USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Deerfield > History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: the times when the people by whom it was settled, unsettled and resettled, vol 2 > Part 19
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Manahan, John
Thomas
Tilly, James B.
Markle, Bathus
William P.
Tilton, Charles G.
Martin, William William G.
Shehan, Morris
.€ David E.
Melenda, Alphonzo H.
Shehay, James
Stephen ().
Merrill, Edward D.
Shehee, Edwin
William H.
Miller, Harlan \V.
Van Wanger, Almon
William
Vizzard, George
Moore, Otis
Sheldon, James H.
Wait, Arthur
Moran, Martin
Simons, William A.
Erastus F.
Morris, William
Slate, George
James L ..
Morton, Edward F.
Smith, Charles M.
William
Orson
David A.
Ware, John Warner, Charles
Murphy, James
" Edwin B.
Charles J.
Ockington, Edwin B.
Erastus C.
Wells, George M.
O'Connell, B.
George W.
Whitney, Ebenezer E.
O'Hara, Richard
Henry D.
Wilder, Henry Jr.
Orriel, John
Solan, John
Ephraim
Parker, William R.
Stebbins, Albion
John
Peck, Simeon
B. Washington
Martin V.
Pero, William
.. James T.
Wilson, Charles
Pervere, Dwight C.
Horace
William H. H.
Wrisley, Justus
Russell N.
Sprout, Dana W.
Zimmerman, John
Phillips, Charles O.
Squires, Edgar P.
Renth, Philip
Stearns. Hiram B.
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
It was while listening to an address by Rev. John F. Moors over the body of Col. George D. Wells, who was killed at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 13th. 1864, and thinking of the thou- sands of soldiers whose last resting place could never be known, and of others sleeping on each great battle field, that the idea of a soldiers monument came to one of the audience. Then and there a resolution was formed that at the close of the war one should be raised in honor of those soldiers who had died for Deerfield. At the earliest practical moment, after consultation with but a single individual, Samuel Wil- lard, a resolution was introduced in town meeting, looking towards the accomplishment of that object. The project met with general approval; the result was our soldiers monti- ment, one of the earliest and finest of its class.
Wellington M.
Wise, Lyman
.6
Henry M.
Williams, Charles S.
Palmer, John B.
Edwin A.
Muller, William
John Robert
Sears, Philip A.
Todd, Asa E.
Stowell, Charles 66 Cyrus (). Myron E.
Warren William
863
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN.
This cenotaph is an obelisk of Portland sandstone with a base eight feet square, surmounted by a figure of a soldier in fatigue dress standing at rest. The proportions are perfect and its ornamentation elegant. The statue is a work of art. It stands upon the common of the Old Street, the Training Field of the first settlers, which was enclosed in the palisad- ed fort of 1690; its site was covered by the meetinghouse of 1729-1824. On the four sides near the base are the inscrip- tions given below ; on small panels above these are the names of the battle fields on which our men were engaged.
On the front, facing the east, is inscribed :-
In grateful appreciation of the Patriotism and self sacrifice of Her lamented sons and soldiers, who for their Country and for Freedom laid down their lives in the war of the Great Rebellion
Deerfield Erects this Monument A. D. 1867.
Their precious dust is scattered on many battle fields, or was has- tily buried near some loathsome prison-pen; but their names are here perpetuated, and the memory of their brave deeds and willing sacrifice shall be cherished in our heart of hearts sacredly and for- ever.
On the north side :-
They counted not their lives dear unto them.
Co. C 21 Mass. Inf'y
Co. D 52 Mass. Inf'y Sergt. E. J. Hosmer
Myron E. Stowell
Corp. C. C. Stowell
Co. H 21 Mass. Inf'y David E. Todd
Edwin F. Morton
Alonzo T. Dodge
Co. A 37 Mass. Inf'y Seth P. Lanfair
B. Washington Stebbins
Co. A 38 Mass. Inf'y
Henry Lyman Dana W. Sprout
George N. Allen
Francis M. Ball
Co. A 57 Mass. Inf'y John Zimmerman Co. D I Conn. Cav Henry W. Greenough
Alfred O. Goodnough
Francis W. Briggs Alfred D. Clapp
Sergt. James T. Stebbins, Co. D 31 Mass. Inf'y John Williams 66 Sergt. Henry S. Church, Co. F 31 Mass. Inf'y
On the south side :-
Loyal unto death.
Co. A Io Mass. Inf'y Luther Rice Dwight C. Pervere Russell Pervere
Co. A 34 Mass. Inf'y Andrew Herman Co. F 34 Mass. Inf'y Charles Wilson
.
