Stand Your Ground
Lexington, Massachusetts,  April 19, 1775

In the early hours of April 19, 1775, Captain John Parker was alerted to  mobilize the Lexington Company of the Middlesex, County Brigade, Massachusetts  Militia in anticipation of a British 700 man-force which was marching to Concord  to capture provincial arms. By 2 a.m. Parker had mustered his company on the  Lexington Green. The Lexington Company of militia was typical of the period. The  youngest militiaman was 18, the oldest 63; eight fathers and sons served  together. Most were farmers, while some were veterans of the French and Indian  War. Just after sunrise Parker and his 77 militiamen stood in defiance of the  British advance guard. "Stand your ground," Parker ordered. "Don't fire  unless fired upon. But if they want to have a war let it begin here." Major John  Pitcairn, commander of the British advance guard, ordered the militiamen to lay  down their arms.  Realizing that his company was outnumbered, Parker  ordered his men to disperse. As the militiamen began to break ranks, a British  officer fired his pistol. Without orders, the British troops opened fire.  Although greatly outnumbered, the militiamen returned the fire. The battle went  on for several minutes all around the Green. When it was over eight Americans  lay dead and nine were wounded. The British quickly resumed their march. Later  that morning, Captain Parker reorganized his unit and marched to Concord. The  Lexington Company would later fight in the Battle of Bunker Hill and form a  company for service in the Continental Army. However, few of its members on that  fateful April morning realized that the Battle of Lexington would lead to the  Revolutionary War and American Independence. The Lexington Company and the  Middlesex County Brigade are perpetuated by the 181st and 182d Infantry  Regiments, Massachusetts Army National Guard.

A National Guard Heritage Painting Don Troiani