The William Dawes Who Rode

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In 1775, before the battle of Lexington, William Dawes and Paul Revere were dispatched to rouse the country. Samuel Prescott joined them enroute. They ran into a British patrol and Revere was captured. Dawes and Prescott got away. Revere was held, but convinced the British that they were too late, the people were already aware and getting ready to defend themselves. His captors confirmed that he was indeed telling the truth and released him. I recently got this message from a re-enactor of the Ride:

I am with the Massachusetts National Lancers. We are an organized cavalry militia reinstated to Massachusetts state laws by Governor Edward Everett in 1836. Every year we portray the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes, in costume on horseback. We do the exact routes (or as close as possible through the city landscape). Please see our website at nationallancers.org. If there are any questions please email me, Cpl. Matthew Johnson, at wsipolo@XXXaol.com (... remove the XXX).

Read the full story reported on the National Lancers Web site. See alternate versions below.

The poem below is a parody to Longfellow's "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." It was written by Helen F. Moore, and published in the Century Magazine in 1896.

The Midnight Ride of William Dawes

I am a wandering, bitter shade,
Never of me was a hero made;
Poets have never sung my praise,
Nobody crowned my brow with bays;
And if you ask me the fatal cause,
I answer only, "My name was Dawes"

'Tis all very well for the children to hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere;
But why should my name be quite forgot,
Who rode as boldly and well, God wot?
Why should I ask? The reason is clear --
My name was Dawes and his Revere.

When the lights from the old North Church flashed out,
Paul Revere was waiting about,
But I was already on my way.
The shadows of night fell cold and gray
As I rode, with never a break or a pause;
But what was the use, when my name was Dawes!

History rings with his silvery name;
Closed to me are the portals of fame.
Had he been Dawes and I Revere,
No one had heard of him, I fear.
No one has heard of me because
He was Revere and I was Dawes.

This history may be biased in favor of William! If you can offer better, send corrections to TheRide@XXXdawesbiz.net (but remove the XXX). I'll post them here. Tell me if it's OK to post your email address!

Alternate Versions -- Contributions by Guests

Actually, Dawes didn't make it to Concord either. When Revere was captured, Dawes got lost in the dark, strange countryside. The only one to complete the mission, as you put it, was Dr. Samuel Prescott, a young M.D. from Concord who had been visiting his girlfriend in Lexington & had met up with Revere and Dawes as they rode out of Lexington towards Concord. He was far more familiar with the landscape and was able to evade the redcoat patrol.
Abe Fisher grnadier@XXXtiac.net (... remove the XXX)
August 15, 1996

Interesting page although historically inaccurate. I suggest visiting "Minuteman National Heritage Park" in Concord, MA. According to the rangers (i.e.. historians at the site), Dr. Prescott was visiting his girlfriend in Lexington. She was the tavern owner's wife. Upon being discovered with her, he fled the tavern and met up with Revere on his way to Concord. The two were stopped by a British patrol. Revere was pulled from his horse, while Prescott escaped and made it to Concord.
Charles G. Prescott
Wilmington, Massachusetts
September 15, 1998

Wed, 13 Jan 1999
Subject: Actual history was...
I would like to say that there was not a person who rode through Middlesex named Johnson, it was Samuel Prescott. Both Dawes and Revere were unsuccessful in their rides; Revere was stopped by the British, and Dawes got lost. Even I know that, as am eighth grader.

Clarissa from AOL

OOPS! I had said 'Samuel Johnson' in my intro above... thanks, Clarissa, I have corrected the error.

The Webmaster

Sun, 23 May 1999
I am doing an extensive research project on Paul Revere for a graduation standard in school. In my research found that as Revere, Dawes, and Prescott were forced into a sort of corral type place, Prescott jumped his horse over a wall and Dawes pulled his horse up short, fell off and lost his watch. He came back a couple days later and found it.

Ben Garbow

To correct Clarissa, Dawes did not get lost. After Revere was caught, he feared for his own life and turned back. Samuel Perscott was the only one who made it. And to correct Charles, Prescott did not flee because he was discovered with his girlfriend, he fled because Revere told them of more British soldiers coming to look for him because he was a patriot so he had to leave the tavern.
LeAnn Price
tiggergirl1@XXXhome.com
November 12, 1999