1
S64
THE GREAT REBELLION-SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
Co. C Io Mass. Inf'y
Corp. N. H. Dodge
Co. I I Mass. H. Art'y William H. Todd Edwin A. Smith
Co. F 2 Mass. H. Art'y
Dwight W. Bardwell
Sergt. B. O'Connell
Co. I 2 Mass. H. Art'y Edgar P. Squires Co. A I Mass. Cav. Michael Glassett
James C. Hitchcock
Frank W. Jones
Arthur Wait John W. Brazee
Co. E i Mass. Cav. Henry J. Wilder
Co. G 27 Mass. Inf'y
John Manahan Leonard A. Barnes
Justus Wrisley
On the west face :-
This monument stands upon the old meetinghouse hill and is with- in the limits of the
Old Fort
built A. D. 1689, and which remained until 1758,* and was one of the chief defenses of the early settlers against the attacks of the savage Indians.
With pious affection and gratitude their descendants would here- by associate the sacrifices and sufferings of the fathers of the town in establishing our institutions with those of their children in defend- ing them.
Aye, call it holy ground The spot where first they trod ; They have left unstained what here they found- Freedom to worship God.
This monument was dedicated with interesting ceremo- nies Sept. 4th, 1867, under the direction of Josiah Fogg, Charles Arms, George Sheldon and Nathaniel Hitchcock, the committee of arrangements. James K. Hosmer was presi- dent of the day, and George W. Jones, chief marshal. Na- thaniel Hitchcock, in behalf of the committee under whose direction the monument was raised, made a detailed report of their doings, and committed the monument to the care of the town.
An eloquent oration was delivered by Senator Henry L. Dawes of Pittsfield, and an original poem by E. W. B. Can- ning of Stockbridge. The following odes, by natives of Deerfield, were written for the occasion : -
ODE. BY ELIZA ALLEN STARR. Tune-"America."
Through all the valley's length
* The fort was built in 1690, and it was demolished many years before 1758.
Co. K 20 Mass. Inf'y George A. Hastings Charles L. Hastings Co. C 27 Mass. Inf'y
S65
OCCASIONAL ODES.
A voice of joyful strength Breaks forth in song; Blood of the patriot dead, Blood for one's country shed, Blood unto justice wed, Makes nations strong.
Bend, elms, your lofty crests, Where'er a soldier rests Embalmed in tears! Winds, pipe a requiem strain, Where upon hill or plain, Blood of a hero slain The soil endears!
The prisoner's wretched pen, The picket guard's lone fen, Have earned and won Fame, that shall never die While our starred colors fly, Brave as our eagle's eye, Against the sun.
Rise, storied shaft! and bear Their names, whose deeds make fair The glorious page; Where writ in words like gold,
Columbia's struggle bold, Truth against Wrong, is told To latest age.
O native vale, most dear! Shout forth glad Freedom's cheer From hill to hill. Shades of our fathers! ye Bled but to make us free: Trust us; the land shall be True Freedom's still!
ODE.
BY LUCRETIA WILSON EELS. Tune-" John Brown's Body."
We consecrate this sculptural pile to valiant men of yore, Whose names and fame are linked with yours. bright hills, forevermore, And dear ones that but just have passed our darkened thresholds o'er ; Their fame is marching on !
CHORUS. Glory! glory to these martyrs ! Their fame is marching on !
On this enduring monument their deathless names we stamp, - The heroes of the battlefield, the prison and the camp, Whose brave hearts bore them onward thro' the weary, weary tramp; The Right was marching on !
CHORUS. Glory! glory to these martyrs! &c.
Mid burning homes and slaughtered babes, and war-whoop yells of fear, With blood and strife and agony were won these fields of deer- These peaceful vales. in beauty now, like Heaven reposing here; Their God was marching on!
CHORUS. Glory! glory to these martyrs! &c.
And once again to crush the Wrong the nation rose in might; And from the guns of Lexington to Yorktown's dawn of light,
S66
THE GREAT REBELLION-SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
Like Rizpah with her murdered sons, was watching thro' the night. The Day was marching on !
CHORUS. Glory! glory to these martyrs! &c.
And when from Sumter's sullen walls, the blast defiant rung, For Union and her shattered flag our loyal sons have sprung, And to the dear old stripes and stars with dying grasp have clung; The Right was marching on!
CHORUS. Glory! glory to these martyrs! &c.
