Thursday, April 18, 2013

Lexington and Concord Anniversary

238 years ago this morning General Gage sent out the first patrols from Boston, preparing for an advance to find stores of powder hidden away by the dangerous rebels.
Although he attempted secrecy, the alarm was given by the highly active American spy network and taken to Dr. Joseph Warren, who alerted Paul Revere and another man named William Dawes. Soon, the famous “midnight ride” began, as the two men rode away from Boston to alert the countryside of the advance of the British.
The British advanced with over 600 men.
Revere was captured by a patrol, but let go after shots were fired somewhere nearby, and the regulars were told by their prisoners they were “all dead men,” they let them go and retreated. The night wore old and the 19th of April, the day on which the American Revolution was destined to begin, had begun.
The British advanced into Lexington, where they were met by 80 or so men of the local militia. There was a standoff, and then there was the “shot heard round the world.” The Americans fell back after losing several men, and the British advanced.
After marching forward through the town of Lexington, the British arrived in Concord and began to look for the ammunition. The militia, which was still gathering, watched them from a distance.
Then the minutemen advanced.
The defenders of the North Bridge attempted to pull of the planks, but stopped and then ran. Shots were fired by the regulars, the militia men returned it. The British retreated.
Minutemen and militia continued to swarm in, and soon well over a 1,000 had arrived.
The British force falling back towards Boston was exhausted when they were met by Lord Percy with a rescue mission. The combined force of 1,700 men arrived late in Boston that night, exhausted, bleeding, and having lost men.
The unshakable British Empire has lost to its own colonists, and the revolution had begun.
This is a good day to remember not only the actions of the founding father's, but also their beliefs. In the wake of horrific catastrophe, the same God that gave them the victory then can give us the victory now.

 Andrew C. Abbott

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