Source: Stacy Schiff. The Revolutionary - Samuel Adams (2022)
Just after midnight on 19 April 1775, Paul Revere activated his network of riders (probably instructed to do so by Dr. Warren) to, in part, warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Both men were in a parsonage in Lexington, having secreted there for safety; Revere wanted to alert both men that British soldiers were advancing to Concord, and that both were targeted for capture.
The 800 or so British redcoats were mobilized from their barracks at 10:30 pm on 18 April 1775, but after marching through a marsh, soaked to their waists, they needed to wait for supplies that were supposed to already be waiting for them. While they were waiting, news of their advance had reached Lexington. Samuel Adams had left for Lexington in such a rush that he didn’t destroy his documents (a friend destroyed them for him), which illustrated that he no longer felt safe in Boston. Both Adams and Hancock were in Lexington not only for safety, but also to rest and prepare for their trip to Philadelphia for the 2nd Continental Congress.
For the previous two days, the spy network within the Committees of Correspondence (C of C) knew that British soldiers were preparing for an advance west. General Thomas Gage had already sent redcoats just outside the city, and the colonists knew of their advance beforehand. Adams was not surprised that he had been specifically targeted by the British, since he had gone out of his way to be “Enemy #1”. At the same time, poster-size portraits of Samuel Adams (printed in RI) could be purchased by admiring colonists for a half-dollar. To some, Adams was a heroic patriot, to the British and the Tories (Loyalists), Adams was a villain and a traitor.
The 800 or so British redcoats were mobilized from their barracks at 10:30 pm on 18 April 1775, but after marching through a marsh, soaked to their waists, they needed to wait for supplies that were supposed to already be waiting for them. While they were waiting, news of their advance had reached Lexington. Samuel Adams had left for Lexington in such a rush that he didn’t destroy his documents (a friend destroyed them for him), which illustrated that he no longer felt safe in Boston. Both Adams and Hancock were in Lexington not only for safety, but also to rest and prepare for their trip to Philadelphia for the 2nd Continental Congress.
For the previous two days, the spy network within the Committees of Correspondence (C of C) knew that British soldiers were preparing for an advance west. General Thomas Gage had already sent redcoats just outside the city, and the colonists knew of their advance beforehand. Adams was not surprised that he had been specifically targeted by the British, since he had gone out of his way to be “Enemy #1”. At the same time, poster-size portraits of Samuel Adams (printed in RI) could be purchased by admiring colonists for a half-dollar. To some, Adams was a heroic patriot, to the British and the Tories (Loyalists), Adams was a villain and a traitor.
To the British, Adams was the main reason why Boston was on the verge of insurrection. Adams had the gift/curse of sounding like Marx, Lenin, and Robespierre, all wrapped up in one person. To the British, peace could not be restored in the Colonies until Adams was captured, put on trial, and sentenced. Dr. Joseph Warren, Adams’ best friend and closest confidant, told Adams that the British were going to hang him. Patriot spies had collected intelligence from Loyalists that the British wanted to grab Adams before he could arrive in Philadelphia for the 2nd Continental Congress, which was scheduled to convene on 10 May 1775.
By 18 April 1775, most of Adams' associates had also left Boston, but Adams remained unintimidated. Adams felt secure in that Revere (and 30+ riders) were constantly observing the British and reporting to Adams, Warren, and Hancock. General Gage was impressed and frustrated by the effectiveness of the Patriot Spy Network, which had alerted targeted patriots, leading to their mass exodus from Boston. Gage was in an impossible situation, tasked with subduing patriots in Boston, which in his mind should have been done long before Spring 1775. Specifically, Gage’s orders when he arrived were to “quiet the minds of the people”, close the Port of Boston, and to prosecute the leading patriots. All of Gage’s efforts to follow his orders activated more-and-more people in-and-outside of Boston to be vigilant, careful, sneaky, and to communicate what they heard and saw to others.
By 18 April 1775, most of Adams' associates had also left Boston, but Adams remained unintimidated. Adams felt secure in that Revere (and 30+ riders) were constantly observing the British and reporting to Adams, Warren, and Hancock. General Gage was impressed and frustrated by the effectiveness of the Patriot Spy Network, which had alerted targeted patriots, leading to their mass exodus from Boston. Gage was in an impossible situation, tasked with subduing patriots in Boston, which in his mind should have been done long before Spring 1775. Specifically, Gage’s orders when he arrived were to “quiet the minds of the people”, close the Port of Boston, and to prosecute the leading patriots. All of Gage’s efforts to follow his orders activated more-and-more people in-and-outside of Boston to be vigilant, careful, sneaky, and to communicate what they heard and saw to others.
From his spies, Gage discovered on 26 March 1775 that secret stockpiles of munitions, especially gunpowder, were located west of Boston in Concord. The citizens of Concord knew Gage would eventually head their way, and the munitions were hidden away, and they readied themselves to repel the redcoats.
Early in the evening of 18 April 1775 near Lexington, several British officers were seen skulking about. British officers simply didn’t scout out the MA countryside at night without a reason. The assumption was that the British were trying to locate Adams and Hancock, so a 10 - 12 man guard was dispatched to the parsonage where the two men were staying. The British government believed that if it cut off the head of the snake (by capturing Adams and Hancock), Boston and New England would fall back in line. The only question for the British, since capturing the two men was a foregone conclusion, was whether to have their trial in Britain or to hang them in Boston.
