Lexington and Concord: 250 years on

Summary

Lexington and Concord: 250 Years On – A Detailed Summary

Introduction

In the episode titled "Lexington and Concord: 250 Years On," featured on the History Extra podcast and released on April 17, 2025, host Eleanor Evans engages in a profound discussion with historian George Goodwin. They explore the pivotal events of April 19, 1775—the first battles of the American Revolutionary War—and delve into how these clashes were reported, shaping perceptions on both sides of the Atlantic.

Prelude to the Conflict

George Goodwin begins by tracing the roots of escalating tensions back to the Seven Years' War. The British victory expelled the French from Canada and pushed them along the Mississippi River, but the aftermath left unresolved territorial claims. To mitigate fears of a French resurgence, the British stationed troops in America, leading to disputes over who would bear the financial burden.

Prime Minister George Grenville sought to recover war expenses through taxation, disregarding American rights. This led to significant unrest, marked by the introduction of the Sugar Act and, more critically, the Stamp Act. As Goodwin explains, the Stamp Act imposed taxes on printed materials, including "wedding certificates, playing cards, marriage licenses, and most importantly, newspapers" (03:37). This imposition ignited widespread protests, culminating in vehement opposition from the American colonies who believed only they had the authority to levy taxes on themselves as per their charters.

The repeal of the Stamp Act under the Rockingham government temporarily quelled tensions. However, the introduction of the Townshend Duties and the Tea Act by Charles Townshend reignited conflicts, targeting figures like John Hancock and challenging colonial smuggling practices. The fallout from the Boston Tea Party and the subsequent Coercive Acts further unified the colonies against British policies, leading to the convening of the First Continental Congress and the militarization of Massachusetts.

The Day of Battle: Lexington and Concord

As April 1775 approached, Governor Thomas Gage of Massachusetts, who also served as the commander of British forces in America, devised a plan to seize military supplies stored in Concord, located twelve miles from Boston. This action was intended to dismantle the burgeoning militia movement but was compromised—potentially by Paul Revere's spy network or Gage's own wife. Aware of the impending British move, colonial militias swiftly mobilized to defend their resources.

Key Figures and Commanders

The confrontation on April 19, 1775, featured several key figures:

• British Commanders:

  • Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith: Led approximately 1,500 British troops.
  • Marine Major John Pitcairn: Commanded the vanguard.
  • Brigadier Percy: The heir to the Dukedom of Northumberland, arrived with artillery support.

• American Leaders:

  • Dr. Joseph Warren: President of the Provincial Congress, orchestrated Patriot strategies and coordinated reports.
  • Captain John Derby: Commanded the trading yacht Quero, crucial for disseminating reports.
  • John Pitcairn: Initially underestimated the American militia.

The Battle’s Events

The British force advanced towards Concord, with a smaller contingent of about 200 militia confronting them at Lexington Green. Goodwin notes, "the militiamen were already moving into position" (09:57). Despite orders from Major Pitcairn for his troops not to fire, the situation escalated into violence. The exact moment of the first shot remains disputed, but it is widely believed that the British troops opened fire, resulting in the deaths of eight Americans on the green.

Proceeding to Concord, the British searched for munitions but found little. As they attempted to return to Boston, they faced relentless attacks from an ever-growing militia force employing guerrilla tactics. Goodwin describes the British retreat as "a slow sort of standard retreat exercise" under constant fire, leading to significant casualties—approximately a fifth of Smith's force lost compared to minimal American losses.

Media Battle: Who Fired First?

A central theme of the episode is the battle over narratives. Governor Gage's official British report attempted to portray the Americans as aggressors. However, this account lacked credibility and was met with skepticism in American colonies. In contrast, Dr. Joseph Warren spearheaded the American response, ensuring that their version of events dominated public discourse. Goodwin emphasizes, "the significance of the fighting lay as much in how it was reported as in what actually happened" (02:14).

The Role of Propaganda

The dissemination of information played a critical role in shaping perceptions:

• British Efforts: Gage compiled reports from commanders like Smith, Pitcairn, and Percy, attempting to suppress dissenting voices. However, only a handful of colonial newspapers published Gage's account, and it was largely ineffective. The British also resorted to broadsides for public dissemination, which did not gain traction.

• American Strategies: Under Warren's leadership, the Essex Gazette and other Patriot newspapers widely published the American narrative, highlighting British atrocities and framing the conflict as a struggle for liberty. Arthur Lee, serving in London, leveraged his connections to ensure that American accounts reached British newspapers, amplifying the American propaganda victory.