In our country's hour of peril it was theirs to do and dare;
'Tis ours to guard their sacred fame with reverence and with care; And the heritage of freedom to our children we will bear, For God is marching on!
CHORUS. Glory! glory to these martyrs! &c.
ODE. BY MARY WILLARD. " Tune-Old Hundred."
Brave spirits of the olden time, Through lone and pathless wilds ye trod: The peaceful homes that smile to-day, Are your bequest through toil and blood.
No longer round the cabin door, The dusky warrior prowls by night ; But hark ! the trumpet call-" To arms !" The battle cry is Truth and Right.
They come ! they come ! the martyr band, To break the bondman's heavy chain, That nobly great and grandly free, Our native land may smile again.
O Patriot sons ! O Pilgrim sires ! In time remote,-in valor one ! Through circling years your deeds shall live In loving hearts and sculptured stone.
ODE.
BY MARIA B. W. BARNES.
We've come to-day from near and far, To this dear native vale, And heard the story of the Past,- That well-remembered tale.
CHORUS. The days of auld lang syne we sing, And Freedom's struggle new! And thank God for our noble sires, And our brave boys in blue!
What stalwart arms! what dauntless hearts! What deeds of high renown, Were sanctified by precious blood To plant this ancient town! CHORUS. The days of auld lang syne we sing, &c.
Nor need we turn to bygone years To find heroic deed; Our own dead soldiers left a fame That he who runs may read.
CHORUS. The days of auld lang syne we sing, &c.
S67
NAMES LINKED WITH FAME.
Names that to us were household words, Are now a nation's pride; And we have learned that once we walked With heroes by our side! CHORUS. The days of auld lang syne we sing, &c.
Old Deerfield's sons are scattered wide Throughout our favored land; God grant they all may meet above, An undivided band!
CHORUS. The days of auld lang syne we sing, &c.
CHAPTER XXXI.
COMMISSIONED MILITARY OFFICERS, 1686-1886-THE FRANK- LIN CADETS-OLD CANNON-AGRICULTURAL SOCIE- TIES-FIRE ENGINE-BURYING YARDS.
It being impossible to obtain the date of the commission in many cases, the date of birth is given as a means of iden- tifying parties, there being often several men in town bear- ing the same name. The officers of the Franklin Cadets and "Company H" will follow.
GENERALS.
Epaphras Hloyt, 1765 Stephen S. Whitney, 1811
Rufus Saxton, U. S. A., 1834 Benjamin F. Bridges, 1836
COLONELS.
John Wells, 1700 John Hawks, 1707 Ebenezer Hinsdale. 1707 David Field, 1712 William Williams, 1713 Thomas Williams, 17IS Samuel Wells, 1730
Thomas Wells Dickinson, John Wilson, 1785 David Bryant. 175I Joseph Stebbins, 1755
David Wright, 1791
Asa Stebbins, 1767
George Clay,
Elihu Hoyt, 1771
Horatio Ilawks, 1819
Thomas H. Gilbert,
Henry M. Phillips, 1845
Thomas W. Ashley, 1776
MAJORS.
Elijah Williams, 1712 John Arms, 1722 Salah Barnard. 1725 Seth Catlin, 1734 David Dickinson, 1747
John Russell, 1761 William Bull, 1762 Dennis Stebbins, 177S John C. Hoyt, 1786 Ora Sheldon, 1786
Samuel Willard Saxton, U. S. A., IS29 Pharcellus Dean Bridges. 1846
CAPTAINS.
Jonathan Wells, 1657 John Sheldon, 1658 Thomas Wells, 1678 Joseph Clesson, 1680 Samuel Barnard. 1684 Timothy Childs, 1686 Martin Kellogg, 1686 Joseph Kellogg, 1690 Ebenezer Sheldon, 1691 John Catlin, 1704 Samuel Childs, 1712 Mathew Clesson, 1713 Ebenezer Sheldon, 1714 Thomas Dickinson, 1718 Nathan Frary, 1719 Othniel Taylor, 1719
Timothy Childs, 1720 Samuel Barnard. 1721 John Amsden, 1721 Ebenezer Arms, 1721 Ebenezer Wells, 1723 Amasa Sheldon, 1726 Jonas Locke, 1727 Benjamin Hastings, 1728 Agrippa Wells, 1733 Lawrence Kemp, 1735 Abner Mitchell, 1738 Moses Arms, 1747 Elisha Nims, 1749 David Hoyt, 1751 Oliver Shattuck, 1751 Elijah Arms, 1760
Abijah Harding, 1760 Seth Nims, 1762 William Tryon. Jonathan Arms, 1766
Eliakim Arms, 1767
Erastus Barnard. 1769 Samuel Wells, 1772 Zebina Russell, Nathan Frary, 1781 Charles Hitchcock, 1785 Zebediah Graves. 1787 Edward Hitchcock, 1793 Eli Cooley, 1798 Cephas Clary, 1812 Mirand W. Saxion, U. S. A., 1844
869
DEERFIELD'S INDEPENDENT COMPANY.
