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May 16, 2000 - Bill Cooper
01:00:38
Revolution Remembered #1
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Once upon a happy annual, in the annual of the guitar, once upon a good group of youth, who played their synthesizer.
There was a young man, who had a guitar, and he played his synthesizer.
This is the hour of the time.
I'm William Cooper.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
This is a night that you should have your entire family in front of the radio.
Your whole family.
But before I get started I would like to make this announcement to the listeners in the Round Valley.
Tonight on the Round Valley television channel 15 immediately following this broadcast There will be a special presentation that you don't want to miss So make sure you've got your TV antenna hooked up, and you're all ready to watch channel 15 Round Valley television at 8 p.m.
Tonight you don't want to miss it if you do you're going to be kicking yourself all around town tomorrow Well for All of those of you all around the world, tonight you're going to hear some things that are astounding, really, that they can be brought to us at this time
I'm not going to tell you what it is.
You're just going to have to listen and pay very, very close attention.
If tomorrow all the things were gone, it would work for all my life.
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.
I thank my lucky star to be living here today.
All the black girls dance for freedom and they can't take that away.
And I'm proud to be an American wearing these dials over my face.
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that life to me.
And I'm glad they stand up next to you when they get hurt today.
But there ain't no doubt I love this place.
God bless the U.S.A.
the hills of Tennessee, across the plains of Tennessee, from Tate-ish-I-tis-Tee, from
Detroit down to Houston, and New York to L.A., with a pride in every American heart,
and it's time we stand and say, that a proud 50-year-old American, will release that noble
act today, and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her till the day the thunderings blow down.
I love this land.
God bless the United States!
You can have all the money and a very chance, where it is I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me, and I'm climbing back up.
Next to you and it's been her till today.
But there ain't no doubt, my love is there.
I'll never forget the U.N. Day.
Jonathan Brigham, born 1754, grew up in Marlboro, Massachusetts.
He entered the local minute company in April of 1774, served two terms of active service, and paid a substitute for another three-month period.
New England, with its Puritan origins and articulate leadership, was quick to react to discriminatory British actions.
By 1774, Many citizens were ideologically prepared for war.
It was the Town Minute Companies, like that formed in Marlborough in April, organized and dominated entirely by individuals hostile to the Crown, that paved the way for armed conflict on Lexington Green just a year later.
Brigham's memory of the incident surrounding the removal of military stores from Cambridge is somewhat faulty.
On September 1, 1774, a detachment sent out by General Gage seized gunpowder from Charleston and two cannons from Cambridge.
The populace reacted with predictable vigor.
A group of three or four thousand did surround the house of the Lieutenant Governor Thomas Oliver, not Thomas, and forced him to sign a paper resigning his seat as President of the Council.
The mob dispersed quietly.
Brigham remained in Marlborough until 1796, when he joined the Yankee exodus to New York.
He lived at Madison until 1802, and then at Augusta in Oneida County, and moved to Chautauqua in 1810.
He submitted this deposition in 1832, and was granted a pension as a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
This is what he remembers about his service.
In the year 1774, he was residing in the town of Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The British troops were then in Boston, and their fleet lying off and blockading the harbor.
Excitement was high in the moment of actual hostilities constantly anticipated by the inhabitants.
Under these circumstances, he, with others of his townsmen, voluntarily formed themselves into a military company, a militia, and in the month of April in that year chose the following company officers.
Daniel Barnes was elected captain, William Morse, first lieutenant, and Paul Brigham, second lieutenant.
The company attached itself to a regiment raised in like manner, of whom one Henshaw was chosen colonel, Jonathan Ward, lieutenant colonel, and Timothy Bigelow and Edward Barnes, majors.
That he and the company to which he belonged equipped themselves and met punctually through the year two days each week for the purpose of military exercise and drill.
And, as a Minuteman, continued to serve until his regular enlistment in the month of May, 1775, a period of about one year and about one month.
Among his first companions in the service he recollects Benjamin Stevens, John Lauren, Ephraim Barber, and Moses Roberts, who was afterwards killed at the Battle of White Plains.
While in the service as such Minutemen, And in the early part of April, 1775, word was brought to Colonel Cyprian Howe of the militia that the Colonial Lieutenant Governor Thomas had caused the Cambridge townhouse in which the inhabitants had deposited a quantity of ammunition in military stores to be broken open and the articles it contained removed in the night to Boston.
