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==Boston 1775==

==Boston 1775==

[[Image:British Army in Concord Detail.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Depictions of the British Army marching to Concord in April, 1775.<ref> This is a hand colored engraving by Amos Doolittle based on a sketch by Ralph Earl. Doolittle and Earle, the former a silversmith and the latter portraitist visited the countryside where Earl produce the sketch for the piece while Doolittle communicated details he had learned from eyewitnesses.  Doolittle later translated Earle's work into metal at his shop on College Square near Yale.<ref>The Colonial Williamsburg Journal, "Fields of Fire—Four Views of the Fatal Day", Summer 2006. Available at [http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer06/paintings.cfm http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer06/paintings.cfm.</ref>

[[Image:British Army in Concord Detail.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Depictions of the British Army marching to Concord in April, 1775.<ref> This is a hand colored engraving by Amos Doolittle based on a sketch by Ralph Earl. Doolittle and Earle, the former a silversmith and the latter portraitist visited the countryside where Earl produce the sketch for the piece while Doolittle communicated details he had learned from eyewitnesses.  Doolittle later translated Earle's work into metal at his shop on College Square near Yale.<ref>The Colonial Williamsburg Journal, "Fields of Fire—Four Views of the Fatal Day", Summer 2006. Available at [http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer06/paintings.cfm http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer06/paintings.cfm.</ref>]]

Political tactics had failed, and the British sent a combat army to Boston to overawe the rebels. On April 18, 1775, Gage sent 700 elite troops to Concord, 21 miles from Boston, to seize illegal munitions stored there.  Major John Pitcairn a month before wrote that "one active campaign, a smart action, and burning two or three of their towns, will set everything to rights."  The minute men of Lexington blocked Pitcairn; someone unknown fired the first shot; the British pushed on to Concord.  They found the munitions gone and began their return trek only to be stunned by the discovery the Americans were fighting back.  Three thousand militia lined the route, firing muskets from behind stone fences.  ("The Americans," noted General Israel Putnam, "are not at all afraid of their heads, though very much afraid of their legs; if you cover these they will fight forever.")  The Yankee assault was well-planned and well-carried out.  Only the timely arrival of a rescue party saved the redcoats, who suffered 270 casualties (versus 93 American casualties).

Political tactics had failed, and the British sent a combat army to Boston to overawe the rebels. On April 18, 1775, Gage sent 700 elite troops to Concord, 21 miles from Boston, to seize illegal munitions stored there.  Major John Pitcairn a month before wrote that "one active campaign, a smart action, and burning two or three of their towns, will set everything to rights."  The minute men of Lexington blocked Pitcairn; someone unknown fired the first shot; the British pushed on to Concord.  They found the munitions gone and began their return trek only to be stunned by the discovery the Americans were fighting back.  Three thousand militia lined the route, firing muskets from behind stone fences.  ("The Americans," noted General Israel Putnam, "are not at all afraid of their heads, though very much afraid of their legs; if you cover these they will fight forever.")  The Yankee assault was well-planned and well-carried out.  Only the timely arrival of a rescue party saved the redcoats, who suffered 270 casualties (versus 93 American casualties).