Paul Revere’s Other Ride and the First Armed Act of Colonial Resistance
Today, we commemorate the 251st Anniversary of an event that is often overshadowed by the Battles at Lexington and Concord – but was actually the first organized, armed act of colonial resistance, a full four months before blood was shed in Massachusetts in 1775.
By late 1774, tensions were surging across New England. In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British Crown had closed Boston Harbor and, on October 19, issued a secret Order in Council banning the export of arms and gunpowder to the colonies. Rumors spread that British regulars would soon reinforce garrisons like Fort William and Mary and seize colonial munitions. The Boston Committee of Safety acted swiftly, to sounded the alarm. On December 13, Paul Revere rode through the bitter cold to Portsmouth with urgent news: British forces were preparing to secure the powder and arms stored at the fort.
Unlike his more famous ride to Lexington and Concord, Revere reached his destination this time. After his nonstop journey, he warned Samuel Cutts that the warship Canceaux was en route to Portsmouth to seize the fort’s supplies — a warning that set the stage for one of the Revolution’s earliest acts of defiance.
On December 14, 1774, hundreds of patriots led by John Langdon and other local leaders stormed the lightly defended fort. After a brief skirmish, they seized nearly 100 barrels of gunpowder. The next day, John Sullivan lead a second raid capturing muskets and cannon. This bold seizure was not just symbolic; some of that powder was likely used at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
The success of the raids boosted patriot morale and strengthened the resolve of militias that would soon face the British at Lexington and Concord. It also accelerated the collapse of royal control in New Hampshire. By August 1775, Governor Wentworth had fled the colony, never to return. And by January 1776, New Hampshire issued the first Colonial Constitution, an extraordinary leap toward independence.
This was a key moment in revolutionary history — proof that New Hampshire played a vital role in early resistance. It was a daring, calculated act that helped set the Revolution in motion. While history often celebrates the “the shot heard around the world, these raids remind us that the fight for liberty began earlier, with ordinary citizens willing to act decisively.
As we reflect on this event, let’s remember its importance: the courage of ordinary citizens, the unity of purpose, and the willingness to take bold risks for freedom. Although the raids on Fort William & Mary are often referred to as “the shots not heard around the world, they remind us that history is not only shaped by famous battles, but also by the bold actions of ordinary citizens.
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