Revere and Dawes warn of British attack - Apr 18, 1775 - HISTORY.com Revere and Dawes warn of British attack Share this: Revere and Dawes warn of British attack Author Revere and Dawes warn of British attack URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1775, British troops march out of Boston on a mission to confiscate the American arsenal at Concord and to capture Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock, known to be hiding at Lexington. As the British departed, Boston Patriots Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on horseback from the city to warn Adams and Hancock and rouse the Minutemen. By 1775, tensions between the American colonies and the British government had approached the breaking point, especially in Massachusetts, where Patriot leaders formed a shadow revolutionary government and trained militias to prepare for armed conflict with the British troops occupying Boston. In the spring of 1775, General Thomas Gage, the British governor of Massachusetts, received instructions from Great Britain to seize all stores of weapons and gunpowder accessible to the American insurgents. On April 18, he ordered British troops to march against Concord and Lexington.

The Boston Patriots had been preparing for such a British military action for some time, and, upon learning of the British plan, Revere and Dawes set off across the Massachusetts countryside. They took separate routes in case one of them was captured: Dawes left the city via the Boston Neck peninsula and Revere crossed the Charles River to Charlestown by boat. As the two couriers made their way, Patriots in Charlestown waited for a signal from Boston informing them of the British troop movement. As previously agreed, one lantern would be hung in the steeple of Boston’s Old North Church, the highest point in the city, if the British were marching out of the city by Boston Neck, and two lanterns would be hung if they were crossing the Charles River to Cambridge. Two lanterns were hung, and the armed Patriots set out for Lexington and Concord accordingly. Along the way, Revere and Dawes roused hundreds of Minutemen, who armed themselves and set out to oppose the British. Revere arrived in Lexington shortly before Dawes, but together they warned Adams and Hancock and then set out for Concord. Along the way, they were joined by Samuel Prescott, a young Patriot who had been riding home after visiting a lady friend.

Early on the morning of April 19, a British patrol captured Revere, and Dawes lost his horse, forcing him to walk back to Lexington on foot. However, Prescott escaped and rode on to Concord to warn the Patriots there. After being roughly questioned for an hour or two, Revere was released when the patrol heard Minutemen alarm guns being fired on their approach to Lexington. About 5 a.m. on April 19, 700 British troops under Major John Pitcairn arrived at the town to find a 77-man-strong colonial militia under Captain John Parker waiting for them on Lexington’s common green. Pitcairn ordered the outnumbered Patriots to disperse, and after a moment’s hesitation, the Americans began to drift off the green. Suddenly, the “shot heard around the world” was fired from an undetermined gun, and a cloud of musket smoke soon covered the green. When the brief Battle of Lexington ended, eight Americans lay dead and 10 others were wounded; only one British soldier was injured. The American Revolution had begun.

Related Videos The Five Riders The Five Riders Glossary of Terms Voices of the Revolution: The Five Riders Thanks to the epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Paul Revere is often credited as the sole rider who alerted the colonies that the British were coming. Yet, despite this tale, there were many riders who went out the night of April 18 and in the years following, warning the colonists of the approach and movement of the British forces. Four men and one woman made late night rides, alerting the early Americans of what dangers lay ahead. They were Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott, Israel Bissell, William Dawes, and Sybil Ludington. Paul Revere Poets, historians, and schoolbooks have retold the story of the legendary ride of Paul Revere for more than two centuries. The most popular retelling is the poem entitled "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It begins: Paul Revere's Ride Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year.

Thanks to Longfellow, hardly a scholar or school child alive does not know the name of Paul Revere, and why he was important. Although his role has been embellished, it was still a significant one. Paul Revere, born in Boston in 1734 to a French Huguenot father and Bostonian mother, started his young life training to be a silversmith. After the death of his father in 1754, Paul enlisted in the provincial army to fight in the French and Indian War for the simple fact that it was the best job around. When the war was over, he returned to Boston to take over his father's silversmith business, only to fall into financial difficulties during the Stamp Act of 1765 . Frustrated by this gave him cause to join the Sons of Liberty , a group of men initially responsible for organizing early revolution efforts and develop a close association with Joseph Warren. On the night of April 18, 1775, Joseph Warren sent Revere to send the signal to Charlestown that the British troops were on the move.

