Steampunk Art Magazine | 1776
Paul Revere helped to organize a 30-person team that kept tabs on British troop and ship movements prior to the American Revolution. Their task included reporting major movements to the revolutionary militia located in Boston, New York (200 miles south of Boston), and Arlington, Virginia (an additional 230 miles south of New York).
A key issue in the British attempted capture of ringleaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock was determining if the British were going to make their move over land or across the “sea” (river).
Steampunk Art Magazine | The Forgotten Midnight Rider
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow took poetic license with the facts to create a simplified story that focused on Paul Revere. He left out other key people who were part of the Midnight Ride. This riled many people because everyone but Paul Revere was mostly forgotten. In fact, poet Helen F. Moore wrote a parody of Longfellow’s poem to bring to light one forgotten Midnight Rider: William Dawes.
“Tis all very well for the children to hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere;
But why should my name be quite forgot,
Who rode as boldly and well, God wot?
Why should I ask? The reason is clear–
My name was Dawes and his Revere.”
— Helen F. Moore
What if Longfellow forgot another Midnight Rider?
Steampunk Art Magazine | Paulina Revere
Ride rough through the cool night, keep them at bay
Hurried news had turned mad, British afloat
Steel all your jumping nerves, freedom today
Steam courses through her veins, her steed awake
Cagy plans route around weightless Redcoats
Ride rough through the cool night, keep them at bay
Boys’ unsteady glances down the dark wake
Quick sip of burning drink coats her red throat
Steel all your jumping nerves, freedom today
Through wet cobblestone streets, she swiftly sways
Greasing shift to next gear, Limeys a mote
Ride rough through the cool night, keep them at bay
Rounding a dirt corner, horse snorts a neigh
Unleashing the Gatling, she fills doomed blokes
Steel all your jumping nerves, freedom today
Brave Paulina, they know, chiseled in caves
Revered by the Bluecoats, her tale remains
Ride rough through the cool night, keep them at bay
Steel all your jumping nerves, freedom today
— Tom Libertiny
Steampunk Art Magazine | 2023 June
Concept, Photography, AI Prompt Engineer, Retouches | Tom Libertiny
Model | Paulina
Image used by permission.