Posted on 04/19/2009 8:59:44 AM PDT by Pharmboy
On April 15th, 1775, Major General Thomas Gage decided to send a column of seven hundred troops (two hundred over the magic number that the Concord Congress had set) to Concord under the command of Lt. Col. Francis Smith and his second, Major John Pitcairn. Gage had no intention of tolerating anything approaching a repetition of the action at Fort William and Mary. Learning that the depot in Concord held a growing store of gunpowder and arms, he sent these soldiers twenty miles from Boston to seize the military supplies. On the evening of the 18th, Dr. Joeseph Warren, President of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, sent Paul Revere and other messengers to Lexington to warn patriots there.
When Colonel Smith moved into the countryside to collect these arms and munitions gathered by the patriot militia, hostilities erupted at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Soon afterward, militia contingents from places throughout New England took up positions outside Boston, putting the city under siege.
Paul Revere did not make it to his destination when sent to warn his countrymen that the British were coming. Captured and briefly detained, he was forced to walk home as the Redcoats retained his horse for His Majesty's service when they detained him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LEXINGTON
Commanding the British troops was Major John Pitcairn (left) who marched his soldiers all night, arriving at Lexington at dawn. There he found a line of minute men drawn up on the village green commanded by Captain John Parker. The British halted and the Major shouted, "Disperse, ye rebels, disperse!"
(Excerpt) Read more at americanrevwar.homestead.com ...
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list
That was then. This is now. Today, it’s more of “if they mean to hae a war, let it be somewhere else” because Hussein & Co. will sell us down the river to our enemies.
Thanks for the history refresher.
Happy Patriots day to you and your family, and thank you for posting this!
FYI.These are the people who formed the freest country in the world. They did it themselves, without the UN, the World Bank or the ‘international community’.
Best to you and yours on this singular anniversary in American history.
I think the French helped us out...
Yes...and the Dutch and the Spanish too.
Having visited the Lexington and Concord sites as a young boy, and having my Dad explain about the “shot heard around the world” means more today than ever before. Walking across the North Bridge in Concord and being in the place where we took off our gloves and decided to fight for our freedom is still crystal clear in my memory.
The ‘international community’ are nations who submit to the umbrella ‘government’ of the UN, so I don’t think it really applies in your example.
Patriots celebrating today should be reminded that the Founder’s advocacy of neutrality in foreign affairs and the avoidance of foreign entanglements kept us prosperous and peaceful for many years.
The Gadsden Flag is flying on my house today.
I doubt if anyone driving past knows why.
Thanks for the link. Excellent.
Thanks for posting.
At the age of 63, Henry Putnam rode from Medford to Lexington with four of his sons, and died for his country and freedom.
We’ll drink to him tonight, my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather.
We are privileged to have Henry’s blood legacy on this thread, sir. We join you in your toast...
We had a great T party here last week. I chose to go as an observer to see and interpret what was afoot.
I was astounded to see the depth of penetration of the Gadsden flag on a group that had never been involved in such a gathering in their lives.
The flag was present as a regular flag, on a staff being waved by the holder. There were lots of various sized representations on signs that represented the size and color capabilities of the bearers printer. There were T shirts, sweat shirts and jackets with the flag.
There were several speakers and the phrase “don’t tread on me!” received cheers when incorporated into a speec.
Lastly and most telling.... there were far more Gadsden Flags than the Red, White, and Blue Stars and Stripes.
Something is definitely afoot
It’s ma’am. But thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.