Revere rode through northern Boston, through what is now Medford, Somerville, and Arlington warning the American patriots about the enemy's movement. Contrary to popular beliefs, Paul Revere never shouted the phrase "the British are coming," and instead rode swiftly and in secrecy northward. His journey ended in Lexington where he met other Sons of Liberty John Hancock and Samuel Adams . Afterwards, after meeting up with William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, the three men went their separate ways to improve their chances of escape from British officers stationed along the road. Revere would be captured by the British, but his comrades would be more successful in their journeys. William Dawes William Dawes Joseph Warren would not just send out Paul Revere that night, but would commission William Dawes to make the ride to warn the colonial minutemen as well. In 1896, American poet Helen F. Moore would be among the first to correct this minor oversight of history when she composed a parody of Longfellow's poem with her own version: Tis all very well for the children to hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere; But why should my name be quite forgot, Who rode as boldly and well, God wot? Why should I ask?

The reason is clear- My name was Dawes and his Revere. Dawes was born in Boston in 1745, and would become a successful tanner and eventual member of the Boston militia. On the night of April 18, Joseph Warren assigned Dawes, along with Revere, the mission of riding north to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock of their impending arrest, and to alert the colonial minutemen that the British were on the move. Dawes would arrive in Lexington approximately half an hour after Revere, because the latter's horse had supposedly been faster. Israel Bissell Ride to Philadelphia From the Hancock-Clark house in Lexington, the two men chose to ride onto Concord, meeting Samuel Prescott along the way. Unfortunately, they were met along the road by British soldiers. The three men split up, Dawes riding into the yard of a country house along the way, where his horse threw him off and then ran away. Unable to locate his horse, Dawes was forced to walk back to Lexington. Samuel Prescott With permission from Joseph Warren, Paul Revere arranged for Samuel Prescott to meet himself and Dawes on the road from Lexington to Concord the night of April 18.

A native of Concord, Massachusetts, Prescott was familiar with the territory and would be able to serve as a guide for the two men on their nighttime journey. When the three were met along the road to Concord by British officers and were forced to split up, Prescott would be the only one of the three to eventually reach Concord, carrying Warren's news to that part of the state. His knowledge of the terrain, and his daring horsemanship allowed him to reach his destination safely. Israel Bissell Unlike the more famous names of Revere, Dawes, and Prescott, Israel Bissell (also known to history as both "Isaac" or "Trail" Bissell) was the man who made the longest ride in mid April 1775, starting around the 13th of that month. According to legend, a professional post rider for the American colonists, Bissell rode four days and six hours along the Old Post Road , covering a total of 345 miles in that time. According to the story, he shouted along the way "To arms, to arms, the war has begun," in the sensationalist manner which would bring the most attention, and most likely make the best newspaper headlines.

Bissell began his journey in Watertown, Massachusetts, just to the west of Boston, and drove his first horse so hard that it died just outside of Worcester, Massachusetts. He continued down to Philadelphia warning the militias along the way. The American poet and historian, Clay Perry, in the manner of Longfellow, wrote an ode to Bissell with these opening lines: Listen, my children, to my epistle Of the long, long ride of Israel Bissell, Who outrode Paul by miles and time But didn't rate a poet's rhyme. Bissell had supposedly carried a message from General Joseph Palmer, which was printed in the newspapers of the day, including a misprint of Bissell's name. It read: To all the friends of American liberty be it known that this morning before break of day, a brigade, consisting of about 1,000 to 1,200 men landed at Phip's Farm at Cambridge and marched to Lexington, where they found a company of our colony militia in arms, upon whom they fired without any provocation and killed six men and wounded four others.

