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“MORE THAN PAUL REVERE: THE FIVE NIGHT RIDERS OF THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTION”

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“More than Paul Revere: The Five Night Riders of the American Revolution”

I. Introduction

a. Introduction paragraph

It is notable from many texts about the American Revolution that Paul Revere is the main

night rider as he is given glory for the midnight ride he made. This is truly a tale that is indeed

stirring for patriotism from him. However, it should be noted that there are other messengers

who happened to also race using horses so as to spread a word about the invasion by the British

at the time. The literature about the Revolution make it apparent that Revere was indeed the

composite for all these people who happened to be brave, during the era.

Prudently, there were

other riders who went by alerting the various colonies that there not aware of the British

presence. The men and even one woman happened to make the rides at late nights, while trying

to alert the Americans about the lurking dangers ahead within their own territories.

b. Thesis statement

In that regard, this essay seeks to outline the other riders that helped in the quest during

the revolution time apart from the famous Paul Revere; precisely in the name of Prescott Samuel,

Bissell Israel and Dawes William together with a woman called Ludington Sybil.

William Deverell and Deborah Gray White, Holt McDougal United State History: Beginnings

to 1877(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), 114.

II. Historical Background/setting the stage/New England

a. Events leading up to 1775

The various events that led to the American Revolution can be attributed to the

Intolerable Acts, which used to be referred to as the Coercive Acts, (being implemented in the

year 1774), within the US. There were around four measures which were enacted by

British Parliament at the time and regarded as being punitive to the American colonies hence

causing a retaliation towards the acts in defiance. There was also the establishment of Quebec

Act which brought a new administration to cede territory for Britain.

The colonial resistance towards the British rule from 1773 to 1774 was an assertion of

authority within America. This resistance actions brought a big impact to the Boston region

making it the centre hostility for the colonial times. It was famously called the Tea Party of

Boston in the year 1773 and it angered the British government. Eventually, the British passed

managed to pass Port Bill for Boston which closed harbor for the city until a general restitution

for destroying tea. Secondly, there was the Massachusetts Act that reduced crown colony levels,

while removing the government of the military. The act also forbade any town meetings that

used to take place without approval from authority.

The resistance geared towards Quebec Act in the year 1773 was based on the fact that it

did remove fur trade and territory that used to govern the region of Mississippi and Ohio rivers

away from the jurisdiction of the colonies.

These Intolerable Acts was a major representation

James West Davidson and Michael B. Stoff, America: History of Our Nation (Prentice Hall,

2014), 153.

James West Davidson and Michael B. Stoff, America: History of Our Nation (Prentice Hall,

2014), 153.

for acts that showed a general re-imposition of strict control by the British towards the American

colonies. These measure were a true justification for the American Revolution at the time.

b. Events which occurred from 1776 to 1777 during the American Revolution

From the year 1776 up the year 1777, it was apparent that the British remained to be in

a position that was so much excellent for quelling any form of rebellion which came from the

American people. In the early 1777, there was a consideration by a number of British officials

to plan for the upcoming campaigns, through the Valley of River Hudson and apparently

cutting off the region of New England away from other colonies. Their General Howe William

was mandated to drive the northern side from region of New York and another General called

Burgoyne John was mandated to drive from the southern part. The main problem though

happened to be how to carry out an execution to this plan. Howe then made a decision of

capturing the region of Philadelphia while hoping that he would be able to rally some of the

Loyalists within Pennsylvania region to bring this war towards a quick conclusion. There army

ended up being deprived of the requisite numbers in a manner that was deemed extreme to the

point they could not go on.

All the invasion by the British troops at the time ended up being regarded as a sign of

warfare and the American revolted to their Acts. Such revolts ended up being a success since

the American colonies had the riders to thank for receiving the much needed information earlier

on as they served as dedicated messengers at the time. Some of the riders are described below,

together with the way they operated and even the routes they managed to go through as

messengers.

Paul Revere

a. Who is he?

