Proudly handmade in the USA. General Gage, leader of the British forces, decided to send 800 soldiers on April 18th to seize and destroy the guns and ammunition of the patriots at Concord and also to capture Samuel Adams and Hon Hancock. To insure a surprise, his troops were to march at night. Paul Revere was asked to set off for Lexington and Concord and alarm the people on the way. he made arrangements for signal lanterns to be hung from the tower of North Church "two lanterns if the British come by water and one if by land". Paul Revere was rowed to Charleston, where he obtained a fast horse, and at 11pm he started on the eventful ride. In Medford, he awakened the captain of the Minute-Men. From Bedford to Lexington he alarmed almost every household, and at Lexington he gave his news to Hon Hancock and Samuel Adams. Paul Revere was joined by tow others, Dawes and Prescott, and they started for Concord between one and tow in the morning. On the way Revere was surrounded by English soldiers, but Prescott reached Concord with the news. Legend and poetry has illustrated Paul Revere''s ride that called the Colonists to arms, and signaled the start of a long war for independence.