By an express from Boston, we find another brigade are now upon their march from Boston supposed to be about 1,000. The Bearer, Tryal Russell, is charged to alarm the country quite to Connecticut and all persons are desired to furnish him with fresh horses as they may be needed. I have spoken with several persons who have seen the dead and wounded. Pray let the delegates from this colony to Connecticut see this. The Old Post Road Interestingly enough, because these rides are so steeped in myth, Israel Bissell himself has become somewhat of a legend. Some historians argue that he never existed, or that "Israel Bissell" was the name given to a number of post riders who made the journey from Boston to Philadelphia. Palmer, who had commissioned Bissell, only dispatched him to as far as Hartford, Connecticut, where he would pass along the message to another courier, who continue along the next leg of the journey. This is the way that the first Postal Service was intended to operate. After this journey, Bissell enlisted in the Connecticut regiment and would eventually become a sergeant under Colonel Erastus Wolcott, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Even still, by riding from Watertown to Hartford, Bissell (or whatever his name actually was) rode the furthest of the five riders, and should be remembered for this service to the American colonists. Sybil Ludington The last of the famous night riders was, surprisingly, a woman. Although she would not make her journey until April 26, 1777, her service to the American forces was remarkable. The daughter of Colonel Henry Ludington, Sybil, at the young age of sixteen, would make a journey double to that of Revere (totaling 40 miles) to warn the colonists at Danbury, Connecticut of the approach of the British. Statue of Sybil Ludington at Carmel, New York Commissioned by her father, who knew that Sybil was familiar with the terrain, the young girl set out at 9pm the night of April 26 through Kent to Farmers Mills and then returned back home again, damp from the rain and exhausted, just before dawn. The men she recruited were too late to save the town of Danbury, which had been set aflame by the British, but they were able to drive the enemy troops from the area.

She was later commended by George Washington for her heroism. A statue of her (seen above) was erected along her route in Carmel, New York, along with many other markers of her historic ride. Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons Share-Alike License 3.0 To learn more about the Constitution — the people, the events, the landmark cases — order a copy of “The U.S. Constitution & Fascinating Facts About It” today! Call to order: 1-800-887-6661 or order pocket constitution books online. Advanced Search | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty. Showing results 1 – 5 of 5 Glossary Term – Event Paul Revere and others rode out of Boston to warn colonists of the British approach. Glossary Term – Event Battles of Lexington and Concord The American Revolutionary War began with the “shot heard ’round the world.” At the battles of Lexington and Concord, seventy-three British troops were killed and 200 were wounded or missing in action. The patriot losses were forty-nine dead and forty-six wounded or missing.

Glossary Term – Place Lexington Lexington, Massachusetts, was the site of the first battle of the American Revolution. Patriot militiamen engaged British forces en route to Concord on the Lexington Green on April 19, 1775. A shot was fired, battle broke out, and the American Revolutionary War began. Lexington and Concord [ushistory.org] 11c. Lexington and Concord Ready to fight at a moment's notice, minutemen began fighting early in the American Revolution. Their efforts at Lexington and Concord inspired many patriots to take up arms against Britain. Britain's General Gage had a secret plan. During the wee hours of April 19, 1775, he would send out regiments of British soldiers quartered in Boston. Their destinations were Lexington, where they would capture Colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, then Concord, where they would seize gunpowder. But spies and friends of the Americans leaked word of Gage's plan. Two lanterns hanging from Boston's North Church informed the countryside that the British were going to attack by sea. A series of horseback riders — men such as Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr.

Samuel Prescott — galloped off to warn the countryside that the Regulars (British troops) were coming. Regulars It is a myth that Revere and other riders shouted, "The British are coming!" This warning would have confused a good many of the Americans living in the countryside who still considered themselves British. The Regulars were known to be British soldiers. We set off for Concord, and were overtaken by a young gentleman named Prescot, who belonged to Concord, and was going home. When we had got about half way from Lexington to Concord, the other two stopped at a house to awake the men, I kept along .... In an instant I saw four of them, who rode up to me with their pistols in their bands, said ''G---d d---n you, stop. If you go an inch further, you are a dead man.'' Immediately Mr. Prescot came up. We attempted to get through them, but they kept before us, and swore if we did not turn in to that pasture, they would blow our brains out, (they had placed themselves opposite to a pair of bars, and had taken the bars down). They forced us in. When we had got in, Mr.

Prescot said "Put on!" He took to the left, I to the right ... Just as I reached it, out started six officers, seized my bridle, put their pistols to my breast, ordered me to dismount, which I did. – Paul Revere, "Account of Midnight Ride to Lexington" (1775) Lexington and the Minutemen The first battle of the war, Lexington marked the beginning of the American Revolution. Although Lexington and Concord were considered British military victories, they gave a moral boost to the American colonists. Word spread from town to town, and militias prepared to confront the British and help their neighbors in Lexington and Concord. These Colonial militias had originally been organized to defend settlers from civil unrest and attacks by French or Native Americans. Selected members of the militia were called minutemen because they could be ready to fight in a minute's time. Sure enough, when the advance guard of nearly 240 British soldiers arrived in Lexington, they found about 70 minutemen formed on the Lexington Green awaiting them. Both sides eyed each other warily, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the morning air.

