The hostile feelings to the British government previously evinced by the Americans appeared to increase during the winter and succeeding spring; and the preparations which they made for open resistance indicated a design to make a speedy appeal to arms. General Gage, who commanded the troops at Boston, sent the flank companies of the KING'S OWN, and other regiments under his orders, up the country to _Concord_, to destroy a quantity of military stores which the inhabitants were collecting at that place. This circumstance occasioned the first blood to be shed in the contest. The flank companies were placed under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Francis Smith, of the tenth foot, and having embarked on the night of the 18th of April, in the boats of the men-of-war in the harbour, proceeded to the entrance of the Cambridge River, where they landed, and afterwards advanced up the country. While on the march, the troops heard the ringing of bells, firing of guns, and other sounds of alarm spreading over the country; and when the light companies, which were in advance, arrived at the village of _Lexington_, they descried a body of provincials formed upon the green. These men fired several shots at the soldiers, who immediately retaliated, and the Americans were dispersed with the loss of about ten men killed, and several wounded. The troops continued their march to _Concord_, and while the search for military stores was taking place, the light companies of the KING'S OWN and tenth regiment were posted on some heights in the vicinity of a bridge beyond the town. Meanwhile armed countrymen were assembling in crowds on the high grounds near the town, and a large body proceeding towards the bridge, the light companies of the KING'S OWN and tenth regiment descended from the heights and joined the troops posted at the bridge. The provincials advanced in great numbers, and firing on the troops, killed three men, and wounded several others; the fire was returned, and the detached companies joined the main body in the town.