Two hundred and fifty years ago, shots fired in Lexington and Concord set off the Revolutionary War. A new nation, independent from Britain, was about to be born.
Before dawn on Saturday, the Lexington Minute Men acted out the infamous battle on the Lexington Battle Green. The action began around 4 a.m., as reenactors — including the militia men and the many women and children portraying their families — milled about the town common.
Holding lanterns for light, they discussed the impending arrival of the “regulars,” or British soldiers from Boston, and whether the women should evacuate.
Shortly before 6 a.m., as dawn broke, the women and children walked off the common, leaving a rag-tag group of about two dozen militiamen to confront the British soldiers marching east from Boston.
You could hear their fifes and drums before you could see them, but a few minutes later, the battle green was full of red-coated soldiers holding muskets with bayonets at the end.
Both sides were ordered not to fire, but someone — history doesn’t know who — did. And the war began.
The battle itself only lasted a few minutes. At its conclusion, eight men from Lexington lay dead on the grass and the British marched on toward Concord.
The reenactment happens every April in Lexington, but this year, to mark the 250th anniversary, the town and reenactors went all out. And thousands of people from around the Greater Boston area and beyond came to watch.
“It’s so amazing to see how many people are excited about history,” said Justin Murray, an eighth grade social studies teacher in Leicester who portrayed a British sergeant in the battle.
Murray has been part of this reenactment, and others, for 13 years. And while historical accuracy is always paramount, he said this year everyone worked extra hard.
“So every single person in our group, for example, had new britches — those are the pants that we wear,” he said. In the past, they’ve worn cotton britches, which while not historically accurate, were easier to come by. This year, they splurged for wool pants.
“And we use our own money for this,” he added. “It’s hundreds of dollars just to get a new set.”
Spectators said they appreciated the effort toward historical accuracy. Tami Kellogg of Cambridge said she was thrilled to see women in the reenactment.
“It gave the image of the whole village,” she said. “It gave that image that it was really a community and a society that was impacted by what was really a war.”
Many in attendance had seen the reenactment before. But for Maya Benet, a 20-year-old Lexington native, this was the first year she felt motivated enough to wake up for it.
“I learned about this every single year from third grade onwards, so it’s incredible to see,” she said. “It’s so fun to see so many other people coming here today and celebrating.”
Despite rumors about right-wing protestors showing up, the morning unfolded peacefully — well, as peacefully as a reenacted battle can unfold.
By 6:30 a.m., the British soldiers were gone, marching on to Concord where the next phase of the 250th celebration picked up.
Later in the day, parades and other memorial events are being held in Lexington and Concord and other revolutionary towns in Massachusetts.
See photos of the reenactment in Lexington below:
And see photos from the Concord reenactment below:
