How the Colonies Outside New England Reacted to Lexington and Concord

The bloody events of April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord marked the opening of the Revolutionary War, at least in New England. But how did the colonies outside of New England? It turns out, most reacted similarly.

New York

When the inhabitants of New York City learned about the bloody clash in Massachusetts on April 23, the city erupted in excitement and concern. “This whole city was in a state of alarm,” remembered one observer, “Every face appeared animated with resentment.”[1] Loyalist Thomas Jones, a justice on New York’s Supreme Court, disdainfully described the reaction of the city.

Isaac Sears, John Lamb, and Donald Campbell . . . paraded the town with drums beating and colours flying, (attended by a mob of negroes, boys, sailors, and pickpockets) inviting all mankind to take up arms in defence of the “injured rights and liberties of America.”[2]

The “mob” described by Jones marched to the docks and forcibly unloaded two ships full of foodstuffs destined for the British army in Boston.[3] They also broke into the public arsenal at City Hall and seized hundreds of muskets, bayonets and cartridge boxes as well as over a thousand pounds of gunpowder.[4]