When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote Paul Revere’s Ride in 1860, he probably didn’t anticipate that it would provide the definitive historical narrative for this event – which was already 85 years back historically.
Virginia had its own historic ride lost in history. On the night of June 3, 1781, Jack Jouett was napping behind Coo-Coo Tavern in Louisa and was woken by the arrival of British troups under Lt Col Tarleton, who were on the way to Charlottesville to capture Jefferson and members of the State Government, who had recent;y fled Richmond. Jack Jouett rode about 40 miles over back roads to sound the alarm. The legislators fled to Staunton. Jefferson, who took his time leaving for Poplar Foerest and didn't leave Montecello until the British were at the base of mountain.
Jack Jouett. A friend of mine in TN was a Jouette. Her genealogy told her that every Jouett in America, regardless of the spelling, was related to each other. Hmmm.
I love this. As you can see I'm more than two weeks behind reading your substack, but what fun that's turned out to be. I've always loved the story of the Magazine, and "your" poem is mighty fine. My husband was very impressed. But best of all, the participation. I need to find myself an event and go meet ChatGPT!
Oh my, Karen, this was a fantastic post. Beyond the joy of celebrating Longfellow's story, you've wrapped it in the context of its time — I certainly didn't know that history.
But there's more in this post. In your cheeky take on the story of the “Powder Alarm of Williamsburg” you've inspired every family to consider the power of storytelling in the form of poetry... with a flip of a GPT. What else can we do now as individual families to tell the stories that matter with an assist from a well-contextualized AI. Consider, for example, the story of James Armistead Lafayette, an unsung hero at the Battle of Yorktown:
The Spy Who Stood in Slavery’s Place
(In the style of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's “Paul Revere’s Ride”)
Exactly. I discovered it while exploring the stories behind Lafayette's 1824-1825 tour for this family history timeline I was building. That story just opened my eyes to so many stories of the Forgotten Patriots and the effort to get those stories written.
As Projectkin, I'm all about helping families tell their stories. These untold stories peel back bias to reveal incredible acts of heroism; they're inspiring in so many ways.
Virginia had its own historic ride lost in history. On the night of June 3, 1781, Jack Jouett was napping behind Coo-Coo Tavern in Louisa and was woken by the arrival of British troups under Lt Col Tarleton, who were on the way to Charlottesville to capture Jefferson and members of the State Government, who had recent;y fled Richmond. Jack Jouett rode about 40 miles over back roads to sound the alarm. The legislators fled to Staunton. Jefferson, who took his time leaving for Poplar Foerest and didn't leave Montecello until the British were at the base of mountain.
Through Piedmont hills and wooded glide,
Jack Jouett rode, no time to hide.
By moonlit paths and creeks that wound,
He galloped fast, the warning sound,
To save the state from British raid,
Through Virginia’s heart, his course was laid.
Jack Jouett. A friend of mine in TN was a Jouette. Her genealogy told her that every Jouett in America, regardless of the spelling, was related to each other. Hmmm.
Terrific! Clever and scary.
Clever!
Karen,
I love this. As you can see I'm more than two weeks behind reading your substack, but what fun that's turned out to be. I've always loved the story of the Magazine, and "your" poem is mighty fine. My husband was very impressed. But best of all, the participation. I need to find myself an event and go meet ChatGPT!
Amazing and mostly scary! Bot, indeed!
Oh my, Karen, this was a fantastic post. Beyond the joy of celebrating Longfellow's story, you've wrapped it in the context of its time — I certainly didn't know that history.
But there's more in this post. In your cheeky take on the story of the “Powder Alarm of Williamsburg” you've inspired every family to consider the power of storytelling in the form of poetry... with a flip of a GPT. What else can we do now as individual families to tell the stories that matter with an assist from a well-contextualized AI. Consider, for example, the story of James Armistead Lafayette, an unsung hero at the Battle of Yorktown:
The Spy Who Stood in Slavery’s Place
(In the style of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's “Paul Revere’s Ride”)
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of a man unsung, yet bold and clear,
Who slipped through camps in the dark of night,
A shadow that turned the tide of fight,
With whispers he gathered, in silence and grace,
A spy in chains who outwitted the chase.
… <snip>
So remember the name that history missed,
Not carved in stone, but in freedom’s fist.
James Armistead, bold and brave,
Who rose from chains the world to save.
A whisper of war, a shadow of grace—
The spy who stood in slavery’s place.
Well that's fun. Thanks for doing this -- I love his story and it is too little known.
Exactly. I discovered it while exploring the stories behind Lafayette's 1824-1825 tour for this family history timeline I was building. That story just opened my eyes to so many stories of the Forgotten Patriots and the effort to get those stories written.
As Projectkin, I'm all about helping families tell their stories. These untold stories peel back bias to reveal incredible acts of heroism; they're inspiring in so many ways.