n Hancock, who were looked upon as the leaders of the rebellion.

An expedition was sent against Concord, and eight hundred men marched
toward the town.

But the people of Boston were not to be taken by surprise.

Bells were rung and cannon fired, and the citizens were informed of the
expedition.

Joseph Warren--all honor to him--had dispatched Paul Revere and William
Dawes to ride with all speed to Concord and Lexington and rouse the
whole country to resistance.

A company of one hundred and thirty Minute Men assembled on Lexington
Common and awaited the approach of the enemy, but after staying some
hours they dispersed.

At five o'clock in the morning the English appeared, led by the
notorious Pitcairn.

The Minute Men had gone back to their homes, tired of waiting; but
seventy, led by Capt. Parker, were roused and reached the common before
the enemy.

Pitcairn rode up to them and exclaimed:

"Disperse, you villains! Throw down your arms, ye rebels, and
disperse!"

The Minute Men stood defiant and still.

Pitcairn discharged his pistol at them and shouted to his men:

"Fire!"

The first volley whistled through the air, and sixteen of the Minute
Men fell, dead or wounded.

The rest fired a few random shots and dispersed.

The English pressed on to Concord.

The people had quietly removed most of the ammunition, and the English
found but little worth taking. They started to sack the town.

While they were doing this the Minute Men had rallied and began to
assemble from all quarters.

A company of English guarded the bridge over Concord River. They were
attacked by the Minute Men and two English soldiers were killed. The
Minute Men captured the bridge, and the enemy began a retreat into the
town, and then on the road to Lexington.

On every side the patriots assembled. For six miles the battle waged.

Every tree, every house and barn sheltered the patriots, who poured a
murderous fire into the ranks of the retreating English.

Had it not been for the arrival of reinforcements under Lord Percy, the
English army would have been completely routed.

The fight continued right up to Charlestown, and only ceased because
the people feared the fleet would burn the city.

The first battle had been fought.

The English had suffered a loss of two hundred and seventy-three, while
the patriots lost only eighty-three in dead and wounded.

The battle of Lexington fired the country.

Within a few d