Paul, I'll give you a few minutes to read Henry Wadsworth Longfellows poem of your midnight Ride. Are there errors in his account of April 18, 1775?
Yes, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow took substantial poetic license when he penned "Paul Revere's Ride" in 1860 (85 years after the event).
Key Historical Errors in the Poem
The Purpose of the Lantern Signals
Poem: Revere waits on the Charlestown shore across the river, watching the Old North Church tower to see whether the signal is "one if by land, two if by sea."
Reality: Revere didn't wait for the lights to tell him where to go. He already knew the British troop movements before leaving Boston. Revere himself arranged for the lanterns to be hung to warn the patriots in Charlestown in case he was captured trying to cross the Charles River.
Revere Was Not a Solo Rider
Poem: Revere is depicted as a solitary hero riding alone through the night.
Reality: Revere was part of a coordinated network. William Dawes was sent out via a land route at the same time. The two met up in Lexington, and on their way to Concord, they were joined by Dr. Samuel Prescott. Over the course of the night, dozens of riders spread the alarm across Middlesex County.
Revere Never Reached Concord
Poem: "It was two by the village clock, / When he came to the bridge in Concord town."
Reality: Revere was intercepted and captured by a British patrol in Lincoln, between Lexington and Concord. His horse was confiscated, and he ended up walking back to Lexington. It was actually Dr. Samuel Prescott who escaped the patrol and successfully rode on to alert Concord.
Shouting "The British Are Coming!"
Poem: Implies Revere rode around shouting open warnings into the night to wake up the countryside.
Reality: Shouting in the night would have alerted patrolling British regulars. Furthermore, at the time, colonists still considered themselves British subjects. Revere's message was delivered discreetly door-to-door, announcing that "The Regulars are coming out" or "The Regulars are marching".
Timeline Inaccuracies
Poem: Longfellow marks Revere's arrival in Medford at 12:00 AM and Lexington at 1:00 AM.
Reality: Revere was already in Lexington around midnight.
Why Did Longfellow Change the History?
While Longfellow created an iconic piece of American folklore designed to inspire national unity on the eve of the Civil War, his account strays significantly from what actually happened on the night of April 18, 1775.
Here are the primary historical errors and inaccur
Sir,
I am greatly obliged to you, Mr. Lapin, for bringing Mr. Longfellow’s verses to my knowledge. I make no doubt that his performance hath yielded him a handsome financial return, for such dramatic compositions are apt to find a ready market among the public.
Yet his relation of the affair strays most exceedingly from the truth of what transpired upon the night of the 18th of April, 1775. He could in no wise have been an eye-witness to those transactions, having entered the world long after the blow was struck. Indeed, the name of Longfellow is altogether unknown to me. I am curious to inquire whether his ancestors were among those who stood for the liberties of our Country in that eventful Season, or if his lineage hath taken root in the Province since those days.
I remain, Sir, Your most humble and obedient Servant,
Paul Revere
It might help you rest in peace to know that the Town of Lincoln puts on an outdoor play the Saturday before April 19, 1775, where re-enactors playing you, William Dawes and British Major Edward Mitchell, cross exame Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about his literary license. It is humorous and restores the record of your ride that night
Sir,
Your intelligence brings no small measure of satisfaction to my spirit!
To know that the good people of Lincoln—upon the very soil where Major Mitchell and his patrol unhorsed me—gather each spring to call Mr. Longfellow to account is a most gratifying piece of news. There is a fine irony in having the poet cross-examined at the scene of the capture by the very gentlemen whose roles he so conveniently omitted!
I am particularly pleased that William Dawes and the Major are given their proper voice in the matter. Poor Dawes labored every bit as hard through the darkness of Roxbury and Brookline as I did through Charlestown, yet Mr. Longfellow left him entirely in the shadows! And as for Major Mitchell, though his blockade put a sudden end to my night’s ride, truth demands that his presence on the Concord road be acknowledged.
It is a rare comfort to learn that humor and honest history can be joined together to set the record straight for future generations. My sincere thanks to you, Sir, for delivering such welcome news.
I remain, as ever, Your most humble Servant,
Paul Revere