Goodwin highlights the effectiveness of American media tactics: "the British had to put something in the official government paper," but Arthur Lee strategically withheld critical information, allowing American stories to take precedence in the press (29:15).

Aftermath and Long-term Impact

The initial successes of the American militia, both militarily and in the realm of public perception, had profound implications:

• British Public and Military Reaction: The unexpected resistance and casualties dampened British confidence and highlighted the determination of the American colonies. Subsequent battles, such as Bunker Hill, continued this trend, combining military engagements with effective propaganda that undermined British morale.

• Rise of George Washington: As British defeats mounted, George Washington emerged as a unifying and respected leader for the American cause. His leadership and the strategic use of media ensured sustained support for the Revolutionary War effort.

• International Involvement: The portrayal of British inadequacies influenced European powers, notably France and Spain, to support the American colonies, culminating in broader international conflict against Britain.

Goodwin remarks, "the American version is the one to be believed," reflecting the successful establishment of an American narrative that influenced both domestic and international perceptions of the war (31:09).

Debunking Myths

The episode addresses several enduring myths surrounding Lexington and Concord:

• Paul Revere's Ride: Contrary to popular lore, Goodwin clarifies that Paul Revere was not the sole rider alerting colonists. Instead, numerous riders were involved in mobilizing militias across Massachusetts, dispelling the notion of a singular dramatic ride (09:31).

• First Shot Heard: The true sequence of events regarding who fired the first shot remains ambiguous. While British reports suggested initial American aggression, evidence from British soldiers captured by the Americans indicated that the British fired first. Additionally, a draft report by Brigadier Percy, discovered decades later, suggested that American forces opened fire, but this was never included in official accounts, leaving the historical record contentious (37:32).

Conclusion

The episode "Lexington and Concord: 250 Years On" meticulously examines the complexities of the first battles of the American Revolutionary War, emphasizing the intricate interplay between military actions and media reporting. George Goodwin elucidates how effective propaganda efforts by the American colonists not only influenced immediate perceptions but also had lasting impacts on the war's progression and outcome.

For listeners seeking a deeper understanding of the strategic communication that underpinned the American fight for independence, this episode offers invaluable insights. Additionally, those interested in exploring further pivotal moments in the Revolutionary War are encouraged to engage with the podcast's three-part series on the Boston Tea Party available on historyextra.com.

Notable Quotes

• George Goodwin: "The significance of the fighting lay as much in how it was reported as in what actually happened." (02:14)
• George Goodwin: "He was very keen for the information to be properly taken by justices of the peace, to make it official and properly written down and then published." (25:46)
• George Goodwin: "The British had to put something in the official government paper, which he did the next day... This was a propaganda victory as well as a military victory." (31:13)

Further Resources

To explore more about the transformative events leading to American independence and the strategic use of media in warfare, visit historyextra.com. Additionally, the May 2025 issue of BBC History magazine provides an in-depth analysis of the propaganda race during the Revolutionary War.

Transcript

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[Eleanor Evans]

Welcome to the History Extra podcast. Fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History magazine. On 19 April 1775, American militia and British regulars clashed at Lexington and Concord in what would become the first battles of the Revolutionary War. But as the historian Judge Goodwin reveals in this episode, the significance of the fighting lay as much in how it was reported as in what actually happened. To mark the 250th anniversary of the conflict, Ellen Evans spoke to him to find out more.

[Unknown]

Today we're talking about the Battle of Lexington and Concord, a key moment at the start of the American Revolutionary War. I hoped we could start with a very quick reminder of the flashpoints of escalation in these tensions. What was going on with, you know, taxation and coercive acts that had been imposed and particularly how in Massachusetts were these issues coming to a head?

[George Goodwin]

Well, we can go back to the Seven Years War, and this was a problem of success in the end because.

[Unknown]

As a result of the Seven Years.

[George Goodwin]

War, the French were removed from Canada and they were pushed down the Mississippi. But of course they did still technically.

[Unknown]

Claim vast amounts of land.

[George Goodwin]

So there was a fear that the French might try and make a return. So British troops continued to be stationed in America.

[Unknown]

Now, the question was who was going to pay for them and who was.

[George Goodwin]

Actually going to carry the cost for the war and for the continuing presence of the troops.

[Unknown]

Now, Prime Minister George Grenville of Britain.

[George Goodwin]

He was a bit of an accountant really, and he decided that the key thing was just to get the money paid. He didn't really care about trampling over the rights of Americans. And this caused a major problem.

[Unknown]

First there was the sugar tax and then more importantly there was the stamp.

