After the British retreated back to Boston following the battles of Lexington and Concord, there wasn't another battle for almost two months. The conflict still continued in various ways, though, as both sides sought to secure supplies and defend positions. In June, Massachusetts again became the center for conflict as the patriot militia gathered around the city of Boston, preparing to face-off against the British troops there in an effort to contain them. The battle that followed was even bloodier than the first of the war.