He immediately requested those who were willing to volunteer and go with him to punish the aggressor and take measures to prevent the like occurrences in other towns.
The Declarant and others, to the number of about twenty-five, offered their services and went on horseback under the command of Colonel Howe to the Lieutenant Governor's residence, a distance of some twenty-five miles.
Upon arriving there, A committee was appointed to wait upon the Lieutenant Governor and make known their business, who, in discharge of their duty, went to his front door and knocked for admittance.
But the door was fastened and all silent in the house.
They then went to the rear door and knocked, on which the Lieutenant Governor put out his head from a chamber window and demanded their business.
They told him they did not come to do him any personal injury.
but to obtain information and satisfaction in relation to the removal of the stores from Cambridge.
He replied that they were removed by the express orders of Governor Gage, commander of the King's troops in Boston, that he was sorry that he had removed them and would not remove any more, and consented to give written pledge to that effect.
That he then came out, marched with uncovered head through the company, and then signed the written pledge that he would not in future interfere or intermeddle with any of the town's stores and would remain quietly and peaceably at home, and that he was sorry that he had had anything to do with the removal of the Cambridge stores.
On this he was dismissed, and the company returned.
Not knowing, but that they would be immediately arrested and transported beyond the seas for trial for so hazardous an action.
At other times, before the actual commencement of hostilities, the Declarant was engaged in other similar enterprises, and on one occasion dispersed a gang of the King's adherents who had collected to destroy his property, if not the person of Colonel Bailey of Berlin, an ardent Whig who had become obnoxious to the enemies of liberty.
And as a minute man, Declarant was ever ready on all occasions to defend his country and her rights.
On the 19th of April, 1775, Declarant, under the same officers as the preceding year, marched to Concord for the protection of the military stores on the first notice of the hostile approach of the British forces.
Great efforts were made to keep secret the march and the objects of these troops.
But the Battle of Lexington roused the country.
Declarant heard of the affair at Lexington about nine or ten o'clock in the forenoon, and arrived at Concord, a distance of about sixteen miles, at about two or three o'clock in the afternoon.
When Declarant arrived, the British had effected their object and were retreating, when Declarant and his company immediately pursued.
They could hear, as they advanced, various accounts of the retreating foe.
Sometimes they were told they were nearly upon them, and would then march upon a run for some distance, so other accounts would induce them to believe they could not be overtaken, and would then resume their ordinary march.
When in pursuit, they saw numbers of dead bodies, as the enemy's retreat was harassed by yeomanry firing upon them from behind walls, hedges, and buildings.
The British, reinforced at Lexington by Lord Percy, continued their retreat to Bunker's Hill, and the next morning crossed to Boston.
Declarent and company encamped overnight at a place called Monodomy, about four miles from Cambridge, and the next morning joined the American Army at Cambridge.
Deckmurrant remained at Cambridge with the troops until sometime in May thereafter, when enlisting orders were published, and then Deckmurrant and his company enlisted for eight months and were continued under the same officers with this exception, that Artemus Ward was colonel of his regiment instead of Colonel Hinshaw.
On the 17th June, 1775, Deckmurrant was engaged in the battle at Bunker's Hill.
The firing on the part of the British commenced at an early hour in the morning from their ships and batteries, but the engagement did not become general until a little afternoon when their forces crossed Charles River and attempted to dislodge the Americans from the redoubt which they had erected the preceding night.
The battle was severe, and the British repulsed at every charge until, for want of ammunition, the Americans were compelled to retire.
The awful solemnities of that day are still deeply impressed upon Declarant's mind, and the scenes of carnage and death, and the inconceivable grandeur of the immense volume of flames illuminating the battlefield from the burning of Charlestown, appeared as vivid as if the events of yesterday.
He was acquainted with every captain in his regiment who was in the battle—Captain MacMillan of Huffington, Captain Fay of Southborough, Captain Barnes of Marlborough, Declarence Company, Captain Wood of Northborough, who was wounded in the shoulder, Captain Wheelock of Westborough, Captain Drury of Grafton, Captain Fishing of Shrewsbury, Captain Hubbard, who was afterwards killed at Quebec,
Captain Kellogg of Hadley and Captain Washburn of Leicestershire, who then, an aged man and being himself wounded in the shoulder, brought off from the field Sergeant Brown, who was wounded in the thigh.