LIEUTENANTS.
Joshua Pumroy, 1646 Thomas Wells, 1654 David Hoyt, 1657 Thomas Taylor, 16So Jonathan Hoyt, 1688 Benjamin Hastings, 1699 Daniel Severance, 1702 Jonathan Hoyt, 1728 Samuel Wells, 1729
John Bardwell, 1735 Joseph Barnard, 1741 David Stebbins, 1741 Thomas Bardwell, 1744 Abner Nims, 1744 Abner Cooley, 1748 Horace Brooks,
Richard Catlin, 1773 Quartus Hawks, 1778
Thomas Asa Gates, 1788
Amasa Smith, 178S
Ephraim Williams, U.S.A., 1837 Charles O. Phillips, IS40
Elihu McCall, 1754 (?)
Ebenezer Stebbins, 1763
ENSIGNS.
Jonathan Wells, 1684
Jonathan Severance. 1725 Ichabod Nelson.
Samuel Taylor, 1716
Joseph Barnard, 1717
Moses Hawks, 1737 Josiah L. Arms, 1788
TIIE FRANKLIN CADETS.
This crack independent company of militia was organized in 1823. Its originator and moving spirit was Elijah Wil- liams, 2d. After drilling once a week for six months, the company paraded for the first time July 4th, 1824, in all the glory of a new uniform and new guns. Their guns were made to order at Springfield, and were of exactly the same pat- tern. They arrived via the Connecticut river and Sunder- land, the morning of the parade. During the day a beautiful silk standard was presented to the company by the women of Deerfield. The presentation speech was made from the por- tico of Dr. William S. Williams's house, by " Little Mary " Hawks. She delivered the colors to Ensign Samuel Barnard Williams, who returned the thanks of the company in a fit- ting and feeling response. The day ended with a banquet given the cadets at the house of Ebenezer Hinsdale Williams, father of Elijah.
The writer, then six years old, was an eye witness to the exciting events of this day, but as he did not take notes he can give only the above meagre report from memory.
The Cadets appeared under arms quite often after that, and training days were great occasions for the boys and oth- er camp followers, who watched the wonderful evolutions with mingled feelings of admiration and awe. The drill was almost machine like, and in company firing the captain was never satisfied if more than one report could be detected. They had regular army tents, and often camped out under strict military discipline. They were always prominent on "Muster days," and were in great demand and had a leading share in the many public celebrations in the town.
870
MILITARY OFFICERS-CADETS-OLD CANNON.
Their uniform was showy and picturesque ; blue dress coats decked with a profusion of gilt buttons, white duek trousers, high, bell crowned sole leather helmets, surmounted by tall, black waving plumes, those of the officers being tipped with white or red. Its last parade was in 1854.
The following list of officers was furnished by Capt. Elisha Wells. The first officers were : captain, Elijah Williams; lieu- tenant, Seth Nims; ensign, Samuel B. Williams.
CAPTAINS.
Elijah Williams, 2d,
Henry Stebbins,
Lewis Brown,
Charles Iloyt,
George Wright,
Dwight Jewett,
David Hoyt,
Henry King Hoyt.
Elisha Wells.
John George Williams,
Horatio Hawks,
William S. Briggs.
LIEUTENANTS AND ENSIGNS (not serving as captains).
Seth Nims,
Clark Hutchins,
Samuel Barnard Williams,
Charles Stebbins Williams,
Claudius Herrick Stebbins,
Benjamin Cantrell, Jr.,
Carlos Allen,
Richard Catlin Arms,
Seneca Arms,
Charles Smith,
Edward Russell,
Charles Jones,
Henry Smith,
Moses Stebbins Ward.
TENOR DRUMMERS.
Philo Temple, Elijah Barnard Hastings, Jona. M. Mann.
Philo Temple beat the long roll for every parade of the Cadets from first to last. His drum is now preserved in Me- morial Hall.
BASE DRUMMERS.