Paul Revere happened to be born in the year 1734 at Boston region. The father to Paul

was a French Huguenot while his mother was of the Bostonian descent. He started his general

young life by undergoing the silversmith training towards the later profession he followed. His

father death in the year 1754 and Paul decided to enlist within the army of the province so as to

be able to fight during the war between the Indians and French. All this was from the basis of a

very simple decision; being enlisted in the army was among the best jobs at the time of his youth.

b. Immediate events that led to the ride

During the year 1775 on April 18 at night, Revere sent by Joseph Warren to go and the

signal the Americans at Charlestown about the oncoming troops of the British side towards their

territory. Revere left immediately while riding through the region at the northern side of Boston,

going through the current Medford place, through Somerville, and even passed the region of

Arlington while warning patriots from American side that the enemy was on the move.

c. Route and route conditions

After the patriots had already brewed enough tea at the Harbor of Boston, Revere decided

to ride on the horse towards New York while spreading the news about the oncoming British

troops in the region. He also went through Philadelphia and also that of Charleston while passing

through the region of South Carolina. After Revere crossed the region from Lexington and

entered the region called Lincoln, he went past Minuteman up to Hanscom. He was approaching

Concord at this time. After the capture and release, he went back to Boston, past the Hartwell's

tavern at the region of Lincoln. He also managed to send a signal to Charlestown. After that,

Revere crossed Charles River using a rowboat, while hiding from British troops at Charlestown.

He then rode towards Lexington, and went to Somerville, up to Medford. He even went to the

place called Arlington, while warning patriots on the route. Finally, the message reached

Middlesex.

d. What they encountered

Paul then rode while heading to Concord together with the likes of Dawes and even

Samuel, where they ended up being captured eventually by the British troops who were on patrol

at the region. After the capture, the three were then released. Contrary to all the beliefs, it is

ascertained by David

that Paul did not shout to alert people at the place of Concord that “British

troops were on the way coming." He instead says that Paul rode in secrecy and swiftly towards

the northern direction. They had decided to go on their separate routes so as to be able to

improve chances for their own escape as they continued to move away from these British troops

who also happened to be stationed on roads.

e. Aftermath

Thanks to the work that was done by Paul, hardly any scholar within the field of

American history or even a school child together with almost every teacher cannot be able to tell

who Paul Revere is in the history of American people, or even why Paul is very important for

that matter. The role he did play has all but been embellished, and it has remained to be

David Hackett Fischer, Paul Revere’s Ride (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994), 90–

112.

Ibid.,

significant at all times. In the aftermath the war, Paul decided to return to the region of Boston

and be able to continue the silversmith business he had inherited from the father. This ended up

to be somehow short-lived since he started facing difficult financial times due to the economic

times.

III. Israel Bissell

a. Who is he?

Bissell Israel was at the age of 23-year-old when he did the famous ride during the time

of war. Israel Bissell, as David

notes happens to be “one of the American Revolution messenger

who is a hero that is unheralded.” He was indeed a very young messenger as he went by calling

upon the colonies at that time to arm themselves during the remarkable war in the American

history since the British troops were coming their way.

b. Immediate events that led to the ride

The time he went for the most important ride was on the 19

of April, the year 1775, the

day when the war broke out and he rode at the time, during the day and even at nightfall while

having very little sleep when he became exhausted from the journey. The ride made at the time

lasted five days as he made a dash across the land of America while crossing about five states.

However, it is prudent to note that history rarely mentions him to be among the people who

played a pivotal role meaning that he is simply regarded as a mere footnote worth being

mentioned within documents of history, while even calling him Trail for that matter.

David Hackett Fischer, Paul Revere’s Ride (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994), 90–

112.

c. Route and route conditions

The journey he had made was at an approximate distance of 345 miles from the regions

of Boston, at the western edge towards Philadelphia. During the first round of his ride, he is

believed to have rode a certain horse to the brink until the animal simply collapsed to the ground

and even died at his feet. Matter of fact, he had arrived at the region of Worcester after only two

hours from the time he had departed the region of Watertown as he went through a Road called

the Old Post. Bissell went through Massachusetts in regions such as Watertown, Worcester and

Connecticut at places called Pomfret, Brooklyn, Norwich, New London, Lyme, Old Saybrook,

Guilford, Branford, Fairfield. He also passed through New York City at places such as Wall

Street and New Jersey at Elizabeth, New Brunswick and Trenton. He even went to Philadelphia.

d. What they encountered

Unlike Revere who is more famous as a names within the American Revolution times,

Bissell went by along the way while shouting for the American colonies to arm themselves for

the British troops were on the way coming towards them. It is believed that he happened to do it

in a manner that was so sensational that it happened to bring a lot of attention to the nearby

towns at which he passed by. This news he brought indeed made the best headlines for the

newspapers at that time. On the contrary, it is believed that the likes of Paul Revere often went

by in silence and in a manner that was so secretive so as to avoid being noticed and being

captured by the British along the way.

