Three tidbits on Paul Revere's famous ride

To review, on the night of April 18, 1775, Boston patriot Joseph Warren learned of a British military operation planned for the next day. To warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were across the Charles River in Lexington, Warren dispatched two riders, Paul Revere and William Dawes. Revere took the shorter route "by sea," while Dawes went "by land".

Today's tidbit #1: Did you know both riders were captured by the British that night before they could reach the town of Concord, Mass? Revere and Dawes met up in Hancock, Mass., and were joined by another rider, a Dr. Samuel Prescott. The three set out together for Concord. They came upon a British roadblock; the three riders attempted to make an escape. Revere was captured while Dawes fell off his horse and injured himself. Fortunately, Dawes was able to hide from the British soldiers. Prescott, who was from Concord and knew the terrain very well, was the lucky one who was able to out ride the soldiers and arrive in Concord to warn the residents.

Today's tidbit #2: It's said that the statue of Revere on horseback doesn't face the Old North Church in Boston, Mass., where the one-if-by-land-two-if-by-sea lanterns were hung, because the parishioners of St. Stephen's Catholic Church didn't want a horse's behind facing their church. Revere allegedly cast the bell in St. Stephen's, which began life as a Congregational church but became St. Stephen's in 1862.

Today's tidbit #3: Paul Revere would not have cried “The British are coming!” during his famous midnight ride. In those days, colonists were all British. If he uttered anything, it was more likely “The Regulars are out!” because British soldiers were known as Regulars, Redcoats or Lobsterbacks.

Contributing to this entry are articles found on the Los Angeles Times, the Public Broadcasting Service, and the Freedom Trail Foundation.

Posted by Jeff Rae on Aug 16, 2011 at 6:04 AM