Sarah Was Actually Sort Of Correct

Sarah Palin’s Magical History tour took her to Massachusetts where she told a reporter that Paul Revere “warned the British” — even though everyone knows his job was to alert the Adams, Hancock, and the patriot militia so they could protect their ammunition stores.

And yet, incoherent as her answer was, Revere’s own statement bails her out. In his report to the Continental Congress, he says he in fact DID warn the British.

On his way from Lexington to Concord, he was detained by six British sentries who demanded to know what he was doing, and he WARNED them that there would shortly be 500 Americans there.

There was nowhere near that number — he was exaggerating in hopes of getting the sentries to release him, and it worked.

Did Sarah know that, or did she just get lucky? I don’t know — but it’s right there in his account (misspellings in original):

…When I got there, out Started Six officers, on Horse back, and orderd me to dismount;-one of them, who appeared to have the command, examined me, where I came from, & what my Name Was? I told him. it was Revere, he asked if it was Paul? I told him yes He asked me if I was an express? I answered in the afirmative. He demanded what time I left Boston?

I told him; and aded, that their troops had catched aground in passing the River, and that There would be five hundred Americans there in a short time, for I had alarmed the Country all the way up.

He imediately rode towards those who stoppd us, when all five of them came down upon a full gallop; one of them, whom I afterwards found to be Major Mitchel, of the 5th Regiment, Clapped his pistol to my head, called me by name, & told me he was going to ask me some questions, & if I did not give him true answers, he would blow my brains out….