It was "the shot heard round the world." Concord Thomas Gage was appointed commander in chief of all British forces in North America in 1763. The numerically superior British killed seven Americans on Lexington Green and marched off to Concord with new regiments who had joined them. But American militias arriving at Concord thwarted the British advance. As the British retreated toward Boston, new waves of Colonial militia intercepted them. Shooting from behind fences and trees, the militias inflicted over 125 casualties, including several officers. The ferocity of the encounter surprised both sides. Lt. Col. Smith's Report to Gen. Gage In obedience to your Excellency's commands, I marched on the evening of the 18th inst. with the corps of grenadiers and light infantry for Concord, to execute your Excellency's orders with respect to destroying all ammunition, artillery, tents, &c., collected there, which was effected, having knocked off the trunnions of three pieces of iron ordnance, some new gun carriages, a great number of carriage wheels burnt, a considerable quantity of flour, some gunpowder and musket balls, with other small articles thrown into the river.

Notwithstanding we marched with the utmost expedition and secrecy, we found the country had intelligence or strong suspicion of our coming, and fired many signal guns, and rung the alarm bells repeatedly; and were informed, when at Concord, that some cannon had been taken out of the town that day, that others, with some stores, had been carried three days before .... I think it proper to observe, that when I had got some miles on the march from Boston, I detached six light infantry companies to march with all expedition to seize the two bridges on different roads beyond Concord. On these companies' arrival at Lexington, I understand, from the report of Major Pitcairn, who was with them, and from many officers, that they found on a green close to the road a body of the country people drawn up in military order, with arms and accoutrements, and, as appeared after, loaded; and that they had posted some men in a dwelling and Meeting-house.

Our troops advanced towards them, without any intention of injuring them, further than to inquire the reason of their being thus assembled, and, if not satisfactory, to have secured their arms; but they in confusion went off, principally to the left, only one of them fired before he went off, and three or four more jumped over a wall and fired from behind it among the soldiers; on which the troops returned it, and killed several of them. They likewise fired on the soldiers from the Meeting and dwelling-house. We had one man wounded, and Major Pitcairn's horse shot in two places. Rather earlier than this, on the road, a country man from behind a wall had snapped his piece at Lieutenants Adair and Sutherland, but it flashed and did not go off. After this we saw some in the woods, but marched on to Concord without anything further happening. While at Concord we saw vast numbers assembling in many parts; at one of the bridges they marched down, with a very considerable body, on the light infantry posted there. On their coming pretty near, one of our men fired on them, which they returned; on which an action ensued, and some few were killed and wounded.

In this affair, it appears that after the bridge was quitted, they scalped and otherwise ill-treated one or two of the men who were either killed or severely wounded, being seen by a party that marched by soon after. At Concord we found very few inhabitants in the town; those we met with both Major Pitcairn and myself took all possible pains to convince that we meant them no injury, and that if they opened their doors when required to search for military stores, not the slightest mischief would be done. We had opportunities of convincing them of our good intentions, but they were sulky; and one of them even struck Major Pitcairn.

On our leaving Concord to return to Boston, they began to fire on us from behind the walls, ditches, trees, etc., which, as we marched, increased to a very great degree, and continued without the intermission of five minutes altogether, for, I believe, upwards of eighteen miles; so that I can't think but it must have been a preconcerted scheme in them, to attack the King's troops the first favourable opportunity that offered, otherwise, I think they could not, in so short a time as from our marching out, have raised such a numerous body, and for so great a space of ground. Notwithstanding the enemy's numbers, they did not make one gallant effort during so long an action, though our men were so very much fatigued, but kept under cover. – Lieutenant Colonel Smith, 10th Regiment of Foot, letter to General Gage (April 22, 1775) The first bloodshed at Lexington and Concord, marked the crossing of a threshold, and the momentum from these events pushed both sides farther apart. Following the battles, neither the British nor the Americans knew what to expect next.

