Essay On Paul Revere's Ride

Paul Revere was the lone person who sparked the American Revolution. At least that's what almost all people believe. This myth of Revere riding through the countryside began with a poem by Henry Longfellow called “Paul Revere's Ride”. By comparison most of the information in the poem is incorrect, it was used to inspire many at the start of the Civil War.

First of all, the poem stated that when Revere was waiting for the signal of the famous lanterns he was already across the shore, on his horse ready to gallop away to warn the citizens of the nearby towns. In Revere’s own writing, he stated he was still in Boston when his friend lit the signals. Paul actually told his friend to go atop the Old North Church and light the signal to warn others. There is a little something that is true in the poem. Two if by land and one if by sea. That was an actual signal that his friend sent from the Old North Church, but Paul Revere wasn’t the one awaiting the signal he was right there in Boston.

Revere didn’t think he’d be able to cross the river that night. Once over the river, he went to warn the countryside of the British which is partially correct. According to Longfellow's poem and common belief he yelled the British Are Coming through the countryside,on the contrary, Revere went to Lexington to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock about the British

He had two accomplices when working this mission who were William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott. Longfellow only mentions the friend in the tower, which is completely true The friend was never named by Revere so the British couldn’t find him if they wanted to interrogate. Revere was interrogated himself that night were he would only make it to Lexington before being captured and was released hours later once gunshots were heard. Dawes was also captured, but escaped a lot faster. Prescott was the only one to make it to Concord unlike what Longfellow’s poem says where Revere made it to