Paul Revere is an American icon, and his famous ride is a part of historic folklore. Yet most people have a distorted knowledge of exactly who Revere was and what really happened that night. Author David Hackett Fischer fleshes out a very human, three-dimensional character in his well-researched and inspiring history book.
In the process, he also provides an enlightening and balanced look into the culture and political philosophy of both the determined patriots of Massachusetts and the English soldiers who were sent to maintain order and keep the rebellious upstarts under the king’s rule. The journey takes the reader through a complex and interwoven blend of characters and events that often veers sharply away from the simplified and historically inaccurate story put forth by popular culture, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem.
The British Are Coming
Fischer corrects two of the major falsehoods in the myths connected with Paul Revere’s famous journey. First, it is highly unlikely that anyone cried out “the British are coming!” on the night of April 18, 1775. Although the American colonists were determined to defend their new status as free people on these shores, they still thought of themselves as British and, for the most part, were proud of that identity. It would have seemed silly to phrase the alarm in that manner.
More than likely, the cry was something along the lines of “the Regulars are marching!” This would be a reference to the red-coated English troops who were under the command of General Thomas Gage. Gage understood the new American psyche and was very reluctant to bring force against the colonists. The fact that he was married to an American wife also played a part in his desire not to shed blood.
The second falsehood is the picture so many Americans have of Paul Revere galloping along on horseback, single-handedly carrying the alarm from town to town, farm to farm, and house to house. In truth, Revere was just one of many riders out that night. Revere’s compatriots had secretly worked out an elaborate plan to relay the alarm in an ever-expanding pattern, complete with a contingency system consisting of secondary riders taking clandestine routes, and even a final backup plan, if all else failed, that would use signal lanterns set up from Boston to Charleston.
About Paul Revere
Fischer builds a comprehensive portrait of Paul Revere that covers his childhood, career, personal life, and political activism. Hot tempered and somewhat impetuous, Revere clearly comes across as an agitator. He kept his hands into everything having to do with the preparations for eventual conflict with the Regulars, and developed a well-deserved but unflattering reputation among the English leaders. As a silversmith, he used his talents to create pieces that described various events in the struggle. His greatest talent was his ability to get things moving and pull together sometimes disparate groups of people, each with their own interests, into a more cohesive whole. He seemed to be everywhere and belonged to every social organization that, overtly or covertly, was working toward organizing the colonists to resist the British military.
Concord and Lexington
April 19, 1775 has major significance for American patriots. The events surrounding the first shots at Concord and Lexington are covered in great detail and read like a novel. Fortunately, many of the colonists took it upon themselves to record the events of that day, conducting interviews, and taking copious notes. Their efforts allow us to relive the period in great detail. It is at once stirring, heartbreaking, horrifying, and enveloping. We see the battle from the perspective of both sides, and get a clear picture of what both the British and Colonists endured. There is no unnecessary romanticizing or simplistic taking of sides. Both the Redcoats and Rebels suffered, and this is conveyed in a way that lets the reader understand the true cost of battle.
Another of the beliefs that Fischer debunks is what he calls the myth of injured American innocence—the idea that the colonists suddenly became victims of cruel English oppression, without warning or preparation. The truth is that the Americans had been planning and preparing for a long time for this eventuality, and this explains in part why they were able to prevail against the most capable military force on Earth at that time.
An Excellent Reference
It is significant to note that the actual narrative of the events surrounding the first shots at Concord and Lexington take up only about half the book. The second half is devoted to further discussions of the history of that time and the way it has been re-interpreted though succeeding years. Paul Revere’s legacy itself has taken on many different shades of relevance and meaning, usually reflecting the prevailing political climate.
Finally, there are exhaustive reference listings and bibliographic entries. This is a well-researched book, and will go a long way toward balancing the inaccurate swings in historical interpretation that have dogged the midnight rider and his compatriots.
Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer; Oxford University Press, 1994; ISBN-10: 0195098315
