Shot heard 'round the world

[twyacht]

Damn I still love history...

I wish our Public/Gov't Education system had the the same zeal. It's up to US to pass on the actual reality of our heritage to our kids and grandkids.

I posted about my high school son's WWII "lesson" that spanned a simple 5 day period. It was insulting.

WE need to keep the truth as a backstop to Progressive re-writing and selective editing about the birth of this nation, and what it carries forward...They are getting away with it far too often.

[kilopaparomeo]

One correction to make in section #2.
During the raid on Fort William and Mary on the evening of December 15 1774, no shots were fired and there were no injuries.

Thanks for the interesting follow on about Fort William and Mary.  Good additional color.

As for the shots fired, etc, the fascinating thing about history is often accounts are conflicting depending on what you read.  My version comes from "Paul Revere's Ride" by David Hackett Fischer.  On p 56, he references in the raid that the British garrison of "an officer and 6 invalids" get off 2 or 3 cannon shot and a volley.  The rebels swarm into the fort and there is hand to hand fighting with some injuries but no deaths.  He heavily footnotes his account, with this specific one coming from an account of the battle from in a letter from Capt John Cochran to Governor John Wentworth. 

It's enough to make even a history geek go nuts....   

[kilopaparomeo]

Part 6-It Begins

By evening, troops were being moved to the south end of Boston near the back bay. It was still unknown which direction the army would move. Would they take the short route by boat across the Charles river or would the march out by the long road?

In those days, Boston was only connected to land by a narrow strip of land called Boston Neck. The road in and out was controlled by a gate. If the army marched south they would have to swing south around the back bay then back up to Cambridge to get to the road west to Concord. If they took the shorter route across the river they would essentially land in a swamp and make their way west to pick up the road from Charlestown to Cambridge. The water route was shorter but would take more logistics to move 700 men across.

Learning of the troop movements Dr. Warren called upon his one intelligence source high up in Gen. Gage's command. He was able to get details of the plans of the column.

Immediately Warren called on Revere and another man named William Dawes. Their plan was put into place. Revere would cross by boat to Charlestown and proceed west to put out the alarm. Dawes would try to get out the south end of Boston and spread the word as well with the idea the one of the two of them might get through. The penalty if caught was likely the hangman's noose.

With the troops still massing at the south end, it was still unknown which way they would go. Another part of Revere's and Warren's communication plan was implemented. As soon as troops started moving observers would spread the word to a pair of men in the north end. Those men, vicars in the North Church would then post lanterns in the steeple. One light if the troops went out Boston neck and two lanterns if they went across the bay in boats.

Paul Revere made his way to the water's edge on the north side of Boston. He was met by two men who began rowing him across the bay. The moon was full and laying in it's mooring out in the bay directly in their path was the British ship of the line, HMS Somerset.

more later...

[kilopaparomeo]

When I'm telling history at an Appleseed or LiberySeed, I usually keep the theme of "what can one person do?"  Most people think "not a lot" and "why should I do anything...I won't make a difference".

Really?  How about start a revolution? Or found a country?

Lots of "one persons" did what they could do.  Revere gave up many hours to organize, ride between towns, deliver messages, make sure the network of information, spies and committees were flowing information freely.

Margaret Kembell Gage betrayed her husband and told Warren of the plan.  She was shipped off to England on a hospital ship and to never return to her home country, or to live with her husband again.  What can one person do?  Change the course of history.

Warren organized, planned, pulled people like Revere, Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams and John Hancock (the Mutt and Jeff of the 1770's) together to argue, debate, and DO THINGS!  They could have sat in bar and been content to only talk conspiracy (the 18th century equivalent of arguing on the internet) but instead they agitated, motivated and pushed back.  

That's all they ask of us.  Get involved.

[tombogan03884]

Thanks for the interesting follow on about Fort William and Mary.  Good additional color.

As for the shots fired, etc, the fascinating thing about history is often accounts are conflicting depending on what you read.  My version comes from "Paul Revere's Ride" by David Hackett Fischer.  On p 56, he references in the raid that the British garrison of "an officer and 6 invalids" get off 2 or 3 cannon shot and a volley.  The rebels swarm into the fort and there is hand to hand fighting with some injuries but no deaths.  He heavily footnotes his account, with this specific one coming from an account of the battle from in a letter from Capt John Cochran to Governor John Wentworth. 

It's enough to make even a history geek go nuts....   

My source is local history, and the plaque beside the gate .
It's supported by the lack of gun emplacements on the shore side of the fort.

[Sponsor]

[kilopaparomeo]

Like I said, the accounts differ enough to make ya nuts!

[kilopaparomeo]

Part 7-The Ride

While Paul Revere was being rowed across the bay to Charlestown, William Dawes had to make his way through the gate blocking entry to the city on Boston neck. He then had to take the long southern road around and then up to Cambridge then west on the road to Lexington. The guards at the gate were ordered not to let anyone in or out but Dawes had developed a relationship with the guards, as he was a tanner and often did business that took him in this direction. He may have slipped them a drink, a coin or just a good word and was allowed to pass.

Paul Revere's boat was quietly rowed and was able to skirt the HMS Somerset by staying in it's moon shadow. Reaching the far shore he was met by his contacts and Deacon Jahn Larkin gave him a horse named Brown Beauty. The horse was a Naragansset, a strong horse bred for running and this particular specimen was chosen because of her speed and endurance.  Looking back toward Boston, Revere and his contacts noticed two lanterns in the North Church steeple. The army was coming by the short route over the river, he needed to hurry.

