Thanks harpygoddess. Not a bad selection for the weekly digest ping, either, even though it's a day or so early.
Posted on 04/18/2019 6:48:29 AM PDT by harpygoddess
Paul Revere gets all of the credit, but he never actually finished that famous ride, and in fact warned the British that the Americans were coming. William Dawes and Samuel Prescott were left out of the poem and subsequently most elementary history books: it was actually Samuel Prescott who completed the midnight ride.
In addition to Dawes and Prescott, dozens of other men helped spread the word that night. Revere started other express riders on their way before leaving Boston, and he also alerted others along his journey. They too began riding, or shot guns and rang church bells to alert the community. British patrols were posted along the roads, which is why more than one messenger was used for the mission.
In addition to omitting the efforts of Dawes, Prescott and dozens of nameless midnight riders, Longfellow's poem contains other errors as well; most notably, the signal of two lanterns hanging in the Old North Church was a signal from Revere, not a signal to Revere. In his defense, Longfellow didn't intend for the work to be an historical account - the 1860 poem was meant to inspire his countrymen on the eve of the Civil War.
(Excerpt) Read more at vaviper.blogspot.com ...
Of course. The point was that the colonists were also British until the war was over.
“Paul Revere never shouted the legendary phrase later attributed to him (“The British are coming!”) as he passed from town to town. The operation was meant to be conducted as discreetly as possible since scores of British troops were hiding out in the Massachusetts”
I’d never heard of him - I’ll have to do more reading! If you don’t already follow it, you may enjoy All Things Liberty, the blog arm of the Journal Of The American Revolution. They’ve written a few times on how news (and information in general) spread at the time. Here’s one article:
https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/08/breaking-news-1776-first-reports-declaration-of-independence/
I think Revere said “The Regulars are coming.”
Thanks harpygoddess. Not a bad selection for the weekly digest ping, either, even though it's a day or so early.
Dr Prescott made the call at my ancestral home. Hence my Free Republic handle!thanks for posting!
THanks, Pelham. I’ll get that one.
The events surrounding those first hectic days have always intrigued me.
Especially how the Americans did not hesitate to refuse to comply with the government’s demand to seize firearms, powder, and ball.
Most people don’t make the connection anymore; the British WERE the government.
What a lovely story, Thank You
WILLIAM DIAMONDS’ DRUM
Is a book out there
that I enjoyed.
Thank you, sir. I will indeed look for that one as well.
The young Drummer Boy calling up the Lexington militia... to begin the march towards the greatest Country in history...
Revere had the better publicist.
Very important in today’s world.
Revere EARNED his poem! Read David Hackett Fischer's Paul Revere's Ride. His service to the Revolution was way more than his alarm ride on the 19th (18th, actually) of April, 1775.
William Diamonds’ Drum,,,
Was rereleased in 2000 named;
.
LEXINGTON and CONCORD.
.
Just read a chapter on line,
it is Truly fine writing and
Information.
The writer sets the table,
The “Commons” where the British
open fire on Militia and
The thinking Behind the forces.
Just fascinating.
Thank you brother.
A link to a PDF copy out there somewhere, maybe? I’ll look for it to download.
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