A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Beginning of the American Revolution. April 19, 1775 (Emerging Revolutionary War Series)

A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Beginning of the American Revolution. April 19, 1775 (Emerging Revolutionary War Series)

“I have now nothing to trouble your Lordship with, but an affair that happened on the 19th instant . . .” General Thomas Gage penned the above line to his superiors in London, casually summing up the shots fired at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. The history of the Battles of Lexington and Concord were the culmination of years of unrest between those loyal to the British monarchy and those advocating for more autonomy and dreaming of independence from Great Britain in the future. On the morning of April 19th, Gage sent out a force of British soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith to confiscate, recapture, and destroy the military supplies gathered by the colonists and believed to be stored in the town of Concord. Due to the alacrity of men such as Dr. James Warren, Paul Revere, and William Dawes, utilizing a network of signals and outriders, the countryside was well-aware of the approaching British, setting the stage for the day’s events. When the column reached the green of Lexington, Massachusetts, militiamen awaited their approach. The first shots of April 19th would be fired there. The rest of the day unfolded accordingly. Historians Phillip S. Greenwalt and Robert Orrison unfold the facts of April 19, 1775, uncovering the amazing history that this pivotal spring day ushered in for the fate of Massachusetts and thirteen of Great Britain’s North American colonies with A Single Blow. Phillip S. Greenwalt is co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and historical editor for the Emerging Revolutionary War Series. He is also a full-time contributor to Emerging Civil War. Phillip is the co-author of Bloody Autumn: The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864, Hurricane from the Heavens: The Battle of Cold Harbor, and Calamity in Carolina: The Battles of Averasboro and Bentonville (all three with Daniel Davis). Phillip graduated from George Mason University with a M.A. in American History and also has a B.A. in history from Wheeling Jesuit University. He is currently a Supervisory Park Ranger in Interpretation and Visitor Services for Everglades National Park. Prior to his currently position, Phillip spent seven years a historian with the National Park Service at George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Thomas Stone National Historic Site. He started with the National Park Service as a historical interpreter intern at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. He currently resides in the Southern Florida with his wife, Adel. Robert Orrison is co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and has worked in the public history field for more than 25 years. He serves as the Division Manager for the Prince William County (VA) Office of Historic Preservation. His works include A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Beginning of the American Revolution, A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign, The Last Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign, 1863, and To Hazard All: A Guide to the Maryland Campaign, 1862. A Single Blow The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Beginning Of the American Revolution April 19, 1775 By Phillip Greenwalt Savas Beatie LLC Copyright © 2018 Phillip S. Greenwalt and Robert Orrison All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-61121-379-9 Contents Acknowledgments, Touring Boston and the Battlefields, Foreword by J. L. Bell, Prologue: "Boston Harbor a tea-pot This Night!", Chapter One: "No People are More Determined for a Civil War", Chapter Two: "A Tinder Box:" The Buildup to War, Chapter Three: "One Active Campaign", Chapter Four: "Lay Down Your Arms!" The Fight at Lexington, Chapter Five: To Concord, Chapter Six: "For God's Sake, Fire!", Chapter Seven: "As if Men Came Down From the Clouds", Chapter Eight: "They Were Monstrous Numerous", Chapter Nine: "Saving Them From Inevitable Destruction", Chapter Ten: "An Englishman's Home is His Castle", Epilogue: "An Affair That Happened on the 19th Instant", Appendix A: First Blood: Regulars vs. Minute Men By Robert M. Dunkerly, Appendix B: The Authors and the American Revolution in Concord By Jayne Gordon, Appendix C: Historic Taverns of Boston By Robert Orrison, Order of Battle, Suggested Reading, About the Authors, CHAPTER 1 "No People are More Determined for a Civil War" General Thomas Gage was familiar with the colonials. An aristocrat by birth, Gage served in the French and Indian War and commanded all British forces in America since 1763. While serving in this post in New York City, Gage met his wife Margaret Kemble of New Jersey. Of all the British military leaders, Gage was the most experienced in working with the colonies. He was in England when news of the Boston Tea Party reached London, and he was called to London to discuss the situation and gave his advice to the King and the Prime Minister, Lord North. The reaction in London was strong and swift. Too many times the colonies pushed back on British authority