General Gage, having ascertained that the Americans had collected a quantity of military stores at _Concord_, detached the grenadiers and light infantry, including the companies of the EIGHTEENTH, to effect the destruction of these stores. These companies embarked in boats, under Colonel Smith, of the tenth, on the evening of the 18th of April, 1775, and sailed up Charles river to the marshes of Cambridge, where they landed and marched towards Concord. At the village of _Lexington_ they were opposed by a party of American militia; some firing occurred, and several men were killed and wounded: thus the first blood was spilt, and open resistance followed. The King's troops continued their march to Concord, and effected the destruction of the stores. In the meantime the country had been alarmed for many miles, and, when the soldiers commenced their journey back to Boston, they were fired upon from behind the walls, trees, fences, barns, &c., on both sides of the road, and skirmish succeeded skirmish until they arrived at Lexington, where they were met by Earl Percy's brigade, with two field-pieces. The fire of the artillery checked the Americans, and the troops continued their march to Boston. The flank companies of the ROYAL IRISH regiment had two men killed and four wounded on this occasion. This open resistance to legal authority was followed by the appearance of multitudes of armed Americans in the neighbourhood of Boston, and on the night of the 16th of June they commenced throwing up entrenchments on the peninsula of Charleston, on a height called _Bunker's Hill_; and on the following day General Gage detached a body of troops, of which the flank companies of the ROYAL IRISH regiment formed part, to drive the Americans from the hill. The attack was made about three o'clock in the afternoon, and British valour was conspicuously displayed; but the Americans had a great superiority of numbers and a strong post. The King's troops were twice arrested in their progress, but by a determined effort they carried the height at the point of the bayonet, and triumphed over thrice their own numbers. The loss of the EIGHTEENTH was limited to three rank and file killed, Lieutenant William Richardson and seven rank and file wounded. [Sidenote: 1776] Although the valour and discipline of the British corps in North America were so conspicuous as to excite the admiration of their country, yet the few corps at Boston were beset by such multitudes of opponents, that it became impossible for these excellent qualities to be exercised with any prospect of ultimate success; and in the middle of March, 1776, the town was abandoned, the British troops embarking for Nova Scotia. [Sidenote: 1777] Soon afterwards the regiment received orders to transfer its men fit for service to other corps, and return to Europe: it arrived in England in July, 1776, and was stationed at Dover Castle, where it remained during the year 1777. [Sidenote: 1778]