What happened on the march back to Boston?

Most history books stop at Concord, devote a sentence or two to the militia’s “Indian fighting” tactics and then jump to the next major battle of Bunker Hill. 

But what really happened was a bloodbath.

The ranks of the Minute Men swelled to over 1500 as militia from Billerica, Woburn, and other small towns rushed to Concord. Following a route now known as Battle Road, the British marched back towards Boston. It was open season on the British soldiers. Singly and in groups, the Minute Men laid down sniper fire on the marching column. Small detachments of flankers fought back, inflicting casualties from musket ball and bayonet. With their commander wounded, the British army’s desperation turned to hope with, in Lexington, they met with a regiment sent from General Gage for their relief. 

The regiment had cannon.

Cannon fire and torch devastated Lexington and any other place the British thought might be harboring Minute Men. At the Monroe Tavern, the British attempted to regroup and tend to their wounded. When the tavern keeper attempted to escape, he was shot in the back.

In other houses, hand to hand fighting broke out. Innocent civilians were killed by frustrated and terrified soldiers. The British officers had lost command of their troops. Street fighting and ambushes from both sides drenched the road to Boston in blood. Before April 19th, the British had considered the Americans to be cowards. By nightfall, the British were prisoners in their own city.

At the end of the day, British losses were 73 killed, with a total of 273 casualties. The Americans lost 49 men with a total of 95 casualties.

And it was only the beginning.

Pictures from my Boston trip last year.

British graves

Battle Road

Monroe Tavern