Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
by: Klint Macro
April 19th, 2025 was the 250th anniversary of Lexington and Concord.
April 19th, 1775, is a day that all Americans should know about. This day is about much more than “a shot heard around the world” and “midnight rides”. This date should be celebrated by ALL Americans. The actions of the men, women, and children on that day, illustrate the resolve of those that came before us, and may imply their expectation of how we should be as a citizenry today.
1775: Thomas Gage, governor of the Massachusetts colony and commander in chief of the British army in North America was tasked with subduing radicals who were speaking out against the crown and amassing stockpiles of materials of war in the colonies. He has been conducting smash and grab raids where redcoats confiscated powder, arms, ball, tents, etc. throughout New England. Gage also knew that Samuel Adams and John Hancock were behind the organization and funding of these “rebel dealings”.
On April 18th, Gage put together a force of men. Their mission was to move quickly in the night, march on Lexington to “black bag” Adams and Hancock, then march onto Concord to confiscate the powder, ball, arms, cannon, and provisions that were reported to be hidden there. They packed light, only one cartridge box per soldier, no packs, and they took only what they needed to get there and back. The shock and awe of a surprise vast fast-moving force would surely cause the colonials to think twice about mounting any kind of resistance.
The Sons of Liberty were alerted.
Some speculate that Gage’s own wife, Margaret (a local born colonial) may have tipped off her physician, Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the rebel organizers. This led to William Dawes, Paul Revere (and later Samuel Prescott) riding west to warn Adams, Hancock, and the militias of Lexington, Concord and surrounding towns.
If you read the book, Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer, you will learn of many things that occurred on April 18 and 19 that can only be interpreted as divine intervention or maybe dumb luck, but it might seem as if fortune was not on the side of the red coats on April 18-19, 1775.
The red coat “regulars” were shipped across Boston harbor by boat. The British Navy were paid by the Army to provide food to the red coat soldiers and promptly issued them rotten “bottom of the barrel” rations. The soldiers were dropped off in the night at a swampy area called Lechmere Point. This caused the men to become wet. The wool uniforms became saturated with water in the cold April air as their landing parties were slowed and bogged down in the muck. This delay certainly cost the red coats their element of surprise. Rather than arriving in Lexington in the darkness of night, they were sure to arrive in broad daylight.
Dawes and Revere were able to warn to folks in Lexington and Concord and alert Hancock and Adams. When the regulars arrived at Lexington Green, the militia, under the command of Captain John Parker, stood their ground to face the initial British force.
Although armed men faced off, NOBODY from either side wanted bloodshed that day.
“Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels, disperse!” was shouted by British Major John Pitcairn to the lines of colonial militia. Pitcairn ordered his men not to fire but surround the militia lines with bayonets fixed.
The 77-man militia was ordered by Captain John Parker to only fire if fired upon, and then as the 300 redcoats advanced, instructed his men to disperse without firing.
This is when the shot rang out.
Many of the Lexington militia were shot in the back. It is my belief that the “first shot” was from an officer’s pistol, likely a red coat’s gun. There are many first-hand accounts, diary’s, reports, journals, testimonies, that echo this sentiment, however, nobody really knows.
After the smoke cleared, Pitcairn allowed his me to shout “Huzzah!” as the Lexington town people looked on in horror, anger, and disbelief after witnessing the regulars firing upon their friends and family and then continue onto Concord.
In Concord, the red coats found some munitions and supplies. They made a pile in the middle of the town square and set it on fire. The plume of smoke was seen by militia men waiting on the high ground. The believed that the red coats were setting Concord on fire. Many others had heard of the “massacre” in Lexington, the regulars plan to “black bag” Adams and Hancock, as well as their intent to take their stores of arms. These details and some other factors caused the men in Concord to bring the fight to the red coats on the North Bridge.
Klint and Augie Visit Lexington and Concord, MA in 2019
The North Bridge is a crucial moment in our American history.
This was the first time the colonials attacked the red coats. Up to that point in the day, all colonial engagements were defensive in nature. Not so at North Bridge. The colonial militia under the leadership of Col. Barrett, using marksmanship, took out most of the red coat leadership, cutting the head off the snake. The remaining red coats broke ranks and retreated towards Lexington.
Throughout the day, more red coats arrived but ultimately, they all began retreating towards Boston, cold, wet, hungry, many out of ammo, as thousands of colonial militia men poured over the countryside to aid the people of Lexington and Concord.
Colonial General William Heath devised a “ring of fire” leap frogging campaign that attacked the retreating red coat forces almost all the way back to Boston. The red coats suffered casualties at places now known as “Bloody Angle” and “Parkers Revenge”.
Following the battles, Lord Percy, who was at Lexington, wrote to a friend back in England and said of the colonials, “Whoever looks upon them as an irregular mob, will find himself very mistaken. They have men amongst them who know very well what they are about”.
These men, women, and children that fought on April 19th did not fight because of taxes, stamps, tea, or a lack of representation. All these things contributed to their grievances and disapproval of the crown, but what led them to press triggers against the government was that the government came for their means to defend themselves against the government.
I think we as a country have largely forgot “what we are about”.
While attending the NRA Annual Meeting last week in Atlanta, GA, I met many people from all over the country. I believe that we as a citizenry have become accustomed to restriction and government overreach. Many of our fellow Americans act as subjects to the government, not free men and women, where government is rightly derived. We need to reconnect with our patriot roots and remember why our ancestors and forebearers risked everything to throw off the yoke of tyranny.
The memorial on Lexington Green was dedicated in the year 1799. Many of the people at the dedication were at Lexington and Concord on April 19th, 1775. There is no mistake of their resolve and intent. The monument reads:
Sacred to Liberty & the Rights of mankind!!!
The Freedom & Independence of America,
Sealed & defended with the blood of her sons.
This Monument is erected
By the inhabitants of Lexington
Under the patronage and at the expense of
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
To the memory of their Fellow Citizens,
Ensign ROBERT MUNROE, and Messrs. JONAS PARKER,
SAMUEL HADLEY, JONATHAN HARRINGTON, JR.,
ISAAC MUZZY, CALEB HARRINGTON AND JOHN BROWN,
Of Lexington and ASAHEL PORTER of Woburn,
Who fell on this field, the first victims to the
Sword of British Tyranny and Oppression
On the morning of the ever memorable
Nineteenth of April, An. Dom. 1775,
The Die was cast !!!
The Blood of these Martyrs
In the cause of their God and their Country
Was the Cement of the Union of these States, then
Colonies, and gave the spring to the Spirit, Firmness
And Resolution of their Fellow Citizens,
They rose as one man to Revenge their Brethren’s
Blood, and at the Point of the Sword, to Assert
And defend their Native Rights,
They Nobly dar’d to be Free!!
The contest was long, Bloody and Affecting.
Righteous Heaven Approved the Solemn Appeal
Victory crowned their Arms; and
The Peace, Liberty, and Independence of the United
States of America was their Glorious Reward.
Built in the year 1799.
Get involved, educate your fellow Americans about real American history. Reconnect to your patriot roots. Register to vote, communicate with elected officials, stand up against tyrants.
Stay armed, BE well regulated, and know better about what you are about!
Yours Most Respectfully,
Klint Macro
FOAC-Institute VP
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