April 19th. this date in History

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[size=150]April 19th. this date in history[/size]

American Revolution
1775
The American Revolution begins

At about 5 a.m., 700 British troops, on a mission to capture Patriot leaders and seize a Patriot arsenal, march into Lexington to find 77 armed minutemen under Captain John Parker waiting for them on the town’s common green. British Major John Pitcairn ordered the outnumbered Patriots to disperse, and after a moment’s hesitation the Americans began to drift off the green. Suddenly, the “shot heard around the world” was fired from an undetermined gun, and a cloud of musket smoke soon covered the green. When the brief Battle of Lexington ended, eight Americans lay dead or dying and 10 others were wounded. Only one British soldier was injured, but the American Revolution had begun.

By 1775, tensions between the American colonies and the British government approached the breaking point, especially in Massachusetts, where Patriot leaders formed a shadow revolutionary government and trained militias to prepare for armed conflict with the British troops occupying Boston. In the spring of 1775, General Thomas Gage, the British governor of Massachusetts, received instructions from England to seize all stores of weapons and gunpowder accessible to the American insurgents. On April 18, he ordered British troops to march against the Patriot arsenal at Concord and capture Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock, known to be hiding at Lexington.

The Boston Patriots had been preparing for such a military action by the British for some time, and upon learning of the British plan, Patriots Paul Revere and William Dawes were ordered to set out to rouse the militiamen and warn Adams and Hancock. When the British troops arrived at Lexington, Adams, Hancock, and Revere had already fled to Philadelphia, and a group of militiamen were waiting. The Patriots were routed within minutes, but warfare had begun, leading to calls to arms across the Massachusetts countryside.

When the British troops reached Concord at about 7 a.m., they found themselves encircled by hundreds of armed Patriots. They managed to destroy the military supplies the Americans had collected but were soon advanced against by a gang of minutemen, who inflicted numerous casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Frances Smith, the overall commander of the British force, ordered his men to return to Boston without directly engaging the Americans. As the British retraced their 16-mile journey, their lines were constantly beset by Patriot marksmen firing at them Indian-style from behind trees, rocks, and stone walls. At Lexington, Captain Parker’s militia had its revenge, killing several British soldiers as the Red Coats hastily marched through his town. By the time the British finally reached the safety of Boston, nearly 300 British soldiers had been killed, wounded, or were missing in action. The Patriots suffered fewer than 100 casualties.

The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolution, a conflict that would escalate from a colonial uprising into a world war that, seven years later, would give birth to the independent United States of America.

[sse]

Great stuff, rondo...

[greyhunter]

Good read, thanks for the post.

[Rocklock]

Certainly not to take away from the events at Lexington & Concord but to add a little more historical info relating to historic dates.  Though not on the 19th as in the original post, today is April 21st.  San Jacinto Day in Texas.  The Texas Revolution was just 60 years after the American Revolution.  Here is a summary of the Texas revolution battles.

A helpful note:  Many Anglo Texans were Mexican citizens as required by Mexican law with businesses, Mexican wives, homes and families, not just invaders as sometimes depicted.  Many who fought for Texas independence against Santa Anna's harsh hand were Hispanic.   The city of Seguin is named for Juan Seguin a Tejano who fought for Texas independence.  There were non Texan Anglos, IE Crockett, who joined for what ever personal reasons.


Battle of Gonzales, Gonzales TX, October 2, 1835 This battle resulted in the first casualties of the Texas Revolution. One Mexican soldier killed

Battle of Goliad, Goliad TX, October 10, 1835 Texans captured Presidio La Bahia, blocking the Mexican Army in Texas from accessing the primary Texas port of Copano. One Texan was wounded, and estimates of Mexican casualties range from one to three soldiers killed and from three to seven wounded.

Battle of Lipantitlán, San Patricio TX, November 4–5, 1835 Texians captured and destroyed Fort Lipantitlán. Most of the Mexican soldiers retreated to Matamoros. One Texan was wounded, and 3–5 Mexican soldiers were killed, with an additional 14–17 Mexican soldiers wounded.

Battle of Concepción, San Antonio de Bexar TX, October 28, 1835 In the last offensive ordered by General Martin Perfecto de Cos during the Texas Revolution, Mexican soldiers surprised a Texan force camped near Mission Concepción. The Texans repulsed several attacks with what historian Alwyn Barr described as "able leadership, a strong position, and greater firepower". One Texian was injured, and Richard Andrews became the first Texan soldier to die in battle. Between 14 and 76 Mexican soldiers were killed. Historian Stephen Hardin believes that "the relative ease of the victory at Concepción instilled in the Texans a reliance on their long rifles and a contempt for their enemies", which may have led to the later Texan defeat at Coleto.

Grass Fight, San Antonio de Bexar TX, November 26, 1835 Texans attack a large Mexican army pack train. 4 Texans wounded and 17 Mexican casualties. Resulted in the capture of horses and hay (grass).

Siege of Bexar, San Antonio de Bexar TX, October 12, 1835 In a six-week siege, Texans attacked Bexar and fought from house to house for five days. After Cos surrendered, all Mexican troops in Texas were forced to retreat beyond the Rio Grande, leaving the Texans in military control. 150 Mexicans killed or wounded and 35 Texans killed or wounded.

Battle of San Patricio, San Patricio TX, February 27, 1836 This was the first battle of the Goliad Campaign. The Johnson-Grant venture, the first battle of the Texas Revolution in which the Mexican Army was the victor. From the Johnson forces, 20 Texans killed, 32 captured and 1 Mexican loss, 4 wounded. Johnson and 4 others escaped after capture and proceeded to Goliad. Johnson would survive the Texas Revolution.

Battle of Agua Dulce, Agua Dulce TX March 2, 1836 Second battle of the Goliad Campaign. Of 27 men of the Grant and Morris forces from the Johnson-Grant venture-12/15 killed; 6 captured and imprisoned at Matamoros; Six escaped, of whom five were killed at Goliad Massacre.

Battle of the Alamo, San Antonio de Bexar TX, February 23 – March 6, 1836 Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna personally oversaw the siege of the Alamo and the subsequent battle, where almost all 189-250 Texan defenders were killed. 600 Mexicans killed or wounded. Anger over Santa Anna's lack of mercy led many Texian settlers to join the Texan Army. (This battle is considered one of the most famous battles in American history and is the inspiration for dozens of movies and books).

Battle of Refugio, Refugio TX, March 14, 1836 Third battle of the Goliad Campaign. Texans inflicted heavy casualties, but split their forces and retreated, ending in capture. About 50 Texans killed and 98 captured with some later executions, 29 spared as laborers, survivors sent to Goliad and possibly 80-100 Mexican casualties with 50 wounded.

Battle of Coleto, outside Goliad TX, March 19–20, 1836 Final battle of the Goliad Campaign. In an attempt to rendezvous with other Texan forces, the southernmost wing of Texan army brazenly departs their heavily fortified location in the midst of oppositional forces. A battle ensues with 10 Texans killed, 60 wounded and 200 Mexicans killed or wounded. After the second day of fighting, a Texan surrender is agreed upon. Approximately 342 of the captured Texans were not pardoned but were executed on March 27 in the Goliad Massacre with 20 spared and 28 escaped. Anger over Santa Anna's lack of mercy led many future Texan settlers to join the Texan Army.
 
Battle of San Jacinto near modern La Porte, Texas, April 21, 1836 After an 18-minute battle, Texans routed Santa Anna's forces, eventually taking Santa Anna prisoner. This was the last battle of the Texas Revolution. 630 Mexicans killed, 208 wounded, 730 captured and 9 Texans killed, 30 wounded.