Facebook Twitter Digg Stumbleupon Yahoo My Web

 
Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

April 19, 1775

British Troops enter Lexington, Massachusetts and
Fire the First Shots of the American Revolutionary War

On this day in 1775, 700 British Troops commanded by Lieutenant General Thomas Gage entered Lexington, Massachusetts on their way to Concord to seize and destroy munitions stored there by the Massachusetts militia. This is the march that prompted the famous Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.

Initially the British troops were able to fight their way to Concord but they were outnumbered and met heavy resistance at what was known as the the North Bridge forcing them to retreat back to Boston.