1) The document discusses Paul Revere's midnight ride on April 18, 1775 to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were coming to capture them. 2) It describes how the American system of intelligence was organized from the bottom up in contrast to the British system which was controlled from the top down. 3) Revere was eventually captured by the British but continued spreading his warning which alarmed the British officers and contributed to the outbreak of fighting in Lexington the next day.

1. Paul Revere’s Ride Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year HIST 140 Theme 7 Part 2 Summer 2011 By: Le Thi My Ho

2. The Mission British Plans, American Preparations The British planned to strike at the heart of the rebel movement without awakening the wrath of the American continent – it’s all about secrecy, surprise, and sound intelligence The British System of intelligence was created and controlled from the top down The Whig leaders in New England were prepared to fight but importantly only after the British committed his forces by firing first, then they can react quickly and muster their full strength against Gage with all force at their command The American System of intelligence was organized from the bottom up

3. The Mission Careful Preparation, Timely Warning, Rapid Mobilization The British, led by General Thomas Gage , formal intelligence staff consisted largely of his kinsmen-mostly relatives by marriage whom The Americans were coordinated through an open, disorderly network of congresses and committees, but no central authority control, had many leaders but no commander General Gage sent confidential staff on secret mission to collect information and knowledge about eastern Massachusetts so he would know where to strike Gage finally decided that Concord will be his target and believe that a strong force of Regular troops under experienced professional officers had little to fear from these uninformed “bushmen” but little did he knows that the quick Whigs of Boston were picking up cues from the activities and preparation of his man and knows that Gage will strike Concord 2 different urgent warnings of the attack was delivered by Paul Revere but was reported to General Gage

4. The Warning The Midnight Ride as a Collective Efforts The roving British officers, whose assignment was to stop the New England alarm-riders, had the effect of alarming the countryside themselves that they were making the expected move April 18, 1775 The Americans were informed of the British idea “to seize Samuel Adams and John Hancock , who were known to be at Lexington, and burn the stores at Concord” One of the Whigs leader, Dr. Joseph Warren , had special access to a confidential informer, someone well connected at the uppermost levels of the British command who would give him source about the plan Paul Revere’s primary mission was not to alarm the countryside but to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that they were the objects of the British expedition

5. The Warning Delivering the Message to Concord Besides delivering the early warning system by special messengers, The Whigs had a back-up system of lantern signals light “ lanthorns ” visible from Boston to Charlestown Lanthorn was placed in Boston’s tallest building, the Old North Church – to be visible in Charlestown Robert Newman, Captain Pulling, and Thomas Bernard went to the Old North Church to hang up the lanterns, in which the flash of light was seen by the Charleston Whigs indicating that the British troops were leaving Boston to take action Paul Revere, was to send the message by boat to Charlestown, decided to go unarmed , a decision that later may have saved his life

6. The Capture A British Patrol Takes Paul Revere, and Is Taken by Him Together with Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott , alarmed the countryside path of Lexington to Concord Revere was captured and confessed that “if I have known people had been sent out to give information to the country, and time enough to get 50 miles, I would have ventured one shot from you, before I would have suffered you to have stopped me” to the British officers Revere became the inquisitor while the British officers grew agitated and disturbed by the unwelcome news that Revere brought them Revere was searched for weapons but none were found, if he had been carrying arms, the story of the midnight ride might have ended differently

7. The Capture Of Paul Revere Revere was questioned and threatened by Major Edward Mitchell and replied boldly “I call myself a man of truth, and you have stopped me on the highway, and made me a prisoner I knew not by what right. I will tell the truth, for I am not afraid .” Revere’s mission was to move the British away from Lexington, away from Hancock and Adams, the two Whig leaders Upon hearing Revere’s warning about the American’s preparation and the outburst volley in Lexington, the British officers decided to gallop fast back to warn the commanders of the marching column so they released their captives: Revere, Loring, Brown, and Sanderson

8. The Rescue Of John Hancock, Sam Adams, a Salmon, and a Trunk Upon arriving at Jonas Clarke parsonage in Lexington, Paul Revere urged Hancock and Adams to leave immediately After many attempts of convincing Hancock, the fugitives set off and stayed at Woburn (Burlington) In Woburn, Hancock sent his coach back to Lexington for his Aunt Hancock, his fiancée ( Dorothy Quincy ), and the salmon Along with John Lowell, Hancock’s confidential clerk, Revere had to rescue a trunk that was said to contain the innermost secrets of the Whig cause, and written evidence that could incriminate many leaders

9. The Rescue Of John Hancock and Sam Adams After hearing that the British are coming closer, Hancock and Adams fled to the modest house of Amos Wyman in the Middlesex countryside At the Wyman, the fugitives were offered cold boiled salt pork, brown bread, and potatoes – the Middlesex ordinary diet April 19, 1775 “ A Glorious Day for America ” The gunshot in Lexington triggered the British officers to think that “ the whole country was alarmed ” and that they better “ galloped for their lives ”