Ibid.,

Waldrep, Christopher. 1993. Night riders: defending community in the Black Patch, 1890-

1915. Durham: Duke University Press.

e. Aftermath

After embarking from his journey as a rider during the American Revolution, Bissell

happened to enlist himself within the regiment at Connecticut region and while eventually

becoming the sergeant in the unit controlled by Colonel Wolcott Erastus (famously know for the

signature to Independence Declaration). Interestingly enough, the famous ride by Bissell has

become so much steeped within the alignment of a myth, making him to even seem like he is just

a legend.

Many of the historians within the have also been arguing that Bissell even never

existed at all, while others have alluded to his name as that which was simply given to the group

of post riders making this journey as they came from Boston towards the region of Philadelphia.

Regardless, Bissell rode the longest route from Watertown up to the region of Hartford, and

therefore, he has to be recognized for having served Americans during the difficult times.

IV. William Dawes

a. Who is he?

Dawes was a rider during the American Revolution and was born at the region of Boston

in the year 1745. He became a tanner that was indeed successful, while eventual registering as a

member in the militia of the Boston region later on. The mission was assigned by Joseph Warren

on 18

of April at night so that Dawes, together with Revere, would go riding to the north

direction up to the region called Lexington and be able to warn Hancock John together with

Adams Samuel about their arrest which was impending.

Ibid.,

b. Immediate events that led to the ride

The events that led to the Dawes being commissioned was because the British troops had

been seen in the area and he had to go off so as to warn Hancock John together with Adams

Samuel about their arrest which was impending. Moreover, they had to go further and warn the

other colonies along their route about the British troops in their own region. He also had been

given the mandate of alerting minutemen from the various colonies about the danger they were

in from the British troops.

c. Route and route conditions

Dawes went on from warning Hancock and Samuel about their arrest which was

impending at Lexington towards another the region of Concord, which estimated to be about an

hour away. He arrived late after Revere since his own horse was supposedly slower than that of

Revere. On their way, they would meet Samuel. They were however much unfortunate since

they met British soldiers along their way. They then split up, and Dawes headed to a house in the

country yard, the horse literally throwing him off the back and running away from him. Dawes

then walked back toward the region of Lexington.

d. What they encountered

It is prudent to note that Dawes went through a route that was quite longer than that b

Paul and it did include risky passes. This was especially at the gate which seemed to be guarded

closely by the British troops. How he even got through such a gate which was guarded closely no

one knows, maybe it is his better disguise. It could be as alluded to by Waldrep

that Dawes

indeed knew a guard who let him pass through. He might have also managed to even follow

behind a group of theirs through this very same gate. After losing the horse, he had no choice but

to walk back to the region of Concord.

e. Aftermath

In the aftermath of the American Revolution, Dawes’s role has been fading into historical

times. Historians have been able to offer very few reasons that are possible for this. He never left

an account that is detailed for the ride, the way Revere did. He also happened to be the trusted

member within Liberty Sons, hence was not that active the way Revere was.

V. Samuel Prescott

a. Who is he?

He was born in Lexington at 1751, and was courting a lady called Mulliken Lydia at the

time of the revolutionary. He met Paul and Dawes as they raced through his countryside warning

citizens of British forces. Prescott, being a Liberty Son, ended up following them in their quest to

Concord.

b. Immediate events that led to the ride

Prescott happened to be very much familiar with the place and therefore decided to be the

road guide for Paul and Dawes from Lexington towards Concord for the night. He would serve

as a better guide through the route for these men during the nighttime journey.

