Ron Carter - Unlikely Heroes: Ordinary Men and Women Whose Courage Won the Revolution

First printing in hardbound 2007.

First printing in paperbound 2010.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

(CIP on file)

ISBN 978-1-59038-797-9 (hardbound)

ISBN 978-1-60908-004-4 (paperbound)

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

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For the legions of unknown people whose unsung heroism has, from the dawn of time, served us all

APRIL 18, 1775 BOSTON

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THE ABRUPT KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR of his comfortable Boston residence brought Dr. Joseph Warren to his feet. He laid aside the book he had been reading in his spacious library and looked at the clock on the fireplace mantle. It was ten minutes before nine oclock in the evening. His eyes narrowed as his mind leaped ahead.

Near nine oclock. Past the time the British have ordered the streets cleared. Who could it be? The redcoats? Have they finally come to arrest me?

Only too well was he aware of the nerve-wrenching tension between the rebellious Americans and the British, tension that had risen to catastrophic proportions in Boston. The burning of the tax stamps sent by King George III, the shooting of American colonists in the streets by panicked British soldiers that had become known as the Boston Massacre, the dumping of three hundred forty-two chests of tea into Boston Harbor by colonists disguised as Indiansall had widened the division between the colonies and Mother England until Boston was a tinderbox, waiting for the single spark that would ignite the fragile peace into full-scale war.

It was he, Dr. Joseph Warren, respected and beloved by Boston, who had spoken loudly and eloquently for the independence of the colonies, in public meetings, on the streets, and in the Boston town hall meetings, to become the leading citizen in the rising rebellion. It was he who had defied the British, openly demanding that King George grant the Americans their independence. An infuriated King George had responded by giving direct orders that Dr. Joseph Warren was to be arrested and punished for his treasonous attacks on England. And it was the fearless patriot Dr. Joseph Warren who freely walked the streets of Boston and thundered back at King George, The day you arrest me, ten thousand Americans will rise in arms to my defense!

His passionate defiance had the British befuddled. Dare they arrest Dr. Joseph Warren and risk an open war in the streets of Boston? Caught between the necessity of bringing the Americans under control and the equally strong desire to avoid a war, the British brought battleships into the Boston Back Bay to surround the peninsula with heavy cannon, capable of blasting to rubble both Boston and Charlestown, the small town across the Back Bay on the mainland. The huge battleship HMS Somerset had dropped anchor directly between the two towns. Then the British issued an ultimatum. Persons found in the streets of Boston after dark would be arrested on the spot and imprisoned. There were to be no public gatherings in Bostonnot in churches, homes, the town halls, or any other location. In the late evening, all lights in all buildings were to be extinguished. The British were determined to humble the defiant Americans.

Dr. Joseph Warren took a deep breath and set his jaw. If theyve come to arrest me, so be it! Lets get on with it!

He strode from the library, through the parlor, and opened his front door to face two patriots. Instantly he saw the strain in their eyes, their faces.

Quickly he stepped aside. Samuel! Jonah! Come in before youre seen.

They stepped quickly into the room, and Warren closed the door. For ten seconds he stood stock still, ear to the door, listening to hear if the men had been followed. There was no sound. He turned to them and spoke with quiet urgency.

What brings you here at this time of night? You know the risk.

Samuel, the taller of the two, thrust his head forward and the words came spilling: Doctor, sir, we was down on the Back Bay and we seen some things. The British are gathering on the beach of the Back Bay. Hundreds of em. They got knapsacks and muskets and bayonets and theyre wearin full uniforms, like for battle. We cant figger out what theyre doin, but the longer we thought on it, the more we got worried.

Warrens mind leaped forward. Concord! The British have found out about all the cannon and muskets and shot and gunpowder and food weve stored in Concord! Theyre going to get it! They know that without guns and munitions and food we cant fight them!

Eyes narrowed and flashing, Warren asked, When did you see them?

Twenty minutes ago. Its goin on right now! We snuck away and come straight here. Figgered you needed to know.

Warren nodded and for long moments stood with his head bowed while he organized his thoughts and made instant decisions.

All right, he said softly. Ill need two men. Paul Revere and William Dawes. Can you get them and bring them here right now?

Yes, sir. Well get em.

Do not tell them a word of what youve told me. Just tell them I must have them here, now.

Yes, sir.

Warren bobbed his head. Now, follow me, he said and led them through the kitchen to the back door. When youve got both of them, bring them to this door. Weve got work to do.

Both men nodded, Warren opened the door, and they slipped out into the faint light of a nearly full moon to disappear at a run.

Within fifteen minutes, a muffled knock came at the back door. Warren opened it instantly and stepped aside to let the four men slip silently into the kitchen. All the window blinds in the house were drawn. Warren led them into the dining room where one small lamp burned on the dining table with the wick turned as low as possible. In the dull, shadowy yellow light, the five men took their places, and four of them turned their faces to Warren, waiting. Warren did not hesitate, nor did he waste words as he spoke to Revere and Dawes.

A short while ago, Samuel and Jonah watched British regulars in full battle dress gathering on the Back Bay. Hundreds of them.

Revere and Dawes both jerked straight in their chairs, eyes wide in the yellow light, and in the same instant both men exclaimed, Concord!

Warren nodded. There is no other explanation! If its true, weve got to get word up to those people tonight, and weve got to give notice to everyone we can between here and Concord that the British are coming. We dont know yet if theyre going to go by land or take longboats across the Back Bay and up the Mystic River. So well have to prepare for either event.

Both Revere and Dawes leaned forward, eyes narrowed, waiting for Warren to continue. Warren spoke directly to Revere.

Across the Back Bay in Charlestown there is a man named Larkin. He owns the strongest horse in towna brown mare named Beauty. Do you know Larkin?