In 1775

[Supercharts]

On this day in 1775 the American Revolutionary War started in Lexington and Concord. "The shot heard 'round the world."
The British went to Lexington to sieze some rebels and then on to Concord to sieze the Armory and it's gun powder. Having been warned the suspects fled. The British then started to burn Concord. Smoke alerted the farmers and they gathered at the Concord bridge.
The farmers fought along the river and up the hillside along a picket fence.
Today there's a statue of a farmer - his hand on the plow and the other hand holding his rifle.

Everytime I visit there I weep.

[Supercharts]

Here's the statue:

[Mahatma Kane Jeeves]

Concord Hymn
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set today a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

[Pyrrho]

http://www.ibiscom.com/lexington.htm

"Battle at Lexington Green, 1775," EyeWitness - history through the eyes of those who lived it, www.ibiscom.com (2001).


Just as I had finished and got back to my place, I perceived the British troops had arrived on the spot between the meeting-house and Bucknian's, near where Captain Parker stood when he first led off his men. The British troops immediately wheeled so as to cut off those who had gone into the meeting-house. The British troops approached us rapidly in platoons, with a general officer on horseback at their head. The officer came up to within about two rods of the centre of the company, where I stood, the first platoon being about three rods distant. They there halted. The officer then swung his sword, and said, "Lay down your arms, you damned rebels, or you are all dead men. Fire!" Some guns were fired by the British at us from the first platoon, but no person was killed or hurt, being probably charged only with powder.


After dispersing the Lexington militia, the Redcoats marched on to Concord where a battle with a large patriot contingent forced a bloody retreat back to Lexington and then to Boston.

[Richard G]

The last straw, that finaly encited the revolutionaries into open warfare, was the British attempt to disarm the colonists. This fact is often painted over with the other injustices commited against them, but this was the most heinous, unthinkable injustice in the minds of those who fought.

[Jedi Knight]

My birthday is today ;)

JK

[Bjorn]

Originally posted by Jedi Knight
My birthday is today ;)

JK Congratulations! Any cold beers for people passing by?

http://www.clipartworld.de/lay3/smileys/musik.gif http://www.click-smilies.de/schnellauswahl/ernaehrung004.gif