A key element of colonial militia tactics during the battles of Lexington and Concord was their emphasis on flexibility and mobility.

In contrast to the British, who typically engaged in battle using strict formations, colonial militias employed hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, and surprise attacks. This flexibility enabled them to confront British troops across various terrains, leveraging their knowledge of the landscape to gain an edge. Militia fighters could swiftly regroup and scatter, complicating the British efforts to maintain control and effectively respond to the colonial resistance in the early phases of the Revolutionary War.