Archaeologists from the National Park Service have unearthed five musket balls fired during the opening battle of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts.
The musket balls were found during compliance activities conducted in preparation for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act project. These musket balls were discovered at the North Bridge site, a key location within the park where provincial militia members first fired upon British troops. This engagement marked the first time American forces advanced in formation and routed British regulars, leading to a significant retreat back to Boston.
The North Bridge battle is a pivotal moment in American history. On that fateful day, provincial minutemen and militia companies faced British soldiers who had marched from Boston to Concord in search of military supplies. As the colonial militia approached the North Bridge, British troops fired first, prompting John Buttrick of Concord to issue his famous order: “Fire! Fellow soldiers. For God’s sake, fire!” The resulting volley from the militia forced the British to retreat, an event immortalized by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his 1837 “Concord Hymn” as “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”
Minute Man Park Ranger and historic weapons specialist Jarrad Fuoss said: “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. 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.”
Further analysis of the musket balls has provided additional information about the battle. Each musket ball was fired from the opposite side of the river, supporting contemporary accounts that British soldiers had formed up to resist the river crossing by the militia.
The fighting which included skirmishes in both Lexington and Concord, marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The day began with a brief skirmish in Lexington, resulting in the deaths of eight militia members. The British then proceeded to Concord, where the conflict at North Bridge occurred. Historians note that the battle at the bridge resulted in 18 casualties, with more than 120 people losing their lives in the overall engagements of the day.
The newly discovered musket balls will be on display at Minute Man National Historical Park during the park’s Archeology Day events. As Fuoss emphasized, these artifacts serve as powerful reminders of the bravery and resolve of the colonial militia members who fought for their liberty nearly 250 years ago.
