Paul Revere was an American patriot who, in 1775, carried news to Lexington of the
approach of the British. He warned the patriot leaders, Samuel Adams and Johh Hancock of their
danger and called the citizens of the countryside to arms. This was the inspirations of Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride". (Martin 266-267)
In 1175, King George III instructed General Thomas Gage, the British commander in chief
in Massachusetts, to enforce order among the rebellious colonist. Gage then orders Lieutenant
Colonel Francis Smith to move to Concord with a detachment of 700 men. Once there they were
to destroy supplies and arrest Adams and Hancock for Treason.
On the evening of April 18, 1775 Smith assembled his force on the British Common. His
orders were secret, but the patriots had learned of them. Revere and William Dawes were sent to
warn Adams and Hancock in Lexington and the patriots in Concord. An arrangement was made for
a signal to be flashed from the Old North Church in Boston. Two lanterns meant that the British
would be coming by water, and one, by land. Revere directed this signal to be sent to friend in
Boston. ("Paul Revere's Ride: Explanation:)
Revere borrowed a horse and left Boston around 10 p.m. He arrived in Lexington at
midnight. Around 1 a.m. Revere Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott left for Concord. On their way
they were surprised by the British Calvary patrol. Prescoot and Dawes escaped, but Revere was
captured. Only Prescoot got to Concord. Revere was released, without his horse, and returned to
Lexington. There he joined Adams and Hancock, and they fled to safety in Burlington. Revere
returned to Lexington to rescue valuable papers in Hancock's trunk. On April 19, when the British
arrived in Lexington they found the minutemen waiting.
"Paul Revere's Ride" was published 88 years after the actual event. Longfellow suggests that
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