Early in 1775 Revere engaged with other patriots to patrol the Boston streets and keep advised as to the movements of the redcoats. On April 15th they reported the British camp unwontedly astir. The next day, Sunday, Revere took a message from Dr. Warren to Lexington, where Hancock and Adams, on whose heads a price had been set by the king, were lodging. Upon receiving the messenger’s news of British activities the adjourned Provincial Congress re-assembled in Concord and began immediate preparation against attack on the colony’s stores. Here let us read the account of “the express” himself, an account at variance with the familiar rhymed version, especially in respect to the lantern signals, and his arrival at the journey’s end. “On Tuesday evening, the 18th, it was observed that a number of soldiers were marching towards the bottom of the Common (thus indicating to Revere and his fellow-watchers that the troops were about to leave Boston by water). About ten o’clock Dr. Warren sent in great haste for me, and begged that I would immediately set off for Lexington, where Messrs. Hancock and Adams were.… When I got to Dr. Warren’s house, I found he had sent an express by land to Lexington, a Mr. William Dawes.… The Sunday before.… I agreed with a Colonel Conant (at Charlestown, across the river from Boston) that if the British went out by water we would shew two lanthorns in the North Church steeple: and if by land, one, as a signal.… I left Dr. Warren, called upon a friend, and desired him to make the signals.… Two friends rowed me across Charles River, a little to the eastward where the _Somerset_ man-of-war lay.… I met Colonel Conant, and several others; they said they had seen our signals.… I set off upon a very good horse; it was then about eleven o’clock, and very pleasant.” It is plain that the signals were not for the messenger, as related by Longfellow, but were intended to flash the intelligence to the people and militia that the British were advancing. Revere was in constant danger of being overtaken by the entire force, which had embarked at Boston almost at the moment he was reaching the Charlestown shore. Riding at top speed he reached Medford. “I awaked the captain of the Minute Men; and after that I alarmed almost every house, till I got to Lexington. I found Messrs. Hancock and Adams at the Rev. Mr. Clarke’s; I told them my errand, and inquired for Mr. Dawes.”