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.

Little is known about what happened to Dawes after his midnight ride. He went into the provisions business and was a commissary to the Continental Army. According to some reports, he fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Dawes had seven children, compared to Revere’s 16. Dawes died at age 53 in 1799; Revere lived until he was 83.

Both men were relatively unheralded when they died, but the silversmith got the PRGETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Authorities say a man participating in a free speech rally at Gettysburg National Military Park accidentally shot himself in the leg.

Park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon said the man's revolver accidentally discharged shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday near the Meade Equestrian Statue in the central Pennsylvania park.

Sgt. Anna Rose of the United States Park Police confirmed to CBS affiliate WHP that the man accidentally triggered his revolver, which was inside a leg holster, when he temporarily rested his flag pole against the holster.

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Rose said United States Park Police responded to the scene and quickly applied a tourniquet, and the man was taken to a hospital for medical care. PennLive.com reported that he was talking with paramedics and seemed in good spirits.

Lawhon