The shot heard round the world happened right here at the northbridge. American history tv is in concord, massachusetts to learn about the battle that started the american revolution. By the bridge that arched the flood, the flag unfurled. Here the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world. Minutemen National Historical park was established to celebrate the activities and events which took place on april 19, 1775. Behind me is northbridge. This is considered to be the beginning of the american revolution, because it was here that americans, colonial militia if you will, and british regulars encountered one another, shots were fired, and lives were lost on both sides. More importantly, it was where the colonial militia was ordered to fire upon the kings troops , creating in essence an act of treason. Massachusetts was a royal colony. There had been tensions growing with the mother country cents the 1770s. Because of the tension, thomas gage was appointed to oversee. What started to happen was, as the decade were on, the were a series of events that would take place. The boston massacre and the boston tea party. The tea party was the destruction of private property. Because of the destruction, the Royal Authority had to punish Massachusetts Bay colony. One of these punishments was a series of acts called the intolerable acts. You brought in the real governor, now a british officer, had the closing of the port of boston, and the massachusetts government was shut down. That mean any town in the colony, they were not allowed to meet. So this was an affront for how people have been governing themselves for at least a hundred years. So, you have a series of responses which take place. Amongst those responses which took place was the reactivation of the militia system. It was a community effort. 60 were called to come out. Many companies would form. They were required to turn out at a moments notice, hence the term minutemen. You have these minute companies preparing for something. General thomas gage was aware of the growing tensions here in the colony. He was also aware of armaments that were starting to be collected run the colony, as well. Some armaments were stolen and secretive out of boston. Brass cannon was of particular interest. The home of colonel James Barrett is a place for some of this be stored. We will get to that in a few minutes. So because of tension rising, thomas gage wanting in april 2 see these armaments that had been collected, he wanted to do it in a secretive fashion. Im falsely, when you gather 700 soldiers on Boston Common to come to concord to collect arms, was not the best kept secret. Besides a system of alarm , words alarm riders the british army on the market out. As the british army marches down from boston in the Early Morning of april 19, they encountered 77 militiamen on lexington green. Nobody knows who did it, but shots were fired that morning. We would have seven and eventually eight colonials who would die on lexington common. The british would continue then to march towards concord. As they start to march closer to concord, the concord, lincoln and bedford militia gathered in morning, they see the british column coming up the road. Because of the sheer number, they decided to pull back. They were ahead of the british by about 500 yards. The colonials would come into concord, and then they would come into the northbridge area and go across the river. They would gather in an area behind me to the left. The main column of the british army gets into concord in the morning. Approximately 120 soldiers are dispatched to go towards the farm. 90 additional soldiers are sent to guard the bridge and the roadway. We are leaving northbridge parking lot now and on our way to the everett farm. Barrett farm. It is just under two miles. So, it was not in the center of town. It was certainly out a bit. On the morning of april 19, colonel barrett was not in the farm. He was already out and gathering the concord militia. As farmland, this area would have in have been devoid of a lot of trees. Some of these houses are modern, but some of them date closer to the period. As we get closer to the farmhouse, there would more out Holdings Part of it. Outbuildings part of it. That is typical of a new England Village most people if they had farms outside of town, they wouldve had outbuildings that supported the farm. So, the building coming up on my right is the barrett farmhouse. So, we have gotten out of the car, and we are here at the farm. It is here that general thomas gage had ordered his soldiers to look for canon that were presumably stored in the basement of the house. However, colonel barrett had away. Ed the material the resources arrived at the location searching for the canon. ,hey encountered mrs. Barrett who gave them permission to search the property. After searching, nothing was found. During this time period, some of the soldiers asked for food and drink. They had been up the day before. Mrs. Barrett allowed some food and drink. When they offered to pay her, she refused to accept any payment. However, some of the soldiers show throat some shillings atrophy. Threw some shillings at her feet. After a thorough search of the property, the army gathered back up and began their march back towards concord. At about 11 30, they encountered