18th April 1775: Paul Revere rides to Lexington with his message that "the Regulars are coming out!"

Revere’s ‘midnight ride’ went on to signal the start of the American Revolutionary War and has since passed into legend. Whether Revere referred to the approaching army as ‘regulars’ or ‘Redcoats’ is unclear, but his cry had the intended consequence of signalling the march of troops towards the Massachusetts village of Concord. His message was spread throughout the area before he arrived in Lexington where he met with John Adams and Samuel Adams.
Revere certainly didn’t signal that the ‘British’ were coming. At the time the American settlers would still have seen themselves as British, albeit living in a distant colony and ruled by a faraway king. It is also highly unlikely that Revere loudly shouted his warning as he passed peoples’ houses. His mission was secret, and the countryside was known to contain army patrols and royalist sympathisers.
Seventy-seven militiamen had assembled in the town of Lexington by the time British troops arrived the next morning. Their leader, Captain John Parker, knew that his men were outnumbered and so gave an order that is now engraved on a stone at the site: ‘Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.’
The leaders of both sides ordered their men not to fire, but a single shot from an unknown source rang out. The Battle of Lexington lasted for just a few minutes, killing eight militiamen and wounding a further ten. Moving on to the town of Concord, however, the British met significantly more opposition. This signalled the start of the American Revolution.

[@Faze-2]

there was also someone who rode twice as far on the same night

[@covertops19Z]

What a great and historical timely posting. Thank you very much.👍💯💯👍. I've read PAUL REVERE'S RIDE, by David Hackett Fischer. (three times) Any one interested in the events leading up to Paul Revere and WIlliam Dawes rides, will find the aforementioned book very enlightening on this subject. It highlights the beginning of gun control in America. Read and Head..

[@markherron1407]

Wentworth Cheswell a BLACK 🖤 man rode with Paul Revere and 5 people and the actual warning ⚠️ was the Regulars are coming Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!

[@nickrussolillo5414]

illbring my cosins wll come with me on this ride

[@Bamblam69]

This "history" is based on the Longfellow poem which has many inaccuracies due to poetic license. The reason Revere was featured is because his name rhymes with more words. Samuel Prescott and William Dawes (the others rode at different times from the April 19, 1775 ride) don't rhyme well. The ride was on April 19th after midnight - not April 18. They wouldn't have said the British are coming because they themselves were British.

[@historypod]

Thanks for your comment. I can assure you that, as with all episodes of HistoryPod, this was based on research using multiple sources. Revere was indeed only one of a number of riders that night, and Longfellow's poem is primarily responsible for mythologising him at the expense of Dawes and Prescott.
To prepare this episode my key source was "Paul Revere's Ride" by David Hacket Fischer, published by Oxford University Press in 1994. According to this and Boatner's "Encyclopedia of the American Revolution", Revere and Dawes departed Boston some time around 10pm on the night of the 18th, and arrived at Lexington shortly after midnight on the 19th. Revere was arrested in the early hours while on his was to Concord with Prescott and Dawes.

[@RedHanded1969]

Wonder what happened if Americans simply resort to peaceful protest.. No armed militias or violence..

[@jesserivas1387]

16 year old female Sybil Ludington rode twice as long as Paul Revere. But Revere got the credit because of being a male, most likely!