[George Goodwin]

Tax, which was a tax on everything which was printed. So we're talking about wedding certificates, even playing cards, marriage licenses, and most importantly of all, newspapers.

[Unknown]

And of course, the newspapers led the opposition. Now, the key thing was, it was never a question of the money as.

Far as the Americans were concerned.

What the key thing was was that.

[George Goodwin]

In their charters it was clear that they were responsible.

[Unknown]

They had the right to tax themselves and this was an imposition of tax.

[George Goodwin]

And they reacted very, very badly.

[Unknown]

What then occurred was in reaction to.

[George Goodwin]

The Stamp act was massive protests and violence to the extent that with the next government under Rockingham, it was repealed. So things had supposedly quietened down. But then under Chatham's government, Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he introduced the duties that bear his name. And this was effectively opening the entire dispute again. Finally, of course, we have the Tea act introduced to help the East India Company, but basically an attack on smuggling of Dutch tea and a very key attack on one person in particular, which was John Hancock, who was sort of smuggler in chief, if you like, and.

[Unknown]

It was going to majorly destroy his business.

[George Goodwin]

Now, we know that the Boston Tea Party was in reaction to this and in reaction to all the tea being dumped in the harbour and the refusal.

[Unknown]

Of the radicals to pay for it. The Coercive acts were introduced by Britain, which, which effectively suspended the Massachusetts constitution.

[George Goodwin]

Introduced military rule and closed the ports and also closed the courts. Now, in reaction to this, the colonies as a whole, their approach was, if they do this to Massachusetts, they'll do it to all of us. And so therefore, of course, you've got the first Continental Congress. And meanwhile in Massachusetts, both sides started to arm. Now, there was almost a confrontation at Salem a couple of months before Lexington and Concord. But on April 19, Lexington and Concord would be the first battles in the.

[Unknown]

American War of Independence.

Okay, thank you. So that's a really whistle stop tour through a lot of those tensions. Little bit of a plug here that we have got a history Extra series on the Boston Tea Party and the build up, if you want to dive into this even more. So Boston Tea Party, December 1773, we've got the Continental Congress, September 1774. Now we're in April 1775. So George, what is happening in April particularly? Let's go to the 18th, 19th of April, take us into the senior year. How are tensions really reaching boiling point?

[George Goodwin]

Well, Governor Gage had the dual role.

[Unknown]

Of being governor of Massachusetts and he was also commander in chief of the.

British army in America.

[George Goodwin]

So as I said, it was a.

[Unknown]

Military occupation of Boston, which was really the centre of all the protest.

[George Goodwin]

Now, he planned to confiscate cannons and.

[Unknown]

Munitions in Concord, which was sort of 12 miles away from Boston.

[George Goodwin]

The reason being this was actually a.

[Unknown]

Major military centre for the steadily arming American patriots. So that, I mean it was the centre of 6,000 militia, really could be summoned from there.

[George Goodwin]

And his plans were betrayed. Now, we're not quite sure who betrayed these plans, whether in fact it was.

[Unknown]

His American born wife or whether it.

[George Goodwin]

Was Paul Revere's spy network. But the patriots got hold of this.

[Unknown]

And they then moved on the night of the 18th to fortify themselves in preparation for the arrival of the British troops and to cut them off. Now, Paul Revere is an important figure in this.

[George Goodwin]

He's not important for the so called ride.

[Unknown]

I mean, nobody had really heard much.

About Paul Revere as time went on.

[George Goodwin]

I mean he was incredibly important at the time. I mean he was a silversmith and.

[Unknown]

An engraver and responsible for a series of extremely brilliant but very critical cartoons and engravings of attacking the British governors.

[George Goodwin]

He was important for one particular engraving.

[Unknown]

Which was on of the Boston Massacre.

In 1770, where he completely changed the.

[George Goodwin]

Presentation to ensure that it was the.

[Unknown]

British troops were seen to be completely.

[George Goodwin]

And utterly responsible for the deaths of.

[Unknown]

The dozen or so men who were shot.

[George Goodwin]

Even though they were kind of ruffian sailors, in the engraving they were represented.

[Unknown]

As good bourgeois folk.

[George Goodwin]

And this was actually one sign of.

[Unknown]

The brilliance of the radical patriots manipulation of the press.

[George Goodwin]

Now, on the night of the 18th, what he was absolutely crucial for was not for a single ride as portrayed by Longfellow, but for the fact that.

[Unknown]

He had organised many, many, many riders.

[George Goodwin]

To go across Massachusetts and even further into other colonies to actually prepare the militiamen so that when the British troops over the night of the 18th and.

[Unknown]

19Th started moving, the Americans were already moving into position.