northbridge and saw that something had taken place there. Meanwhile, back in court back in concord, a lot of wooden implements used to carry cannons were gathered and heard in the center of the town. The residents implored the british to stop the fire, which they do. However, over on the hill, the gathering colonials, whose strength is now about 400, see smoke rising from the village of concord, and they do what most people would assume, that their house is on fire. They gather up in an orderly fashion, and they move on down with muskets loaded. The kernel starts to panic. He pulls his soldiers over to the side of the bridge. As they move over to the side of the bridge, some confusion occurs and a few shots are fired. As the colonials to closer, they fire upon the colonials. They do kill two soldiers. One is a captain and the other is a private. The americans and colonials fire back. Toy are given the order fire, forgot six, fire. Sakes, fire. They lose control. He pulls his soldiers back. We are not far from the center of concord. Lieutenant Francis Smith in concord starts to come up, and he encounters the british retreat back into concord. It is at this point that the colonials are not sure what to do, because some people break ranks and others gather back on the hill. At this point, there is a quiet, a lull. This takes place between 11 00 a. M. And about 11 30 when the british return from the farm. They see something has happened. They see that there are two dead british soldiers and they get concerned. One of the british soldiers was mangled badly in the altercation and a rumor begins to spread that colonials are scalping british soldiers. While the mission is complete, the army starts together back up and they will prepare for the , long, arduous march back. This would have also been part of the route of the british army going into concord and coming back out of concord. It might not be obvious, but on your left hand side, there is a ridge that runs along this road. There are houses and trees, but behind this is a ridge. That served as cover the colonial were gathering after the british marched into concord. Along the way, you are having minute Militia Companies gaining strength. That is the important thing to know, because by the time they are on the other side, there are about 1000. Now, the british are outnumbered. They were shocked by how well organized they were. Gage had a since this could happen. I dont think he, like a lot of the british soldiers, realized the sheer numbers that would turn out. And they just kept coming. Now, we are coming up on marions corner where we had a where the running battle would begin, by the house of the marion family. We have arrived at the marion house. What the concord militia does along with the other companies from lincoln, stowe, bedford. They gather over here as the british army starts coming out later in the afternoon. This is something that concerns Lieutenant Colonel smith, but he knew he had to go through the area. There is a point in the road that got very narrow. On one side it is very swampy and marshy. They had a tiny bridge and had to march three abreast. It was a chokepoint. Nonetheless, the army comes through. Most of the army gets through, they fire at the motion gathered here. The militia fighters back. You have what is commonly referred to as a running battle. From this location all the way back to charlestown, you have this title that will take place. At the end of the day, as the 700 soldiers make their way back to lexington, really soldiers will gather with panicky soldiers at this location. In the meantime, local forces continue to build in size and strength. By the end of the day, approximately 4000 colonial soldiers are starting to descend upon the soldiers of the king who are now retreating back to boston. The battle that will take place from this point all the way back to boston will claim the lives of at least 300 british soldiers. That is killed, wounded, and missing. Whereas the colonial forces only had about 93 killed, wounded, or missing. This is the beginning of the siege of boston, the beginning of the american revolution. Because of the bloodshed that took place on both sides and because the americans, the colonials, were ordered to fire on the british, and because the british broke and ran, this was considered the beginning of the american revolution. It would not be for another year that we declare our independence in 1776. Tensions have been growing for some time. It was first thought to be just a massachusetts issue, but it was found to be more than massachusetts, as time would tell. Our citys tour staff traveled to concord, massachusetts to learn about its rich history. Learn about concord and other stops on our tour at cspan. Org. Youre watching American History tv all weekend, every weekend on cspan3. Cspan, where history unfolds daily. Was created as a Public Service i americas Cable Television companies and is brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. American history tv was at the organization of american historians annual meeting in new orleans. We spoke with Hillary Miller about the national road, built in the early 19th century to unite the east coast and the western frontier. It was the first federally funded highway and is still in use. This interview is