The British Are Coming

Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But the more important date is the battle of Lexington and Concord which was the beginning of the Revolutionary war. Don’t forget this date, midnight, April 19, 1775.

850 British soldiers were approaching Lexington, planning to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams who were staying in Lexington. Then they were planning a march to Concord to seize Patriot military supplies. Revere had picked up two more men to ride with him, but they encountered a British contingent and Revere was captured.

Lexington Green, a 2.5 acre triangular park is peaceful but that night it was anything but quiet. Four homes are still standing that have bullet holes from that night. The British had 100 light infantry, equipped with muskets and fixed bayonets. There were about 70 colonists led by Captain Parker. When he saw they were out numbered he ordered his man to disperse. All left the field except for 2 that stayed in line.

The first one killed was Captain Parker’s cousin, Jonas Parker age 53. He had vowed he would never give up. The first of millions that have died for our country. 

The British began firing hitting some of our men in the back as they fled. 8 colonists were dead and 10 wounded. One man lived across the road and drug himself to his house and died at his wife’s feet.Their names are on a monument in the green. Every man aged 16 to 60 was required to serve in the military and every town had a militia.

The British arrived at Concord at 7:00 a.m. and tried to burn the town down. The militia men gathered and were able to save most of the town, and the British began their march back. Militia men fired on the British as they marched back to Boston. The war didn’t get into full swing until December, 1776,   when Washington defeated the British at Trenton. 

A horrible war ensued which pitted brother against brother, father against son. Many were still British sympathizers and probably half of the people were opposed to the war

As I reflect on the sacrifices given in establishing our country, I wonder what one of those 15 million that have died would think of our country if they came back today. Perhaps we have a settled for two little accountability, and the swamp might be deeper than we thought. 

Perhaps life itself is a battle and we must choose the hill on which we wish to die on. We are not going to be able to escape without some kind of skirmish, so we must choose what is important and which battle we will fight.

—James Neuhouser