Boston 1775: The Shot Heard Around the World (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

The Battle of Bunker Hill and the burning of Charlestown were the first major battles of the American Revolution. Brendan Morrissey describes how the sparks at Lexington and Concord ignited the smouldering resentment of the Colonists into the flame of a rebellion. Colonist militia were pitted against British Redcoats in a series of struggles which led the British to evacuate Boston and to George Washington taking command of the fledgling American army. He looks at the forces involved: the regulars of the British Army, the Royal Navy and the American militia and 'minutemen'. The opposing commanders are also examined and the book is laid out in order to clearly show each of the phases in this early part of the American War of Independence: Lexington and Concord, Bunker/Breed's Hill and the American siege of British held Boston. Finally, the author investigates the reaction in Great Britain, Europe and America to the rebel success. COVER......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 6 Colonial America......Page 8 Colonial policies......Page 9 Boston in 1775......Page 12 Gage's dilemma......Page 13 The British Commanders in 1775......Page 18 The American Commanders in 1775......Page 21 The British Army and the Royal Navy......Page 26 The American force......Page 30 The march to Lexington Common......Page 36 The action at North Bridge......Page 40 The withdrawal to Boston......Page 45 Boston besieged......Page 49 Charlestown peninsula occupied......Page 52 The British respond......Page 53 The final assault......Page 65 Washington takes command......Page 70 A noble train of artillery......Page 72 Reaction in Great Britain and Europe......Page 79 The American view......Page 80 LEXINGTON AND CONCORD......Page 82 BUNKER'S (BREED'S) HILL AND BOSTON......Page 85 CHRONOLOGY......Page 87 A GUIDE TO FURTHER READING......Page 90 WARGAMING THE BOSTON CAMPAIGN......Page 92 INDEX......Page 96 COVER......Page 98 Recounts events at the beginning of the American Revolution centered in Boston, including the battles which led to the evacuation of Boston by the British and the appointment of George Washington as head of the Revolutionary Army. Presents a study of the early days of the Revolutionary War and examines Colonial policies and politics, the opposing armies, Lexington and Concord, Breed's Hill, and Washington's command of the Continental Army