BOSTON (AP) — The historic midnight ride of Paul Revere is set to be reenacted Monday, April 18, 2023, but with some modern-day tweaks: it will be run in the middle of the day, and the horse and rider will receive a police escort.
Revere's ride initially took place on April 18, 1775, when the silversmith and express rider was sent to Lexington to alert Revolutionary leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were approaching to arrest them. After this, he continued on to Concord to warn about impending raids on military stockpiles.
Revere reached Lexington shortly after midnight, followed by another rider, William Dawes, who took a different route but delivered the same urgent message. Their actions led to militiamen confronting a significantly larger contingent of British regulars advancing from Boston at the Lexington Battle Green. Ultimately, the British were driven back to Boston in what became known as the Siege of Boston.
“It’s important because you have to have someone to meet the British troops,” remarked Nina Zannieri, executive director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association, which manages The Paul Revere House. “It becomes a turning point. If no patriots had turned out on the green and the British had just rolled into town, it would have been different. But they actually met resistance.”
The reenactor, clad in Colonial attire and accompanied by another horseman, will approximately trace the route taken by Revere 251 years ago. The ride will start from Boston's North End and pass through Charlestown, Somerville, Medford, and Arlington, concluding in Lexington—all communities where Revere alerted local militias about British movements.
While several elements of the original ride will be left out, such as Revere taking a boat to Charlestown before embarking on his ride and his brief detention by a British patrol along the way to Concord, the essence of the ride will be retained. Zannieri emphasized that Revere's determination, despite facing challenges, was crucial in setting off a chain reaction that energized the local patriots in their fight.
“It’s basically important that he leaves Boston. He rides. He’s alerting people. Other people are out,” Zannieri added. “He starts a chain reaction, and he accomplishes his mission even though he gets stopped and held. He’s lucky he wasn’t killed.”
Today’s reenactor will enjoy modern conveniences, traversing paved roads and encountering today's busy city landscapes, unlike the rough and treacherous paths Revere navigated. Notably, the 2026 Boston Marathon will coincide with the reenactment, although their routes will not intersect.
Michelle DiCarlo-Domey, who organizes the event annually for the National Lancers, the state’s historic mounted cavalry unit, noted that thousands come out for the event to celebrate history and patriotism. The National Lancers have been hosting the Revere and Dawes ride for over 110 years.
“Whenever you can interact with the riders and the horses, it can help carry history on,” DiCarlo-Domey said. “Kids can relate to what they learn in school. And where else do you see two horses running down the street?”
