USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register > Part 43
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1 Journals of each Provincial Congress, p. 685. Whole amount of loss in Lexing- ton, £1,761.1. 5. ; and in Concord, £274. 16. 7.
2 Heath's Memoirs, p. 14.
3 Familiarly called Steward Hastings.
4 In the Mass. Arch., vol. clviii., is pre- served a
" Return of Col. Ruggles Woodbridge's Regiment, Cambridge, June 14, 1775.
Captains' Names.
No. of Men.
Places where Stationed.
Capt. Dickinson
60
In College, Cambridge.
Capt. Cowden .
31
College.
Capt. Dexter .
44
Lechmere Point, Cambridge.
Capt. N. Leonard.
54
Cambridge.
Capt. Stephen Pearl
36; 7 on the road
Cambridge.
Capt. Wm. Meacham
45
College.
Capt. John Cowls
35
College.
RICHARD MONTAGUE, Adjt., Col. Woodbridge's Regt."
5 Quincy's Hist. Harvard University, 6 Journals of each Provincial Congress, p. 530.
ii. 168.
417
MILITARY HISTORY.
fifteenth of June the Provincial Congress took possession of other apartments : " Whereas, it is expedient that those apart- ments in Harvard Hall, under the immediate charge of the pro- fessor of philosophy and librarian of Harvard College, be evacu- ated, Resolved, that the library, apparatus, and other valuables of Harvard College be removed, as soon as may be, to the town of Andover." 1 The students were scattered; no public com- mencement was had that year ; but the degrees were conferred by a general diploma. An arrangement was made to give in- struction at Concord, to which place a part of the library and apparatus was removed in November from Andover. " On the 24th of June (1776), the students were again assembled within the College walls, after a dispersion of fourteen months." 2 The Episcopal Church also was converted into barracks for the Connecticut troops.3 It had previously been deserted by its owners, most of whom were adherents to the British government. Private houses were hired, and some seized for public use. The Committee of Safety, May 15, 1775, " Resolved, That Mr. Bor- land's house 4 be appropriated for the use of the Committee of Safety ; and the quarter master general is directed to provide quarters for the troops now lodged at said house. Voted, That the quarter master general be directed to remove as many of the three companies now at Mr. Borland's, to the house of Dr. Kneeland, 5 as the house can accommodate, and that the three companies at Mr. Vassal's house 6 be placed at Mr. Foxcroft's house, 7 and that Mr. Borland's house be cleared and cleansed as soon as possible."8 On the same day it was " Voted, that the clearing Mr. Borland's and Mr. Vassal's houses be suspended till further orders ; " and the committee probably remained at Stew- ard Hastings' house, where they had a room soon after the con- flict at Lexington.9
Hospitals were established in many private louses. It was
1 Journal of each Provincial Congress, p. 334.
2 Quincy's Hist., ii. 164-169.
8 Frothingham's Hist. Siege of Boston, p. 132.
4 Between Harvard, Plympton, Mount Auburn, and Chestnut streets ; now known as the Plympton house.
5 At the southwesterly corner of Mount Auburn Street and Winthrop Square ; demolished not long ago.
6 Afterwards the Washington Head- quarters.
7 On the northerly side of Kirkland Street, near Oxford Street ; burned Jan. 24, 1777.
8 Journals of each Provincial Congress, pp. 548, 549.
9 Ibid., p. 521. The Committee re- solved, April 24, 1775, "that General Ward be desired, immediately, to direet all the field officers of the Regiments of Minute Men now in Cambridge, to attend the Committee of Safety, at their Cham- ber at Mr. Steward Hastings' house."
27
418
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
ordered, April 22d, " that a sergeant and six men mount daily to guard the wounded at Mr. Abraham Watson's house." 1 The Provincial Congress, June 20, "resolved that the house of Mr. Hunt, at Cambridge, be hired for a hospital," and on the pre- vious day the Committee of Safety "resolved, that the house of the Rev. Samuel Cook, of Menotomy, be improved, as a hospital for the colony army," 2 and as many other houses in that parish as might be necessary. In addition to these, the General Orders indicate other hospitals : it was ordered, June 28, " that Lieut .- col. Bond occupy one room in the south-east corner of Col. Vas- sall's house, upon the second floor, for the sick belonging to said regiment, till a convenient place can be procured elsewhere for the above named purpose." July 26: " It being represented that the present hospital is not large enough to contain the sick, Lieut .- gov. Oliver's house is to be cleared for that purpose, and care to be taken that no injury is done to it." August 21: "a sergeant, corporal, and nine men to mount guard to-morrow morn- ing at Mr. Fairweather's house 3 lately converted into an hospi- tal."
