The British troops marched on to Concord to search for the stashed arms and military supplies. The villagers, forewarned, hid many of the supplies. What the redcoats found, they burned. After a brief and sharp scuffle with gathering Minute Men and militia, the British troops fell back and began a withdrawal to Boston.

By that time, news of the events at Lexington had spread throughout the countryside. As the British troops marched, men from nearby villages shot at them from behind trees and rocks. The exhausted British soldiers were very relieved when reinforcements arrived from Boston. With this help, they retreated to safety. The first shots had been fired; war had begun.

Over the next days, Dr. Warren treated American wounded and organized the volunteers who showed up to fight for the patriot cause. Soon more than 10,000 gathered outside Boston, ready and eager to fight. Artemus Ward, who had fought in the French and Indian War, took command of this ragtag army. He set them to work digging fortifications and standing guard.

 General Gage kept his 5,000 British soldiers inside Boston. Help was on the way. King George was sending warships, troops, and three generals—John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton, and William Howe—to America. One of the generals, Sir Henry Clinton, had grown up in the colonies. His father had been royal governor of New York. Sir William Howe had fought alongside colonists in the French and Indian War. As a member of Parliament, he had sworn that he would never carry arms against the colonists; now he had to take back that promise. John Burgoyne was a great favorite among the British soldiers, who called him “Gentleman Johnny.” He was a successful playwright and quite a dandy. When he heard that British soldiers in Boston were surrounded by angry Americans, John Burgoyne said, “The

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King's troops shut up? Well, let us get in and we'll soon find elbow room!”

 The Americans had fighting spirit but not much in the way of supplies. The volunteers brought muskets, if they had them, or showed up armed with sickles and scythes (both curved metal blades). One of their leaders, Benedict Arnold, knew they would never be able to stand up to the British without cannons. He offered to lead an expedition against British-held Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain. He thought he could easily capture the forts and their big guns.

 Arnold set off to find that someone else had the same good idea. Ethan Allen, the leader of a rough and ready group called the “Green Mountain Boys,” was also planning an attack against Fort Ticonderoga. Together, they led the Green Mountain Boys in a surprise attack. Giant Ethan Allen waved his sword and, with a roar, demanded surrender “In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!” The surprised commander surrendered the fort, along with its precious guns, boats, and supplies.

 On the same day that Fort Ticonderoga fell, the Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia. So much had changed since their last meeting. Some delegates still hoped for peace under Britain's rule. Others wanted to break from their mother country. Benjamin Franklin called for liberty. George Washington showed up in the blue and white military uniform he'd worn in the French and Indian War. Philadelphians went wild with excitement when Samuel Adams and John Hancock arrived (Hancock loved the attention—he rode through town accompanied by clattering horsemen with their sabers drawn). Hancock was elected president of this Congress. John Adams was everywhere, convincing all the delegates that they should work together. He proposed that the armed men outside Boston be recognized as America's “Continental Army” and that they be led by George Washington. Washington, when