Two Views of the Midnight Ride
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Paul Revere
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Student Instructions: The boxes contain descriptions of Midnight Ride events according
to Longfellow (left). Be sure to examine the time line of the Real Midnight Ride. Write in
a factual description of the events according to Paul Revere and later historians.
Hint: There are two major inaccuracies in Longfellow's poem: (1) the purpose of the
lanterns hung in the Old North Church tower, and (2) Revere's 2 AM arrival in Concord.
Paul Revere's Ride
the poem by
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
In the poem...
The Real Ride
as told by Paul Revere
Paul asked a friend to warn him of a
British march from Boston by hanging
one or two lanterns in the Old North
Church tower.
What really happened was...
Paul asked his friend to warn the patriots that
the British were coming by putting either one
lantern or two. One for the British coming
south of town and two for the British coming
by the river north of town.
In the poem...
What really happened was...
Paul Revere was the only rider ready to
ride and warn of British Regulars
marching from Boston.
In the poem...
Paul waited impatiently across the river
for the lantern signal. After seeing the
two lanterns in the Old North Church
steeple, Paul mounted his own horse
and began his ride.
There were two messengers, but the second
one was captured. The second rider was
William Dawes.
What really happened was...
Paul Revere saw the two lanterns and was
rowed across the river by Joshua Bentley and
Thomas Richardson.
In the poem...
What really happened was...
Paul Revere arrived in Lexington around
Paul rode through Medford, Lexington, midnight and stayed to discuss things with
and finally reached Concord as the clock William Dawes.
struck two.
Paul Revere's Letter
Map of Ride
I waited at the river for the lanterns to be put up in the Old North Church. Once I saw that there were
two lanterns, I knew that the British were coming from the river north of town. I was rowed across the
river by Thomas Richardson, the shipwright, and Joshua Bentley, the boat builder. Once on land, I got a
horse, Brown Beauty. I was not the only rider. William Dawes was also a messenger, who was sent south
of Boston. Galloping in the night sky on my horse, I rode through Arlington, Medford, and Somerville. I
yelled at the top of my lungs “the regulars are coming” to alert the colonists and patriots in the towns. It
was around midnight when I arrived in Lexington. I stayed to give John Hancock and Samuel Adams a
warning about the British. William Dawes arrived shortly after and we discussed about what to do with
Adams and Hancock. William Dawes, Samuel Prescott, and I were off to Concord to deliver the message
but we were stopped. British soldiers had blocked our path and captured us. Luckily, Prescott escaped to
deliver the message. Dawes escaped too but fell off his horse and couldn’t complete the mission. I was
still captured and going to be questioned. As I was being escorted into Lexington, a battle had begun.
John Hancock managed to leave Lexington without being noticed.