On the 17th of June, 1775, occurred the sanguinary Battle of Bunker Hill. The disasters and the glory of that day have been particularly and vividly described in Frothingham's " History of the Siege of Boston." I shall not repeat the story. But I must not omit the fact that Cambridge furnished one of the most illus- trious victims in that heroic sacrifice. With the exception of General Warren, Colonel Thomas Gardner held a higher military rank than any other who fell on that day ; and like Warren, he was conspicuous for the political services which he rendered be- fore the clash of arms. He was a selectman of the town from 1769 until his death, and Representative in the General Court from 1769 until that Court was superseded by the first Provincial Congress, of which and also of the second Congress he was one of the most active. members. He was an energetic member of the Committee of Correspondence elected by the town in 1772, and by the House of Representatives in 1773, and of the Committee of Safety, elected by Congress, April 14, 1775. He was commis- sioned as an Ensign in the company commanded by General Brattle in 1765, and Captain Lieutenant in 1771. When Brat-
1 General Ward's Orders. Watson's southwesterly corner of Mount Auburn and Eliot streets.
house was on North Avenue, near Coggs- well Avenue.
8 On the northeasterly corner of Brattle
2 Journals of each Provincial Congress, and Fayerweather streets. pp. 360, 571. Hunt's house was at the
419
MILITARY HISTORY.
tle fled to Boston, he became the commander of the company, with Samuel Thatcher1 for Lieutenant, and John Gardner 2 as Ensign. The Provincial Congress, Oct. 26, 1774, "recommended to the several companies of militia in this province, who have not already chosen and appointed officers, that they meet forthwith and elect officers to command their respective companies ; and that the officers so chosen assemble as soon as may be ... . and proceed to elect field officers to command the respective regi- ments." 3 In accordance with this recommendation, Captain Gardner having been reelected or retained in office, was elected Colonel, Nov. 29, 1774, " at a meeting of the officers of the sev- eral companies of militia in the first Regiment in the County of Middlesex."4 Soon after the Battle of Lexington, in which he was actively engaged,5 he enlisted a Regiment for the Continen- tal Army, of which he was commissioned as Colonel, June 2, 1775.6 A fortnight later, he secured immortal fame. He led his regiment to Bunker Hill, "and was just descending into the engagement, when a musket ball entered his groin, which proved mortal. He gave his last solemn injunction to his men, to con- quer or die; and a detachment were just carrying him off the ground when he was met by his son, 2d Lieut. of Capt. Trevett, marching on, a mere youth of nineteen, and the interview which ensued between them was melancholy and heart-rending, though at the same time heroic. The affectionate son in agony at the desperate situation of his father was anxiously desirous to assist him off the field, but was prohibited from doing this by his father, who, notwithstanding he was conscious that his wound was mor- tal, yet encouraged his son to disregard it, reminding him that he was engaged in a glorious cause, and, whatever were the conse- quences, must march on and do his duty."7 Colonel Gardner, "a few days after the battle, being asked if he was well enough to see his son, 'Yes,' answered the hero, 'if he has done his duty !' He had the satisfaction to see him and learn that he bravely dis- tinguished himself."8 He suffered more than a fortnight, but
1 Lieut. Thatcher succeeded Gardner as Captain, and as Colonel, of the militia.
2 Ensign Gardner was afterwards Major.
3 Journals of each Provincial Congress, p. 33.
4 Boston Gazette, Dec. 5, 1774. The other field officers were Capt. William Bond, Lieut .- col .; Capt. William Conant, 2d Lieut .- col. ; Capt. Abijah Brown, Major ; Capt. Benjamin Hammond, 2d Major.
5 The Council Records, March 14, 1776, show that a warrant was drawn to pay "Col. Thomas Gardner's Field Alarm Roll, on the 19th of April last."
6 Journals of each Provincial Congress, p. 292. The other field officers were Wil- liam Bond of Watertown, Lieut .- col., and Michael Jackson, of Newton, Major. 7 Swett's Bunker Hill Battle, pp. 40-42. 8 Ibid., p. 55.
