Critical response Paul Revere's Ride

1940s illustration of paul revere s ride

modern critics of poem emphasize many historical inaccuracies. example, poem depicts lantern signal in old north church meant revere, signal revere: historical paul revere did not receive lantern signal, 1 ordered set up. poem depicts revere rowing himself across charles river when, in reality, rowed on others. did not reach concord night. inaccuracy general lengthening of time frame of night s events.

the majority of criticism, however, notes longfellow gave sole credit revere collective achievements of 3 riders (as other riders, names not survive history). in fact, revere , william dawes rode (via different routes) boston lexington warn john hancock , samuel adams british soldiers marching boston lexington arrest hancock , adams , seize weapons stores in concord. revere , dawes rode toward concord, militia s arsenal hidden; joined samuel prescott, doctor lived in concord , happened in lexington. revere, dawes, , prescott stopped british troops in lincoln on road concord. prescott , dawes escaped, revere detained , questioned , escorted @ gunpoint 3 british officers lexington. of 3 riders, prescott arrived @ concord in time warn militia there.