When Colonel Artimus Ward assumed the command in chief of the Army The Declarant's Regiment continued under the command of Colonel Jonathan Ward, no Colonel being appointed in the place of Artemis.
On the second day of July, 1775, General Washington arrived at Cambridge as Commander-in-Chief.
The Army was reorganized by him, and Declarant's Regiment removed from Cambridge to Dorchester next.
were declarant remained until sometime in February 1776, thirty days after his period of enlistment had expired.
The last thirty days' service was rendered at the express request of the Commander-in-Chief and with the assurance that it should in all respects be deemed the same as if the original term of enlistment had not till then expired.
The company was called together at the expiration of the last thirty days and dismissed without any written discharges, having served nine months after his regular enlistment.
In March of the forepart of April, 1776, Declarant enlisted under a captain whose name he does not now recollect, as he was a stranger to him, and as he did not serve personally under him, for a period of three months to guard the town of Boston which had then been recently evacuated by the enemy.
He hired Charles Hudson to serve this period for him, who was accepted as his substitute, answered, and did duty in his name.
Deckmer went to Boston during his service, and understood and believes he served the said term of three months faithfully, and was regularly discharged at the expiration thereof and was paid his wages by Declarant in addition to his regular pay which he drew as such substitute in Declarant's name.
In the beginning of October, 1777, when General Burgoyne was advancing from the North and Sir Henry Clinton from the South, threatening a total dismemberment of the States, a call was made for volunteers from Marlborough, where Declarant was still residing, to march against Burgoyne.
Declarant volunteered in this service, and a company of his townsmen was organized under William Morse as captain, and Ephraim Barber and Obadiah Bass, lieutenants.
And Declarant marched with them through Springfield and Northampton, Massachusetts, Brattleboro and Bennington, Vermont, Hoosick and Cambridge to Saratoga, New York.
where they arrived two or three days before the surrender of Burgoyne.
Declarant's regiment was commanded by Colonel Reed on this occasion.
After the surrender of Burgoyne, Declarant and his regiment returned, having in their charge the Hessian prisoners in one party and the British prisoners in another, the regiment having divided and taken different routes for that purpose.
At Charleston in Massachusetts, the regiment united.
But the British prisoners, not being willing to go on in company with the Hessians, that part of the regiment with which Declarant was, and who had the Hessians in charge, remained there until the other party had first advanced, when they proceeded with their prisoners to Winter Hill near Boston, and then returned to their homes.
On this service Declarant was absent thirty days.
the the
the so that was rude
Thank you.
A lifelong resident of Woburn, Massachusetts, was one of the Minutemen who stood the British fire on Lexington Green the fateful morning of 19 April.
In this narrative, and in a separate deposition taken three years earlier for publication in Ezra Ripley's History of the Fight at Concord, 1827, he claims the distinction of taking the first prisoner of war.
Wood was a shoemaker by trade and served three tours in the Massachusetts State Units of the Continental Army, successively as Sergeant, Ensign, and then Lieutenant.
He retired to make shoes for the Army, later farmed, and successfully submitted this pension
application in 1830.
Whoever these lines come before may depend upon facts that I, Sylvanus Wood, was born
in Woburn, but in that part now called Burlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, twelve miles
from Boston, and there I learned to make boots and shoes.
There I joined a minute company, militia, disciplined with activity by a man who was in the fight on Abraham's Plains with the brave General Wolfe.
And in fifteen months hostilities commenced.
I was then established at my trade two miles east of Lexington Meeting House, on west border of Woburn, and on the 19th morn of April, 1775, Robert Douglas and myself heard Lexington Bell about one hour before daybreak.
We concluded that trouble was near.
We waited for no man but hastened and joined Captain Parker's company at the breaking of the day.
Douglas and myself stood together in the center of said company when the enemy first fired.
The English soon were on their march for Concord.
I helped carry six dead into the meeting-house and then set out after the enemy and had not an armed man to go with me.
But before I arrived at Concord, I see one of the grenadiers standing sentinel.
I cocked my piece and run up to him, seized his gun with my left hand.
He surrendered his armor, one gun and bayonet, a large cutlash, also known as a cutlass, and brass spender, one box over the shoulder with twenty-two rounds, one box round the waist with eighteen rounds.