420
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
was mercifully released by death on the 3d of July. An obituary notice, eulogistic, but well merited, was published in the " New England Chronicle," July 13th: "On Monday the 3d instant, died of the wounds received in the late engagement, Thomas Gardner, Esq., Colonel of a Regiment in the American Army, in the 52d year of his age; and on the Wednesday following was interred with martial honors1 and every testimony of respect from his relatives and friends. From the era of our public diffi- culties he distinguished himself as an ardent friend to the expir- ing liberties of America, and by the unanimous suffrages of his townsmen was for some years elected a member of the General Assembly ; but when the daring encroachment of intruding des- potism deprived us of a constitutional convention, and the first law of nature demanded a substitute, he was chosen one of the Provincial Congress ; in which departments lie was vigilant and indefatigable in defeating every effort of tyranny. To promote the interest of his country was the delight of his soul. An in- flexible zeal for freedom caused him to behold every engine of oppression with contempt, horror, and aversion. His abilities in a military capacity were equally conspicuous. That he might cultivate a spirit of emulation for that now necessary and useful science, he devoted not only a great part of his time, but even of his own patrimony, and ever exhibited an example of courage and magnanimity. In the humid vale of private life lie was agreeable and entertaining. Justice and integrity were the first movements of his actions : To liis family, kind, tender, and in- dulgent : To his friends, unreserved and sincere : To the whole circle of his acquaintance, affable, condescending, and obliging : while veneration for religion augmented the splendor of his sister virtues. As he ever maintained and avowed the highest senti- ments of patriotisni, so his conduct entirely cohered, and, actuated by this divine principle, entered the field of battle. And although he returned uncrowned with victorious bays, and his temples un- adorned with laurel wreathis, yet doubtless he will be crowned with unfading honors in the unclouded regions of eternal day." Colonel Gardner's residence was near Union Square, in the south-
1 General Washington's Orders, July company at Malden, to attend on this 4, 1775 : " Colonel Gardner is to be buricd . mournful occasion. The places of these to-morrow, at three o'clock, P. M., with companies, on the lines, on Prospect Hill, to be supplied by Colonel Glover's regi- ment, till the funeral is over." A sad order, to be issued on the next day after assuming command of the army. the military honors due to so brave and gallant an officer, who fought, bled, and died, in the cause of his country and mankind. His own regiment, except the
421
MILITARY HISTORY.
erly parish of Cambridge, which afterwards was the town of Brighton.
On the day of Colonel Gardner's death, July 3d, General Washington assumed the command of the American Army, hav- ing arrived in Cambridge on the preceding day. Quarters were at first assigned to him in the President's house, erected in 1726, and still standing on Harvard Street, between Dane and Boylston Halls. The Provincial Congress, June 26, " resolved, that the President's house in Cambridge, excepting one room reserved by the President for his own use, be taken, cleared, prepared, and furnished, for the reception of General Washington and General Lee." 1. This arrangement was not wholly satisfactory. He had occupied the house only four days, when Congress ordered, July 6, " that the Committee of Safety be a committee to desire Gen- eral Washington to let them know if there is any house at Cam- bridge, that would be more agreeable to him and General Lee than that in which they now are; and in that case, the said committee are directed to procure such house, and put it in proper order for their reception." 2 Accordingly the Committee directed, July 8th, " that the house of Mr. John Vassall, ordered by Congress for the residence of his excellency General Wash- ington, should be immediately put in such a condition as may make it convenient for that purpose." 3 Precisely how soon the new quarters were occupied does not appear; but Thacher rep- resents that before July 20 the General was residing in " a con- venient house, about half a mile from Harvard College,"4 a description which indicates the Vassall house ; and these quarters were retained until he left Cambridge, April 4, 1776. Quarter- master-general Mifflin's head-quarters were at the Brattle House.
" Immediately after the battle of Bunker Hill, the Americans began to erect works on Prospect Hill, a very commanding height above Charlestown Common, and at several other places Several works were also constructed at Roxbury, and the British confined to Boston and Charlestown within the neck."5 These works were extended, after the arrival of Washington, from Dor- chester on the south, through Cambridge, to Mystic River on the north. In Cambridge a line of fortifications was constructed along the summit of Dana Hill, then called Butler's Hill,6 to- 1 Journals of each Provincial Congress, 4 Thacher's Military Journal, p. 32. p. 398.
