The Midnight Rider

The King’s Highway was dark and dangerous on the night of July 1, 1776 as a lone rider on horseback, wearing his hat low and a scarf to cover part of his face, galloped through the darkened countryside. Guided only by flashes of lightning, the rider and horse raced across slippery bridges, through rain-filled streams, and sleeping towns.

The rider feared that the sound of the horse’s hoofs on the cobblestone streets would awaken someone, but loud claps of thunder covered the noise, and not even a watchdog noticed them. Though the rain came down in torrents, the rider and his mount barreled through it.

The man leaned forward in his saddle and whispered to the horse. Feeling the urgency in his rider’s voice, the horse stretched its legs, running harder and faster. It seemed to fly toward its destination, as if aware of the dangerous nature of its master’s mission. Caesar Rodney was a well-known political figure in Delaware, and he did not want to be recognized. If the wrong person even suspected how important this ride was to the Colonies, Rodney’s mission and his life might be in danger.

At daylight the rider knew he had only about twenty miles to go, so he changed horses and continued on without rest, wet and covered with mud. All night and most of a day, he urged the horse on to complete this important mission. Neither the July heat nor the rain from a summer thunderstorm would keep Caesar Rodney from reaching Philadelphia.

The journey from Dover, Delaware, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was normally a two-day trip — thirty hours on horseback. A person usually stopped to eat and rest at one of the inns along the way. On this trip, however, there was no time to rest, no time to eat. Spurring his horse on, Rodney ignored the tempting breakfast smells that drifted on the morning air. He was determined to reach Philadelphia by late afternoon on July 2.

In 1776, American Colonies were facing a decision that would affect them forever. Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and others of the Continental Congress had gathered at the Pennsylvania State House (known today as Independence Hall) to determine the future of America by voting on Richard Henry Lee’s proposal that the Colonies free themselves from Great Britain.

For three weeks the members of the Continental Congress debated the issue: Should or shouldn’t they do it? What would happen if they did? What would happen if they didn’t? Congress agreed that the vote must be unanimous — either all for or all against independence from England. Finally, on July 1, 1776, the vote was down to one colony — Delaware. Delaware had three representatives, but only two were present. Thomas McKean had voted yes for independence. George Read had voted no. A tiebreaker was needed. McKean knew how Caesar Rodney felt about independence, so he quickly sent a message to Rodney, the absent representative. The final vote was scheduled for July 2, and the future of the United States of America rested with Caesar Rodney.

As the Continental Congress sat in Philadelphia, debating the fate of the Colonies, a British fleet was approaching the New York harbor, and the Americans were positioning themselves in preparation for war.

A tired Rodney had just returned to his home from military duty in southern Delaware when the messenger arrived at his house, carrying the letter from Thomas McKean. Rodney broke the wax seal, read the letter, and immediately saddled his horse for the eighty-mile trip.

What was Caesar Rodney thinking of while he covered the eighty miles to Philadelphia? What would happen if the Colonies declared independence from Great Britain? He was certain it would mean war. It could also mean imprisonment hanging — for treason.

Caesar had a cancerous growth on his nose and the side of his face, which he tried to hide with a scarf. If the Colonies split from Great Britain, he knew that he would not be able to go to England for surgery and that the cancer would eventually take his life. Freedom was so important to Rodney that he risked his life to cast his vote for it.

Caesar was now in Philadelphia, and it was late — too late to stop and take a bath or change clothes. He rode up to the Pennsylvania State House and rushed in. All eyes were on him as he stepped into the room, covered in mud from his ride and still wearing his spurs. It was nearly 4:00 p.m. on July 2, 1776.

“As I believe the voice of my constituents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of independence, my own judgment concurs with them. I vote for independence,” he said.

The Colonies voted to break with Great Britain and establish a United States of America. Thomas Jefferson was asked to complete the draft of the Declaration of Independence, which John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman helped him write.

Caesar Rodney served the United States for the rest of his life. He was part of the Continental Congress until he was elected President of the State of Delaware in 1778. At the same time, he was a major general in the Delaware Militia and supported General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Even though the cancer was slowly killing him, Rodney continued with his military and political duties. The cancer finally did take his life in June of 1784, while he was still serving as speaker to the upper house of the Delaware Assembly. The State of Delaware honored Caesar Rodney in January of 1999 by coining his image on the reverse side of the state quarter of Delaware.