Fate and Significance of the Four Field Pieces

J.L. Bell tracks the small brass cannon's limited battlefield role and their later return and commemoration.

Play episode from 41:22

chevron_right

Transcript

chevron_right

Transcript

Episode notes

April 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

One of the lesser-known catalysts for these battles was the hunt for artillery. The British military, under General Thomas Gage, sought to seize weapons stockpiled by colonial militias, while Massachusetts Patriots scrambled to secure and hide weapons. This tug-of-war over firepower played a crucial role in pushing Massachusetts from political resistance to armed conflict.

To better understand how Massachusetts got to this point, we’re revisiting Episode 129: The Road to Concord, with historian J.L. Bell. John is the author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War and the prolific blogger behind Boston 1775.net.

John’s Website | Book

Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/129

RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

🎧 Episode 039: The Royalist Revolution

🎧 Episode 046: The American Revolution & The War That Won It

🎧 Episode 112: The Tea Crisis of 1773

🎧 Episode 130: Paul Revere's Ride Through History

🎧 Bonus: Stamp Act of 1765

REQUEST A TOPIC

📨 Topic Request Form

📫 liz@benfranklinsworld.com

WHEN YOU'RE READY