Lexington was preparing for battle long before British soldiers arrived on April 19th, 1775. The day before, Paul Revere and William Dawes, fellow Sons of Liberty, rode hard from Boston, arriving in town just before midnight. Their destination: the home of Reverend Jonas Clarke, cousin to patriot leader John Hancock. Their mission: To warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the impending British raid. Their arrival would start the chain of events leading to armed rebellion on Lexington Green at dawn the next day.