Waldrep, Christopher. 1993. Night riders: defending community in the Black Patch, 1890-

1915. Durham: Duke University Press.

c. Route and route conditions

After they several British troops at Concord road, they split up. Paul Revere then went

through the region of Lexington at midnight after saving the likes of John Hancock together with

Samuel Adams. Prescott went all the way to Concord while disrupting the British plans of

securing ammunition or even capturing John together with Adams. Any surprise they expected to

launch was since Prescott had already done the “Midnight Ride” to the region for that matter.

Prescott went further west while warning Acton, within the region of Massachusetts. He

also rode south towards Sudbury and even Framingham. The then went past the British troops

back towards Lexington while going back to Lydia Mulliken.

d. What they encountered

Since Prescott knew this terrain very well, he proceeded to Concord while the others did

not make it. After being capture by the British troops and let free, they had decided to go on their

separate routes so as to be able to improve chances for their own escape as they continued to

move away from these British troops who also happened to be stationed on roads. Prescott

carried this news of invasion by British troops to Concord.

e. Aftermath

After this American Revolutionary and War, Prescott later joined a crew to be a privateer,

ended up being captured by officers from the British troops and later on taken for sentencing at

Halifax. He then died at this place.

Waldrep, Christopher. 1993. Night riders: defending community in the Black Patch, 1890-

1915. Durham: Duke University Press.

VI. Sybil Ludington

a. Who is he?

Sybil was born by the year 1761 at Fredericksburg, (or current Ludington Ville in New

York). The father, Col. Ludington, was a famous Colonel in the militia at 7th Regiment during

the Revolutionary War. She happened to be the eldest of 12 children.

b. Immediate events that led to the ride

There were about 2000 British officers at Connecticut, moving towards the inland and

they had decided to camp at a region called Weston. The forces stated to move towards the

northern side of Danbury, while doing a lot of damage to people’s property and this prompted a

messenger to be sent to warn people.

c. Route and route conditions

Sybil was forced to ride through the night that was also rainy, while traveling for about

40 miles towards Kent, the southern part of Mahopac, delivered a message to the colony there

and managed to return home the next day while it was already dawn. Sybil had avoided the

British soldiers along the way in together with the "Skinners", who were loyalists to the British

soldiers at the War. He passed New York at Putnam County, and even the Connecticut region at

Danbury, and warned people there. Sybil then rode past Carmel towards Mahopac, and ended up

at Kent Cliffs, through the Farmers Mills while going back home.

William Deverell and Deborah Gray White, Holt McDougal United State History: Beginnings

to 1877(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), 114.

d. What they encountered

Commissioned by Col. Ludington, Sybil was indeed familiar to the overall terrain of the

area, and she went through the Kent Mills up to the time she reached the region of Mahopac.

However, she did go through a lot of rain along the way, arriving home damp and even

exhausted at dawn. She was however unable to save the place called Danbury since it had been

set on flames by officer from British troops.

e. Aftermath

In the aftermath to this heroic gesture by Sybil, she received a commendation from

George Washington. Her statue has been erected on the route to Carmel, within New York.

I. Conclusion

In conclusion, it is apparent that the history has indeed forgotten about other riders that

made it possible for the American people to revolt towards the British forces while making Paul

Revere to look as if he did it alone. Paul Revere was indeed the main night rider and full of

patriotism towards the country, but there are other riders who acted as messengers to spread a

word about the invasion by the British at the time. The literature about the Revolution makes it

apparent that Revere was indeed the composite for all these people who happened to be brave,

during the era. It is also prudent to note that these other riders who went by alerting the various

colonies of the British presence should be commended for the work they did. The men and even

one woman happened to make the rides at late nights, hence risked their lives in a heroic mode

Waldrep, Christopher. 1993. Night riders: defending community in the Black Patch, 1890-

1915. Durham: Duke University Press.

so as to serve the American people about the lurking dangers ahead for the British troops within

their own territories.

References

David Hackett Fischer, Paul Revere’s Ride (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994), 90–112.

James West Davidson and Michael B. Stoff, America: History of Our Nation (Prentice Hall,

2014), 153.

Waldrep, Christopher. 1993. Night riders: defending community in the Black Patch, 1890-1915.

Durham: Duke University Press.

William Deverell and Deborah Gray White, Holt McDougal United State History: Beginnings to

1877(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), 114.

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