On this day April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere, began his midnight ride to warn the colonists that the British army, “the regulars” were on the move.
* Today’s quiz is about the Paul Revere’s famous ride
-Background-
In the spring 1775, tensions were high in Massachusetts. British General Thomas Gage in Boston had orders to seize colonial weapons and ammunition stored in Concord and to arrest Patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were staying in Lexington. On the evening of April 18, 1775, Dr. Joseph Warren (a key Patriot leader) received intelligence that British troops (“the Regulars”) were preparing to march by water across the Charles River. Warren summoned Revere and gave him the urgent task of riding to Lexington to warn Hancock and Adams.
Revere had devised a signaling system that would alert Patriots in Charlestown that the British were coming.
Question A:
What was the signaling system that Revere created to warn Patriots in Charlestown?
Question B:
In addition to Paul Revere, there were two other riders that tried to warn the colonists. Who were those other two Patriots and which one was able to reached Concord?
Answers:
Part A: Paul Revere’s signaling system, famously known as “one if by land, two if by sea,” involved hanging lanterns in the steeple of Boston’s Old North Church to alert Patriots across the river in Charlestown of the British military’s route. The signal indicated if troops were marching over Boston Neck (one lantern) or rowing across the Charles River.
Part B: Joseph Warren, also dispatched William Dawes to who had taken a longer land route via Boston Neck, arriving in Lexington a little later. They successfully warned Hancock & Adams. Both Revere & Dawes, road off on the road to Concord. At about 1am, they met Dr. Samuel Prescott who was on his way home from his girlfriend’s house. At 1:30am, on the way to Concord the three were stopped at a roadblock. Revere, was captured and taken into custody. Dawes escaped but then fell off his horse and did not reach Concord. Prescott jumped his horse over a wall and escaped through the woods, reaching Concord and successfully spread the alarm.
-The Winners-
Part A:
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Part A & Part B Winner!
K3WGS
Thanks for participating in today’s Net!
Ron / K4RJT