Dawes Island

Dawes Island is a memorial commemorating William Dawes’ ride through Cambridge on April 19, 1775 warning its citizens that the British were coming. The bronze hoof prints in the sidewalk memorialize Dawes’ historic ride and Cambridge’s role on that important day in American history.

On April 18, 1775 Boston Patriots, including Paul Revere and Dr. Joseph Warren, noticed the movement of British ships and troops. The British were preparing to go to Concord to seize gunpowder and arrest the Patriots Sam Adams and John Hancock. Anticipating the British move, Dr. Warren sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn the surrounding towns that the British were coming.

William Dawes took the route over The Great Bridge, which was the only bridge between Boston and Cambridge, and rode to the Cambridge Common and warned the citizens that the British were on their way. He advised them to destroy The Great Bridge to prevent the British troops from using it. Following years of growing tension between the colonies and the British and a large protest on September 2, 1774, the British had been losing control over the more western towns in Massachusetts and concentrating their forces in well-fortified city of Boston. This made the connection from Boston, over the Great Bridge and through Cambridge strategically important to both the British and the Patriots.

Dawes continued on his way while the Cambridge citizens prepared for the British to cut through Cambridge on their way to Lexington and Concord. By 11:30 pm part of the Cambridge militia tore up the planks from The Great Bridge. However, the militia left the planks lying beside the bridge. At about 2:00 am, British troops arrived at Lechmere Point and cut through Cambridge on their way to Lexington and Concord. The citizens of Cambridge, having been warned by Dawes, took refuge in their homes and avoided open conflict with the British as  the troops passed through the main part of town.

The next day British reinforcements, led by Lord Percy, planned to cut through Cambridge to bring relief to their fellow soldiers fighting in Lexington. Lord Percy, had planned to go over The Great Bridge, through Cambridge, however, when Percy and his troops arrived they found the bridge destroyed. Unfortunately, the Cambridge citizens had left the planks by the side of the bridge and Percy had expected some interference and had brought carpenters along with his troops. They were able to repair the bridge, although they were significantly delayed on their way to Cambridge.

Although Paul Revere receives most of the credit for warning Massachusetts that the British were coming on the eve of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, William Dawes was just as important.  Revere gives an account of this historic night in a letter to Jeremy Belknap, founder of the Massachusetts Historical Society where he discusses how successful William Dawes was.

Dr. Warren asked Paul Revere to warn Massachusetts’ towns that the British were coming a half an hour after William Dawes had begun his historic ride.  Revere crossed the Charles River into Charlestown and rode through Medford.  In Medford he came in contact with two British soldiers but was able to escape.  Revere was able to find Hancock and Adams and warn them.  After a half an hour, William Dawes met up with Paul Revere and they set off to Concord together, planning to warn everyone on their way. 

On their way, Dawes stopped to warn a house that the British were on their way and Revere rode about one hundred feet ahead.  Unfortunately British then surrounded Revere and took him as prisoner.  Dawes was able to escape and continue warning people.

William Dawes’ ride alerted the citizens of Cambridge and the neighboring towns and this information significantly impacted the outcome of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Slowing the progress of Lord Percy’s reinforcements made Cambridge a key strategic part of the battle.

 

Dawes Island Today

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