This was the first prisoner that was known to be taken that day.
I followed the enemy to conquer.
and to Bunker Hill that day.
Next morning I agreed to stay the first campaign and served as sergeant, and when my first term was expired, Colonel Loamy Baldwin, of the same town of myself, gave me an incense commission for 1776 and marched to New York when General Sullivan and General Lord Sterling were made prisoners.
I was in the reinforcement on Long Island when we evacuated the island.
General McDougal commanded the flotilla when we left the island of New York.
The baggage was carried to the North River with an officer and ten privates to guard the chests, but a British ship came up the river and cut off ours and all was lost.
The next day we crossed the river and went over to Fort Lee.
Soon after we crossed back and landed above Kingsbridge.
We marched on and came to a place called Frog's Point.
There we had a small brush with the enemy.
I received a ball through my left shoulder.
Colonel Shepard threw his double chin.
Our wounds were dressed at Dr. Graham's White Plains.
My wound soon got well, and at the end of the 1776 campaign, Colonel Baldwin leaving the Army, Colonel Wesson took the command, and he placed me as First Lieutenant in Captain John Wood's company during the war.
I told the Colonel I would stay with all my heart if I was not overpowered at home.
And when four months was elapsed, I saw my parents and offered them all I was worth if they would be willing I should stay in the Army.
But no offer whatever would answer.
I then concluded to leave the Army, but with great reluctance.
Colonel Wesson asked me what I was going to do.
I told him I did not know what to set myself about.
But having a chance to make shoes for the army, I bought leather, hired journeymen,
made shoes and delivered them for the soldiers, and after some time was elapsed I took my
money and it would not purchase my stock, so I lost my time for 1777.
After this it came into my mind to purchase a small farm of about forty acres, and my
custom was to make a pair of plow-joggers in the forenoon and work on the farm in the
afternoon so that I got no time to go a-hawking.
And about thirty years ago, I becoming acquainted with the Honorable Abraham Bigelow Clark of
Middlesex County Courts, he offered me a farm in the town of Worburn, $5,333 purchase, about
twenty-six years ago.
I labored nights as well as days and have paid for the same.
It is true, but my lifting logs of wood, barrels of cider, has caused a breach of body which
all physicians on earth cannot make whole.
This infirmity I have been troubled with about fifteen years, and now I am not able to do
anything by reason of the breach.
I am past seventy-six years of age.
I sent an application with my commission eight or nine years ago to Congress.
I am worth nothing but what has been drawn from my fingers' ends.
If I am favored ever with anything for service done in the Army, I need it now, as well as my fellow soldiers who have done no more than I have.
I think I have been neglected.
If I have said anything wrong, I will seal my lips and say no more, but I am willing to publish this to the United States.
¶¶ ¶¶
¶¶ He served on a government vessel in Casco Bay and at Falmouth and enlisted in January 1776 in a Massachusetts regiment with the Continental Army.
After a siege of about a year, Washington's troops occupied Dorchester Heights on the night of 4th March, 1776.
The British Commander Howe had no choice but to evacuate Boston.
This narrative conveys the excitement with which the Americans reoccupied the town.
It was the first and one of the most brilliant American successes of the war.
Larrabee filed this account and received his pension in 1837.
In the month of June, 1775, at North Yarmouth, He enlisted in a company of the State Militia, commanded by Captain Benjamin Parker, and served in said company till the last of November or first of December following, the first part of the time he served on Chebaku Island in Casco Bay.
Then, accompanied by Captain Parker, he went on board a government vessel commanded by Captain John Wyman, which was employed in cruising between Cape Elizabeth and Monhegan.
On one of these cruises, we fell in with General Arnold's transports on their way up to Kennebec, near Saguene Island.
At the time, Falmouth, now Portland, was burnt in October 17th, and the rest followed immediately
after.
.
The last duty we did on that enlistment was to build a fort near the foot of King Street, a British-armed vessel having made its appearance in the harbor.
This fort was thrown up in one night by said Parker's company, assisted by soldiers from other companies which were stationed there.
The British vessel the next morning, seeing our fort mounted with two long eighteen-pounders immediately made sale without changing a shot.
This was about the last of November or first of December when our company were discharged, having served not less than five months.
