Posted on 04/19/2026 8:09:26 AM PDT by PROCON
On April 19, 1775, the opening shots of the American Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord—later immortalized as “the shot heard around the world”—gave way, almost immediately, to something more consequential than a single day’s fighting. As British regulars retreated into Boston under constant fire from colonial militia, the countryside did not simply quiet. Instead, it closed in. What began as a running battle hardened into a siege—an improvised but determined effort by New England militias to isolate British forces inside the city and challenge imperial authority in a sustained way.
Boston, already a focal point of imperial tension, now became a trapped garrison. British troops under Gen. Thomas Gage, having marched out to seize colonial military supplies and arrest rebel leaders, found themselves driven back by thousands of armed farmers and townsmen who had mobilized with striking speed. By the evening of April 19, the roads leading into Boston were no longer secure. Militia units from Massachusetts and neighboring colonies converged, occupying key positions along the narrow neck of land that connected the city to the mainland.
The geography of Boston made this possible. Surrounded by water on three sides and connected to the mainland by a thin strip known as Boston Neck, the city could be effectively cut off if that corridor were controlled. Colonial forces moved quickly to do just that. Within days, an informal but increasingly organized ring of militia encampments formed around British-held Boston, stretching from Roxbury in the south to Cambridge and beyond in the north. Their objective was not to storm the city outright—something they lacked the training and heavy weaponry to attempt—but to contain the British army, restrict its movement, and force a strategic stalemate.
(Excerpt) Read more at thisdayofhistory.com ...
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Needs Repeating!
.
The Shot Heard around the World!
Yuppers!
Visited The Bridge and at This very moment I’m at the Range with my ARs!
SEMPER FI
A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
They were “well regulated”: they had arms and knew how to use them.
One of my fifth great grandfathers joined the army because of that Boston event. His father, brothers, and father-in-law were already solidly behind the American cause, and when his cousins led an expedition north from New York to invade Montreal and Quebec, he joined his cousin’s unit in August 1775, taking up his post as Major in the 3rd New York Regiment. He left the day after his first child was born, writing back to his wife:
“You seem to think a little hard of my hurrying away from you too soon when I took my leave of you. Upon my life, my beloved, ...I knew that we must part, & I also knew your weakness ...you were in a wreck.”
No matter the personal cost, people at that time made hard choices to protect their country. The history of the time and the people and the reasons have been too low in our education these past decades. I’m really hoping the new material that will come out this year will spread the information to new generations to teach their children what our ancestors went through to create this country that today protects them.
A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
They were “well regulated”: they had arms and knew how to use them.
If I shake you awake in the middle of the night and ask what you are fighting for, after you reach for your gun, what do you tell me?
George Washington and many patriots could answer that. What is our answer?
Individually, many of us have one ... and it's a combination of "defense of hearth and home" and "Liberty".
We, collectively, don't have one ... and that's a problem.
We, collectively, don’t have one ... and that’s a problem.
“I like thinking big. I always have. To me it’s very simple: If you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”—Donald J. Trump
“The North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts is often referred to as the location of the “shot heard ‘round the world,” and the beginning of the American War for Independence. On the morning of April 19, 1775 , Colonial Militia from Concord and surrounding towns exchanged gunfire with British regulars guarding the critical river crossing. Although the fighting at the North Bridge lasted only a few seconds, it marked the beginning of a massive battle that raged over 16 miles along the Bay Road from Boston to Concord, and included some 1,700 British regulars and over 4,000 Colonial militia.”
It is amazing to be able to cross that bridge, walk where they walked, stand where they stood as they fired “the shot heard round the world”. It has been my honor to do so.
NASA’s plan to put some cows in a space ship was cancelled. It would have been the herd shot round the world.
I didn’t have any ancestors in New England at the time, but my Revolutionary War ancestor was in the Virginia militia and was at the siege of Yorktown. I don’t know if he ever saw George Washington in person but probably a good chance that he did.
That Is To Cool,
Thanks for sharing.
.
I had one ancestor who led one of the charges at the Battle of Yorktown with Alexander Hamilton. He served with LaFayette and on one of LaFayette’s trips back to the US, he attended a banquet in his honor on Lansing’s front lawn. I’ve seen correspondence go by ebay between Washington and another of my soldier ancestors but the price was way beyond my means.
On mother’s side they were Southern and much poorer. That ancestor was driving a supply wagon and was on a hill watching the battle. Another Virginia ancestor was in the Navy and captured by the British. Military both sides, all the way back.
Forgot. The ancestor who corresponded with Washington was widowed and left his infant with the Alexander Hamiltons who lived across from Washington. The little girl was taken to dance classes by Martha Washington.
You’re welcome!
I can heartily recommend a visit to Minuteman Historical Battlefield...
https://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm
We did a guided program when we were there a while back.
It was excellent.
Not sure if they still offer it, hopefully they do, but if you’re up for a walk, you’ll likely leave with a better appreciation for what our forefathers faced.
🙂😊😁😀😃😆😅😂🤣
Never let anyone tell you you're pasture prime.
Forgot again. Another one of the 5th ggfathers was a Colonel of the Second Pennsylvania Line Infantry during the winter at Valley Forge. His order book still exists. He commanded it during the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Whitemarsh. So he MUST have known Washington.
My Recommended Book;
.
‘William Diamonds Drum’.
IIRC
.
One gets the feeling of Being There.
Thanks!
I also really enjoyed the Kenneth Roberts books. He wrote historical fiction in the 30s and 40s. Great stories, memorable characters, rich history.
https://www.davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/american-revolution-against-british-gun-control.html
Above is an old article where I first learned of “The Powder Alarm”. September 1, 1774. That set in motion shot heard round the world.
It makes sense, but still amazes me - the militia prior to that were “British” militia. After the Powder Alarm (I’m not reading the article again, so I may be off), but they took a vote to disband the militia. That passed. Then they voted again to form a new militia to align with the colony - with all the same members!
I’m not sure if it is in the linked article or not, but IIRC, some think that we would have won the battle of Boston if the British hadn’t seized the powder in 1774.
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