The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military actions of the Revolutionary War. An infamous event, "The Shot Heard Around the World," began this Battle. A few famous people took part in these battles, as well as unrecognized heroes. The Battles of Lexington and Concord had major effects on not only the 13 colonies, but the whole world.

General Pitcairn was sent to Massachusetts with 700 British soldiers to destroy military supplies at Concord and to capture Patriot leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock. They had to pass though Lexington on the march to Concord, so they knew they had to overcome that force first.

If it wasn’t for Paul Revere’s famous ride, the Patriots at Lexington would have been caught off guard. Although Revere was captured before he could get to Concord, two other riders, Samuel Prescott and William Dawes, managed to make it though to warn the others.

Mean while at Lexington, an army of minutemen, led by Captain John Parker, marched onto the battlefield. The Battle had not started until a single shot was fired from an anonymous person. The shot was named "The Shot Heard Around the World" because it was the event that started the Revolution. The Redcoats and minutemen volleyed gunfire until the Patriots retreated. The British moved on to Concord where they defeated another troop. Pitcairn advanced and cut down the Liberty Pole, set fire to the courthouse, and destroyed the military supplies, although Adams and Hancock escaped.

Now the British were growing short on men, and more minutemen had gathered behind Punkatasset Hill, commanded by Colonel Barret, to cut down enemy forces. The redcoats were under constant attack on their march back to Boston. They fired at the men behind the hill, but could not hit such difficult targets. Men and women at Lexington hid in houses and fired from windows and doorways. Swamp Foxes, Patriots hiding in swamps, shot at the British as they passed by.

When the British finaly reached Boston, they had suffered great casualties. Seventy-three died, twenty two were captured, and one hundred ninety-one were wounded. They finally found hope when a relief force of 1000 men arrived under the command of Lord Percy

The Patriots, however, lost fewer soldiers. Only forty-nine died four men were captured, and thirty-nine were wounded.

Even though the British had destroyed the military supplies at Concord, it was still a tremendous loss for them, considering the number of deaths.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord may seen like minor battles, but they really had a great impact - the Revolutionary War had finally begun. They also affected the whole world, because they influenced other groups of people to act for freedom.

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