The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27
Fac S,nllr OF PoR1ohoF PoEH
w IONGFEuoWS WRITING

J Dawes had to run the gauntlet of the
British sentries; to get across the river
Revere had to evade the watchers on
the British frigate Somerset, for the
Royalists were guarding road and river
TO prevent any news of their move
ments getting out OF the city, but
Dawes and Revere eluded the senti-
nels of camp and ship. Once safely
across the river Revere procured a
horse and went dashing through the
night carrying the word of warning.
Dawes, travelling by the longer road,
rode just as bravely and just as hard.
Half an hour after Revere had reach
ed Lexington poor Dawes arrived. No
poet has sung his praise.
Not on Messengers Alone.
But as a matter OF fact. If neither
Revere nor Dawes had ridden that
night tho news of the movement of the
British troops would have reached
Lexington and Concord Just the same.
The men directing the affairs OF the
Continental cause were too clever to
depend at such a critical period on
messengers getting out of Boston.
Three days before the historic ride
Paul Revere had carried a message
from DIR. Warren to John Hancock and
samuel Adams, telling them the Brit
lsh troops We're preparing to move.
Fearing the British intended to seize
the military supplies stored at Con-
cord. the Committee of Safety had the
supplies distributed, Sudbury, STOW,
leicester Mendon, Groton. Stoughton-
nam. Worcester and Lancaster each
getting part. Then 1t was arranged
that when the British troops We're or
dered to move the fact should be Sig
nailed by lanthorn light from the bell
fry OF the Old North Church-one light
| IT the troops went by land taround the
neck), two If by sea (across the mouth
of the Charles River to Charlestown).
| The world always will view Revere
as the Messenger of the Revolution.
! The imagery of the poet has thrown
about his midnight ride a glamour that
/ VIII stir the hearts OF Americans so
! long as the nation endures, but Paul
| Revere made several other rides that
We're of moro material consequence
! even If they We're less picturesque
! than was the one to Lexington The
/ ride to Lexington catches the poets
fancy and thrills the patriots
soul because it was the curtain
! raiser to the Nations glorious
/ drama. but no particular attention
\ ever was given to Revere's ride tc
/ Portsmouth in IA or his ride to Phila.
\ delphia in November, rs. yet his ride
/ to Portsmouth had direct bearing
A upon the success of the battle OF Bunk.
or Hill, and had 1t not been for that
7 Philadelphia trip the Continental
, Army would have been in a bad way
for powder.
Two Important Rides.
| Somehow that Portsmouth affair
although 1t was the first warlike &C,
Of the Colonists, has received scan,
4 attention. 1t antedated Lexington by
! four months The British, to hobble
the Continentals. had prohibited the
Importation OF gunpowder and military
stores. Without powaer and arms tbs
Continentals could do nothing. In Ports,
mouth. n. H., there was q good supply
in Fort William and Mary. The ger,
r!soI consisted Of only six men
The Sons OF Liberty learned tina
General Gage intended to reinforce
the garrison or remove the stores
Revere was dispatched forthwith
to arouse the New Hampshire pa
triots. Four hundred mon swoopet
!, down on the fort. oyerawed tn
garrison. seized 100 casks OF pow
der and goodly supply OF musket
, and had the stuff hidden in Durham
before the frigate and sloop sent from
: Boston with troops arrived In Ports
mouth. Ii was part OF this gunpoW
!. der that reached the field in tho mel
I of time when the Continentals' am
munition gave out at Bunker Hill
8 In November l775, he was sent I
i philadelphia by the Provincial Consres
c OF Massachusetts, Among other thing