Indignation against the British ran high in the Colonies — for they had shed American blood on American soil. Radicals such as Sam Adams took advantage of the bloodshed to increase tensions through propaganda and rumor-spreading. The Americans surrounded the town of Boston, and the rebel army started gaining many new recruits. During the battles of Lexington and Concord, 73 British soldiers had been killed and 174 wounded; 26 were missing. Lord Percy, who led the British back into Boston after the defeat suffered at Concord, wrote back to London, "Whoever looks upon them [the Rebels] as an irregular mob will be much mistaken." Three British major generals — William Howe, Henry Clinton, and "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne — were brought to Boston to lend their expertise and experience to the situation. Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen Join the Cause Shortly after the battle, an express rider carried the news to New Haven, Connecticut, where a local militia commander and wealthy shopkeeper named Benedict Arnold demanded the keys to a local powder house. After arming himself and paying money from his own pocket to outfit a group of militia from Massachusetts, Arnold and his men set off for upstate New York.

He was searching for artillery that was badly needed for the Colonial effort and reckoned that he could commandeer some cannon by capturing Fort Ticonderoga, a rotting relic from the French and Indian War. Up in the Hampshire Grants, part of modern-day Vermont, Ethan Allen who led a group called the Green Mountain Boys, also had the idea to capture Fort Ticonderoga. The two reluctantly worked together and surprised the poorly manned British fort before dawn on May 10, 1775. The fort's commander had been asleep and surrendered in his pajamas! Home - Paul Revere House Home Select Page Everything you always loved about the Paul Revere House just got better. Visit our new Education and Visitor Center. Enjoy captivating new exhibits on Revere’s ride and his business ventures; a museum shop with crafts, books and gift items; and modern amenities. Encounter three centuries of Boston history where three landmark properties surround an intimate courtyard garden. Now fully accessible, we’ve revolutionized the experience at the Paul Revere House. New Education Center Open to the Public The Battle of Lexington The Battle of Lexington April 19, 1775 at Lexington, Massachusetts American Forces Commanded by U.S.

Army battle map In February, the British Parliament declared the colony of Massachusetts to be in open rebellion and authorized British troops to kill the violent rebels. They were ordered to destroy all of the stores that had ammunition, rifles, or other arms. Lt. Gen. Thomas Gage, the commander-in-chief of the British Army in America, was given command to quell the rebellion. He gave the orders to the British troops to destroy stores and rebels. He thought that the citizens were planning to collect enough arms to form a rebellion. Some American spies learned of the British orders and sent word to the townspeople of the local areas. Paul Revere and William Dawes were sent on different routes to warn the people about the British march to Concord. Before he left, Revere hung 2 laterns in the bell tower of the Old North Church, indicating that the British were coming by sea. Revere is noted as yelling the famous phrase "The Regulars are coming!" When they arrived in Lexington, Dr. Samuel Prescott joined Revere and Dawes in order to spread the word to the townspeople. Just after 1:00 A.M., between Lexington and Concord, Revere and Dawes ran into a British patrol.

Revere was captured trying to escape and Dawes was forced away and rode back to Lexington. However, Prescott managed to finish his route to Concord. On April 18, during the early morning hours, Gage dispatched troops under Lt. Col. Frances Smith and Maj. James Pitcairn to seize these munitions. The British force left Boston Common and landed their boats at Phip's Farm. Between 11:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M., they waded ashore and waited for 2 hours while extra provisions were landed and distributed. On April 19, between 1:00-2:00 A.M., Smith finally got his troops marching. When they arrived at Menotomy around 3:00 A.M., Smith learned that his advance was no longer a secret. He ordered Pitcairn ahead with 6 light companies to secure the bridges at Concord. The town of Lexington was a small crossroads community of 750 people. The British forces were prepared to face 500 militia. At first, there was about 170 militiamen that responded to the initial call to arms.

After waiting for a while and not seeing any British forces, they were told to disperse and wait for the next call. At around 1:00 A.M., there were only 70 out of the original 170 militiamen that constituted the American force. Capt. John Parker managed to get about 40 militiamen to line up on the town's green. Another 30 or so militia were scattered around the Common grounds and the nearby buildings. Around 4:30 A.M., Pitcairn neared the Lexington Common. Their guns were already primed and loaded. As the British approached Lexington, their advance guard captured 3 militia scouts that were just outside of the town, waiting to spot the British approach. The fourth militia scout, Thaddeus Brown, escaped capture and rode back into town. He warned Parker that the British were 1/2 mile away. Pitcairn was told that 500 militiamen were in town waiting for his force. He slowed his advance and waited for Smith's force to catch up to his.

