Paul Revere and The Shot Heard Round the World
April comes with gush of bird-song, a patter of dew, a cloud and a rainbow’s warning, suddenly sunshine and perfect blue,” – Harriet Spofford
On April 18, Dr. Joseph Warren, doctor, patriot, and spy, learned that the British were planning to march on Concord. He took the message to silversmith, Paul Revere, setting the famous ride in motion. Using an elaborate warning system devised by the Sons of Liberty, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott were recruited to carry the message to militia men (minutemen) throughout the countryside with Revere.
Revere was posted near the Old North Church awaiting news of the manner of travel the British would use – two lanterns in the tower indicated by sea, one lantern indicated by land.
When the lanterns appeared indicating the British were marching on land, William Dawes was sent on one route, a longer one, to reach militia in those locations, Dawes accompanied Revere, and they all set out for Concord.
Revere was captured by the British just outside of Lexington, but Dawes and Prescott got their messages delivered. Militias sprang into action, armed themselves and headed for Concord.
On the “Battle Road” (Lexington to Concord) the two forces met and THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD rang out.
The Shot Heard Round the World by Domenick D’Andrea
No one really knows who actually fired the first shot. British soldiers were not accustomed to surprise, out of rank warfare. Militia men harassed the British all the way back to Boston, peppering the marching Redcoats with musket fire. When the smoke of fired muskets had cleared, a very clear message appeared…the American Revolution had begun!
Sybil Ludington
Paul Revere was made famous by the poet Longfellow, but a sixteen-year-old girl out rode and out rallied the famous Revere just a few weeks later. On April 26, 1777, Sybil Ludington, made her own night-time ride. Her father, Colonel Ludington, commander of the local militias in New York and nearby Connecticut, learned from a messenger that Danbury, where American weapons were being stored, was under British attack. He needed someone to rally the minutemen. He needed to stay home to organize those who answered the call. Without his permission, Sybil leaped on a horse and rode through the dark woods all night, some 20 to 40 miles in the rain. She managed to rally nearly 400 men who raced to Danbury, routed the British and harassed them for miles as they marched back to Boston. Alone, without a saddle, and using only a hemp-style rope for a rein, she and her horse rode into history.
April 13, 1743
Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday
3rd President of the United States
Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, at the Shadwell plantation located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. Jefferson was born into one of the most prominent families of Virginia’s planter elite. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, was a member of the proud Randolph clan, a family claiming descent from English and Scottish royalty.
As a boy, Jefferson’s favorite pastimes were playing in the woods, practicing the violin and reading. He began his formal education at the age of nine, studying Latin and Greek at a local private school run by the Reverend William Douglas.
In 1757, at the age of 14, he took up further study of the classical languages as well as literature and mathematics with the Reverend James Maury, whom Jefferson later described as “a correct classical scholar.”
Courtesy of Biography.com
“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time. – Abraham Lincoln
Vacation Liberty School of Georgetown, TX
Website: gtlibertyschool.com
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