Israel Bissell outrode Paul Revere, yet didn't get a poem

Associated Press WHDH ^ | 4-14-07 | Anon

[XRdsRev]

Revere’s ride captured the imagination because he carried the news that the British were advancing (eventually to Lexington and Concord) and his journey was the beginning of an epic 12 hours that changed the world forever.

Bissell’s journey was taken well after the first shots had been fired. Pharmboy, you might be interested to know that it was possibly Bissell who passed through Hopewell, New Jersey on his way to Philadelphia and who played a part in the following event.....

Col. Joab Houghton, while attending worship in the Baptist meeting-house at Hopewell, N. J., met a messenger out of breath with the news of the defeat at Lexington. He kept silence till the services were closed, then in the open lot before the sanctuary detailed to the congregation:

‘The story of the cowardly murder at Lexington by the royal troops, the heroic vengeance following hard upon it, the retreat of Percy, and the gathering of the children of the Pilgrims around the beleaguered city of Boston. Then pausing, and looking over the silent crowd, he said slowly: “Men of New Jersey, the red coats are murdering our brethren in New England. Who follows me to Boston?” Every man in that audience stepped out into line and answered, “I!” There was not a coward nor a traitor in old Hopewell meeting-house that day.’

[Hot Tabasco]

Bissell, a 23-year-old postal rider when the war broke out on April 19, 1775,

Mr. Bissell did not get his due because like the postal workers of today, he had parked his horse in the back of the local hardware store and was reading the paper. His objective was to turn a 4 hour delivery route into an 8 hour day.............

[Oceans99]

"Paul Revere was a Freemason so it makes a better story in the context of history and for bashing American secret societies that created the new world."

I don't know about Paul Revere, but many of the big name masons then, (and now), were only token members, invited in so their notoriety could lend credence to the secret society. But one of the most little known historical facts is that the bad actions of freemasons in America is what actually caused the very first third party, (in 1823); it was known as the "anti-Mason party".

[NonValueAdded]

no mention of Dawes here, or did I skip it?

No, you didn't miss it - in a rush to trash Revere, Dawes was flushed down the memory hole. If they acknowledged Dawes, then they'd have to agree that Paul Revere did ride that night.

The premise that Revere was a composite is ridiculous. There is plenty of evidence that he played an important role that night. Now, perhaps it was just sloppy writing or editing, and what J. L. Bell meant was that the poem was the composite. Otherwise, he'd be saying that Paul Revere was a fictional character.

Plenty of unsung heroes played an important role on those historic days in April 1775. But it is hardly Paul Revere's fault that they went unsung. Why must they take it out on him?

My choice for headline would have been "Bissell got swept under the rug"

[PGalt]

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

You had me going for a while there ‘99. :) WELCOME ABOARD!

[Young Werther]

Roughly 24 hours later, he reached Philadelphia, where the pealing of what eventually became known as the Liberty Bell drew a crowd of 8,000 who would learn that war had begun

Why so long? those darn Joisey Troopers pulled him over, ticketed him and made him stand before the judge in Newark! He was bailed out by a Revolutionary friend Antonio "Subito" Soprano who urged Isreal and his steed onward with a slap on his behind and a call, "Bada Bing!"

[tet68]

Headline:

Bissell has brush with greatness.

Story to follow.

[gusopol3]

can’t really say LOL— more like GOL(groaning out loud); but that can be fun

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Re #20: LOL. Really! Out loud!

[dfwgator]

LOL! I was going to post that if you didn’t.

[Pharmboy]

Great story...thanks for posting. I am always interested in the esoteric facts of the RevWar in NY and NJ.

[elephantlips]

At the end of his ride, having been hampered on every side by indifference, he shot everyone in sight! Yes, Mr. Bissell was the very first one to “go postal!”

[Lijahsbubbe]

Headline:

Must comb thru details to find Bissell’s involvement.

[Gondring]

Now, perhaps it was just sloppy writing or editing, and what J. L. Bell meant was that the poem was the composite.

After having the same reaction as you, and re-reading the sentence a couple of times, I figure that's what was meant. But what a ridiculous trashing of Revere just to point out that Bissell wasn't given his due.

Now I shall take Bell to task for not giving credit to the horses...were the names of any of them mentioned, especially after dying for the cause?! :-)

[Ancesthntr]

This reminds me a bit of the Gary Larson “Far Side” pane where Clark’s mother warns him “You better be careful of that Lewis guy, or it’ll be ‘Lewis & Clark’ for the rest of history.”

[thegreatmalcolmx]

The reason he was not recognized was because he was black.

[Alouette]

The reason he was not recognized was because he was black.

His first name was Israel and Bissel is a Yiddish name so he had to have been Jewish. Sorry.

[sig226]

The traditions also omit the midnight pub crawl of John Joseph Edward Patrick Kennedy, who informed everyone within two blocks of his house that, “The British are something,” and that he needed another pint.

[hershey]

Lovely read....thanks!