Pitcairn ordered his men to surround the disarm the local militia that had gathered, specifically ordering them not to open fire on the militia. At nearly the same time, Parker ordered his militia to disperse, which they began to do. Pitcairn's plan was to not get bogged down, since his orders were to peacefully take possession of the Concord bridges. However, he could not leave the militia unmolested. Meanwhile, Parker was satisfied with the show of presence by the militia, and did not want to become engaged in a skirmish with the British. At 5:00 A.M., just as the sun was beginning to rise, Pitcairn ordered his men to double their ranks, load their muskets, and sent them into the town at a double quick march. As the first British soldiers reached the community church at the southern end of the Common Green, Pitcairn rode to the front of his troops and ordered the militiamen to lay down their arms and disperse. Parker recognized that his 70 militiamen did not have a chance against the powerful British force and passed the word for his men to disperse.

Parker told his men not to disarm but to just disperse. An unknown soldier accidently fired a shot. This was the infamous "Shot heard 'round the World." It was not known if it was the British or the militia that fired the shot. The British soldiers immediately formed up in ranks fired on the militia, who were at a range of about 40 yards. Pitcairn moved among his soldiers, trying to regain order and telling his men to cease firing. The militia returned fire while they began to scatter for cover. Within a matter of minutes, the British troops made a bayonet charge and swept the militia from the Common Green. The British had broken ranks and were about to start breaking into houses when Smith arrived. Pitcairn and Smith soon got their troops under control and re-established order. They reformed their men into columns, fired a traditional victory volley, and headed on towards Concord. ** See the Battle of Concord ** Pitcairn's horse was hit in two places. The regulars charged forward with bayonets. Captain Parker witnessed his cousin Jonas run through.

Eight Massachusetts men were killed and ten were wounded against only one British soldier of the 10th Foot wounded (his name was Johnson, according to Ensign Jeremy Lister of that regt., present at this incident.) The eight British colonists killed, the first to die in the Revolutionary War, were John Brown, Samuel Hadley, Caleb Harrington, Jonathon Harrington, Robert Munroe, Isaac Muzzey, Asahel Porter, and Jonas Parker. Jonathon Harrington, fatally wounded by a British musket ball, managed to crawl back to his home, and he died upon his doorstep. One wounded man, Prince Estabrook, was a black slave who served in the town's militia. The light infantry companies under Pitcairn at the common got beyond their officers' control. They were firing in different directions and preparing to enter private homes. Upon hearing the sounds of muskets, Colonel Smith rode forward from the grenadier column. He quickly found a drummer and ordered him to beat assembly. The grenadiers arrived shortly thereafter, and, once they were rounded up, the light infantry were then permitted to fire a victory volley, after which the column was reformed and marched towards Concord.

Paul Revere Ride Tweet Paul REvere Ride 1774 The British planned a surprise attack on Lexington; a storage place for colonial arms. Paul Revere overheard these British plans. On April 18th, Revere rode out in the middle of the night to warn colonial militia of the approaching British. While tension between the British forces in and around Boston and the Colonists continued to mount, no colonist had fired at British soldier that was soon to end in Lexington. The British were aware that the Colonists were stockpiling arms and munitions in Concord and General Gage was determined to seize the arms. The Colonist knew of Gages plans however, and were vigilant. Thus came about the most famous ride in American history- that of Paul Revere. Revere was among a small group of Patriots whose job it was to keep track of the movements of the British. On the evening of the 18th, the British were observed gathering. Paul Revere gave the word to light two lanterns at the North Church, thus complying with a prearranged signal, "one if by land, and two if by sea." Paul Revere then began his ride.

