New Uniform Brings Revolutionary History to Life Thanks to Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati Grant
On April 19, 1775 British General Thomas Gage dispatched a military expedition to Concord with the aim to find and destroy rebel military stockpiles there. Aside from the Light Infantry and Grenadiers under Lt. Col. Francis Smith’s command, a small support group of Royal Artillery marched to Concord with orders to destroy any artillery pieces they found.
Thanks to the Friends of Minute Man National Park and a grant from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, a new Royal Artillery uniform is allowing the park to discuss the diverse participants of April 19, 1775. After receiving the uniform in summer 2024, Park Ranger Jarrad Fuoss has put it to use for special 250th Anniversary programs at the park.
During the initial march to Concord in 1775, artillerists escorted a horse-drawn chase filled with the tools needed for destroying provincial cannons. Although the provincials in Concord moved a vast majority of their artillery out of the area, the Regulars did discover a few heavy iron cannons in the Concord jail yard. Using sledgehammers, the soldiers rendered the guns unserviceable. During the retreat from Concord, the Royal Artillery soldiers participated in the running battle that began at Meriam’s Corner and continued back to Boston. When the initial column of British soldiers reached their reinforcements in Lexington they discovered more support from two six pounder cannons and their Royal Artillery crews.
The Royal Artillery played a major role in the retreat from Lexington back to Boston, suffering one man wounded during their effort to push the militia away from the British column.
Minute Man National Historical Park has many plans to utilize this new living history impression during the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. Thank you to the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati for their exemplary support of the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Written by Jarrad Fouss, Minute Man National Historical Park Ranger.
Image above: Jarrad Fouss, Minute Man National Historical Park Ranger, wearing a Royal Artillery uniform. The uniform was funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati to the Friends of Minute Man National Park. Photos courtesy of NPS.
Images below: The new Royal Artillery uniform was put to excellent use at recent 250th Anniversary programs including “Behold, The Guns Were Gone!” The 250th anniversary and commemoration of stolen cannon and political turmoil in September 1774. Photos courtesy of NPS.