But said Samuel Larrabee farther states that early in the month of February, 1776, at North Yarmouth, he again enlisted under John Webster, an orderly sergeant, and marched to Dorchester near Boston, and there joined a company commanded by Captain Cranston in the regiment commanded by Colonel Whitcomb, and served on Dorchester Heights, the road to which was across a low piece of land where we were exposed to the fire of Lord Howe's guns, to protect ourselves from which we placed bundles of hay.
The last fortnight before Howe evacuated Boston, We kept up a smart cannonading every pleasant night from twelve o'clock till sunrise.
The night before Hal left, we threw up a fortification on the point opposite South Boston.
In this new fortification were myself and three hundred others who received a heavy fire as soon as we were discovered in the morning from guns placed on May's Wharf and those around it.
About sunrise, and on a day in the middle of March, the seventeenth, I believe, Howe's fleet began to move.
The drums beat to arms from Dorchester Heights all around to Cambridge, and we instantly left our fort and hastened to our regiment, which was barracked at Governor Hutchinson's house, where we found them parading.
We immediately formed, took up our line of march, and a few rods from the trench on Roxbury Neck were met by two men who had just thrown open the gates and let down the bridge to receive us into the town.
At twelve o'clock we were in the State House at the head of King Street.
At half-past twelve all the English were embarked, and while the fleet were sailing out of the harbor, I heard the explosion of Castle William and the lighthouse as they were blown up by the English.
Lord Howe left ten or twelve transports and other armed vessels to blockade the harbor.
Ten or twelve days after this, Captain Mugford of Marblehead A privateersman, having just returned with a prize, a powder-ship, went down in company with the schooner Lady Washington, another privateer, to Pudding Point, got on his way out on another cruise.
They were attacked by boats from the fleet, which were finally repulsed, though Captain Mudford lost his life in the engagement.
On this our officers immediately sent down a number of boats and gondolas On board of which they put two eighteen-pounders and a mortar with three hundred or four hundred men, among whom I was, to Castle William.
From thence we proceeded to Long Island, and there, during the night, threw up a breastwork on the head and planted our cannon on it, having first placed our mortar on the north side of the island.
At daylight we opened fire from our eighteens and tossed three or four dozen shells from our mortar.
In a short time, the blockaders cut their buoys, snipped their cables, and cleared the harbor.
And a day or two after, we returned to Boston, where our regiment, Colonel Glover's and Colonel Finney's, were employed during the summer in repairing the castle and building a fort and blockhouse on Governor's Island and a fort on Fort Hill.
In July, we were paraded on the east side of the State House.
and heard the Declaration of Independence read.
In August the smallpox prevailed, and the three regiments were inoculated, which took in every instance in our regiment except on myself.
When the regiment had recovered, we were ordered to Ticonderoga, and before marching were drawn up on the Common to hear a sermon and prayers.
This day I had the symptoms of smallpox, And the day the regiment marched, I was broke out with it.
Not having anyone to take care of me, there being no hospitals, I was ordered back to Widow Diamonds, with whom I was quartered when inoculated, who nursed me and got me well of the smallpox, though I was long after very feeble and afflicted with boils.
After recovering from smallpox, I sold my watch to pay the widow, and returned my gun and equipments to the gun house where I drew them, not being fit any longer for military duty, and returned to Falmouth, now Portland, by water, not being able to walk that distance.
I know not of any living witness to my last service above stated except my wife.
It was in September that I returned my gun and equipments, making seven months from the time I enlisted in February and twelve months service in all on both enlistments.
When he enlisted, John Webster, he received four or five dollars and has never received anything since for his services.
He would also state that in December 1773 he went to Boston in a coaster with a load of and was there when the tea was destroyed, and that he
assisted that night in throwing the tea overboard.
The next morning, the tea was gone.
Eakram Chase, son of a ship's captain, was born at Bristol, Massachusetts.
born at Bristol, Massachusetts.
He served in apprenticeship as a carpenter there, and practiced his trade on Nantucket and at Mackias, Maine.
In towns removed from the center of conflict, it often took on incidents such as the one here described with Ichabod Jones to confront the citizens with the issue of political loyalties.
Dramatically and quickly, Macias was transformed from a village going about routine business into a loyal, active supporter of the American cause.
Chase was engaged in Coast Guard service throughout the war and was pensioned in 1834 at the age of eighty-nine years old.
