The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-01

When the horse had nOun0ereQ out
of this, Revere had got we'll in ad-
vance up the northerly or right-hand
road, which led through Medford-
this route being longer by mile.
Revere reached Lexington without
further reverse, having reused and
warned the sleepy families along the
way. At a few minutes past twelve
o'clock (the morning of the fateful
10Th of April Revere rode along be-
tween the meeting house and Buck
mans tavern, northward past the
Green, to the house of Rev. Jonas
Clark, where the patriots Hancock
and Adams were staying. Here for
half an hour rider and horse took a
rest. Then arrived another messen
ger, William Dawes, who had come
all the way by land, through West
Roxbury and Brookline. The two
started off together to warn the peo-
pie at Concord, six miles further on.
They had gone but little distance
when another horseman came gallop
ing up behind them. He proved to
be young DR.. Prescott, of Concord,
who had been spending social even
ing with some friends in Lexington.
He was truly, as Revere described
him, "a high son of liberty;" and he
lent his assistance in awaking the
residents along the road and giving
the alarm.
About halfway between two will
ages, at a shady turn of the road,
Revere, who was in advance of the
others, was brought to stand by
line of mounted redcoats extending
across the way. He took the avenue
of escape-for he had not time to turn
his horse entirely about rode
through an open gateway just by him
into field. After him went two or
more of the redcoats.
Next DAVIS and Prescott came up,
were met by others of the British,
and turned into the field, pursued by
two or more of the enemy.
Revere had ridden toward the
woods back of the field, with the in
tention OF leaving his horse and es-
Gaping through the woods and fields
on foot to Concord; but out from the
shade of the trees there rushed on
him two other mounted redcoats, who
made him prisoner.
Nearly 800 British regulars were at
this moment on the march, and Con-
cord, with it's valuable military sup
plies, slept on, unconscious that be-
fore the sun had reached meridian
their village was to swarm with red
coats bent on destruction.
DIR. Prescott, perceiving several
red coated horsemen near the woods,
took his course at a gallop through
the middle of the field. He knew
both his horse and this locality well,
and led his pursuers short but live
ly chase. Having distanced them a
little, he wheeled his horse toward
the road, and spurred him up to the
wall, over which he made clear leap
to the highway.
The discounted redcoats turned
back without attempting to initiate
the breakneck feat.
While the British were securing
Revere and chasing DR.. Prescott,
Dawes had turned about and ridden
back the way they had come; but he
too was pursued by pair of mount
ed soldiers. His horse was quite
tagged with his long journey, and
the fresh horses of his pursuers were
up with him in the first quarter mile.
Near the road at this point stood
farm house, all dark and silent, and
Dawes rode into it's shadow and close
up to the porch at full speed.
AS his horse stopped short Dawes
slapped his hand down on his leather
breaches with resounding thwack,
and called out, as if to persons inside,
"Halloo, boys! I've got two of
'em."
The redcoats were struck with the
idea that a lot of armed Yankees
would the next instant rush out upon
them, and they whirled their horses
about and galloped away at their best
speed.
AS soon as they were out of sight
Dawes resumed his course back tow
ard Lexington. The next morning
the family found big silver watch
on the ground. Dawes had stopped
so suddenly that it had been flung
from his pocket. He had felt the
movement, but in the excitement of
the moment gave it no thought; but
his property was restored to him