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Militia Give Chase, Surround Boston

Thus for a few trifling stores, the Grenadiers and light Infantry had a march of about 50 miles ... through an enemy’s country, and in all probability must every man have been cut off if the Brigade had not fortunately come to their assistance; for when the Brigade joined us there were very few men had any ammunition left, and so fatigued that we could not keep flanking parties out, so that we must soon have laid down our arms or been picked off by the rebels at their pleasure.

Lt. John Parker, British Officer

April 19, 1775

Boston, Massachusetts: Apr. 20, 1775. An estimated 4,000 armed but disorganized militia routed four British brigades returning to Boston after an abortive raid on a rebel armory near Concord yesterday morning. Early reports indicate the British suffered over 300 casualties as they retreated to their barricades in Charlestown, four miles northwest of the Boston peninsula.

Hampered by fatigue and 85-degree temperatures, the outnumbered British raiding party was an easy target for local militia who set up several ambushes along the 16-mile march. Rebel tactics of firing at the British rear and retreating into wooded areas before the brigades could return fire were branded as “cowardly behavior” by some British officers.

Other British officers who had fought with the rebels in the French and Indian wars are privately criticizing their superiors for underestimating the militia. Lord Percy, who commanded the infantry and grenadiers who rescued the retreating brigades, was quoted as saying, “Whoever looks upon (the rebels) as an irregular mob will be much mistaken. They have men amongst them who know very well what they are about.”

Many in the rebel camp voiced displeasure with their command, or lack of it. Of the estimated 75,000 rounds of ammunition fired at British troops, less than 300 hit their mark. Several militiamen contend that the British raiding party was out of ammunition when they retreated back from Concord and could have been destroyed. But no militia officer would give an order to advance on the town. Lord Percy’s brigades marching from Boston arrived in time to relieve their beleaguered comrades.

The rebels suffered less than 100 casualties. Local rebels have been joined by militia from all of Massachusetts and from towns in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Rebel troops, estimated at 9,000, have virtually cut off British occupational troops in Boston from the Massachusetts mainland.