2 Ibid., p. 460.
8 Ibid., p. 593.
6 Heath's Memoirs, p. 22.
6 Probably so called because, in the first division of lands in Cambridge, lots on
422
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
gethier with several detached forts and redoubts, delineated on the map accompanying " Marshall's Life of Washington." The for- tress there designated as " Fort No. 3" was a very little outside of Cambridge bounds, not far from Union Square in Somerville. This served as a connecting link between the works on Prospect Hill, and the Cambridge lines which extended northwardly from the point where Broadway crosses the top of Dana Hill, and of which some vestiges still remain. "Fort No. 2" was on the easterly side of Putnam Avenue, at its intersection with Franklin Street. It was in good condition a few years ago; but since Franklin Street was extended directly through it, a large propor- tion of the embankment has been removed, and the remainder is rapidly disappearing. This fort effectually commanded the river as far down as Riverside, where "Fort No. 1" probably stood, though no vestige of it remains. Both the map and the obvious fact that it commands the river down to Captain's Island, un- mistakably indicate this as the locality of the Fort. At Cap- tain's Island was a " 3 gun battery," commanding the River down to its next angle ; this also has disappeared, its embank- ments very probably having been levelled when the Powder Magazine was constructed. At the next angle of the river, on the easterly side of Pine Grove, anciently called the Oyster Banks, there was another "3 gun battery," which commanded the river down to Lechmere's Point. This fortress was care- fully preserved by the Dana family, for many years, until by an arrangement with the owners, and at the joint expense of the City and the Commonwealth, it was restored in 1858 as nearly as possible to its original state, and enclosed by a substantial iron fence. The United States contributed three cannon, which were duly mounted. Let no unpatriotic hand destroy this revolution- ary relic, now known as Fort Washington. A still more formi- dable fortress, at Lechmere's Point, called Fort Putnam, will be mentioned in another place.
Immediately after the arrival of General Washington, the army was more fully organized. The right wing, at Roxbury, under the command of Major-general Ward, consisted of two brigades, commanded by Brigadier-generals Thomas and Spen- cer. The left wing, commanded by Major-general Lee, con- sisted of two brigades, under Brigadier-generals Sullivan and Greene. The centre, at Cambridge, commanded by Major-gen-
the northerly side of Main Street, extend- Hancock Street, were assigned to Richard ing from Dana Street somewhat beyond Butler and William Butler.
423
MILITARY HISTORY.
eral Putnam, consisted of two brigades ; one under the com- mand of Brigadier-general Heath, embraced the regiments of General Heath, and Colonels Patterson, Scammon, Phinney, Gerrish, and Prescott ; the other, under the immediate command of General Putnam, comprehended the regiments of Colonels Glover, Frye, Bridge, Woodbridge, and Sargeant.1 According to a " List of Colonels of the several Regiments raised by the Colony of Massachusetts," dated Oct. 18, 1775, it appears that the regiments composing the centre (except that of Colonel Ger- rish which seems to have been detached for service elsewhere), were stationed as follows : -
General Heath's Regiment at Number Two.
Colonel Patterson's Regiment at Number Three.
Colonel Scammon's Regiment at Number One.
Colonel Phinney's Regiment at North of Number Two.
Colonel Prescott's Regiment at Cambridge.
Colonel Glover's Regiment at Cambridge.
Colonel Frye's Regiment at Cambridge.
Colonel Bridge's Regiment at Cambridge.
Colonel Woodbridge's Regiment at West side of Prospect Hill on the road leading from Charlestown Road to Menotomy.
Colonel Sargeant's Regiment at Inman's Farm.2
Frothingham says that during the next winter the troops were accommodated in barracks thus : " At Prospect Hill, 3,464; at different places, - Number One, Inman's House, &c., 3,460 ; at Roxbury, 3,795 ; at Dorchester, 814; at Sewall's Point, 400 ; at Cambridge Barracks, 640; at Winter Hill, 3,380; in the Col- lege, 640 ; in the New College, 640 ; in the. Old College, 240 ; North Chapel, 160; total, 17,633 ; exclusive of private houses in Cambridge." 3
After the 19th of April, 1775, not many important military events occurred within the borders of this town, while it was oc- cupied by the army. A few are mentioned by Gen. Heath, who was an eye-witness : " Nov. 9th. At the top of high water, the tide being very full, some British Light Infantry, in boats, came over from Boston, and landed on Lechmere's Point. The centi- nels on the point came off ; the alarm was given ; and several hundred Americans forded over the causeway,4 in the face of the
