Page 284 - G6.1_M1-5
P. 284
DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info”
CorrectionKey=NL-A
myNotes
THE TRUE STORY OF
Revere’s Ride
14 n the spring of 1775, Paul Revere was gunpowder, ammunition, and cannons—that
Iemployed as an express rider to carry had been stockpiled there. (In fact, the British
information from Boston to as far away as troops had no orders to arrest anyone.
New York and Philadelphia. Intelligence on this point was faulty.) Revere
15 On the evening of April 18, 1775, Paul contacted a friend and instructed him to shine
Revere was given the task of riding to two lanterns in the tower of the Old North
Lexington, Massachusetts, with the news that Church as a signal in case Revere was unable
British troops were about to march into the to leave town. The two lanterns meant that
countryside northwest of Boston. Supposedly, the British troops—called Regulars—planned
these troops planned to arrest patriots to row “by sea” across the Charles River to
Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were Cambridge, rather than march “by land” out
staying at a house in Lexington. The troops to Boston Neck.
would probably continue on to Concord to 16 Revere then stopped by his own house to
capture or destroy military stores— pick up his boots and overcoat. He proceeded
the short distance to Boston’s North End
waterfront where two friends waited to row
him across the river to Charlestown. Slipping
past a British warship in the darkness, Revere
landed safely. He informed local Sons of
Liberty about recent events in Boston and
Paul Revere
verified that they had seen his signals in the
North Church tower. Then, Revere borrowed a
horse from a Charlestown merchant. While
the horse was being made ready, Revere was
warned that there were British officers in the
area who might try to intercept him. About
eleven o’clock, Revere set off. After narrowly
avoiding capture just outside of Charlestown,
Revere changed his planned route. He rode
284