This is his remembrance.
I was born in Freetown, County of Bristol, Province of Massachusetts, June 1, A.D. 1744.
At the age of seven years my father took me to sea as cabin boy, in which capacity I continued
nine years.
I was then apprenticed to a carpenter, with whom I served my time.
At the age of twenty-one I married and removed to Nantucket, where I lived four years working
at my trade.
I then removed to Mackias, where I arrived June 1, 1769, and where I have recited until
the present time.
I labored at my trade six years when the disturbance between England and America commenced.
At that time, one Ichabod Jones, who for several years had furnished the town with provision, being disaffected toward the American cause, applied to Admiral Graves, who had possession of Boston Harbor, for a tender to convoy him The Admiral granted him one, which accompanied him to White's Point, where he unloaded and stored his provisions.
He then desired a town meeting.
Being asked for what purpose, he replied, I will inform you at the meeting.
The town having met, he proposed our trading as usual and paying according to contract.
A few only voted in favor of his proposal.
And so he withheld his provisions from all excepting those few.
These circumstances, in connection with the situation of Boston, provoked our jealousy and aroused us to assert and defend our rights.
Mr. Benjamin Foster proposed taking Jones and his vessels by force of arms.
He collected twenty-five of the most regulent of the inhabitants on Sunday intending to seize upon Jones and the captain of the tender, both in meeting.
Having approached within a few rods of the meeting-house, the captain espied us.
He arose and exclaimed, An army is approaching, upon which Jones, accompanied by a friend, fled into the woods.
His captain made the best of his way to the shore.
We pursued, but he escaped and got on board his vessel.
He had four cannons, and we gave up the pursuit through fear of them.
Jones's slope lay about three miles below, loading with boards.
We suspected the captain would endeavor to escape out of the river and take the sloop in company.
We therefore repaired to her in order to prevent him.
He arrived, according to our conjectures, and when within a short distance we caused him to shear off by telling him a ledge lay in his way.
Being unacquainted with the river, he ran aground where he was obliged to lay till flood time.
This gave us an opportunity of adding twenty-five more men to our little company.
Next morning we manned the sloop we had then got into our power, and another smaller one and pursued the enemy.
We got pretty near before she began to float.
We overtook her at the outer islands where we attacked and captured her.
A number were killed and wounded on both sides.
The captain of the tender expired on the third day.
We removed the guns and ammunition of the prize on board our sloop.
A few days after, a vessel which had been sent out from Halifax to survey the coast entered our river to inquire into the affair and espouse the cause of our enemies.
As she lay at anchor in Bucks Harbor, we ran our sloop alongside and boarded her, meeting with no resistance whatever from her crew.
We then carried her up the river, where we fitted her for our service.
The Committee of Safety selected Benjamin Foster, George Stillman, Adiel Sprague, Nathan Longfellow, myself, and three others, whose names I have forgotten, To carry our prisoners to Cambridge and deliver them to George Washington.
Two small vessels were fitted for the purpose.
When we set sail and reached Cambridge in safety, we left our prisoners with Washington and returned.
After the British evacuated Boston, March 1776, I commenced coasting from Machias to that place.
In March 1777 or 1778, I'm not positive which, Colonel John Allen, Commander of the Troops in Machias and Superintendent of the Indians presented me with a commission from Congress wherein I was authorized to take command of the Salute, mounting ten guns and cruise in the state's service and capture the enemy.
The Salute was taken from the English at Moose Isle and by Francis Joseph, Governor of the Indians in Machias.
He called his prize the Nesquik.
Before I entered the cruising service, Congress countermanded my orders and stationed me at Macias to defend the harbor and supply the troops and Indians with provisions and other necessaries.
I engaged in the service and performed my duties to the extent of my abilities until 1782.
Colonel Allen then received orders from the General Court at Cambridge to send the salute, or nesquik, to them.
As I was out of health at the time, the command devolved on Eliah Ayers, my first lieutenant.
My commission and journal were both unfortunately burnt about this time under the following circumstances.
In my absence, the dry forest which surrounded my house, having accidentally caught fire, my furniture was removed into the greenwood as a place of safety, but the wind blowing very hard Even the green trees were consumed, together with many of my effects, among which were my commission and journal.
The above narrative is the simple truth according to the best of my remembrance.
