Hello . . . I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Israel Bissell and I lived during what’s called “The Revolutionary War," or the “War of Independence." I’d like to talk to you about an exciting event in my otherwise routine life as a 23-year-old postal rider. I won’t bother you with any background material on me instead, I’ll get right to my experience.
It started on the evening of April 18, 1775. I’d just gotten back to Boston from my delivery route when the word came that General Gage (the British governor and military leader) would soon come to arrest members of the Massachusetts assembly, and capture the arms and gunpowder we stored in Concord. Their troops would begin marching on the following morning. We had the rest of the night to warn the colonists and alert the minutemen of the impending danger.
I was in the stable unsaddling my horse when two of the “patriots" ran in. I recognized William Dawes and Paul Revere, they told me about the news concerning the British and I volunteered to join the ride. (From a later account, I heard about a church steeple, a lantern, and a “One if by land, two if by sea" thing, but since the British troops were already stationed there, I question its validity.) Dawes and Revere decided to ride straight to Lexington and Concord, but I thought I should take an alternate route—we should notify as many people as possible, not just one faction. Later I learned I’d made the right decision because Dawes, Revere, and Samuel Prescott were stopped and held by a British patrol. Prescott joined the others in Lexington and, after finally escaping he did finish the trip to Concord. I, on the other hand, got the minutemen alerted in the Boston area and continued riding on to Watertown, New York City and ended up at the city hall in Philadelphia.
I stayed in the saddle four and a half days and covered 345 miles. I changed horses often and ate as I rode. By the time I reached Philadelphia, I’d almost lost my voice because I rode through the countryside yelling, “To arms, to arms, the war has begun." That was the most rewarding experience in my young life.
I question the “celebrity" of Mr. Revere, but I’m not bitter about it. I feel very secure in my accomplishment. I know Paul rode about 20 miles, ended up horseless and walked to Concord. Dawes had little effect because, after his “escape," he returned to Boston. Samuel did make it to Concord, and he remained there for the fierce battle that took place at the North Bridge (we won).
But, just to set the record straight, I was in the thick of things too. I rode a long way and feel I contributed much to the cause of our freedom from the British. Perhaps Mr. Longfellow had a problem putting my name in a poetic light. If that’s so, perhaps I can help—how about this:
“Listen my children and you shall whistle, At the amazing ride of Israel Bissell." The verse and some of the historical facts came to me compliments of the History Channel's "Time Lab 2000" narrated by Sam Waterston.
© 2004 by Ginny A. Averett. All rights reserved Ginny A. Averett is the author of this article. She is known in the Great Northwest as a writer with a wide variety of interests. Her topics include historical fiction, folklore, travel, personal experience, and humor. Her latest work is a book, “Bucky’s New World," and is age appropriate 8 to 14 years. It deals with honesty, trust, loyalty, compassion and friendship.
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