Sarah Palin right about Paul Revere

Potential Republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin went on a One Nation bus tour that traveled to a number of historical sites in the northeast.

Much attention has been placed on comments she made while in Boston last week. While speaking to reporters, Palin said that Paul Revere also warned the British on his famous ride.

He who warned the British that they weren't gonna be taking away our arms by ringing those bells, and making sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be secure and we were going to be free, Palin told reporters in Boston.

Although Palin has been criticized for her apparent gaffe, the whole story of Revere's ride also includes a lesser known anecdote.

Revere was captured and subsequently questioned by British soldiers, warning them that they were fighting a losing battle against the Americans. These details come from none other than Revere himself, courtesy of a transcription from the Massachusetts Historical Society.

I observed a Wood at a Small distance, & made for that. When I got there, out Started Six officers, on Horse back, and orderd me to dismount;-one of them, who appeared to have the command, examined me, where I came from, & what my Name Was? I told him. it was Revere, he asked if it was Paul? I told him yes He asked me if I was an express? I answered in the afirmative. He demanded what time I left Boston? I told him; and aded, that their troops had catched aground in passing the River, and that There would be five hundred Americans there in a short time, for I had alarmed the Country all the way up, Revere wrote in a letter.

Boston University history professor Brendan McConville told the Boston Herald that Palin provided an accurate account of Revere's ride.

Basically when Paul Revere was stopped by the British, he did say to them, 'Look, there is a mobilization going on that you'll be confronting,' and the British are aware as they're marching down the countryside, they hear church bells ringing - she was right about that - and warning shots being fired. That's accurate, McConville said.

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday with host Chris Wallace, the former governor of Alaska reiterated what she told reporters in Boston.

You know what? I didn't mess up about Paul Revere, Palin, who is a paid contributor for Fox News, said.

Here is what Paul Revere did. He warned the Americans that the British were coming, the British were coming, and they were going to try to take our arms and we got to make sure that we were protecting ourselves and shoring up all of ammunitions and our firearms so that they couldn't take it. But remember that the British had already been there, many soldiers for seven years in that area. And part of Paul Revere's ride - and it wasn't just one ride - he was a courier, he was a messenger. Part of his ride was to warn the British that we're already there. That, hey, you're not going to succeed. You're not going to take American arms. You are not going to beat our own well-armed persons, individual, private militia that we have. He did warn the British.

And in a shout-out, gotcha type of question that was asked of me, I answered candidly. And I know my American history.

Follow Matthew Rocco on Twitter at @MatthewRocco