So putting aside then this picture of Paul Revere riding in shouting, the British are coming. The British are coming. Which sounds very much like it wasn't the case. The British are coming. To understand the movements of the British troops and why they were approaching the colonists in this way, we need to introduce a few figures. I wonder if you can give us a bit of an overview of the main players on both sides and why they were moving on Lexington Green on the 19th of April.

Well, the main players moving towards Lexington.

Green, the Overall commander was Lieutenant Colonel.

[George Goodwin]

Francis Smith and he was in command of 1,500 men.

[Unknown]

The man who was leading the vanguard was Marine Major John Pitcairn.

[George Goodwin]

And then another figure who was in.

[Unknown]

Boston in charge of artillery and in fact would become the overall commander through rank was Brigadier Percy. He was the heir to the Dukedom of Northumberland. So he was actually a major social as well as a major political figure on the American side.

[George Goodwin]

The most important figure would be Dr.

[Unknown]

Joseph Warren, who was a medical doctor, had been a journalist as well, had written a number of pieces for newspapers.

[George Goodwin]

Warren had taken over command and he.

[Unknown]

Was President of the Provincial Congress and he was the person who was in overall command of the patriots in Massachusetts. So he was a major figure and.

[George Goodwin]

After the battle he was the person.

[Unknown]

Who coordinated the reporting of it so brilliantly for the Patriot side.

[George Goodwin]

The other figure who played a very.

[Unknown]

Very important part after the battle was John Derby. Captain John Derby, who was the captain of the fast trading yacht the Quero.

[George Goodwin]

Which was owned by his father, who.

[Unknown]

Who also owned the Essex Gazette of Salem, which would actually carry the information about the battle.

[George Goodwin]

As for the sort of the key.

[Unknown]

Commanders of the militia, there was no.

[George Goodwin]

Sort of great figure.

[Unknown]

There were various different commanders, but they.

[George Goodwin]

Haven'T taken such an important role in the story.

[Unknown]

It's what happened afterwards that we need to be concerned with, I think in terms of key personalities.

And we will be going into what happened afterwards. But just to look at the militia a little closer for just a second, who were the men or the types of men who were fighting this militia and how prepared were they in reality, as opposed to what the British might have expected them or believed them to be?

[George Goodwin]

Well, they were very well prepared because a, they were farmers who knew how to handle a rifle, but they had.

[Unknown]

Been parading, organizing themselves for months as the situation had deteriorated.

[George Goodwin]

And there were a special elite group.

[Unknown]

The Minutemen, so named because they were.

[George Goodwin]

To be ready for action in a minute. And they proved to be extremely good shots.

[Unknown]

I mean, you would expect them to.

[George Goodwin]

Be because that's basically what their normal.

[Unknown]

Job was as farmers in order to protect their livestock.

[George Goodwin]

They had to be good with a rifle. And so it proved. And people like Pitcairn had been really.

[Unknown]

Pretty dismissive of the potential of the Americans. Gage had written to Dartmouth in London.

[George Goodwin]

And said, you know, oh, well, they might make a real fuss, but when.

[Unknown]

They'Re actually faced with real soldiers, they'll run away.

[George Goodwin]

And that just didn't happen.

[Unknown]

So the scene is set then for the 19th of April. What are the numbers like on both sides? How many troops are marching on Gage's orders and how many Patriots militia are massing in sort of defence of these stores?

[George Goodwin]

Well, I think we need to put it in the context of where they engaged. The entire British force was about 1500.

[Unknown]

Under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith. The smaller group of a few hundred arrived at dawn on Lexington Green and.

[George Goodwin]

They were faced by, according to later.

[Unknown]

Calculation, really about 200 on Lexington Green.

[George Goodwin]

And as I said, you know, the.

[Unknown]

Militia were ready to face them. Then, of course, we're into an area of great dispute about what actually happened.

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As in 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem put it, let's get into this shot. Can it be known who fired it first? What happened?

Well, the shot that was heard around.

[George Goodwin]

The world was actually not the one at Concord. That came later on the day.

[Unknown]

I mean, when I say later, a.

[George Goodwin]

Couple of hours later, the far more important shot was the one on Lexington Green.

[Unknown]

The question was, who fired first?

[George Goodwin]

Now it is thought that a militiaman earlier on, as the troops were moving, tried to fire, but actually the gun jammed, so that one doesn't count, as it were. Now, as far as the British report afterwards, a circumstantial account, as published by.

[Unknown]

Governor General Gage was concerned, basically, the.

[George Goodwin]

Americans, they opened fire that there were men behind walls and five shots were.

