How to Probe the Truth Behind The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

Paul Revere was turned into a legend by the 1861 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The Ride of Paul Revere." But the poem contains many inaccuracies. Here is the truth behind the patriot's famous ride.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• General knowledge of pre-Revolutionary War America

1. Understand the basic facts. Paul Revere was indeed a messenger who sounded the warning of British troop movements on the night of April 18, 1775 before the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

2. Realize that the poem is incorrect to only credit Revere. Revere did instruct Old North Church Sexton Robert Newman to place one lantern in the steeple if the British were traveling by land and two lanterns in the steeple if they were moving via the Charles River. But both he and William Dawes began the journey on horseback.

3. Consider that the primary mission of Revere and Dawes was to inform fellow patriots John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the movements of the British Army, which was planning on arresting Hancock and Adams and seizing weapons that had been stored in Concord.

4. Study the ride itself. Revere rode from Charlestown to Lexington while Dawes took the long way around through the streets of Boston to Lexington. By the time they reached Lexington, more than 40 riders had joined them.

5. Separate more fact from fiction from the poem. It is certain Revere did not yell "The British are coming!" because he didn't want all the colonists to know about it. After all, most of them still sympathized with the British.

6. Read more about the ride. Revere and Dawes were eventually joined by a doctor named Samuel Prescott as they rode to Concord. All three were detained by British troops, but Prescott and Dawes escaped and only the former made it to Concord. Revere was escorted by gunpoint back to Lexington.

7. 
   The grave of Paul Revere

   Know that Revere, Dawes and Prescott did get the message through well enough for the colonists to repel the British in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Revere was abandoned by the British troops when the battle of Lexington began. He walked to the site of the battle, but did not participate.

Tips & Warnings

• Read more about the period just before the Revolutionary War. Events such as the Boston Tea Party continue to be fascinating to this day. Appreciate the courage and the moral conviction of the patriots.
• Don't believe everything you read. More than two centuries have passed since the Revolutionary War. If you're doing research about that period or any historical period, you won't find the truth in legend and folklore.

[AudreyBrown]

on 3/10/2008 I'm a history buff, I love it!

[JMOrganizations]

on 2/6/2008 Very interesting, thank you.