He rode between Medford and Lexington warning almost every house along the way. During his ride he was temporarily detained by British officers, but escaped. . About American history and world history can be found at historycental- History's home on the web. Explore our complete time lines of major events in American history as well as World History. Research our special sections on diverse subjects ranging from presidential elections to naval history. Whatever aspect of history you wish learn about, you will find it at Historycentral.com Facebook Paul Revere Heritage Project Paul Revere Heritage Project Frequently Asked Questions about Paul Revere On what night of the week did Paul Revere make his ride? Paul Revere’s started his historic midnight ride to Lexington at 10pm on Tuesday, April 18, 1775 and arrived to Lexington shortly after midnight on Wednesday, April 19, 1775. It is important to note that Revere also made a trip to Concord just two days before on April 16 to warn residents that British troops are preparing to seize the patriots’ munitions. The ride occurred 23 years after New England colonies switched to the New Style (Gregorian) calendar and there is no ambiguity about the exact date of the ride.

The day of the week can be easily confirmed using an online calendar or converter. The battle of Lexington and Concord that symbolized the start of the American Revolution started on April 19, 1775. When was Paul Revere born? The exact date when Revere was born remains a small historical mystery because there is no document or credible account to confirm the specific date. After having done some research on this subject we believe that Paul revere was probably born on December 21, 1734 (Old Style) / January 1, 1735 (New Style). Additionally the date of Revere’s baptism was December 22, 1734 (O.S.) / January 2, 1735 (N.S.) as documented in the Church records. Who else rode with Paul Revere? There were two other men helping Revere with his Midnight Ride. One was a young shoemaker, William Dawes who also started from Boston but took a different route through Roxbury, Brookline and Cambridge. He successfully arrived to Lexington and met Revere in the home of Jonas Clark. The other person was Dr. Samuel Prescott, a resident of Concord.

He started from Lexington after the meeting with Revere and was the only messenger who completed the mission all the way to Concord. You can see the routes of each of the three men on this map. Who told the riders in the midnight ride of Paul Revere that the British were coming? It was Dr. Joseph Warren, the leader of the Committee of Correspondence , the patriot organization in Boston who told Revere that the British will advance across the Charles River and sent him to Concord to warn the patriots. Warren himself participated in the Battle of Lexington and Concord the day after the Midnight Ride. What was the exact timeline of Paul Revere’s ride? Below is the approximate timeline of the journey from Boston to Lexington. April 16 - Revere rides to Concord to warn the Patriots about possible march by the British army. This was not yet the historic Midnight Ride. April 18 @ 10:00 P.M. - Revere begins his 'Midnight Ride' to Lexington. April 18 @ 11:00 P.M.  Arrival across the river in Charlestown April 19 @ 12:00 A.M. - Arrival at Reverend Josiah Clarke's house in Lexington.

April 19 @ 1:00 A.M. - Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott are intercepted by British officers. Dawes and Prescott escape. April 19 @ 2:00 A.M. - Revere is released. April 19 @ 3:00 A.M.  Arrival back at Reverend Clarke's house in Lexington. April 19 @ 5:00 A.M. - Revere is on the outskirts of Lexington when the first shots was fired starting the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Did Paul Revere ride to Lexington or Concord? British troops planned to attack Concord where the patriots’ military supplies were stored. Therefore the purpose of Revere’s trip was to warn the residents of Concord about the threat. During his midnight ride Revere only made it to Lexington where he stopped to warn patriot’s leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Revere then set off to ride another 7 miles further to Concord but on his was he was captured by British patrol. He soon managed to escape. Another messenger Dr. Samuel Prescott who stared with Revere from Lexington managed to make it to Concord to warn the residents.

Revere himself did not Ride to Concord because the battle between the colonists’ militia and British regulars has already started. In what Church was Paul Revere baptized? Revere was baptized in "New Brick" Congregational Church in Boston, also known as the Cockerel Church. Why did Paul Revere and William Dawes make the journey? Revere, Dr. Warren and other members of the Correspondence Committee knew well that despite of the precautions a ride from Boston to Concord would be dangerous. In 1775 the situation in Boston was very tense and British soldiers patrolled streets constantly. Therefore it was decided to send two messengers by two different routes. Getting out of Boston was the most difficult part. Revere’s route began with crossing Charles River to Charlestown by boat. William Dawes on the other hand rode around via Brookline and Cambridge. Yet another precaution was the famous ‘One if by Land, Two if by Sea’ lantern signal. It was meant for the patriots waiting in Charlestown in case if Revere was captured when trying to leave Boston. Out of William Dawes and Samuel Prescott who didn't complete the midnight ride of Paul Revere?