[Unknown]

Fired at the British troops.

[George Goodwin]

And continuing that account, first of all.

[Unknown]

There was an accumulation of reports.

[George Goodwin]

One from Francis Smith, said the troops had been briefed not to fire, not.

[Unknown]

To fire on any circumstances.

[George Goodwin]

And Major Pitcairn, Marine Major Pitcairn, who.

[Unknown]

Was with the vanguard, so he was.

The people who faced the militiamen on Lexington Green, he said that twice.

[George Goodwin]

He said, don't fire. Do not fire even when facing them.

[Unknown]

He said, don't fire.

[George Goodwin]

Now, the Americans had a completely different view. What they say is that when Pitcairn.

[Unknown]

Arrived, he shouted at the assembled men.

[George Goodwin]

On the green and told them to disperse, to drop their arms.

[Unknown]

And then the British opened fire and.

[George Goodwin]

Then there was much huzzahing and the.

[Unknown]

Officers continued to allow their troops to continue firing. And after which, of course, eight Americans, British subjects, were dead on the green. Now, after that, the British forces moved off because they wanted to get to Concord, and they arrived there at 9:00.

[George Goodwin]

When I say they arrived there at.

[Unknown]

9:00, basically, more violence broke out at 9:00.

Parties were sent to search for the.

Cannons and the munitions, and they didn't actually find anything very much.

[George Goodwin]

But meanwhile, the militiamen were starting to gather, those that had been sort of.

[Unknown]

Organised by Revere, so that by now.

[George Goodwin]

There were at least 400 militiamen at.

[Unknown]

Concord and there was more firing at the bridge.

[George Goodwin]

Now, again, there was a question of.

[Unknown]

Who actually fired first.

[George Goodwin]

And as far as prisoners taken by.

[Unknown]

The Americans afterwards were concerned, the British actually did fire first, but they would say that they fired in defence.

[George Goodwin]

Now, once the troops sort of gathered.

[Unknown]

Together, that is, the searchers and the rest of the British troops were concerned, they then started to retreat back towards Boston, which they were greatly opposed. They sort of paused at Concord and then they started moving towards Lexington.

[George Goodwin]

Now, all during this time, more and.

[Unknown]

More militia were arriving.

[George Goodwin]

Francis Smith and his troops obviously were the main force. I should have made it clear that, of course, they joined the vanguard at.

[Unknown]

Lexington after the initial firing. So you've got 1500 British troops involved.

[George Goodwin]

But as I said, the American militia.

[Unknown]

Their numbers started to grow and grow.

[George Goodwin]

And there was a pause from the attack, a constant attack. I mean, it was kind of like a guerrilla attack.

[Unknown]

If you like, of men firing at the British. The British moving very slowly, using one set of troops to defend the column, and then they would then be placed. And it was, you know, it was a slow sort of standard retreat exercise.

[George Goodwin]

Now, they paused again at Lexington, and this is where there was great sort.

[Unknown]

Of controversy, a very great difference about what happened.

[George Goodwin]

The Americans, in their report, said that.

[Unknown]

There was appalling British behavior, that in.

Order to clear the buildings from which.

[George Goodwin]

The militia were firing, they were doing things like pulling sick old men out.

[Unknown]

Of their beds and bayonetting them and.

[George Goodwin]

Pulling women in childbirth out of beds.

[Unknown]

As they actually started to remove people from the buildings so they could actually secure their retreat.

[George Goodwin]

Now the casualties were mounting.

[Unknown]

As far as the British were concerned.

[George Goodwin]

It would have been far, far worse.

[Unknown]

But for the fact that Brigadier Earl Percy, the heir to the Duke of.

[George Goodwin]

Northumberland, he arrived from Boston with artillery.

[Unknown]

To help cover the retreat, a retreat which continued until 7:00 in the evening, when they could get to the safety of Boston Harbour on one side, and with the assistance of Percy's guns, they.

[George Goodwin]

Had the firepower to sort of put.

[Unknown]

The American forces at bay. They were able to get into Boston.

[George Goodwin]

But outside, I mean, were an estimated.

[Unknown]

Thousands, thousands of militia, because they'd come.

[George Goodwin]

You know, from 30 miles away by now. And the British were really quite lucky.

[Unknown]

To escape with the casual figures that.

[George Goodwin]

They had, which were. If you put together the killed, wounded.

[Unknown]

And those that were captured, Smith lost.

A fifth of his force.

I mean, it's really quite large numbers. I mean, on the American side, the casualties were really quite small in comparison.

