Paul Revere of Boston, in the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay in N.
England of Lawfull age doth testifye and Say: that he I
was
in Boston on the Evening of the 18th of April 1775, that I was sent for by
Docr. Joseph Warren about 10 oClock that evening, and desired, "to go to
Lexington
and inform Mr. Samuel Adams, & the Hon. John Hancock
Esqr. that there was a number
of Soldiers composed of the Light troops and Grenadiers marching to
the bottom of the common, where was a number Boats
to receive them, and it was supposed, that they were going to Lexington,
by the way of Watertown to
take them, Mess. Adams and Hancock or to Concord." I proceeded
imeaditly & was put across Charles River in
a
private Boat , and Landed at Charlestown
Battery. Went into
the Town and their got a Horse, while in
Charlestown I was informed by Richd. Deavins Esqr.
that he, that Evening after sun sett, mett 9 officers of Gages Army, well
mounted &
Armed going to wards to Concord. I sett off it was then about (about
11 oClock) the Moon Shone bright. I had
got allmost got over Charlestown Common towards Cambridge
when I saw two officers on horse back
standing under the
shade of a Tree, In a narrow part of the Road. I got near enough to see their
holsters & Coc-
-kades. When one of them started his horse towards me and the other up the Road
as I
supposed to head me, I turned my horse short about &
Rid upon full gallop for Mistick
Road, he following me about 300 yards, and finding he could not catch me,
stoped. I proceeded
to Lexington throu Mistick, and awaked Messr. Adams & Hancock, and delivered my message.
After I had been there about half an hour, Mr. Daws came
arrived, who came from Boston over
the neck. We sett of together for Concord, and were overtaken by a Young
Gentleman
named Prescot who belonged to Concord, and was going home when we
got about half way from Lexington to Concord, the Other two
Stopped at a House to awake the Man. I kept along, when I had got about 200
Yards
a head of them, I saw two officers under a Tree as
before. I imeaditly called to my
company to come up, saying here was two of them, (for I had
told them, what Mr. Devens
told me and of my being Stopped) in an Instant I saw four of
them officers who rode up to me
with their Pistols in their hands &
said God damn you Stop if you
go an Inch farther you are a dead man, imeaditly Mr. Prescot came up, he
turned the butt end of his whipp. We attempted
to git thro' them but they kept before us & swore if
we did not turn in to that
pasture, they would Blow our brains out, (they had placed them selves opposite
to a
pair of Barrs and had taken the Barrs down) they forced us in, and
when we had got in, Mr.
Prescot said to me putt on, he turned to the left, I turned to the Right, +
[See additional information provided by Paul Revere at the bottom of page
1.] towards a
wood in the bottom of the pasture, intending when I reached that, to jump my
horse &
Run afoot. Just as I reached it out started Six others on
horseback, wrode up to me with their
Pistols in their hands put them to my Breast siesed my bridle and
ordered me to dismount, which I did. One of them who appeared
to
have the command there, and much of
Gentleman, asked me where I came
from, I told him, he asked me what time I left it, I told him, he asked
me said Sir may I crave your
Name, I answered my Name was Revere, he said what Paul Revere, I
said yes, the others the others abused me
much, but he told me not to be afraid, they should not
hurt me. I told him they would miss their Aim. He said they should not, they
were after sour deserters
that were on the Road. I told him I knew better, I knew what they were after,
that I had alarmed
the Country all the way up, and that their Boats had catched aground, and I
should have 500
men their soon. He seemed supprised and rid imeaditly up to the Road
to them that stopped me. They came
down on full gallop, one of them (whom I have since learned was Major Mitchel
of the 5th
Regt.) clapd his pistol to My head, and said he was agoing to ask me some
Questions, & if I
did not tell the truth, he would blow my brains out. I replied that I calld my
self a Man of
Truth, and that he had stopped me on the high Way, &
made me a prisoner by force I knew
not by what right.
I would tell the truth, for I was not afraid. He then asked me the same
questions that
that the other did and many more but more particular,
I gave him the same answers; after he and two
more had spoke together in a low voice he orderd me to mount my horse, but they
first
searched me for Arms. When I had mounted, the Major rode up to me
& took the reins out
of my hand & said by God Sir you are not to ride
with reins, and gave them to an officer
upon my right to lead me. I asked him to let me have the reins, & I would not run from
him, he said he would not trust me, he then orderd four men out of the Bushes,
whom
I found were Country men, which they had stopped and to mount their horses, and
then Ordered
us to march. He came up to me and said: "We are now going towards your friends
& if you
attempt to run, or we are insulted, we will blow your Brains out." I told him
he might
do as he pleased. When we had got into the road they formed a Circle
& ordered the prisoners
in the centre, and to lead me in front. We
rode down to ward Lexington prittie smart.
I was often insulted by the officers calling me
damned Rebel &c. &c. The Officer who ledd
me said I was in a d-m-d critical situation I told I was sensible of it. When We had
got about a mile, I was delivered to a Serjant, who was Ordered to take out his
Pistol (he
rode with a hanger & should I run to excecute the
Major's Sentance. Whe [When] we got within
about half a mile of Lexington meeting-house we heard a Gun fired, the Major
ask-
-ed what that was for, I told him to alarm the Country,
he then Ordered
the other 4 prisoners to dismount, which they did. They cut the Bridles
& saddles off
the Horses, drove them away, and told the men they might go about their
Business.
I asked the Major to dismiss he said he would not. He then ordered us to
march.
When we got within sight of the Meeting-house, we heard a Volley of Guns fired
as
I supposed at the Tavern, as an Alarm, the Major
ordered a halt, he asked me
ho [how] far it was to Cambridge. I told him, after Asking
me a number of questions he
Asked the Serjant if his horse was tired. He answered Yes, he ordered him to
take
My horse which he did. Then after cutting the Saddle & Bridle off the Serjants horse
they told me they should make use of my horse
for the Night and rode off, towards Cambridge.
I then went to the house where I left Messr. Adams &
Hancock & told them what had
happined, thier Friends advised them to go out of the way, I went with them,
went about
two miles a cross road & their stopt, after resting
my self I set off with
another man, to go to the Tavern, to enquire wither the troops had come, or
were
coming. When we got there, a Man who has just come up the road, told
us said they were
within two mile. We went into the Tavern to git
a Trunk of Papers belonging to Col. Hancock, before we got out the I
saw the
Ministearal Troops from the chamber window, coming up
the Road. We made
haste, and had to pass thro our Militia, who were on a green behinde the
Mee-
ting house, to the Number as I suppose of 50 or 60. it was then
Daylight. I passed thro' them, as I
passed I heard the Commanding officer, say words to
this Effect "Lett the Troops
pass by & donot molest them with out they bigin
first." As I had to go a cross road
I had not got half gun shot distance, when the ministeral Troops
appeard in Sight, behind
the Meeting house. They made a short halt.
When one Gun was fired, I saw the smoake
in the front of them, they imeaditly gave a shout rann a few pace
& then fired.
I could distinguish first
iregular firing and then platoons. At this time, I could not
see our Militia, for they were covered by a house at the bottom of the
Road.