I always thought both William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott got the short shrift after the events of April 18, 1775, thanks to Longfellow’s poem, which mentioned neither of those two historical figures in his homage to the events of that night. So, I thought I’d write my own rebuttal in a little verse in an attempt to set the record straight.
Listen, my children, ‘twill give you pause,
‘Bout the midnight rides of Prescott and Dawes.
In Seventy-five on the eighteenth of April,
Those Redcoats back then were still mighty hateful.
And Longfellow’s poem was also full of flaws.
The poet decided to use the name of Revere,
The only way he could rhyme with the word he chose, “hear.”
If poor Dawes and Prescott had known that was the name of the game,
They would have changed either “Dawes” or “Prescott” to a more rhyming name.
“Revere was arrested that night!” Dawes was heard to exclaim.
“So how in the world did HE get all the fame?”
When Prescott, Revere, and Dawes were detained.
Revere was the one who wound up being chained.
“The horse under that fat silversmith almost buckled,”
Prescott was quoted, explaining Revere’s capture as he chuckled.
Now, Dawes and Prescott, both free to end their big task,
Both managed to celebrate later on with a flask.
As Dawes also joined in at the Bunker Hill battle,
It’s now clear that all of Longfellow’s words are just prattle.
So, listen again, my children, if you will.
That when you choose to write history, please do so with skill.
Do not simply change facts to suit a silly rhyme
For all of your errors will soon be found out in time.
And if you are destined for some future historical fame,
Please ensure you at least sport a more rhyming name.
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