#Lexington and Concord

[usnatarchives]

On April 19, 1775, the "shot heard around the world," ignited the American Revolutionary War. 250 years later, we reflect on the battles of Lexington and Concord, where colonial resistance first erupted into open conflict.

Boston, the largest city in the 13 colonies, played a key role in stoking revolutionary fervor. Colonists, frustrated by taxation without representation, clashed with British troops in a fight that would shape the course of a nation.

Explore the full story in our latest blog post, part of our countdown to the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. See how the National Archives is preserving the history of America's fight for liberty: https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2025/04/18/lexington-and-concord-22-hours-and-a-shot-heard-around-the-world

[thetithingman]

250th

[todaysdocument]

Deposition #1 of Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring and Elijah Saunderson of Lexington, Massachusetts Regarding the Events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Record Group 360: Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional ConventionSeries: Papers of the Continental CongressFile Unit: Massachusetts State Papers

N. 1 11

We Solomon Brown Jonathan Loring & Elijah Sanderson All of Lawful Age and of Lexington in the County of Middlesex and Colony of the Massachusett Bay in New England do testifie & declare that on the Evening of the Eighteenth of April Instant being on the Road between Concord & Lexington and All of us mounted on Horses we were about ten of the Clock suddenly surprized by Nine Persons whom we took to be Regular Officers who Rode up to us Mounted and Armed each having a Pistol in His Hand, and after Putting, Pistols to our Breasts and seizing the Bridles of Our Horses, they swore that ^if^ we Stirred another Step We should be all Dead Men, upon which we surrender ed Our Selves they Detained us untill Two o clock the Next morning in which time they searched and Greatly abused us, having first Enquired about the Magazine at Concord, whether any Guards were posted there and whether the Bridges were up and said Four or Five Regiments of Regulars would be in Possession of the Stores Soon they then brought us back to Lexington, cut the Horses Bridles and girt[h]s turned them Loose and ^then^ left us Lexington April 25 1775

Solomon Brown

Jonathan Loring

Elijah Sanderson

Middlesex SS April 25 1775

Jona Loring Solomon Brown and Elijah Sanderson being duly Cautioned to Testify the whole Truth, made Solemn Oath to the Truth of the above Deposition by them subscribed

Coram

Wm Reed

Josiah Johnson } Just.

Wm Stickney } Pacix

I Elijah Saunderson abovove (sic) named do further testifie & declare that I was on Lexington Common the morning of the Nineteenth of April afore said having been dismissed by the Officers abovementioned & saw a Large Body of Regular Troops advancing toward Lexington Company, many of whom were then dispersing -- I heard one of the Regulars whom I took to be an officer Say Damn Them we will have them, & immediately the Regulars shouted aloud, Run and fired on the Lexington Company which did not fire a gun before the Regulars Discharged on them Eight of the Lexington Company were killed while they were dispersing and at considerable Distance from Each other, and many wounded, & altho a spectator I narrowly Escaped with my Life

Lexington April 25 1775 Elijah Saunderson

Middlesex SS April 25 1775

Elijah Saunderson above named being Duly cautioned to Testify the whole Truth made Solemn Oath to the Truth of the above Deposition by them subscribed

Wm Reed

Coram Josiah Johnson } Just.

Wm Stickney } Pacis

Province of the Massachusetts Bay Charlestown ss

I Nathaniel Gorham Notary & Tabellion Puplic by Lawful authority duly admitted and Sworn hereby certify all of whom ^it^ doth or may concern that William Reed Josiah Johnson & William Stickney Esqrs are three of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex and that full faith and credit is to be given to their transactions as such in Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my Name & Seal this Twenty Six Day of april Anno Domini one Thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy five

the foregoing are true copies attest

Nathaniel Gorham Noy Pubc

No 1 [sideways, in left margin]

[jamescanningauthor]

So Happy to Have Been at the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington & Concord!

Reenactment photos under the Read More!

The Regulars

The Militias

Civilians/Evacuees

[gregorygalloway]

US postage stamps issued in 1925 to commemorate the Battles at Lexington and Concord, which took place on 19 April 1775 and began the American Revolutionary War.

[i-like-old-things]

The Shot Heard 'Round the World Johnny Tremain (1957)

[tricornonthecob]

Happy 250th or w/e

Bonus:

[nationsandcannons]

In honor of the 250th anniversary of Lexington & Concord, the shots that started it all, our sale is live now through April 26. Use code AMERICA250, at checkout, for 10% off all items. Time to gear up for revolution.

[rataesquizoidekk]

I felt like sharing this so enjoy heh...

Also he's like just my character in lexington and concord not an oc but okay (he's a 5th Maryland private btw)

[supersaiyanjedi14]

250 Years Ago Today...

April 19, 1775. 700 British regulars are sent to capture and destroy a reported stockpile of arms and ammunition in the town of Concord, Massachusetts. Alerted to the expedition, the militia of Lexington rallied and stood waiting for the British, though the initial exchange forced them to fall back. Though the British were able to proceed to Concord and began their search of the arsenal, other local militia converged on the town, a force of 400 turning back a detachment at the North Bridge. As the regulars began their return march to Boston, more and more militiamen continued to fire on them, resulting in a day-long firefight that only ended when the British troops, upon receiving reinforcements, reached the safety of Charlestown.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the culmination of well over a decade of tensions between Great Britain and her American colonies. The initial skirmish at Lexington would be immortalized by Ralph Waldo Emerson as "the shot heard round the world", beginning the American Revolution and the eventual birth of the United States of America.