I'm so glad that you're here.
I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad,
that you're here.
I'm so glad that you're here.
I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad.
you So I say, hey, don't be shy, don't be shy.
I'm so glad that you're here.
Richard Vining was born at East Windsor, Connecticut.
and adventured at age nine in Enfield.
He was residing at Lewden, Massachusetts, when the war broke out.
He served for five months in a Massachusetts regiment with the Continental Army besieging Boston.
He volunteered in September 1775 for Arnold's daring expeditions to Quebec.
Although illness forced Vining to leave the army before the actual attack of December 31st, He describes some of the difficulties and privations that marked the remarkable trek through the wilderness.
The previously known narratives of the expedition, which support the accuracy of Vining's details, were collected in Kenneth Roberts' March to Quebec, published in 1938, and were used as sources for his novel, Arendelle, in 1930.
Vining served one more brief term of service, guarding the Hudson at the time of the aborted Vaughan expedition.
He resided at Granby, Connecticut, Salisbury, Ohio, Granby again, and finally Booneville, Oneida County, New York.
He submitted this narrative and was granted a pension in 1833.
This is his recollection, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, that Colonel Patterson commanded the regiment of volunteers in which this deponent enlisted after he arrived at Boston on or about the first of May in the year 1775, does not recollect the lieutenant colonel's name, nor that of the major's name belonging to said regiment.
The captain's name was William Goodrich.
Lieutenant's name was David Pixley.
Thinks the name of the ensign was William Pixley.
It's not certain.
The first sergeant's name was Joshua Finch.
The deponent continued in the service of the Army in this regiment until the first of September, or about that time as a private.
They were stationed at Cambridge in Massachusetts.
Says he lived in the town then called Loudon.
But now called Otis in the state of Massachusetts, when he first went as a volunteer to Cambridge into the service.
About the first of September, 1775, General Arnold had orders to march to Quebec, when the moment volunteered his services into the same company under the same officers, except the colonel, whose name he does not now recollect.
After they had started, he got acquainted with Lieutenant Colonel and Major Meigs, does not recollect their Christian names.
The orders then came to march to Newburyport, which they did, and lay some days in preparing sloops to carry the army across the Bay of Fundy into the mouth of the Kennebec River.
They next set sail and went up the Kennebec River as far as an Indian fort called Fort Western.
They there landed and lay some days making preparations for marching through the woods.
Then they took up the line of march up the river aforesaid, until the stream got so small that trees reached across, so that they crossed and left the Kennebec and went through the woods to Chowdeer River.
You should think about fifteen miles from Kennebec.
Previous to this time, by undertaking to go round a creek which was not forbade, the company I, having occasion to stop, was left by my company and got lost, and was in the woods alone three days without a mouthful of provisions.
In this time I did not travel much, as I thought I should not gain the river by traveling until the sun could be seen.
It was then cloudy.
When the sun shone again, I then struck for the river and came up with the rear company of the army.
And there I got half allowance which was allotted to the army on account of the scarcity of provisions.
The day after I came up with the company of forcehead, I started at sunrise and overtook my own company.
I continued on half rations for nine days when I come to Chardier River.
Then we went down Chardier River until we came to a marsh which by previous rain had been overflown.
We waded the marsh some places to our middles, and iced as thick as a window-glass.
After we had got across the marsh, we came unto a rise of ground, and a creek, which we could not cross, presented itself, and the company was ordered to fire three rounds as a signal of distress.
Major Meigs procured from some Indians a bark canoe, on hearing the firing, and crossed a pond General Arnold took five or six men, pushed on to the French inhabitants as fast as possible to provide provisions for us.
which belonged to the army and carried our company across.
General Arnold took five or six men, pushed on to the French inhabitants as fast as possible
to provide provisions for us.
The general, on coming to the first inhabitants, procured a cow and sent back to relieve the
army.
Previous to this, our company was obliged to kill a dog and eat it for our breakfast,
and in the course of that day I killed an owl, and two of my mess-mates and myself fared
in the repast.
However, we came up with the cow, and cooked a portion of it, and drank the broth of the beef and owl cooked together, and the next day eat the meat.
The second day, after we got the beef, it rained heavily and turned to a snowstorm.
And the snow fell knee-leg deep.
The day following, we waded a river thirty rods wide.
