The founding of the American Republic is filled with heroes and stirring accounts of daring deeds. Though about 25% of the colonial population remained loyal to England, another 25% advocated for rebellion from the mother county. The remaining 50% stood on the sidelines waiting to see which side would gain the upper hand in the rebellion. Eventually, most of the fence sitters would join in the Revolution against Great Britain. The colony of Massachusetts was at the forefront of the American Revolution, and the famous 19th century poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a stirring poem about one of the most famous night rides in American history. The name of this thrilling verse is The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.
In the early 1770’s, various incidents such as the killing of five men in the event known as the Boston Massacre had aroused insurrectionist passions in New England. As relations continued to deteriorate between England and the colonies, acts of rebellion such as the Boston Tea Party occurred. Finally the British Crown became angry enough to send a Corps of Grenadiers and Light Infantry to the villages of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts to destroy all military provisions found in the towns. Additionally, it is believed that the British soldiers were to arrest the leaders of the uprising, John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Due to the delicate nature of the operation, the crack British troops left quietly on the night of April 18, 1775. Fortunately, the colonists had already sensed that the Imperial Army was going to attack outside of Boston. The trouble lay in warning all the nearby settlements of the invasion. The central question was how the British planned to move their forces outside of Boston. Night riders would then be needed to daringly gallop across darkened, dangerous roads to tell the colonists about the attack. Through their accurate intelligence gatherers, the Americans learned that the British would transport their troops by ship. The method of deployment was the critical report needed by the American militiamen to establish a defense. After gaining this valuable information, a night watchman would then climb up the steeple of the Old North Church and signal the warning. The number of lamps placed in the tower would tell the night riders how the English forces would be deployed. "One by land, two by sea!"
The famous silversmith, Paul Revere, was to carry this important message by horseback to a number of towns outside Boston. Having evaded British warships in Boston Harbor through skill and daring, Revere waited in Charlestown, Massachusetts for the signal lights in the tower of the Old North Church. When the second lamp was placed in the steeple, Revere knew, the British were coming by sea. He sprang on his horse and started his famous ride which Longfellow’s poem commemorates with the captivating phrase: "Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere."
Though all Americans know that Revere’s ride alerted the Massachusetts militia to the British invasion, Longfellow’s poem captures the heroic and dangerous qualities of the night ride, and the heroism of Paul Revere. Though a number of other riders also carried the invasion message, Longfellow chose to center his telling of the dramatic tale through the actions of Paul Revere. Having said that, the silversmith did warn many people of the impending attack, and deservedly should be considered a hero. I hope you get a chance to go to the library and checkout this beautifully painted rendition of the famous verse. The poem makes thrilling reading as Longfellow is a master of the cadence and meter of the English language. Enjoy!
