On the morning of April 19, 1775, British Regulars passed through Lexington on their way to Concord looking for hidden rebel weapon caches. The Lexington militia, led by John Parker, formed up on the village green - probably more in a show of resistance than because they were expecting a real battle. The militia was badly outnumbered - about 70 of them to 700 British soldiers. John Pitcairn ordered the rebels to disperse, and they might have done so... except somebody fired a shot. Then, everyone started firing - those that weren't running, that is.