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.
After destroying three pieces of ordnance, burning a number of carriage-wheels, and throwing a quantity of gunpowder and musket-balls into the river, the troops commenced their march back to Boston. On emerging from the town, the soldiers were fired upon from the walls, fences, trees, barns, &c., on both sides of the road; the country appeared swarming with armed men, and the troops were engaged fighting and retreating until they were exhausted, and had expended nearly all their ammunition; at the same time the numbers of their antagonists were constantly increasing. Fortunately, they were met at Lexington by the battalion companies of the KING'S OWN, twenty-third and forty-ninth regiments, with a party of marines and two field-pieces, under the command of Colonel Earl Percy of the fifth foot. The fire of the field-pieces checked the Americans; Earl Percy formed his brigade into a square, with the exhausted flank companies in the centre, and after the men had rested a short time, commenced his march for Boston. The Americans hung upon his rear in crowds, and kept up a constant fire; but the troops continued their march in excellent order to Charlestown, from whence they crossed the river in boats to Boston, under the cover of the guns of a man-of-war stationed near the ferry. The loss of the KING'S OWN on this occasion was Lieutenant Knight and seven private men killed; Lieutenant Gould wounded and taken prisoner; three serjeants, one drummer, and twenty-one private men wounded; and eight men missing.