Revere's ride was to take him through Charlestown down the Charlestown neck and south into open country where he would pick up the west road north of Cambridge. Clearing Charlestown he swung south and noticed a pair of riders in the road ahead. He slowed and upon realizing they were British Officers, wheeled his horse around and took off across the fields. The officers immediately gave chase. One was eventually bogged down in mud and Revere was able to outrun the other. The choice of Brown Beauty had been a good one.

The chase had pushed Revere north and fearing other riders he chose to take the north road up to Medford a detour of 5 or 6 miles out of the way. This did however afford him the opportunity to contact local leaders who in turn sent out other rides to spread the word.

Unlike popular myth, Revere did not ride through the countryside shouting "the British are coming". He and everyone else considered themselves British so it didn't much sense to call them what they themselves were. He also didn't shout out, instead he had a well established fan out notification system in place. He would wake the local leader who in turn would send out more riders. By this method by the end of the night some 80 riders had spread the word to a distance of 100 miles away.

After Medford, Revere swung south back down to Menotomy (now modern day Arlington) and notified his contacts there. After a short rest he turned west on the road to Lexington. Revere reached Lexington around midnight.

More....

[kilopaparomeo]

Part 8-Smith's Column

While Revere was riding west to Lexington, Col. Smith's column was assembling at the water's edge on the south end of Boston. The officers who were present did not know the mission and were only told to get their companies in line but things were not going well. By 10 pm the units that were supposed to being ferried across were still being formed and no progress was being made. Large wooden skiffs were present but there was not enough of them to carry the 700 men across. Col. Smith was not in attendance and arguments broke out among the officers as to who should go first.

The troops had been issued the standard combat load of 36 rounds of ammo for their .75 cal smooth bore Brown Bess, flintlock muskets. They also carried the requisite 18" triangular bayonet, cartridge box and haversack for food and personal items.

Col. Smith arrived near midnight and found his troops still on the eastern shore of the Charles River. He quickly got his officers in order and the troops began moving across. The troops were packed shoulder to shoulder in the low skiffs with water all the way up to the gunnels. Gage had been clear that secrecy was to be kept at all costs so the landing was scoped to be at an uninhabited  place called Lechmere Point.  It was uninhabited because it was a marsh at high tide. As the troopers bailed out of their boats, many had to wade ashore in waist deep, ice cold mucky water.

Once ashore it was learned that food rations had not been issued. A call was put out to the navy to bring rations. The navy responded by clearing out their spoiled and rotten supplies which once issued, the soldiers promptly threw them away. 

Long after Paul Revere had reached Lexington and the militia turned out, the troops were finally ashore, but Smith, being a commander that was much better at following orders than being a brilliant military mind, spend an hour assembling his men in order according to their regimental number. Finally, 5 hours late, the orders were given to march west.

to be continued...

[kilopaparomeo]

Part 9-Lexington

Upon reaching Lexington Paul Revere immediately went to the house of Reverend Jonas Clark. He knew that John Hancock and Sam Adams when warned out of Concord a few days before had retreated to Rev. Clark's house. This house was chosen because Hancock's grandfather had built the church and rectory and served as it's minister for many years before Clark took over. Hancock was well known in the town having spent a great deal of time there with his grandfather.

Revere was surprised to be stopped by armed militia men as he approached the house. He was told that earlier in the day 8 men on horses identified as army officers had come through town. John Parker the militia captain had ordered the same number of his men to protect Hancock and Adams.

Revere, Hancock, Adams and Parker met to discuss what to do. Hancock wanted to stay and fight but Adams and Revere talked him out of it. Parker decided he would call out his militia and send scouts east toward Boston to try and locate the column. As they talked, William Dawes, the other rider out of Boston showed up finally showed up.  Even though he left earlier than Revere and had a shorter route, he came in later.  It is speculated that Dawes rode slowly and only warned a few people that night.

After some rest and food, Adams and Hancock were to leave town as soon as possible while Revere and Dawes would continue their ride to Concord.

On the road out of town, Revere and Dawes ran into Dr. Samuel Prescott from Concord. Prescott had been in Lexington courting his fiance Lydia Mulligan. Prescott informed Revere that he was "a true son of liberty" and upon hearing that, Revere asked if he would help spread the word. Since he was doctor he knew most of people in Concord and surrounding areas, he agreed.  What a commitment...it's after midnight, Prescott is tired after a long day and he agrees to ride with some strangers to "save the country".  Would you have done that?

As the trio rode west with Revere out front, they noticed a couple riders along the road ahead in the moonlight. Revere figures that he has been diverted by a British patrol before, but now that they are 3, they can easily take these men.  Moving forward, two more riders appeared from the shadows under the trees. Four more riders suddenly appeared behind them. Faced with 8 armed men with pistols and nowhere to run Revere and his companions were forced to surrender. The officers, a combination of lieutenants and sergeants, forced the men off the road into a stone walled coral. A quick glance among the trio was exchanged and all three spurred their horses forward. Prescott and Dawes managed to clear the wall and escape while Revere's reins were seized by the nearest officer. Revere was caught and the future of liberty is in jeopardy.

continued...

[Timothy]

"The Hancock-Clarke House, built in 1737, is 1/4 mile from Buckman Tavern, on Hancock Street. On the evening of April 18, 1775, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, prominent leaders in the colonial cause, were guests of the Reverend Jonas Clarke in the parsonage. Fearing that they might be captured by the British, Dr Joseph Warren of Boston sent William Dawes and Paul Revere to Lexington with news of the advancing British troops. Arriving separately, they stopped to warn Hancock and Adams, then set off for Concord."