Special Sub-Topic: Lexington and Concord Authored by: Genjenks Sub-topic of: American Revolution

What was the name of the commanding General of the British troops in Boston?

Thomas Gage. General Gage was sitting in the City of Boston and was criticized for doing nothing, so he finally went into the countryside towards Concord and inadvertantly started the full blown American Revolution.

What was the objective of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the expedition, into the countryside?

Provincial Supplies. His mission was to move to Concord under the cover of darkness, destroy the Provincial stores there and be back in Boston before sunrise.

The British Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Smith failed horribly in his objective of destroying the stores at Concord and Lexington.

True. Smith delayed his troops and didn't move out until about 3 in the morning and arrived at lexington in broad daylight! Though his soldiers took Concord, they never destroyed enough supplies to make a difference.

Who was the commander of the Lexington Militia when they made thier "stand" on the Lexington Common?

Captain John Parker. Captain Parker actually had his whole militia lined up hours before the British got there and dissmissed them to go home. Only those who lived far away stayed in the town.

What was the name of the other man who left Boston the same time as Revere and with the same message?

William Dawes. Dawes actually left Boston before Revere, but took a longer way and arrived in Lexington after Paul Revere.

When the British marched on Lexington, who fired first?

It is unclear. No one is really sure about this event. it is more likely that the british fired first, but there are chances that a Colonial sniper fired first.

The British troops were told to do what with the ammunition they found in Concord?

Put it in their pockets and drop it in the ditches all the way home. This is where the plan failed. The British soldiers did not scatter the ammunition far enough apart so after the British left the colonials simply walked down the road and collected the ammunition.

Before the battles and afterwords there was a spy for the British that the colonials trusted. What was his name?

Dr. Church. After the battles Dr. Church decided to go report some information to General Gage in Boston. The members of the Colonial Congress thought he was crazy to go to Boston and feared he would be hanged for treason. Someone actually saw Church come out of Gage's headquarters laughing and having a good time with him.

After the battles many militia from other colonies arrived and surrounded Boston and the British troops in Boston. Aproximately how many militia gathered there?

20,000 troops. The problem with having so many men there was there was no way to supply them. Also many of them were of much older age.

Who did John Hancock believe was going to be the first General-in-Chief of the continetal army?

Himself. He was almost sure of this when John Adams was giving his speech to nominate George Washington, and was apalled when he was not nominated.