Posted by Rich on April 19, 1998 at 15:33:47:
I had meant to mention this earlier in my morning's Post, but, approaching GGGGdom caused it to slip my mind ...
On this day in history, some 223 years ago, a band of some 70-80 rag tag farmers & merchants, organized as militia, stood in the pre-dawn stillness on Lexington Green near Boston, MA, attempting to stand-off elite troops of the finest army in the World, numbering in the hundreds. Though the resulting skirmish was a colonial rout, later in the day "The Shot Heard Round The World" was fired at nearby Concord Bridge. By the time the British troops retreated to the safety of the garrisons in Boston, they had been badly mauled, saved only by the timely arrival of reinforcements. The seeds of revolution, planted during the French & Indian War, had reach fruition.
For those of you in the Boston area, every year, on this date, an excellent re-enactment of these events is presented. One of the "more deeply stirring to my blood" moments in my life has been standing in the shadow of Buckman's Tavern, and other historical buildings which surround the ground of Lexington Green, watching nervous militiamen fingering their flintlocks as the sound of British fife & drums could be heard, creeping ever-closer. WOW!
The Hallmark movie, "April Morning", is a pretty decent representation of these events, as well.