We came soon to a house where we drew a pound of beef and three potatoes each.
I do not recollect the name of the man owning the house.
Went from the house into the woods and found an Indian camp and lodged for the night.
Next day started, and I was taken sick of a kind of camp distemper.
Could not walk far in the day.
Went on five miles and came to another house where we got one pound of beef, three potatoes, and a pint of oatmeal each.
We then went on, when I became so feeble that myself and two more hired a Frenchman to carry us on at our own expense for thirteen miles.
There we found common rations.
We then went on, all very much enfeebled by reason of sickness and hardship, for four or five days until we reached Quebec.
At Quebec we lay on the opposite side of the river from the town about one week.
General Arnold ordered all who were fit for duty to cross the river, who crossed and presented themselves in front of the fort when the British fired upon them.
No injury done except that one man had a leg shot off by a cannonball.
The General then ordered a retreat.
We retreated up the river towards General towards Montreal to a place called Point Trumbull, twenty-four miles from Quebec.
We lay there about four weeks until General Montgomery had secured Montreal when he came and joined us and we returned to Quebec.
I was sick and left at Point Trumbull and left in a hospital at that place, stayed at that place about two weeks.
Then my physician told me that he would give me a recommend for a discharge, as did the other physician when I got to Quebec.
But I refused it, as I thought I might get better.
I went to Quebec, and my captain went with me to the physician, who gave me a recommend for a discharge, which I presented to General Arnold, who told me I had not better take a discharge, but had better take a furlough, until I gained health and soundness.
Which furlough he gave me.
Which furlough is lost.
The general gave me five dollars to bear my expenses.
I bought a horse of my captain for which I was to let him have ten dollars out of my wages.
After I left, the captain was taken prisoner in an attempt to scale the walls of Quebec, as I understood.
My lieutenant received the pay for the company to which I belonged and sent word to me that your money was ready.
I went to Stockbridge in Massachusetts and received my pay.
This was after the lieutenant had returned home.
I then went and paid the ten dollars due my captain for the horse to his wife, for which I took her receipt, which I have kept and herewith present.
I returned home the twenty-eighth day of January, 1776, but was not discharged until the first of May following.
I, however, never took a discharge.
But received my pay for a year's service and considered myself as belonging to the Army until that time.
The deponent further disposes and says that in the summer of 1776 an alarm was spread through the country for the militia to go to Sopis on the North River.
Believes it is now called Newburgh.
I was then a sergeant.
The opponent did not mean to say he was a sergeant when he was at home and previous to his going to Newburgh or Sophos, but that by an order from the General I was placed in Captain John King's company as a sergeant.
I accordingly warned of the men belonging to Captain Jacob Cook's company according to his order, of whose company I was a corporal, and the company assembled at Captain Cook's house.
All the officers refused to go above me in command, and there were none would go except some of the officers would go with them.
I finally told the captain that if the fifer would play a tune, I would follow him and see how many would volunteer to go with me.
We had no drums.
The following named persons volunteered and went with me to SOPHUS.
To wit, Nathaniel Hubbard, Benjamin Baldwin, David Kibb, Jr., Abijah Hubbard, John Kibb, and Isaac Finch.
We then fixed up and went on five or six miles before night.
We went with all possible dispatch to Sofa Sforzan.
The British did not land.
They lay in sight of our army on the river.
We stayed there two months, or about that time.
I served in Captain John King's company.
I cannot recollect the names of any other officers who commanded at that time.
At the expiration of about two months, the deponent returned home by order of the officer commanding, whose name he does not recollect, did not take a discharge.
I received the money at the time stated in the order Herewith submitted and paid the
same to the above named persons never having been discharged from the Continental Army.
God bless each and every single one of you.
May God save this republic.
Good night, Annie Clune Allison.
I love you.
I've worked for all my life.
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.
I'd thank my lucky star to be living here today.
The flags that are danced for freedom and they can't take that away.
The accounts recited were taken from the Revolutionary Member, eyewitness accounts of the War for
Independence.
Forget the men who died who gave that right to me and I gladly stand up next to you and
they take us to the stage.
But there ain't no doubt I love this land.
God bless the USA.
From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee, across the plains of New York City to Chattanooga,
from Detroit down to Houston, and New York to L.A.
We're the pride in every American heart, and anytime we stand the same.
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