Native American Relocation - Research Paper Example

Lexington: Eight Revolutionists Died Here In April 19th of 1775, there was a British military’s taking part in the fight against the American Revolution. On this date British soldiers shot at a smaller civilian group at Lexington green and this was called the Battle of Lexington. 1(Murrin, et al 2010 p915) This signifies the point at which the British military killed American civilians, who were revolting against the British colonization. This study is centered on this occurrence and it will seek to vividly analyze how the shooting occurred.

There were two small American towns that were highly associated with the American Revolution by the British colonizers. These towns were Concord and Lexington. The leaders of the intensifying rebellion around the Boston area had their concealed arms being stored away from the areas where the British Army would seize them. To this, their main choice was a very quiet village known as Concord, about 20 miles on the western side of Boston. Following some knowledge of there being concealed arms in the area of Concord, there was an order coming from Thomas Cage, the then British Army General, on 18th April of 1775.

He ordered a group of 700 soldiers to go to this area and search inside out to seize all kinds of arms that they could set an eye on. 2(Johnson, 2006 p23) However, friends and spies of the Americans informed the Revolutionists of the impending attack. Two lanterns, who were hanging from the North Church of Boston passed word to the countryside that the British Army was to attack by sea. Also a number of horseback riders like William Dawes, Paul Revere, and Samuel Presscott served in warning the countryside that the British troops, otherwise known to them as the Regulars were coming.

3(ushistory.org, 2011) As the soldiers marched towards the directed area, they would hear cat calls from behind trees, doorways and fences. As midmorning approached, the British soldiers had found their way to Lexington, just half way to the village of Concord. At the Green center of Lexington, the amazed British soldiers came face to face with around 70 civilians, who had hunting rifles and ready to strike. As a form of precaution, the Commander of the British forces holding the rank of Major and whose name was John Pitcairn, ensured that his troops formed a standard formation of three ranks and ready for a battle.

The concerns of John Pitcairn did not revolve around any firing of shots since he had 700 men against 70. Thus, he ordered the civilians aggressors to put down their rifles and then disperse. The Captain of the Patriot militia, John Parker made no direct reply to Pitcairn, but instead spoke three sentences to his side, which would establish a revolution. He (John) said “Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon. If they want to have a war, let it begin here.” (Johnson, 2006 p23) He, however, never ordered the militia to put down their rifles.

It was not quite clear as to from whom the first shot came, but it was quite evident that the civilians were not ready to give way to the British Army. More shots came after the first one and all emanated from the militia. Despite this, there was not an immediate reaction from the British forces. The British forces did not have any combat experience, just like the civilian side. Subsequently, they reacted by making a first and a second undisciplined shot without even waiting for any commands from their leader, Pitcairn.

Captain, John, who was not to surrender, had faced music as they were torn through by the British Army. As a result of this battle, eight civilians met their death at the Green center of Lexington and ten of the civilian side, were injured as well. The British Army just suffered a single victim where one of their soldiers suffered a slight injury. From this pioneering clash between the civilian rifles and the British Brown Bess muskets, it was the British side that took victory home. Their leader, Pitcairn was not happy with the action took by his soldiers where they fired without first awaiting his orders.

But it was a blessing in disguise to him- at least his formally trained side had shown professionalism by proving their superiority to the civilian side. (Johnson, 2006 p25) Work Cited: Johnson, Clint. Colonial America and the American Revolution: The 25 Best Sites. Edition illustrated. ASDavis Media Group. (2006). p25. Murrin, John M. et al. Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People: Since 1863. Edition 5. Cengage Learning. (2010). p915. ushistory.org.Lexington and Concord. (2011).

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