This is clearly a very complex day to understand. We have the skirmish at Lexington moving into the battle at Concord. There are lots of moving parts to understand. And what complicates this picture further is how it was reported next, as you've alluded to, what's the significance of how both sides represent what happened at Lexington and Concord?

[George Goodwin]

Well, it was highly significant because it.

[Unknown]

Was crucial to prove who was the aggressor.

We have to remember that this started off as a civil war. Both the American colonists and, of course, the British, they were subjects of George iii.

[George Goodwin]

I mean, in that sense, they had an equality.

[Unknown]

And the Americans were obviously very keen.

To prove that the British were the aggressors.

And similarly, Gage was very keen to.

[George Goodwin]

Prove that the Americans were the aggressors. So what then happened was, as I said, Smith, Pitcairn and Percy, they submitted their reports to Governor Gage, and he.

[Unknown]

Put these together in the circumstantial account, which it was as far as on American soil was concerned, didn't actually go down very well.

[George Goodwin]

He couldn't find a newspaper to print it and didn't do very well. In Boston, even the. What had been loyal newspapers, the most loyal, actually came out the next day.

[Unknown]

And said it was far too early to say what had happened, but it was absolutely appalling that the British subjects and Britons themselves had entered into a civil war. So, I mean, they didn't take the matter lightly at all.

[George Goodwin]

Then, outside Boston, if you take all.

[Unknown]

The papers in the colonies together, there were 37 of them. Only five printed Gage's circumstantial account, and some of those did so with critical comments. So in terms of being effective, not really very effective at all. So what he did is he actually published it as a broadside, which was used, if you like, as a poster on public notice boards. As far as the American papers and the American account was concerned, of course, every single newspaper covered it.

[George Goodwin]

Now, Gage brought his account out very.

[Unknown]

Quickly, that which was produced by the American side under the auspices of a.

Person who now should be considered the.

Major force, which was the President of the Provincial Congress, President Warren. He coordinated witness statements from the American side, but also from those captured British soldiers. Now, two of them who were sort of other ranks, they were definitive that the British had fired first.

[George Goodwin]

But another, Lieutenant Gould from the King's.

[Unknown]

Own regiment, he basically said that definitely he believed that the British had fired first at Concord.

[George Goodwin]

But putting together his evidence together with.

[Unknown]

That of the other witnesses, it really did point to the fact that the British had fired first at Lexington as well.

[George Goodwin]

Now, Warren was very keen for the.

[Unknown]

Information to be properly taken by justices of the peace, to make it official and properly written down and then published in the Essex Gazette six days later on the 25th.

[George Goodwin]

Now, Gage had already. By the 25th, he had already put.

[Unknown]

His report importantly on a brigade called.

The Suki, and the Brig was sort.

[George Goodwin]

Of just a normal sort of trading.

[Unknown]

Ship, would arrive in Britain from America in six weeks.

[George Goodwin]

But Warren took a bit longer. You know, he was very keen to have a. The piece in the Essex Gazette, key.

[Unknown]

Instructions to the captain of the ship to take the information back over and.

[George Goodwin]

And orders also for Benjamin Franklin, who.

[Unknown]

Was the representative of. Well, now, of course, of the Provincial Congress, but it was of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts in London to get the story into the newspapers.

[George Goodwin]

Actually, what happened was that Franklin had had to leave pretty quickly in March.

[Unknown]

From London, and his deputy, Arthur Lee, was the person to be used to get the message across.

[George Goodwin]

Now, one key piece of information, it was absolutely crucial that nobody could stop Captain Darby of the Quero, which was.

[Unknown]

The fast yacht trading yacht, that was to take the message over to Britain. Nobody should actually stop him, challenge him or even know what he was doing.

So there was a message, a particular.

Message in the instructions given to Darby from Warren, saying, keep these orders a.

[George Goodwin]

Secret from every person in the world.

[Unknown]

And you can't possibly get more secret than that.

Anyway, it took under a month, just under a month.

[George Goodwin]

I mean, absolutely extraordinary timing.

[Unknown]

Just under a month after leaving Massachusetts.

He crossed to Southampton and he got a post chaise.

[George Goodwin]

And a post chaise was basically, it.

[Unknown]

Was like the sort of the sports car of the time. I mean, it was the quickest way and the most securest way of getting to London.

[George Goodwin]

He met Arthur Lee.

[Unknown]

We looked obviously for Franklin. Franklin wasn't there.

[George Goodwin]

So he found Arthur Lee. And Arthur Lee had the most tremendous press contacts.

[Unknown]

He's written for all the major newspapers.

[George Goodwin]

He was also a sheriff, though he.

