered on high ground. At the Old North Bridge, the militia encountered British soldiers, and after a tense confrontation, the Americans fired what Ralph Waldo Emerson called the "shot heard 'round the world".The outnumbered British were forced to retreat toward Boston. During the 16-mile march back, they were constantly attacked by thousands of patriots using guerrilla tactics—firing from behind trees and stone walls. The day ended as a significant victory for the American militia, proving they could hold their own against the world’s most powerful army, setting the stage for independence.