In 1775, before the battle of Lexington, William Dawes, Paul Revere, and Samuel Prescott were dispatched to rouse the country, Dawes starting first, Revere was arrested and Prescott fell off his horse. Dawes was the only one to complete the mission This poem is a parody to Longfellow's, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." It was written by Helen F. Moore, and published in the Century Magazine in 1896. The Midnight Ride of William Dawes I am a wandering, bitter shade, Never of me was a hero made; Poets have never sung my praise, Nobody crowned my brow with bays; And if you ask me the fatal cause, I answer only, "My name was Dawes" 'Tis all very well for the children to hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere; But why should my name be quite forgot, Who rode as boldly and well, God wot? Why should I ask? The reason is clear -- My name was Dawes and his Revere. When the lights from the old North Church flashed out, Paul Revere was waiting about, But I was already on my way. The shadows of night fell cold and gray As I rode, with never a break or a pause; But what was the use, when my name was Dawes! History rings with his silvery name; Closed to me are the portals of fame. Had he been Dawes and I Revere, No one had heard of him, I fear. No one has heard of me because He was Revere and I was Dawes. Actually, Dawes didn't make it to Concord either. When Revere was captured, Dawes got lost in the dark, strange countryside. The only one to complete the mission was Dr. Samuel Prescott, who was visiting his girlfriend in Lexington. She was the tavern owner's wife. Upon being discovered with her, he fled the tavern and met up with Revere on his way to Concord. The two were stopped by a British patrol. Revere was pulled from his horse, while Prescott escaped and made it to Concord. Maybe Who knows? http://colorpro.com/wmdawes/theride.html