[jamescanningauthor]

I am SO fucking hype for the 250th anniversary of the battle of Lexington tommorrow, I am going to be there by the Battle Green at 5am I don't even care I am chugging the melatonin tonight at 8pm. Anyone else hype? I will be taking photos and videos so anyone interested hit me up if you are attending, or if you can't for any reason, I will tell you and show you all about it!

[gregorygalloway]

The American Revolutionary War started as a skirmish between around 400 British soldiers and 100 militia members near Lexington, MA on 19 April 1775.

British troops had been ordered to march to Concord to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock, and to seize a stockpile of arms, but the anti-British locals had been warned the night before by William Dawes, Samuel Prescott, and Paul Revere.

The militia and British troops met just before sunrise and although no orders to fire were given, someone fired a shot, which ignited a volley, killing 8 militia members and 1 British soldier. The militia quickly retreated and the British troops continued their march toward Concord, where they searched for weapons, destroying 3 cannons, setting fired to a meetinghouse where guns were stored (the British soldiers assisted locals in putting out the fire), and tossed 550 pounds of musket balls in a nearby pond.

As the British soldiers began there return to Boston, they were confronted by a large number of militiamen. Once again, a shot was fired ("likely a warning shot fired by a panicked, exhausted British soldier"), which again set off volleys of musket fire. The British retreated and continued to march back to Boston, followed by an increasing number of militia, with sporadic fighting throughout the day.

By the next morning, the British troops were surrounded in Boston by more than 15,000 militiamen. John Adams (who lived in nearby Braintree) wrote that "the Rubicon has been crossed," while George Washington (who was at his home in Virginia) wrote, "the once-happy and peaceful plains of America are either to be drenched in blood or inhabited by slaves.")

[rwwinton]

To celebrate the 249th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, my book, Let it Begin Here, is on sale!

You can purchase the ebook for $1.99 anywhere ebooks are sold! Also, if you have the time, please leave a review or rating. Reviews are extremely helpful for indie authors and I would greatly appreciate it!

One rash decision will lead him down the path toward revolution...

Nathaniel Hill, eldest son in a well-connected and respected English family, is offered two choices by his father after being caught in a compromising situation: public shame to force his good behavior, or to sever his family ties and leave on the first ship for the colonies in America. Rather than endure the life his father expects him to lead, he makes the choice to begin anew where he knows no one.

Landing in Boston, Massachusetts in 1772, he uses what money he has to purchase a tavern for a bargain price from a desperate seller, and sets about scraping together a life in a city he quickly realizes is on the verge of complete catastrophe. Though he attempts to remain neutral in the politics ripping at the city's foundations in the years that follow, he is destined to fail.

A musket, a British officer, a rebel spy network, and a dashing Frenchman are fated to disrupt his carefully-held neutrality.

[tricornonthecob]

Untitleist

LK 106: Look A Hamilton Pun Is Too Low-Hanging A Fruit

(pt1)(pt2)(pt3)(pt4)

She charisma's her way to front row seats and her first instinct is to look for James, the ship is sailing.

and he's looking for her omggggg

*scooby doo voice* Arooo?

This episode is just Adults Attempting To Herd Teenagers To The Kids' Table (And Failing.)

See at first I was vibing with Colonel Smith but now he's just assuming the Major's gonna be a Major Asshole.

Cousin Tom:

Cousin Tom's fatal mistake: He didn't tell his superior officer off for a dumbass idea in time.

the look of a man who just realized he fucked up.

Stands up with the colonel like she's one of them. The Phillipses are shining today.

IT WAS THIS GUY. HE'S THE BUTTERFLINT.

I love the juxtaposition of values here. The colonel caring about the principal of the thing, and Sarah caring about the people involved.

Okay first off you can't tell a Phillips to NOT ride or die for they fam.

He knows. He knows he doesn't have much time left. Who's comforting who here? Does he really believe those words or is he trying to give Sarah parting comfort and wisdom as he lays dying in her arms? A True Leader Of Men, cut down, but not before he made a difference in the lives of his men and his family.

The safe place is each other

background art appreciation moment

And romantically. He's wearing a brave, calm face but on the inside he's torn up about leaving behind the Frillips polycule. He worries for Lady Phillips' stability.

Ok byeeeeee

[jamescanningauthor]

The raid on St Albans, Vermont, in the American Civil War! It is my favorite fact to tell people about, and I have single-handedly gotten more people into this obscure historical incident than anyone else I can think of. I even told Brandon Fisichella about it this morning when I met him at Lex250, he was very nice :)

(okay no, but put in the tags something youre the unofficial influencer of. Like something youve purchased enough, used enough, bragged about and endorsed enough to others that you should be an influencer for)

[blightcaller0]

My lexington and concord oc name Elijah