Shot heard round the world in April 19 1775?

On April 18, 1775, British troops were dispatched from Boston, Massachusetts to seize the stockpiles of gunpowder and rifles stored by the towns of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. British authorities, fearful of a coming rebellion, wanted to disarm the peasant farmers in a surprise raid.

The raid was not unexpected, but the timing of the attack was not certain. So a team of Patriot spies waited in Boston to warn the colonists of the attack. When the warning was given, by lanterns hung in the bell tower of Boston's Old North Church, the silversmith Paul Revere rode by horse to Lexington and Concord to warn the colonist farmers.

Alerted by Revere, the farmers were able to arm themselves and repel the British soldiers who had come to collect the arms. The resulting battle on April 19, 1775 was later termed "The Shot Heard 'Round The World". The British were forced to withdraw under fire without completing their mission.

More of a morale booster than a real military victory, the broadsheet newspaper accounts of the battle encouraged the colonials that it really might be possible to win in a rebellious war.