[Unknown]

Was sort of Virginian born and he was representing Massachusetts.

He was a great chum of John Wilkes, who was mayor of London.

[George Goodwin]

And so Lee had this very senior position under Wilkes of sheriff, and had.

[Unknown]

Obviously good connections with Wilkes.

But the key thing was the next.

[George Goodwin]

Day the London Evening Post, which was.

[Unknown]

Lee's favourite paper for this and also.

A very good way of setting up.

The story so that the morning papers could carry it the next day.

[George Goodwin]

They had the piece from the Essex Gazette and various other reports.

[Unknown]

But the key thing was that Lee held something back.

[George Goodwin]

He knew that Secretary of State Dartmouth.

[Unknown]

Secretary of State for the Colonies, the.

Man responsible overall for the government of.

[George Goodwin]

America from London, that he would have to put something in the official government.

[Unknown]

Paper, which he did the next day.

[George Goodwin]

But what had been held back by.

[Unknown]

Lee was further reports of the atrocities.

[George Goodwin]

Which appeared in the same newspapers as Dartmouth's. Rather sort of pathetic. Well, we don't have the full facts yet. Let's just wait to hear what we have from Governor Gage before we go forward. But over the top of that were.

[Unknown]

The second pieces from Lee.

[George Goodwin]

But most importantly of all, he slipped.

[Unknown]

In a little sort of message saying.

[George Goodwin]

If anybody doubts the authentic authenticity of these accounts, then please go to the Guildhall where the Mayor of London's officials will authenticate. So, I mean, game, set and match to the Americans in terms of getting.

[Unknown]

The message in first.

Now, the question is, you know, what had happened to the Suki?

[George Goodwin]

Where was it? Dartmouth was going completely and utterly bonkers writing to Gage and saying, you know, where is it?

[Unknown]

Where is your report?

[George Goodwin]

You know, we need to correct the.

[Unknown]

Misinformation being put across by the colonists.

[George Goodwin]

It arrived, the suki arrived eventually on.

[Unknown]

The 10th of June, so we're talking almost two weeks later.

And, okay, well, the news cycle then was not quite as speedy as the.

News cycle now, but it was too late. It was the patriot version that was believed.

Even people such as Lord George Germain.

Who is shortly to take over from Dartmouth to run the war, even he said that the American version is the one to be believed. And Horace Walpole, great commentator of the time, he completely agreed with that. So in terms of a propaganda victory as well as a military victory, the Americans had established a clear lead, if you like.

And this propaganda race, this race for the perception is a key thrust of your peaceful BBC History magazine, the May 2025 issue. So I encourage anyone listening to go and read that in more detail. And in that piece you write that initial perceptions created on 19 April 1775 formed the basis for a growing contempt for the British milit military leadership centred on disapproval on both sides of the argument and on both sides of the Atlantic. I wonder if we can go into what that means for the conflict to come for the next eight years.

As you can imagine, the defeat of.

[George Goodwin]

British troops by colonial forces was a major, major shock to people in Britain. And this sort of set a pattern, if you like, because the next battle was at Bunker Hill in June, and by then new forces had arrived from Britain together with. I mean, Gage was now sort of.

[Unknown]

Regarded as pretty useless.

[George Goodwin]

So they brought in top generals with battlefield experience, including General Howe, who was.

[Unknown]

The commander at Bunker Hill.

[George Goodwin]

And, okay, the British actually took the field. They forced the colonists into retreat, but.

[Unknown]

That was only after three charges where they lost a phenomenal number of men.

[George Goodwin]

And when the colonists ran out of ammunition. So again, it was a technical victory.

[Unknown]

For the British forces, but it was a propaganda disaster. Then it was followed by the siege of Boston.

[George Goodwin]

You have this extraordinary thing.

[Unknown]

All the radical forces and the radical.

[George Goodwin]

Printers, they all had to move out of Boston as it became a real military camp.

[Unknown]

Under first Gage and then Howe, you.

[George Goodwin]

Had a kind of transfer of population, people who would be regarded as the.

[Unknown]

Loyalists supporting the Crown, they would move into Boston and the Patriots moved out anyway.

[George Goodwin]

So George Washington comes onto the scene.

[Unknown]

In July 1775 and besieges Boston.

And this goes on until the following March.

[George Goodwin]

And in the end, the British evacuate Boston.

[Unknown]

They shouldn't really have holed up there in the first place.

[George Goodwin]

But the key thing was that Washington was seen as a sort of a proper gentleman counterpoint to the defeats of.

[Unknown]

The British and mistakes of the British.

[George Goodwin]

And most importantly, it was reported on.