Henry Smith, Charles Moulton,
Seneca Lincoln, Albert A. Field,
George Wilson,
Hiram McKee,
Samuel G. Duncan, George W. Potter, Ralph Childs.
FIFERS.
Ira Billings, Calvin Guellow,
Asa B. Munn, Moses Eddy.
John C. Briggs,
Ralph Childs, Warren Woods,
Alonzo Howland.
Company H, 2d Regiment, M. V. M., was removed from Northampton to Deerfield in 1871, largely through the ef- forts of Gen. Benjamin F.Bridges. Its headquarters have been at Bloody Brook .*
CAPTAINS.
Charles S. Babcock, Benjamin F. Bridges,
Pharcellus D. Bridges,
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
Benjamin F. Bridges, Charles Stowell, Alonzo Childs,
Samuel E. Clark,
Charles S. Thayer.
* This company was discontinued in 1894.
871
COMMITTEE OF SAFETY v. JONA. HOBBY.
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
Charles Stowell, P. D. Bridges, Samuel E. Clark,
Charles S. Thayer,
Worthy D. Lyman, Alonzo Childs.
The Old Deer field Cannon. The old iron six-pounder, known to several generations as the "Old Cannon," once had a mate. The why or when of their separation is uncertain, as is also the time of their advent in Deerfield. It is a pretty safe conjecture, however, to suppose the pair were brought here by Gov. Belcher at the time he held a treaty with sev- eral Indian tribes at Deerfield in August, 1735. There is is a constant tradition that Gov. Belcher presented them to the town,-what more fitting time than this? They would add much to the eclat of the occasion, and be expressive ad- juncts to the show of power by the English. In 1737, there was another meeting with the tribes at Fort Dummer. Prob- ably the mate of our old gun was taken up there at this time. At any rate, soon after this, there was a "Great Gun" at the fort, not otherwise accounted for. During the "Old French War" and the "Last French War," this "Great Gun " was fired to give warning to the settlers, whenever Indians, or signs of them, were discovered by the scouts, and also to call for help in case of an attack. On the conquest of Canada and the consequent dismantlement of Fort Dummer, this gun was probably taken by Col. Israel Williams, the military com- mander of the frontier, to his home in Hatfield. However it got there, it is certainly next found at Hatfield, as we shall see by record history to follow, and its fate we know as de- scribed by eye witnesses.
Returning to its mate in Deerfield, an interesting episode in its history is found in the subjoined petition :-
To the Honorable, the Council and Representatives of the State of Massachusetts Bay
The petition of Jonathan Hobby most Humbly sheweth That your petitioner in April last Imployed Major James Gray of Stock- bridge to purchace Cannon for a privateer belonging to your Peti- tioner, among those purchaced by the said Major Gray was one purchaced of Coll William Williams of Pittsfield, and that the said Major Gray came to Deerfield where the Cannon lay; in removing of it out of Town was interrupted by the Committee of said Town of Deerfield and the Cannon Conveyed Back, to the loss and damage of your petitioner
Therefore your petitioner humbly prays your Hon's would send
872
MILITARY OFFICERS-OLD CANNON.
orders to said Committee to deliver said Cannon to your petitioner, and your petitioner as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray.
Watertown 24 Sept. 1777.
JON. HOBBY.
This petition recently found among the Mass. Archives gives a new chapter in the adventures of the old cannon. Since that date, parties have often been "interrupted " while attempting the "removing of it out of Town," but this is the earliest instance on record. Of later attempts, many tradi- tions and many living men do testify. By the same author- ity it has often been "Conveyed Back " from the hands of the spoiler, with many a hap and mishap.
" The Committee," of whom Hobby complained, were the leading Whigs. Those familiar with the history of Deerfield during the Revolution and the character of these men, may easily picture the excitement here when the operations of Maj. Gray were discovered, and also the manner of their "in- terruption" when he was overhauled by the committee, as well as the triumph with which it was "conveyed back" to the town. Col. Williams had been commissary during the French war with headquarters at Deerfield, the old gun may have been under his care. He may have thought he had a right to sell it; let us hope so, although his private character gives no warrant that this hope can be very confidently cher- ished. As a warm Tory he may have thought that while putting a pretty penny in his pocket he was serving the king by removing one obstacle from the path of Burgoyne, who was planning a little summer trip over the Green Mountains to the Connecticut Valley, and he had like-minded kin in Deerfield whom he felt he could trust to aid and abet him. It was probably in consequence of Hobby's petition that, three weeks later, the General Court passed a vote to look up and secure any stray arms that might be found belonging to the state. Very likely it was in response to some action un- der this vote that at the March meeting, 1777, the town "voted that the Town will not dispose of the two pieces of cannon." At the opening of the War of Impressment the guns again appear on record :-
July 12, 1812 voted that the Selectmen of this Town be directed to make application to the Selectmen of Hatfield, for the cannon in their custody belonging to this Town
Voted that the Selectmen be a committee to make enquiry re-
873
SAD VANDALISM.
