Given the importance of April 19, 1775 in our nation’s history, the editors of American Heritage have produced a special issue dedicated to the events of that day.

The conflicts in Concord and Lexington were much more dramatic and complex than most people realize. Following up on orders from Lord North's government, British commander-in-chief Thomas Gage ordered 700 of his fittest grenadiers and marines to make a lightning strike against the growing resistance to his Majesty's government. He gave them secret orders to set off in the middle of the night to Concord to try to seize illegal weapons and gunpowder, and try to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Needless to say, the expedition didn't turn out as planned.

The distinguished historian John Ferling leads off the issue with an overview of how the conflict began and the results of the "Shots Heard Round the World." 

Then we have an essay on the dramatic action at Concord's Old North Bridge by Rick Atkinson, one of the most popular and respected historians writing today. 

Michael Ruderman provides important details often left out of histories of that day in his essay on the forgotten battle of Menotomy, where more men died than in any other location on April 19, 1775.

Recently, I had a profoundly moving experience when I traveled to Alnwick Castle in northeast England to view the incomparable collection of maps of the Revolution preserved by Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland. He is a direct descendant of General Hugh Percy, commander of the British troops at Lexington, who collected dozens of maps relating to the war during four years in the American colonies and took them with him when he returned home. Many of the maps were drawn and colored by his engineers by hand—a priceless and unique treasure of details of the Revolution.

Looking carefully at one of the maps, labeled inconclusively as "A Map of Medford," I realized it contained specific details about the route from Lexington to Boston. After detailed analysis, I realized the handwriting on the map matched Percy's handwriting in his official report to Governor Gage, an original copy of which the Duke also owned. 

In other words, the map I was looking at was drawn by Gen Percy himself in the hours after Lexington—the first map of