The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

 

Besides the literary places, the Concord area is full of history since it is where the Revolutionary War began.  Again, I’m learning (or perhaps relearning) my history. The British had control of Boston.  They had heard reports that rebels (or patriots depending on your viewpoint) had stored arms in Concord.  The British planned to seize the arms. Patriot spies found out their plans.  There was a question of whether the British would go by land all the way to Concord, or by sea and land.  That was answered by the “One if by land, and two if by sea” signal lights in the Old North Church in Boston by patriots who had learned of the more detailed British plans. 

Paul Revere and William Dawes rode to Lexington and Concord to warn the people.  The arms were moved and militia gathered.  I’m realizing how wars are started almost accidentally.  The Redcoats shot our militia killing several in Lexington but without any orders to shoot.  When they reached Concord, the militia minutemen that had gathered had heard some of the story in Lexington.  The Redcoats went through the town looking for arm supplies.  They accidentally started a fire but then worked to put it out.  To the militia outside of town, it looked like they were burning the town.  The militia and a small group of Redcoats met on the North Bridge.  A shot was fired (probably by the British and probably without any orders). The American militia returned fired and killed several of the British.  Ta-dah, war!