Did you know Longfellow’s poem on Revere’s ride is not historically accurate? Before you decide Revere would be offended, it might help to know that Revere’s famous Boston Massacre engraving was also inaccurate. Yet it was used to rally the public against the British. Likewise, right or wrong, Longfellow took a similar license to keep this crucial ride in our country’s remembrance. And it worked. But what really happened?

Did you know that Revere had a network of 30 intelligence-gathering skilled workers in Boston to discover British plans? And that in the two years before his now famous ride, Revere had made at least 18 news-spreading rides between Boston and New York and Philadelphia, bringing information from the Boston Committee of Public Safety to other patriots? One of these rides was to spread the news of the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

Did you know that Revere’s ride on April 18, 1775, was a dual warning planned by a duo? William Dawes and Revere, both members of the Sons of Liberty, planned the ride to warn the colonists outside of Boston that the British were coming and then to ride on and warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams in Lexington. They were concerned that the ammunitions they were gathering would be captured by the British along with their leaders in Lexington and in Concord, where the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was located.

Did you know that the lantern signal was not for Revere? It was for compatriots outside Boston in case Revere couldn’t get out of Boston. It is rumored that his friends who rowed him across the river and past the HMS Somerset British warship used petticoats on the oars for greater stealth. In Charlestown, he confirmed the signal they had seen, and the alarm started to spread through other Sons of Liberty.

Did you know that Revere was nearly captured as he left Charlestown? He had been warned there were British patrols in the area and was alert to the threat. After that close call, he changed his plans and rode through Medford to Lexington. This was not a safe adventure.

Did you know that Dawes was separately spreading the news by riding the longer land route from Boston to Lexington? After Adams and Hancock were warned, they rode together to Concord to make sure the colonists’ military supplies had been hidden.

Did you know that this duo became a trio? On the road to Concord, they were joined by Dr. Samuel Prescott. They hadn’t gotten far after that when they were captured by a British patrol. According to Revere’s account, Prescott and Dawes escaped, and he was held, questioned and then let go — without his horse. He then walked back to Lexington and got there in time to see the Lexington Green battle ending victoriously, thanks in part to their warnings.

Did you also know that Revere couldn’t go home after his ride? Boston was besieged, and the war had begun in earnest. He had to move his family and livelihood to Watertown, just outside of Boston.

Was it a historic and heroic ride? Yes, by both Revere and Dawes. Was the alarm given in time? Yes, thankfully. Is this, the 19th ride of Revere, known today? Yes. Thank you, Longfellow.