The Other Civil War

[Fairfield]

Today is the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The British had waited in Cambridge for several hours that gave the colonial militia (as well as many onlookers) time to collect. While we don't know which side fired the Shot Heard Round the World, this was the outbreak of the first civil conflict.

 

[gary]

Truly it was America's first Civil War; just like the French and Indian War of 1755-1760 was the fourth F&I War on our Continent. We tend to forget the first three. Robert Rogers was a ranger in the third one and it introduced him to the concept of ranging.

 

[Fairfield]

Truly it was America's first Civil War; just like the French and Indian War of 1755-1760 was the fourth F&I War on our Continent. We tend to forget the first three. Robert Rogers was a ranger in the third one and it introduced him to the concept of ranging.

King William's War (the 3d of the wars) was very important in Maine where nearly half of the settlements were wiped out. A new theory concerning the Salem Witch Trials holds that traumatized Maine setters, fleeing back into Essex County in Massachusetts Bay, played a significant role.

Lexington & Concord marked the first civil strife. Not only did the population become divided between patriots and loyalists but the initial intent wasn't rebellion: colonists merely sought to maintain their rights as Englishmen. The firing by British troops on British citizens stunned the colonies.

 

[G Low]

Truly it was America's first Civil War; just like the French and Indian War of 1755-1760 was the fourth F&I War on our Continent. We tend to forget the first three. Robert Rogers was a ranger in the third one and it introduced him to the concept of ranging.

When I think of the F&I war I think of King Phillips war.and Col. Benjamin Church, the first ranger, putting king Phillips head on a pole in front of the gates of Plymouth. He did have a big head..

 

[R. Porter]

I seem to recall Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 being mentioned as the opening act for the later Revolutionary War. It seems to me that there was another conflict in the northern colonies the same year. They seem to involve Indians and a desire to retaliate against them conflicting with official government policy which resulted in a populist rising against the government if I recall correctly.

 

[Fairfield]

I seem to recall Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 being mentioned as the opening act for the later Revolutionary War. It seems to me that there was another conflict in the northern colonies the same year. They seem to involve Indians and a desire to retaliate against them conflicting with official government policy which resulted in a populist rising against the government if I recall correctly.

There was an earlier conflict (by a few wees) between the British and colonists but the battles of Lexington & Concord--which were only a few hours apart--are the official start.

Bacon's Rebellion was an uprising against the governor and I certainly agree that the issue was over methods of dealing wit indians--and not with the treatment of colonists.