In 1860, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was concerned about the possibility of a civil war. Being an abolitionist, Longfellow wanted the North to stand up to the South. He wanted to write an inspiration poem in favor of fighting for the Union. The result was “Paul Revere’s Ride”. He did research using George Bancroft’s “History of the United States”. He knew that the poem he composed took liberties with history, but accuracy was not his goal. He probably did not know his poem would become history to most Americans.
On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was summoned by Joseph Warren who was the highest-ranking rebel leader in Boston at the time. Revere was a well-respected silversmith and amateur dentist. (He later performed the first forensic dentistry when he identified Warren’s body on Breed’s Hill by way of his teeth. It is a myth that Revere made a set of wooden teeth for Washington.) Revere was part of a spy ring (called the “mechanics” or the “Liberty Boys”) that passed information about the British army. The rumored British move on Concord was about to take place. Revere would be part of the warning. He was also to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock who had taken refuge in Lexington. (It turned out that the British were not trying to capture them.)
William Dawes had already been sent out on the longer land route. Revere was tasked with signaling the Sons of Liberty in Charlestown. A friend climbed to the top of Christ Church (later named Old North Church) and put two lanterns in the belfry, signaling that the British were going to cross the Charles River. (So, the “two if by sea” warning was sent by Revere, not to Revere.) Revere had himself rowed across. The rowboat passed perilously close to the HMS Somerset. At Charlestown, Revere borrowed a horse from a John Larkin. The horse’s name was Brown Beauty. He avoided a British patrol and reached the house where Adams and Hancock were staying. A sentry complained about the noise he was making. Revere: “Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long! The Regulars are coming out!” This last phrase is what he cried out as he passed through towns, not “The British are coming!” (which would have made no sense because everyone considered themselves to be British.) William Dawes arrived a half hour later.
The duo was joined by Dr. Samuel Prescott. The young doctor had been visiting a lady friend. He was from Concord and was determined to warn his town. On the way, the three ran into a roadblock and Revere and Prescott were captured. Apparently, Dawes had stopped at a house and witnessed the capture. He sped off, but fell off his horse and that ended his ride. As Revere and Prescott were led into a meadow, Prescott yelled “put on!” (scram) and escaped. Revere was not so lucky. He was questioned and then taken back to Lexington, where he was released, but horseless. Revere made his way back to Adams and Hancock and helped them pack up to escape. It was there that he heard the first shots fired in the American Revolution. By then, Prescott had reached Concord and as many as 40 other riders were fanning out through the countryside. The British had hit a hornet’s nest.
Revere would not be the patriotic icon that he is today without Longfellow’s poem. Although he was an above average patriot, there were many others higher on the pantheon than him. For instance, Joseph Warren. Revere’s obituary in 1818 did not mention the ride. He owes his enduring fame to a poem that embellished his actions.
https://www.biography.com/news/paul-reveres-ride-facts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere%27s_Ride
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere%27s_Midnight_Ride
https://www.history.com/news/11-things-you-may-not-know-about-paul-revere
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