Question: who was the leader of the small american militia force in lexington
Answer: Captain John Parker

title: Battles of Lexington and Concord
text: but belated decision to send a messenger back to Boston asking for reinforcements. Although often styled a battle, in reality the engagement at Lexington was a minor brush or skirmish. As the regulars' advance guard under Pitcairn entered Lexington at sunrise on April 19, 1775, about 80 Lexington militiamen emerged from Buckman Tavern and stood in ranks on the village common watching them, and between 40 and 100 spectators watched from along the side of the road. Their leader was Captain John Parker, a veteran of the French and Indian War, who was suffering from tuberculosis and was at times