Samuel Prescott

It worked too well, because once that image took hold, the lone rider, the midnight cry, the urgency of freedom, it became impossible to shake.

It didn’t matter that Revere was captured or that two other men, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, also rode that night, and Prescott was the one who actually finished the mission.

But American mythology has little patience for ensemble casts.

We like our heroes clean, solitary, and shouting.

Here with me at our microphone is the man who brought the news of General Gage's march to Concord.

He is Dr. Samuel Prescott, a town resident, rather young for a doctor, only 20 years old.

Dr. Prescott, what is your opinion? Will peace survive General Gage's expedition?

I would doubt that.

I've got to fall in with the minutemen.

Well, thank you very much.

That was Dr. Samuel Prescott, who brought the report that General Gage's troops are on their way here to Concord.

You heard him say that, in his opinion, the colonies will be in open rebellion before morning.

That's the way it happened.

On the way, Dawes and Revere met a young Dr. Prescott and he rode off with them to help them warn the colonists.

As the riders approached the Nelson farms, Dawes and Prescott left the road to awaken a family while Revere rode several hundred yards ahead, perhaps intending to stop at the next farm.

But suddenly, in the bright moonlight, he saw two horsemen lurking under a tree.

In nearly the same situation as those officers were near Charleston, Revere turned in his saddle and shouted a warning to his companions.

They came riding up to him.

Revere instantly proposed to attack, saying, There are two, and we will have them.

Dr. Prescott turned the butt end of his riding whip and gamely prepared to give battle.