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the Battle of Concord and Lexington

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set today a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee."

~ Concord Hymn, Ralpha Waldo Emerson, 1837

The Battles of Lexington and Concord, which ignited the American Revolutionary War, began with gunfire on April 19, 1775. The exact person who fired the first shot on Lexington Green remains unknown, but this action triggered open combat between British troops and the colonial militia, symbolizing the onset of the colonies' struggle for independence from British rule. These clashes were not only the first major military engagements of the war but also culminated in an American victory that significantly boosted militia support for the anti-British cause. The battles occurred across several locations in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, including Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (now Arlington), and Cambridge, marking the start of armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Patriot militias of America's thirteen colonies. Of the many women who played significant roles during this period, Sybil Ludington, known as the female Paul Revere, Sybil, at only 16 years old, rode 40 miles to alert American militia of British troop movements. Her courageous ride through Putnam County, NY, helped assemble militia forces to fight in the Battle of Danbury in Connecticut! ❤️ 🤍 💙 🇺🇸

Designed by Dina Farkas, this tartan is ntended for the sole use of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.


The Battle of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, marked the explosive start of the American Revolutionary War. It began as a covert British military operation aiming to seize and destroy military supplies stored by the Massachusetts militia at Concord. However, the minutemen of Lexington and Concord were forewarned by riders including Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott, who spread the alarm throughout the colonies. The initial skirmish at Lexington saw a small band of militia face off against a larger force of British soldiers, leading to the first shots fired and the first colonial casualties in the conflict.


As the British troops advanced to Concord, they found much of the munitions moved or hidden but continued their mission by setting fire to whatever supplies remained. The real turning point came during their retreat back to Boston, as hundreds of militiamen, alerted to the British movements, harassed and attacked the redcoats along the 16-mile route. This daylong engagement resulted in significant British casualties and marked a pivotal moment in American resistance, effectively igniting the widespread colonial uprising that evolved into the Revolutionary War. This confrontation demonstrated the determination and effectiveness of the colonial militia and foreshadowed the emerging struggle for American independence.


Some of the notable women who played key roles during this pivotal period were:

  1. Abigail Adams: Wife of John Adams, Abigail was an advisor to her husband and her letters provide a valuable insight into the political and social atmospheres of the time. She is famous for her early advocacy of women's rights when she reminded her husband to "remember the ladies" in the new laws of the land.

  2. Deborah Sampson: She disguised herself as a man to serve in the Continental Army under the alias Robert Shurtlieff. Sampson served for over a year before her gender was discovered, fighting in several battles and even extracting a pistol ball from her own thigh to avoid medical detection and discharge.

  3. Sybil Ludington: Known as the female Paul Revere, Sybil, at only 16 years old, rode 40 miles (more than twice the distance Revere did) to alert American militia of British troop movements. Her courageous ride through Putnam County, NY, helped assemble militia forces to fight in the Battle of Danbury in Connecticut.

  4. Mercy Otis Warren: A political writer and propagandist, Mercy Otis Warren was influential in shaping public opinion and encouraging colonial resistance. She wrote plays and pamphlets that attacked British authority in America and advocated revolution. Warren later wrote one of the earliest histories of the American Revolution, emphasizing the contributions of Patriots.

  5. Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley): Legendary for her actions during the Battle of Monmouth, where she took over her husband’s cannon after he collapsed at his post. She became known as "Molly Pitcher" for her bravery and because she carried pitchers of water to soldiers on the battlefield.

  6. Peggy Shippen Arnold: Wife of Benedict Arnold, Peggy was deeply involved in her husband’s treasonous exchanges with the British. Though her full role is debated, she is believed to have been a go-between for Arnold and the British Major John André and significantly contributed to the conspiracy that would have undermined the American cause.

  7. Penelope Barker: She organized the Edenton Tea Party, one of the earliest acts of political organization by women, protesting the Tea Act and the British taxation of the American colonies. This 1774 event was a bold statement of defiance against British goods and inspired other such movements.

  8. Phillis Wheatley: As the first African American and one of the first women to publish a book of poetry in the colonies, Wheatley's work was widely acclaimed in both America and England for its eloquence and artistry. Her poems frequently touched on themes of freedom and liberty, resonating deeply during and after the American Revolution.


For more on this landmark battle, click the coloured engraving, 'First Blow for Liberty - To the Memory of the Patriots of 1775' by A.H. Ritchie, 1858.

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