If you know your history about the Revolutionary War, or live in Massachusetts, you've likely heard about the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Archaeologists working on the site, now Minuteman National Park, found musket balls that date back to that historic event. I've also provided a little history about the location and a link to battle history at the end of this blog.
Musket balls fired during ‘shot heard round the world’ battle found in Concord
By Dialynn Dwyer, Boston Com, July 9, 2024
Five musket balls fired during the event known as “The Shot Heard Round the World” on April 19, 1775 were recently discovered by archeologists working at the Minute Man National Historic Park in Concord.
Minute Man National Historical Park is the location of the opening battle of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775.
According to the National Park Service, the musket balls were found by archeologists during preparations for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act rehabilitation project.
Analysis of the musket balls indicates that they were fired by colonial militia members at British forces during the battle at the North Bridge in Concord, a pivotal moment when militia leaders ordered members to shoot at government soldiers for the first time, the park service said. They were found in an area where records indicate British soldiers formed to prevent anyone from crossing the river, and further analysis revealed they were fired from the opposite side of the river.
“It’s incredible that we can stand here and hold what amounts to just a few seconds of history that changed the world almost 250 years ago,” Jarrad Fuoss, Minute Man Park ranger and historic weapons specialist, said in a statement. “These musket balls can be considered collectively as ‘The Shot Heard Round the World,’ and it is incredible that they have survived this long. It is also a poignant reminder that we are all stewards of this battlefield and are here to preserve and protect our shared history.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson called the event “The Shot Heard Round the World” in his 1837 Hymn, marking the significance of the moment that immediately escalated the conflict between colonial rebels and the British, according to the park service.
The musket balls will be on display at the Concord national park on Saturday during events focused on archeology at the historic site.
ABOUT THE LOCATION: The North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts is often referred to as the location of the "shot heard round the world," and the beginning of the American War for Independence. On the morning of April 19, 1775 , Colonial Militia from Concord and surrounding towns exchanged gunfire with British regulars guarding the critical river crossing. Although the fighting at the North Bridge lasted only a few seconds, it marked the beginning of a massive battle that raged over 16 miles along the Bay Road from Boston to Concord, and included some 1,700 British regulars and over 4,000 Colonial militia.
FOR THE FULL STORY OF THE BATTLE: Visit the National Park Service Webpage: https://www.nps.gov/mima/north-bridge-questions.htm
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