Acrylics on stretched canvas
10" x 20"
2024
It's about 09:30 - 19th April, 1775. The Redcoats from Boston are on an expedition to seize the arms and ammunition from the Provincial Militia in the towns to the west of Boston. Warned by Paul Revere (and other's) famous ride through the night - the militia move at dawn to secure their supplies.
The Redcoats have been in a small action in Lexington and are now in Concord - searching the town. They hold the north bridge of the river to secure their rear. But a large militia force has gathered on the west bank and the Redcoats fall back to the east side of the bridge - attempting to destroy the bridge as they do. Their rearguard fire a few shots at the militia killing two and wounding others. A fatal mistake as it turns out. The Militia can see smoke rising from the town of Concord and assume the Redcoats have started to burn it. Major John Buttrick issues his famed order:
"Fire! For God's sake fire!"
The Provincial Militia using the Redcoat tactic of ranked fire - let loose and 12 Redcoats are hit - three fatally. The American Revolution just went from a smoldering wisp to a blaze. The militia from all the towns fall in on the Redcoat line of retreat and in a running battle drive them back to Boston inflicting 16% casualties and then bottling them up in a siege.
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I've researched the weather (post cold front which passed through in the night) state of the crops, topography, nearby housing, trees, wind direction (favored the Militia as their smoke blew down on the Redcoats), sun angle and the bridge construction. (The current one is the 7th reincarnation of the actual bridge!)