Gage was under tremendous pressure to capture Adams as well as to confiscate the munitions in Concord, but Gage understood something that his superiors in London didn’t: his soldiers would be badly outnumbered and outgunned west of Boston if the countryside became fully activated. Gage wanted to avoid triggering hostilities that he knew would lead to a larger conflict, again knowing he was hopelessly outnumbered, even in Boston. Arresting Adams, Gage knew, would make Samuel Adams and the patriots political martyrs, and the British as the aggressors.
Early in the evening of 18 April 1775 near Lexington, several British officers were seen skulking about. British officers simply didn’t scout out the MA countryside at night without a reason. The assumption was that the British were trying to locate Adams and Hancock, so a 10 - 12 man guard was dispatched to the parsonage where the two men were staying. The British government believed that if it cut off the head of the snake (by capturing Adams and Hancock), Boston and New England would fall back in line. The only question for the British, since capturing the two men was a foregone conclusion, was whether to have their trial in Britain or to hang them in Boston.
Gage was under tremendous pressure to capture Adams as well as to confiscate the munitions in Concord, but Gage understood something that his superiors in London didn’t: his soldiers would be badly outnumbered and outgunned west of Boston if the countryside became fully activated. Gage wanted to avoid triggering hostilities that he knew would lead to a larger conflict, again knowing he was hopelessly outnumbered, even in Boston. Arresting Adams, Gage knew, would make Samuel Adams and the patriots political martyrs, and the British as the aggressors.
Gage was ordered to arrest Adams and Hancock only if he could secure a prosecution, since there was no reason to disgrace King George III or to arouse the opposition. By the time Revere arrived to warn Adams and Hancock, (another rider, William Dawes, was taking another route to the safe house to warn them) it was too late for Gate to attempt the arrests. Gage tried to explain to his superiors that if he was able to arrest Adams, that a mob would almost certainly come for him and kill him. Gage reluctantly conceded that Adams and the leading patriots trusted their immunity from capture, and therefore scoffed at the threats of deportation.
Whether by happenstance or an uncanny ability to anticipate events, Adams predicted how crucial Hancock would be down the road. Even though Hancock had adopted the behavior and look of a Colonial aristocrat, Adams recruited him to the cause, correctly concluding that Hancock would revel in the glory as much as his frivolity, as well as having a great amount of money to give to the cause. Hancock wasn’t nearly as brave and fearless as Adams, so Adams made sure that the proud peacock that was Hancock was often in the spotlight. Tories (Loyalists) hated Adams even more after he “seduced’ the 27 year old Hancock into his fold. Hancock proved easy prey for Adams in that Hancock’s ambition was disproportionate to his aptitude and abilities (e.g. believing he was as-or-more qualified to be the Commander of the Continental Army compared to George Washington in June 1775). Most of the time, Adams was able to coax and steer Hancock into any direction he desired.
Whether by happenstance or an uncanny ability to anticipate events, Adams predicted how crucial Hancock would be down the road. Even though Hancock had adopted the behavior and look of a Colonial aristocrat, Adams recruited him to the cause, correctly concluding that Hancock would revel in the glory as much as his frivolity, as well as having a great amount of money to give to the cause. Hancock wasn’t nearly as brave and fearless as Adams, so Adams made sure that the proud peacock that was Hancock was often in the spotlight. Tories (Loyalists) hated Adams even more after he “seduced’ the 27 year old Hancock into his fold. Hancock proved easy prey for Adams in that Hancock’s ambition was disproportionate to his aptitude and abilities (e.g. believing he was as-or-more qualified to be the Commander of the Continental Army compared to George Washington in June 1775). Most of the time, Adams was able to coax and steer Hancock into any direction he desired.
For an increasing number of colonists in New England, as well as in other parts of the Colonies, the time for reconciliation with Britain was over. Goodwill had evaporated, and outrage had cemented itself, especially in MA, where for over a decade British affronts and oppression had become too much to tolerate and endure. British redcoats no longer contained their disdain and contempt for the inferior colonists, and the patriots and their sympathizers returned the favor. That being said, by March 1775 outright confrontation was to most unthinkable, which left Gage and the patriot leaders at a stand-off, each refusing to relinquish gains while also wanting to avoid igniting a crisis.
Revere arrived at the parsonage where Adams and Hancock were located at 12:30 am on 19 April 1775. Revere, while a patriot leader, was not yet the legend that he became, and he was actually barred from entering the parsonage by the security detail. After Revere told the security detail that “the Regulars are coming out”, he was allowed to awaken the household, and Adams and Hancock appeared at the downstairs window. William Dawes, the rider that Revere had dispatched along another route, hadn’t yet arrived at the parsonage, but he appeared at around 1 am . . .
Revere arrived at the parsonage where Adams and Hancock were located at 12:30 am on 19 April 1775. Revere, while a patriot leader, was not yet the legend that he became, and he was actually barred from entering the parsonage by the security detail. After Revere told the security detail that “the Regulars are coming out”, he was allowed to awaken the household, and Adams and Hancock appeared at the downstairs window. William Dawes, the rider that Revere had dispatched along another route, hadn’t yet arrived at the parsonage, but he appeared at around 1 am . . .