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The British disbanded the Massachusetts legislature, so the people set up a new legislature. The people began gathering arms in the event the British tried to disband the new legislature. In response, the British General in Boston was ordered to disarm the Americans. He did protest that Americans begin using firearms from birth and even the women are familiar with the use of firearms, but set about his duties. In December 1774, a British command was sent to Ft. William and Mary to seize powder and cannon there. Paul Revere rode to New Hamshire with warning and the British found the Fort empty when they arrived. A few months later, the British sent 250 troops to Salem Mass on Sunday morning, February 26, 1775, thinking by arriving during church services the people would be caught by surprise. But the Towns People were warned and not only drew up the draw bridge to the town, but gathered an armed militia severely out numbering the British. The British Commander was ready to show force, but a militia leader yelled “If you shoot here, you will die here.” The sheer number of militia men convinced the British that a fight would be suicide. The British turned around and marched back to their ships at Marble Head. Being so frustrated in his attempts to seize the armaments gathered by these prospective rebels, the General sent a much larger group of 700 British soldiers to Lexington and Concord to seize illegal stores of weapons on April 19, 1775. Word reached Lexington the previous evening and some citizens prepared cartridges late into the night for the Minute Men. A paltry group of a few score militia lined up on Lexington Green against an overwhelming force of British. The militia was ordered to lay down their arms, but as this was being communicated, a shot rang out. Both sides opened fire. As many as a third of the militia were killed before they could make it to cover. The Town was ransacked as the troops searched for arms. After the delay in Lexington, the British moved on to Concord, where militia from the surrounding area had been gathering for hours. When the British lead approached the North Bridge, the colonial militia opened up with such fierce firing, that the British had to turn back. The militias used guerrilla tactics and hounded the British all the way back to Boston. If not for reinforcements from Boston, the 700 may have been entirely lost. The militia men surrounded Boston and cut it off from the rest of the countryside.
In retaliation, the British General ordered a general house to house search for arms throughout Boston.
That conflict was not over hunting weapons. It was over artillery, military arms and the necessary large powder stores to use such guns.
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.
from the “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
In retaliation, the British General ordered a general house to house search for arms throughout Boston.
That conflict was not over hunting weapons. It was over artillery, military arms and the necessary large powder stores to use such guns.
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.
from the “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
