Historic musket balls fired at British in 1770s found in Concord, Massachusetts, park

WCVB ABC Channel 5, Boston ^ | July 10, 2024 | Shaun Ganley, Shaun Chaiyabhat

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

CONCORD, Mass. — Five musket balls that were fired during the event known as "The Shot Heard Round the World" on April 19, 1775, were recently discovered at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts.

National Park Service archeologists discovered the musket balls while conducting compliance activities in preparation for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act project.

According to the National Park Service, early analysis of the 18th-century musket balls indicates they were fired by colonial militia members at British forces during the North Bridge fight.

The North Bridge battle site is a key location within the National Historical Park and marks the moment when provincial militia leaders ordered members to fire upon their own government’s soldiers for the first time.

[NWFree]

I know what needs to be done with those balls and it involves shoving them up libtard’s butts

[katana]

The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” occurred earlier in Lexington. If any musket balls are found there they’d almost certainly be from British muskets. Lexington was more massacre than battle. Concord was where the red coats were stopped and forced into retreat.

[21twelve]

Yeah - the value of them is what I first thought of.

Second thing I thought of was it was balls from missed shots while out hunting.

[21twelve]

https://davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/american-revolution-against-british-gun-control.html

Above is a very interesting article about the “Powder Alarm” in September, 1774. The Redcoats took the militia’s powder in Charlestown. A week later the militia (formed as a British organization to protect against Indians and such) changed over to become a colonist’s militia.

I think in the article they state how if the redcoats hadn’t taken the powder, we would have won the battle at Bunker Hill.

[mass55th]

"I am surprised no one found them with a metal detector."

Most historical sites run by Federal, State, City, etc., do not allow metal detecting, but that doesn't mean people can't go there at night and do it, although it would be hard to see what you're digging without a flashlight, which would likely give you away anyway. I know there have been instances in the past of people metal detecting at Gettysburg Battlefield sites. I'm sure it goes on in plenty other historical sites.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Concord Hymn
BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Sung at the Completion of the Battle Monument, July 4, 1837

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.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The balls were recovered from the east side of the river where the Red Coats stood. The Minutemen were assembled on the west side. There were five companies of Minutemen. The Red Coats had met only scattered resistance on the way in, they were chased on the way out. After the first volley, the British retreated back towards Concord center, pursued by Minutemen, who were soon joined by others from outlying towns like Marlborough and Stow.

General Gage’s original plan was to march into Marlborough, which was more of a rebel stronghold, but his intelligence told him he would meet strong resistance there. Concord was considered an easier target.

[PeterPrinciple]

There were five companies of Minutemen.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_(United_States_Army)

A company is a military unit of the United States Army which has been in use since the American Revolutionary War. It has historically been commanded by a captain, assisted by a first sergeant as the senior-most non-commissioned officer (NCO), and consisted of approximately one hundred soldiers. Soldiers were divided between three and five platoons of around thirty each and led by a lieutenant. However the exact size and composition of a company has varied depending on the time period and its role.[1][2]

You made me think........................

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

"They came three thousand miles, and died,
To keep the Past upon its throne;
Unheard, beyond the ocean tide,
Their English mother made her moan."

Graves of two British soldiers at the old North Bridge. The building in the background is the Old Manse, home of Ralph Waldo Emerson, now a museum in private hands (Admission free, donations accepted).

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

In New England at that time, every able-bodied man was required to keep a musket and drill with the local militia. About one-third of the militia were Minutemen, the best trained and fittest, who were expected to be "ready in a minute." The captain of the Acton Minutemen, Isaac Davis, was a blacksmith, and all his men had bayonets, unusual for militia. It was the Acton Minutemen who first engaged the British.

[combat_boots]

The Brits came for the guns and cannon

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Correct, they were after cannon, not muskets. When the Acton Minutemen marched to Concord they bypassed British troops digging in Barrett’s farm where the cannon were buried. The British went home empty handed.

[The_Media_never_lie]

The Old North Bridge Visitors Center is a museum on the grounds of the Minute National Historic Park. It’s free and open most normal hours. Well worth the visit if you’re in the area.

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Sounds extremely interesting, thanks!