Paul Revere’s Ride

Paige Ellis

General Gage’s Dilemma

• Thomas Gage was the commander in chief of British forces in the New World, and the Royal Governor of Massachusetts.

• His troops were never fortunate in war, but he proved his courage on the battlefield and was promoted many times.

• He hated war, and most decisions he made were in an effort to avoid violence.

• As resistance against the crown grew into violence, Gage grew frustrated-– He recognized the obligation to treat the colonists with

moderation and justice.– On the other hand, such treatment only seemed to make

them more daring.

General Gage’s Dilemma• His policy was to get rid of democracy in America. He wanted to

– Restrict American settlement to the Atlantic coast to keep them within reach of the government

– Abolish town meetings and replace them with oligarchies– Limit access to law, and shift trials in political cases to England– Keep America commercially dependent on Britain.

• His more immediate plan was to remove weapons from Yankee hands, by a series of small military operations. • This plan could only succeed

by surprise, so he did his best to keep his intentions secret.

Mounting Tensions• On both sides, there was a growing

sense that conflict was inevitable. • After a hard winter, there was a lack of

food, drinking water, and illness among the British troops.

• The troops grew bored and restless, and many turned to alcohol and started brawls with the already hostile colonists.

• Due to desertion, military leaders took increasingly desperate measures, like execution, to scare their troops into loyalty.

Mounting Tensions• The top commanders began quarreling amongst themselves, which weakened their leadership.• The Bostonians were increasingly contemptuous of British troops, and the two sides would

provoke each other to the point of violence and riots. • General Gage left the New England press free to publish without restraint, so men like Paul

Revere used political cartoons and publications to further criticize and provoke Imperial officials.• General Gage was urged to

seize the ringleaders anddisarm the population, but he was cautious and hesitated to act.

The Mission• Gage knew he was outnumbered in

America, so he resolved to strike at the heart of the rebel movement quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible.

• The Whig leaders knew England was preparing to attack, but they refused to fight until the British fired the first shot.

• Both sides fully relied on intelligence to warn them of the enemy’s plans.

• Gage received reports of munitions being stored Concord, and that several Whig leaders were staying in nearby Lexington.

• He prepared to strike, but was careful to operate within the limits of the law.

The Mission• Counter-intelligence in Boston informed

the Whigs of Gage’s plan, and Paul Revere was sent to warn Concord of a march the next day.

• It turned out to be a false alarm, and Gage learned that news of his movements would reach Concord before his troops.

• He sent out disguised British officers to intercept any American messengers, but the Americans were aware of them and warned the countryside of their presence.

The Warning• On April 18th, 1775, Bostonians became aware of British

plans to attack Concord and Lexington the next day.• Their movements were reported to Paul Revere and Dr.

Joseph Warren, and the rumors were confirmed by a British informer.

• Paul Revere and other dispatched were sent out by different routes, to warn the Whigs in Lexington.

• He set out by boat to Charlestown, where they had already arranged an alarm system.

The Warning• Revere and his friends lit two lanterns in the steeple of the North

Church in Charlestown, to signal that the British Regulars were to approach by sea.

• While the Charlestown Whigs were acting on the signal, they supplied Revere with a horse and he set off for Lexington, around 11 o’clock.

• He was forced to take a detour when he ran into soldiers, but he arrived in Lexington

around midnight and met with

Sam Adams and John Hancock. • Next, Revere and another rider

left to go warn Concord.

The Capture

• On the way to Concord, Revere and Dawes met Samuel Prescott, and they resolved to warn the entire countryside in case they were captured.

• As they approached a farm, they were ambushed by British Regulars- Dawes got away, but Revere and Prescott were taken captive.

• They were taken to a field, along with every other suspicious rider they had stopped.

• They tried to escape, but only Prescott got away.

The Capture• Some of the Regulars abused Revere, but the commanding officer

addressed him as a gentleman and questioned him.

• Revere answered everything truthfully, and proceeded to tell them more than they knew about their own operation.

• He warned them that the people of Lexington knew of their plans, and their lives were at risk if they lingered.

• They heard gunshots coming from Lexington and they knew the elementof surprise was lost, so they released the prisoners and fled.