[Unknown]

Both sides of the Atlantic.

[George Goodwin]

Again, it was seen to be a forced evacuation, when in fact it was a voluntary evacuation.

[Unknown]

So all through the war, and particularly.

[George Goodwin]

Centring around Washington in terms of the way that things were reported, there was always this particular sort of ability to.

[Unknown]

Influence opinion via the newspapers and via other sort of printed forms, such as the broadsides that I mentioned before.

And to that extent, it can be.

Referred to as the first great newspaper.

[George Goodwin]

War, certainly in America, but also in.

[Unknown]

Britain itself, because the majority of the.

[George Goodwin]

Papers were pretty critical of the way.

[Unknown]

That the war was going.

So that actually acted to lower confidence.

[George Goodwin]

If you like, in the British military establishment. I mean, there were great victories, of.

[Unknown]

Course, for the British in the campaign of New York in 1776, after the.

[George Goodwin]

Declaration, and again in 1777. But as far as the American side.

[Unknown]

Was concerned, they were able to keep.

[George Goodwin]

The flag flying a because of Washington's success after crossing the Delaware in two small battles.

[Unknown]

But after the defeats in the summer.

Of 1776, he was now sort of.

[George Goodwin]

Regarded as the great savior again. And again, the defeats in 1777, the.

[Unknown]

Newspaper coverage basically said, well, they were all a bit unlucky.

[George Goodwin]

So he was able to continue to.

[Unknown]

Be the sort of the mainstay, if you like, of the American cause and.

[George Goodwin]

Was seen as such on both sides of the Atlantic. Now, going back a bit to other.

[Unknown]

People who were looking on to see what was happening, and they were influenced by the perception of how badly the war was going for the Brits were.

[George Goodwin]

The French and the Spanish, and particularly.

[Unknown]

Referred to the French and the Spanish embassies in London before war was declared.

Before they declared war, they were helping.

[George Goodwin]

The Americans a lot unofficially, but they.

[Unknown]

Only actually finally declared war after the.

Disastrous defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga towards the end of 1777, after which, a few months later, France thought, right, okay, this is our opportunity to try and get our very important sugar islands back. And that was followed the following year by Spain and then, of course, in 1780, by the Dutch.

[George Goodwin]

So Britain had become the greatest power.

[Unknown]

At the end of the Seven Years War, but now they're all ganging up against her. It was looking very difficult.

So a sense then of Lexington and Concord in that broader story of the conflict which ultimately sees America gain its independence. Are there any other remaining myths about this particular battle? This particular day, George, that before we wrap up, you'd like to put to bed in this conversation?

[George Goodwin]

Well, I think that the major myths.

[Unknown]

Really are the ones that we've dealt with.

[George Goodwin]

But there was a follow up. I talked about the reports that were.

[Unknown]

Given to Gage for the circumstantial account.

[George Goodwin]

The one from Percy neglected a key element. It was in his initial draft, but he didn't actually put it in the.

[Unknown]

Final report for some reason.

[George Goodwin]

Anyway, the draft was discovered years and.

[Unknown]

Years and years later.

[George Goodwin]

It was discovered in the beginning of.

[Unknown]

The 20th century in a dusty box in the library at Alnwick Castle, home of the Dukes of Northumberland.

[George Goodwin]

And within it, the draft was revealed. And Percy in the draft had noted.

[Unknown]

That during the battle itself, before Gould was captured, Gould had told him that it was the American forces that had.

[George Goodwin]

Opened fire at Lexington, because he'd been there totally and utterly contradicting what he had actually said to the American justices.

[Unknown]

Now, had that been in the final.

[George Goodwin]

Report, that actually would have made quite a difference because it would have been a sort of, if you like, it wouldn't have been an antidote to what.

[Unknown]

Was in the Essex Gazette and the American report.

[George Goodwin]

It would have been, if you like, it would have been a predote because it would have got in before their.

[Unknown]

Story appeared in the newspapers.

[George Goodwin]

So that actually would have been quite important. But by the time it was sort.

[Unknown]

Of revealed in 1902, it wasn't really even remarked upon because the caravan of history had moved on.

[Eleanor Evans]

That was the historian and author George George Goodwin speaking to Eleanor Evans. You can read more about the race to tell the story of the shot heard around the world in the May 2025 issue of BBC History magazine or on our website, historyextra.com and to find out more about another pivotal moment on the road to the American Revolutionary War, then why not listen to our three part podcast series on the Boston Tea Party that's [e-mail] podcast or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thanks for listening. This podcast was produced by Daniel Kramer Arden.