Revolutionary War-era ammo discovered at Concord

The United States National Park Service made a surprising discovery at the site of the first battle of America’s war for independence: some of the original musket balls fired by colonial militia against British troops.

Declared “the Shot Heard Round the World” by poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, the shots were fired on April 19, 1775, at Concord, Massachusetts on the orders of a militia leader. It was the spark that ignited the eight-year war which eventually liberated the colonies from British rule.

“Early analysis of the 18th-century musket balls indicates they were fired by colonial militia members at British forces during the North Bridge fight,” NPS said in a release.

Photographs of one of the musket balls discovered at the site show it is still in remarkable condition.

NPS said archaeologists working at the park discovered the ammunition while preparing the grounds for future repair work. Minute Man National Historical Park is receiving more than $27 million in federal grants for repair work under the Great American Outdoors Act.

In 1775, British forces were deployed to occupy the Massachusetts colony as tensions quickly rose between Britain’s parliament and colonial authorities. History says the British troops deployed to Concord fired at the colonial militia members first.

The colonists returned fire, marking the first time organized American militia fired shots against British troops in rebellion.

“The fighting at the North Bridge lasted less than three minutes,” NPS said. “When the smoke cleared, 18 men lay dead or wounded. Three British soldiers killed in the engagement remain buried in Concord to this day.”

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