1 Frothingham's Siege of Boston, pp. 219, 220.
2 Mass. Arch., cxlvi. 340. It is said that Gen. Putnam's head-quarters were in the Inman house.
8 Siege of Boston, p. 291.
4 The New England Chronicle, Nov. 16, says: "The tide was very full, and our men were retarded in getting to the point by being obliged to pass a ford near breast high." This ford or causeway was prob- ably the same which the British troops
424
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
British, the water at least two feet deep. The British, seeing the spirit of the Americans, although they were very advantage- ously posted, made a precipitate retreat to their boats. Three or four Americans were wounded, one mortally. The British ship and floating-batteries kept up a brisk fire, but to little pur- pose.1 Dec. 12. " A causeway was begun over the marsh to Lechmere's Point." 2 For the next few days the " approaches were carried on briskly, nearly to the top of the hill." On the 17th, " the morning was foggy. A detachment of 300 men, under the direction of Gen. Putnam, broke ground on the top of the hill, on Lechmere's Point, at a distance of not more than half a mile from the ship. Between twelve and one o'clock, the fog cleared away, and the ship began to cannonade the Ameri- cans with round and grape shot, and some shells were thrown from West-Boston. One soldier was wounded, and the party driven from the works." On the next day, Gen. Heath " with 300 men " renewed the work, and although severely cannonaded, held his ground without loss. The fortification was completed within a few days, during which the " cannonade continued, but to no effect." 3 This fortress rendered important service in the final attack, which resulted in the evacuation of Boston by the British army. Feb. 25, 1776, " some heavy cannon were mounted on the works at Lechmere's Point." March 2d, " at night a cannonade and bombardment began at the American works on Cobble Hill and Lechmere's Point on the Cambridge side, and at Lamb's Dam on the Roxbury side, against the Brit- ish works ; and a number of shells were thrown into Boston." March 4th. " There was an almost incessant roar of cannon and mortars during the night, on both sides. The Americans took possession of Dorchester heights, and nearly completed their works on both hills by morning. March 9th, " there was, dur- ing the evening and night, a continual roar of cannon and mor- tars, from the Castle and lines on Boston neck, south end of that town, as well as from the Americans at Roxbury, Cobble Hill, and Lechmere's Point at Cambridge." The position of Gen. Howe had now become utterly untenable, and on the 17th of
crossed, on their way to Lexington, when ing the fortification on Lechmere's Point there was only a half tide.
1 Memoirs, p. 30.
2 Whether a new causeway was con- structed, or the old one repaired does not distinctly appear. But, old or new, it is delineated on Marshal's Map as connect-
with " Fort No. 3," and crossing Miller's River at or near the spot where the Gore (or Medford) Street Bridge was after- wards built.
8 Memoirs, pp. 32-34.
425
MILITARY HISTORY.
March, " in the morning, the British evacuated Boston; their rear guard with some marks of precipitancy." "The troops on the Roxbury side moved over the neck and took possession of Boston, as did others from Cambridge in boats. On the Ameri- cans entering the town, the inhabitants discovered joy inex- pressible." 1
I find on the Town Records only three references to the presence of a large army. The town protested, May 29, 1775, against permitting army contractors to become rich at the public expense. In the instructions given to their delegates in the Provincial Congress, they say, " As we are informed the honorable Com- mittee of supplies have agreed with a number of persons to sup- ply the Provincial Army with fresh provisions at a stated price, which has caused great uneasiness amongst the inhabitants of this Province in general, and this town in particular, we do in- struct you to use your influence that they be paid a reasonable consideration for their services, and no more." On the 11th of March, 1776, " John Foxcroft and John Wyeth, Esqs. and Deacon Aaron Hill were chosen as a committee to present a peti- tion to his Excellency General Washington, to know what part of our lands he will want for the use of the Army for the pres- ent year. The committee made no report to the town of their proceedings." Perhaps the committee did not consult General Washington, and had nothing to report; within a week after their appointment, Boston was evacuated by the British, and the American army left Cambridge very soon afterwards. After their departure, the town appointed a committee, May 13, 1776, " to estimate the losses sustained by means of or in consequence of the British troops, and report to Col. Palmer and others, a committee appointed by the Great and General Court of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay to receive the same, - keeping separate accounts of the damages sustained by posting the Amer- ican Army in this town."
The Records of the Selectmen afford some glimpses of the difficulty with which arms and ammunition were procured at the commencement of the War, and of the ruinous depreciation of the currency at a later period. I select a few items. An order was drawn, March 13, 1775, to pay Col. Thomas Gardner " for four half barrels of powder, £20. 13. 4." To arm the soldiers, it was necessary to obtain muskets from private individuals. The
1 Heath's Memoirs, pp. 39-43.
426
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
Selectmen, May 30, 1775, acknowledge that they have received guns, etc., valued as follows : -
Of John Caldwell, gun, £.1. 0.0
Of Ebenezer Bradish, gun and bayonet,
1. 10.0
Of Capt. Thatcher, gun, 1. 4. 0
Of Capt. Edward Marrett, gun,
1. 4.0
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