As history dot com puts it: "Dawes, meanwhile, is the Rodney Dangerfield of the American Revolution, getting no respect at all."
https://www.history.com/news/the-midnight-ride-of-william-dawes
Here is an excerpt from, frankly, a more dramatic ode. With no disrespect meant to Paul Revere, as his many accomplishments are eclipsed by the fact he was a true patriot. However, the bravery, quick thinking and instincts, as demonstrated by William Dawes, reflected the American Revolutionary Spirit in such memorable ways.
Again, quoting history dot com:
Revere Is Captured, Dawes Escapes
"Before they could reach Concord, however, the three riders encountered a British patrol around 1:30 a.m.; Revere was captured. Prescott and his horse hurtled over a stone wall and managed to make it to Concord. According to family lore, the quick-witted Dawes, knowing his horse was too tired to outrun the two British officers tailing him, cleverly staged a ruse. He pulled up in front of a vacant farmhouse and shouted as if there were patriots inside: “Halloo, boys, I’ve got two of ‘em!” Fearing an ambush, the two Redcoats galloped away, while Dawes reared so quickly he was bucked off his horse. Forced to limp into the moonlit night, he receded into obscurity."
To continue the story, returning to Lexington after being unceremoniously dumped off his steed that evening, Dawes returned the next day to retrieve a pocket watch he lost as he hit the ground.
I recall Dylan's fifth grade teacher at Berean Academy, Mr. Davis, giving him a nod when he was recounting this very important story as part of the American Revolution narrative.