Sculpted by Gary Casteel
 
1863 Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Monument Replicas
 
The Battle of Lexington, fought on April 19, 1775, in Lexington, Massachusetts, marked the first military engagement of the American Revolutionary War.  Known as the "shot heard round the world," it began when British troops, under the command of Lt. Col. Francis Smith, marched from Boston toward Concord to seize colonial military supplies.  Warned by riders like Paul Revere, local militiamen—about 70-80 "Minutemen"—assembled on Lexington Green under Capt. John Parker.  As the British column approached at dawn, the outnumbered colonists faced off against roughly 700 redcoats.  A tense standoff ensued, with orders shouted on both sides to disperse or hold fire.
 
The exact sequence of events remains debated among historians, but a single shot was fired—its origin unclear—sparking a brief but chaotic exchange.  The poorly trained militiamen fired a scattered volley before being overwhelmed.  Eight colonists were killed and ten wounded, while the British suffered only one minor injury.  The redcoats quickly dispersed the remaining Minutemen and continued their march to Concord.  This initial clash lasted mere minutes but symbolized colonial resistance and galvanized support for the Patriot cause across the colonies.
 
Later that day, the British faced far stiffer opposition at Concord and during their retreat to Boston along the "Battle Road."  Colonial militia from surrounding towns ambushed the British column, inflicting heavy casualties in a running battle.  By nightfall, the British had returned to Boston having lost 73 killed, 174 wounded, and 53 captured, compared to American losses of 49 killed, 39 wounded, and 5 missing overall for the day.  The events at Lexington and Concord demonstrated that the colonies were willing to take up arms against British authority.
 
The Battle of Lexington proved a strategic and propaganda victory for the Americans.  It unified colonial opinion against British policies, leading to the rapid mobilization of militia and the formation of the Continental Army.  News of the fighting spread quickly, inspiring declarations of support and recruitment.  Today, it is commemorated as Patriots' Day in Massachusetts, and the site of the "first shot" remains a focal point of American revolutionary history, embodying the spirit of defiance that ignited the fight for independence.
 
The marker is Located on the northwest corner of the Battle Green, in Lexington, Massachusetts.