PAUL REVERE’S RIDE

By Tiffany Jacobs

HIST 140 (#50607)

THE CAPTURE: A BRITISH PATROL TAKES PAUL REVERE, AND IS TAKEN BY HIM

Paul Revere and William Dawes were riding from Charlestown to sound the alarm

On the road, they came upon Doctor Prescott, who offered help As they approached the Nelson farms, Revere saw two

horsemen on the road Revere convinced the others they could prevail against them

until the 2 men turned into 4 Doctor Prescott got away Revere was captured by 10 British Regulars after giving chase Dawes pretended he had captured two of men and averted the

British’s attention He limped back to Lexington

The officer who captured Revere proceeded to abuse him; however, the leader did not. He was a gentleman

Elijah Sanderson, Jonathan Loring, Solomon Brown, and a one-armed peddler named Allen had also been captured that night

THE CAPTURE: A BRITISH PATROL TAKES PAUL REVERE, AND IS TAKEN BY HIM

Upon interrogation, Revere answered honestly. When his life was threatened if he didn’t tell the truth, Revere became angry.

He was an honest man Revere told the officers details about the mission that they were not

aware of yet He spoke with voracity and strength It surprised and angered the officers Revere eventually turned the interrogation on them

Major Mitchell of the 5th Foot was summoned He demanded the officers search Revere for weapons, but he was not armed He hit Revere in the head with his pistol

Revere was strategic in his answers His goal was to move the soldiers away from Lexington, and far from Hancock

and Adams Revere was not afraid of the British or afraid of their threats

His demeanor frustrated and irritated the officers The officers increasingly lost their composure

Upon hearing the gun storm in Lexington, the captives were set free Their horses were cut loose This was the last time Revere saw Brown Beauty

THE ALARM:PAUL REVERE AND THE OTHER RIDERS

“Paul and his fellow Whigs of Massachusetts understood… political institutions are instruments of human will, and amplifiers of individual action”

Paul Revere was not a solitary rider that night! He established relationships within the Whig party Revere made strategic plans, and backup plans, well in

advance of the famous night ride Revere had foresight and contingency plans in place He was the organizer of a network of riders Revere notified town leaders on his ride.

He did not go door to door Along Revere’s route, specific leaders and militia commanders

were strategically alerted This impacted the result of the evening

Revere knew the leaders in each town and where to find them He worked to engage the institutions of each town: religious, militia,

and community organizations

THE ALARM:PAUL REVERE AND THE OTHER RIDERS

Riders traveled out in succession, like a game of telephone The speed of the message was astonishing

These were distances that were normally covered in one long days’ travel

They were being covered in a matter of one or two hours Towns were alarmed by bells, drums, and gunfire before the

messengers could arrive These signals were prearranged

Like Revere, Prescott proceeded to sound the alarm by meeting with leaders Doctors made house calls and therefore had best horses He went to his home & alerted his father and brothers

They were also physicians with horses and saddles

Unlike Revere, Dawes rode directly to Lexington He may not have met with anyone on the way A town on Dawes route was never alarmed Several other towns did not receive their alarm until much later,

after he had already passed by

THE MUSTER:THE RISING OF THE MILITIA

Provincial Congress recommended “minute companies”Minute companies were small units of menThey were ready to march at short noticeEach town made various arrangements

depending upon their specific needs Some men were required to be armed with

specific ammunition and supplies Snowshoe men had snowshoes and hatchets Required to exercise twice a week Paid for their service Planned for the burial of their dead after war

THE MUSTER:THE RISING OF THE MILITIA

Lexington’s militia was ready within minutes of the alarm Armed with muskets Many were diligent dairy farmers They were aged 16-66, but most were in their mid 30’s

& 40’s They did not have a “minute company” One large Training Band company

Captain John Parker led the Lexington militia Was well respected and admired by townspeople He served despite suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis

Many years of preparation preceded the rise of the militia “Training bands” were maintained for over 6 generations Experienced 4 wars in 75 years

THE GREAT FEAR:A RURAL PANIC IN NEW ENGLAND

“The people of New England did not wish for war” Every generation had experienced a war Most were bloody and cruel

Our modern day perspective of the day our Independence was born is bright & hopeful On that morning it was uncertain, dangerous and

ominous Terror gripped the people

Woman & children fled for safety Narrow country roads were gridlocked with foot traffic

Women and children leaving town and minute companies going to town

Some fled Lexington for the safety of the country Some women fled their home into the woods Many fled to churches for sanctuary even though it put

them in the middle of the battlefield

THE GREAT FEAR:A RURAL PANIC IN NEW ENGLAND

Dealing with fear in different ways Helping the militia Cooking and serving the men who were preparing to leave Acting as a guide to the troops of men Comforting others who were fearful Feared the uprising of their slaves (for no reason)

Women of Pepperell organized To avoid the grip of fear, these women met together and

organized They voted for a leader, Prudence Wright The women armed themselves with guns and farm tools They took patrols on the road A Tory was arrested at gunpoint and delivered for a reward

Fear fueled rumors Wild rumors of entire towns being slaughtered Even the British Regulars were gripped by this fear

They were living in the land of a host that no longer welcomed them