Who Fired First?

The incident in question occurred on the morning of April 19th, 1775, in the town of Lexington. There the Lexington Militia, under John Parker, assembled upon receiving news about “a number of Regular (British) Troops were on their march from Boston” (Parker). Both commanders were given orders not to initiate hostilities. According to Robert Douglass and John Parker, of the colonies, a company broke off to the left of the militia. Parker claims he ordered the militia to “disperse” in general. Douglas, however, clearly states, “The Lexington company began to break off on the left wing, and soon all dispersed...” The British accounts also confirm a company of the Lexington militia breaking off to the right of their own position. Major John Pitcairn states, “…when I came within about One Hundred Yards of them, they began to file off towards some stone Walls on our Right Flank-The Light Infantry observing this, ran after them…to surround and disarm them…” The other British account does not specify were the Americans were, but does say, “…they run off to get behind a wall” (Lister). The wall mentioned to the left of the Americans (to the right of the British) is where the first shot was fired. My guess is the Americans shot first. This is based on the interpretation of John Parker and John Pitcairn’s testimony. Parker claims, the British “made their appearance, and rushed furiously, fired upon and killed eight of our party…” Pitcairn reports, that his Light Infantry did run after the Americans in order to “surround and disarm” them. Parker did not interpret the infantries run as friendly, his company opened fire, and than took a defensive position behind the wall.

This, of course, is only a guess. The accounts differ too greatly to find the complete truth. Douglas and Lister both testified over fifty years after the confrontation occurred. Parker and Pitcairn have their military careers to worry about. No officer wants to be caught disobeying orders, and provoking hostilities was contrary to both the American and British orders. Maybe the commanders skewed their stories in order to avoid potential problems with their superiors. There is also a chance of each witness being in favor of his own country. The one thing that is agreed upon by all is the body count: eight dead and two wounded.