specting the expense of mounting the cannon and that they secure both cannon. [At an adjourned meeting, ] July 20, Voted that the Committee Appointed to make enquirey respecting the expense of mounting the Cannon be authorized to mount one or both of them, if they think propper, at the expense of the Town.
But they must " first catch the rabbit." Hatfield would not give up the gun. Perhaps she claimed it by right of posses- sion, but there is nothing touching the matter on Hatfield town records.
March 6, 1815, Art. 18. To see if the Town will adopt any meas- ures to get the Cannon now at Hatfield * *
Voted that Epaphras Hoyt, Elihu Hoyt, and Pliny Arms, Esquires, be a committee to take such measures as they think proper to re- cover the cannon belonging to this Town, now at Hatfield.
No sequel to this action has been found. The cannon loaned to Hatfield never came back. In the course of time, for some unknown reason,-or none at all,-Hadley put in a claim for ownership. Many a sharp trial of skill and craft, and sometimes of force, was had for its possession on festive occasions, and many a trip across the river from town to town it has taken by stealth and in darkness. The towns quarreled like thieves over the prize, like the savage captors over the un- fortunate Miss Jane McCrea, and its fate was identical with hers. The strife ended in the destruction of both. About 1840, after firing it in an insulting manner from "High Banks," towards Hatfield, the vandals of Hadley loaded the piece to the muzzle and it was burst into fragments. Dr. Bonney of Hadley, from whom I learned its fate, and Almon C. Williams, who was on the ground and saw the fragments soon after the catastrophe, both familiar with this gun, unite in describing it as being in every respect the very counter- part of our old cannon in Memorial Hall.
In my boyhood days the fact of this loan to Hatfield seems to have been lost sight of, but there was a general belief that our old cannon once had a mate, and various stories existed to account for its disappearance, a favorite one being that it had been sunk in Broughton's pond.
It was probably under the vote of the town that our di. vorced piece was mounted on a regular gun-carriage. From my earliest recollection it was in this condition, and was "stored" on the common. Year in and year out, summer
874
MILITARY OFFICERS-OLD CANNON.
and winter, it was an attractive center of our play-ground. On some morning, about the last of June of each year, the old cannon would be missing. By the hands of either friends or foes it had been taken into retirement, in anticipation of the "glorious fourth." Few knew of its whereabouts until it woke the echoes on that eventful morning. If, as it some- times happened, it announced itself in the hands of the en- emy,-usually the Greenfield boys,-there was mustering in hot haste for its rescue, and gathering for resistance on the other side; cool heads became hot, and hot heads were broken. Usually vietory perched on our banner, but some- times, alas, on that of the enemy. On one occasion, some- where about 1854, we learned it was buried in a newly dug cellar in Greenfield street. The fall of that night found a sturdy crowd armed with bludgeons, headed by one of the selectmen, marching silently northward. At Cheapside, a returned scout reported the place of sepulchre empty. Thus balked, we marched back again. It became known years af- ter that the old cannon had been taken the night before up into Greenfield Meadows four miles, and buried in a four- acre lot, which was all plowed over before morning. It lay there for years, until the captors found the fun of keeping the secret growing stale, and so revealed the place of hiding. I note this as one of the innumerable adventures of the old cannon. I will speak of one other at a much earlier date, per- haps about 1808. It had been spirited away by Conway men. On discovering its whereabouts, a battalion of young and old started on horseback for its rescue, under the lead of Col. Joseph Stebbins and Rufus Saxton. On news of their inten- tion, the Conway people placed the gun in sanctuary. But this was soon to be violated. The meetinghouse was sur- rounded by a superior force. The old cannon was demanded, but refused. But, sanctuary, or no sanctuary, the men were after it. With uplifted axe Col. Stebbins stood before the door, and five minutes were allowed in which to give it up. At the fourth minute a parley was called, and the terms of surrender were soon arranged. Seeing powder among the Deerfield men, to prevent their adding insult to humiliation, one stipulation was that the gun should not be fired by the victors until they reached Deerfield ; this was agreed to. But the moment they crossed the town line on the high lands at
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