American history reveals that a single shot ignited the American War for Independence, in 1775. In the Spring of that year, between the very late hours of April 18th and the wee morning hours of the 19th, Massachusetts men and boys got out of their beds with an intent to stand up to a formidable enemy. They gathered their powder horns, muskets, and shot and went out to Lexington Green. There they waited in the dark morning chill for the dreaded British troops who marched rapidly toward Lexington. Earlier, in the middle of the night, the cries of danger had swept through the Massachusetts countryside to warn citizens that the British troops were on the march.