William Dawes arrived to Lexington with Paul Revere, where they warned Samuel Adams and John Hancock. From there the two men were joined by Samuel Prescott and three of them continued to Concord. Shortly they were stopped and captured by a British patrol. Only Prescott managed to escape and managed to reach Concord. What kind of clothing did Paul Revere use on the Midnight Ride? The average temperature in April in Boston is 47 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature at night can be much colder. Such low temperatures combined with gusty winds form the Atlantic make us believe that Revere had to wear something warm during his ride. Clothing common for men in those times, such as breeches, waistcoat and of course the tri-cornered colonial hat were probably part of his attire. One more detail that is shown in many depictions of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere’s is a heavy cloak that helped him to stay warm while riding through the night. Who is the author of the poem the midnight ride of Paul Revere? The poem Paul Revere’s Ride was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 95 years after the historic event.

Revere’s act of bravery was not particularly known before this and the poem was intended to remind Americans about patriotism during the pre-Civil war times. Categories Paul Revere | Assassin's Creed Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia "Aye. He's readying an assault on Lexington, where Adams and Hancock have taken shelter. After that, he will march on Concord - hoping to destroy our weapons and supplies. You must help us!" ―Paul pleading for help from Connor. [src] Shortly before the American Revolutionary War , Revere became an associate of the Assassin Connor. On 18 April 1775, he was one of several riders sent by Joseph Warren to warn Lexington and Concord of a coming military raid. Revere was tasked to ride to the Frontier to rally the Patriot troops. His message was to repel the Regular advance for Samuel Adams and John Hancock . However, the rallying of Patriots was not the only cause for the ride, as it enabled Connor to assassinate the British officer John Pitcairn .

Revere and Connor warning Prescott of the Regulars To ensure that the meassage was delivered, William Dawes also rode for Lexington acroos Boston Neck , while Revere and Connor rowed to the Charlestown peninsula, before mounting a horse. The beginning of the ride went smoothly as Revere and Connor rallied Patriots without any detection from the Regulars. However, at one of the later homes they visited, they were surprised to see the British already waiting for them. Revere and Connor escaped and made their way to the final home, in which they found their contact, Samuel Prescott , and his fiancée. After warning Prescott, Revere and Connor reached the Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington, where they met with Adams and Hancock and warned them to leave. Once their mission of warning the Patriots was complete, Revere and Dawes continued on to Concord with Prescott, leaving Connor and John Parker to defend the town. Once they reached Concord, the group was stopped by a British patrol. Prescott managed to escape and warn the militia, and Dawes hid in a barn after losing his horse . Revere was captured, but escaped, as soon as the Battles of Lexington and Concord began.

He returned to Lexington, and saw Hancock preparing to lead the militia. Revere convinced Hancock to stay out of combat, and took several Patriot documents to keep them out of British hands. Later life Edit After the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War, Revere opened up his own hardware and home-goods store in Boston. By 1788, Revere had invested the money he had earned through his silver-work into purchasing a large furnace. This attributed to his opening of an iron factory in Boston's North End, which produced utilitarian cast items. After deciding to expand his business, Revere entered the realm of bell forging, eventually making the bell for King's Chapel . Following his success in bell making, Paul joined up with his sons to create the Paul Revere & Sons Firm. In 1792, Paul found other uses for his furnace, and moved on to create the Revere Copper & Brass Inc. Revere remained politically active until his death on 10 May 1818, at the age of 83. Legacy Edit Throughout his life, Revere was a silversmith, politician, Patriot, entrepreneur, and also worked in many other trades according to what made the most profit.

Although Revere is most notably recognized for his Midnight Ride, he also assisted the Sons of Liberty in many of the Rebel acts that proved to be essential in the quest for freedom. Revere remains an iconic historical figure in American history for serving a key role in the fight for freedom. Additionally, Revere's home became one of the earliest historic house museums in the United States. Personality and characteristics Edit In general, Revere appeared to be a rather upbeat individual, cheery and optimistic. He also displayed a serious persona when the time needed him to be as such, evident during the Midnight Ride. He occasionally proved to be a talkative individual. Trivia Historically, Revere only rode from Cambridge to Boston during the Midnight Ride. Gallery

Question: Who rode from Boston to Lexington to warn US forces of a British Approach?
Answer: Paul Revere