What is true is that Revere was briefly captured (along with two others who managed to quickly escape) and held by the British while on his now legendary ride.
With a pistol aimed at his chest, and then his head, Revere was forced to answer the questions put to him. He answered by lying to his British captors, misleading them by overstating the number of armed colonists awaiting the arrival of the Regulars in an effort to give the enemy pause and confuse their mission.As made clear via Revere’s own letter setting forth the story of the event (which is making the rounds of the conservative blogosphere), and through any number of historic accounts, at no time did Revere warn his captors of anything, or make any rousing speeches as to how they would not be getting their hands on the colonists’ guns as suggested by Gov. Palin.
Revere did what any good patriot would do in that circumstance – he lied to the enemy to aid and protect his compatriots. Thus, when Palin’s legion of defenders suggest that Revere warned the enemy , they are suggesting that he sold out his side.
The Palin Apologists Strike Back!
http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/06/04/the-palin-apologists-strike-back/