Paul Revere Capture Site at Minute Man National Historical Park

On the evening of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was waiting for news concerning the route British soldiers would take to Concord. Spies had already provided information that the British planned to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington, then continue on to Concord to confiscate a cache of weapons that were hidden on the farm of Colonel James Barrett. Once notified of the route, he and fellow Patriot William Dawes were to ride out in advance to warn other Patriots that the march was on. However, just in case they were caught, lanterns were to be hung in the bell tower of the Old North Church to signal the route to other Patriots. One lantern meant that the British soldiers were marching by land via Boston Neck, and two meant that they were crossing the Charles River to Cambridge, a four-hour shortcut, and marching from there. When Revere learned which way the British were heading, he instructed one of his associates (some say two) to hang two lanterns from the bell tower. The lanterns were lit and shown for only one minute.

Dawes left a little earlier than Revere since he was not burdened with the lantern task, taking the land route by way of Cambridge. Revere paddled a boat across the Charles River to Charlestown, then rode on horse along the Mystic River. Their rendezvous point was in Lexington at the hideout of Samuel Adams and John Hancock. After warning the two men that the British were coming for them (which most likely was not true), Revere and Dawes set off towards Concord on the Bay Road, which is today called Battle Road.

Along the way they met Doctor Samuel Prescott, a fellow Patriot. Prescott lived in Concord and was on his way home, so he joined the mission. The group only got a few miles before running into a patrol of British soldiers. Dawes and Prescott were alerting residents at a house along the road, so Revere was about 200 yards ahead of them and was soon held at gunpoint. Dawes saw the soldiers and slipped away. Legend has it that he was thrown off his horse, which then ran away, and had to walk back to Lexington, but regardless of what happened, he did not proceed to Concord.

Prescott, on the other hand, rode up to the soldiers and joined Revere. At gunpoint, they were ushered off the road and into a pasture, and once there Prescott yelled, “Put on,” and the two broke off in different directions in an attempt to escape.

Revere ended up at a dead end and was captured, but Prescott, who knew the area well, managed to ride off into the woods. After traversing fields and other off-road terrain, he reemerged onto Battle Road near the Hartwell Tavern. After rousing residents there to wake Captain William Smith, leader of the Lincoln Company of Minute Men who lived nearby, Prescott continued on to Concord to spread the news. Revere was held for a brief time, questioned, then escorted back towards Lexington along with three other men who had been detained. When close to town, he was released, though his horse was confiscated.

The spot where Revere was captured on what is now known as Battle Road is marked with a circular, stone memorial. A plaque and two wayside exhibits tell the story of his capture. For those hiking or biking the Battle Road Trail at Minute Man National Historical Park, you will pass right by the memorial. There is a parking lot for those visiting by vehicle.