Joseph Warren—all honor to him—had dispatched Paul Revere and William Dawes to ride with all speed to Concord and Lexington and rouse the whole country to resistance.
A company of one hundred and thirty Minute Men assembled on Lexington Common and awaited the approach of the enemy, but after staying some hours they dispersed.
At five o'clock in the morning the English appeared, led by the notorious Pitcairn.
The Minute Men had gone back to their homes, tired of waiting; but seventy, led by Capt. Parker, were roused and reached the common before the enemy.
Pitcairn rode up to them and exclaimed:
"Disperse, you villains! Throw down your arms, ye rebels, and disperse!"
The Minute Men stood defiant and still.
Pitcairn discharged his pistol at them and shouted to his men:
"Fire!"
The first volley whistled through the air, and sixteen of the Minute Men fell, dead or wounded.