This is historic ground. Here was fought the first battle of the Revolutionary War. You will recall that the British vessels in the spring of 1775 were lying in Boston Harbor. The Colonists were prepared to resist any attempt of the Redcoats to seize their ammunition. This ammunition was stored at Concord, where it was put for the use of the Minutemen. The British soldiers landed on the night of April 18th. It was on that night that Paul Revere rode out to the towns of Lexington and Concord to arouse the Minutemen so they would be prepared to meet the British. About dawn, on April 19th, on this Common, some 70 or 80 militiamen, commanded by Capt. John Parker, blocked the way. Captain Parker commanded his men in the words that are engraved upon this stone. Above these words you see the musket and the powder horn such as were

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