Gage commanded four regiments of British regulars (about 4,000 men) from his headquarters in Boston, but the countryside was largely controlled by Patriot sympathizers.
Gage havde kommando over 4 regimenter af regulære britiske regimenter – ca. 4.000 mand fra sit hovedkvarter i Boston, men udenfor Boston var området i det store og hele under kontrol af Patrioter og deres sympatisører.