In what town were the colonists hiding gunpowder and weapons?

In what town were the colonists hiding gunpowder and weapons?

of Concord
The First Blow at Lexington In April 1775, a spy told General Gage that the colonists were hiding a large Page 2 supply of gunpowder and weapons in the nearby village of Concord.

In what town did the Massachusetts colonists store weapons and ammunition?

Gage ordered Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith to gather 700 British Army soldiers and march to Concord, where the rebels were reportedly storing mass quantities of arms and ammunition. Their orders were to find the stash and destroy it.

Where did the colonists get gunpowder?

Most powder was obtained from the West Indies where large quantities were available. Between the sixth and fourteenth of May, 1776, fourteen ships arrived from Martinique bringing 100,000 hundredweight of gunpowder. In mid-July of that year, twelve more ships arrived each carrying 10,000 hundredweight of powder.

How did settlers make gunpowder?

Gunpowder was invented by Chinese chemists in the 9th century. Originally, it was made by mixing elemental sulfur (S), charcoal (C), and “saltpeter” properly named potassium nitrate (KNO3). For the most powerful black powder “meal” a wood charcoal is used.

Where was gunpowder stored during the American Revolution?

Old Powder House, Somerville, MA, stored explosive gunpowder. Source: Wikimedia Commons As we know from our history books, the War for Independence began with the shots fired at Lexington and Concord. Those shots required gunpowder, a substance that was in short supply throughout the colonies.

Why did the colonists pass the gun law?

In 1619, Virginia passed a law criminalizing the transfer of firearms to “Indians” for example. The colonists were seeking to protect themselves from violent confrontations with “Indians”, and therefore passed laws forbidding the transfer of firearms to the native population.

Where was there a gunpowder shortage in 1775?

In 1775 there was only one American gunpowder mill, the Frankford Mill in Pennsylvania, and it was turning out a miniscule amount compared to what would be needed to wage a successful war. [1] In addition, this mill was not turning out the high-quality powder needed for artillery use.

What kind of weapons did the colonists use?

While most units used their personal weapons, a few arms were issued to the towns by the colonies. These muskets were held by the town and issued to men who did not have a firearm whenever the militia “mustered” on the town green.