Paul Revere

In 1798, Revere described his ride (and his capture) in a letter to Jeremy Belknap:

...if the British went out by Water, we would shew two Lanthorns in the North Church Steeple; and if by Land, one, as a Signal . . .

I set off upon a very good Horse; it was then about 11 o'Clock, and very pleasant . . . I alarmed almost every House, till I got to Lexington.

I found Messrs. Hancock and Adams...I told them my errand...I likewise mentioned, that we had better allarm all the Inhabitents till we got to Concord . . .

I saw two men...in an Instant I was surrounded by four . . . the Docter jumped his Horse over a low Stone wall, and got to Concord . . . Major Mitchel, of the 5th Regiment, Clapped his pistol to my head, called me by name, and told me he was going to ask me some questions, and if I did not give him true answers, he would blow my brains out.