Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill and Siege of Boston

Overview

The battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill were pivotal events that marked the beginning stages of the American Revolutionary War. On April 19, 1775, the conflict erupted with the Battle of Lexington and Concord. British forces aimed to seize colonial military supplies, including weapons and ammunition, stored in Concord, Massachusetts. As the British troops marched, American militias, known as minutemen, confronted them at Lexington. Although the skirmish resulted in minimal casualties, it became a symbolic spark that ignited the Revolutionary War. The British continued their advance to Concord, where they faced increasing resistance from the colonists. The Americans successfully defended their supplies, and British forces were forced to retreat, facing constant attacks during their withdrawal.

A few months later, the Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, in Charlestown, Massachusetts. This battle demonstrated the determination and fighting prowess of the colonial forces. American militiamen, under the command of Colonel William Prescott, fortified Breed’s Hill (often referred to as Bunker Hill) overlooking Boston. The British launched multiple assaults on the American positions, suffering heavy casualties due to the well-fortified and entrenched American forces. Although the British eventually managed to capture the hill after the third assault, the battle showcased the colonists’ ability to stand up to a professional army and boosted their confidence. The Battle of Bunker Hill was a turning point, convincing many colonists that full independence was necessary.

These battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill were significant early engagements that set the stage for the Revolutionary War. They demonstrated the colonists’ resolve to defend their rights and liberties and highlighted the challenges the British army would face in subduing the American rebellion. These clashes not only fueled the spirit of revolution but also showcased the military capabilities and determination of the American forces, laying the groundwork for the long and arduous struggle for independence that lay ahead.

Diaries and Memoirs

Secondary Sources

Beck, Derek W. The War before Independence, 1775-1776: Igniting the American Revolution. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, 2016.

Coburn, Frank Warren. The Battle of April 19, 1775 in Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Arlington, Cambridge, Somerville and Charlestown Massachusetts. Lexington, MA: Lexington Historical Society, 1922.

Fischer, David Hackett. Paul Revere’s Ride. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Frothingham, Richard. History of the Siege of Boston, Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1896.

Galvin, John R. The Minute Men: The First Fight: Myths & Realities of the American Revolution. 2nd ed., rev. An AUSA Book. Washington: Pergamon-Brassey’s International Defense Publisher, 1989.

Gross, Robert A. The Minutemen and Their World. First. new York: Hill and Wang, 1976.

———. The Minutemen and Their World. 25th anniversary ed. New York: Hill and Wang, 2001.

Philbrick, Nathaniel. Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution. New York: Viking, 2013.

Stackpole, Edouard A. Nantucket in the American Revolution. Falmouth, MA: Nantucket Historical Society, 1976.

Town of Lexington. Proceedings at the Centennial Celebration of the Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1875. Boston: Lockwood, Brooks, & Co., 1875.

Boston

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Views of Lexington

Concord

Views of Bunker Hill

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