Meanwhile, the militia in Concord did not know what had happened in Lexington, other than that shots had been fired. They had intended to confront the British but retreated when they saw Colonel Smith’s full force on the road, a force which outnumbered theirs by almost three to one. Their commander, Colonel James Barrett, decided to surrender the town and moved his men out of Concord to a nearby hillside where they could watch the British. They were joined by militia from surrounding towns, which increased their number to several hundred.
The militia in Concord was unaware of the events in Lexington, knowing only that shots had been fired. Initially planning to confront the British, they retreated upon seeing Colonel Smith’s forces, which outnumbered them nearly three to one. Their commander, Colonel James Barrett, chose to abandon the town and led his men to a nearby hillside to observe the British. As militia from surrounding towns joined them, their numbers grew to several hundred.
The militia in Concord was unaware of the details surrounding the events in Lexington, only knowing that gunfire had occurred. They had planned to face the British but chose to withdraw upon encountering Colonel Smith's significantly larger force on the road. Colonel James Barrett, their commander, decided to surrender the town and relocated his men to a nearby hillside for observation of the British troops. Additional militia from nearby towns joined them, increasing their numbers to several hundred.
The militia in Concord had no idea what had happened in Lexington, only that there had been shooting. They had intended to engage the British, but decided to retreat when they met Colonel Smith's much larger force on the road. Their leader, Colonel James Barrett, opted to surrender the town and moved his men to a nearby hilltop to watch the British. They were joined by other militia from the surrounding towns, bringing their total to several hundred.
The Concord militia was not informed of the specifics of the Lexington incident, only that shots had been fired. They had intended to meet the British, but on meeting Colonel Smith's much larger force on the road, they retreated. Colonel James Barrett, their commander, chose to surrender the town and moved his men to a hillside to watch the British troops. More militia from the surrounding towns came, and their numbers grew to several hundred.