History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix, Part 31

Author: Sumner, William H. (William Hyslop), 1780-1861. cn
Publication date: 1858
Publisher: Boston, J. E. Tilton
Number of Pages: 883


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 31
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 31


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This was the poetry of the expedition; another leaf in its history is turned, and we find the prose. Brilliant displays and stirring music please the eye and ear, but cannot satisfy the demands of hunger ; and the very practical question now forced itself into unwelcome notice, " What shall we eat, and what shall we drink ? "


The destitute condition of the forces compelled the admiral to commence immediate negotiations for a supply of provisions ; and with this effort began a long series of difficulties, which encountered him in almost every step.


It has been previously mentioned that ten weeks' provision


347


SUPPLIES FOR THE TROOPS.


1711.]


for the army was to be procured at Boston, and that it was im- possible to meet this demand at so short a notice. The admi- ral, consequently, applied to Capt. Belcher, a rich and leading man, the father of Gov. Belcher, to aid him in his difficulty, but he would have nothing to do in the matter. He next applied to Mr. Andrew Faneuil (uncle of Peter Faneuil, to whose munificence Boston is indebted for the hall which bears his name), who, with that public spirit so characteristic of the family, undertook to furnish the supplies. He, however, was unable to do this without the aid of the law ; for the merchants, taking advantage of the necessities of the troops, asked prices as extravagant as the demand was extraordinary, claiming that it was a common chance in trade to which they were justly entitled. However well supplied the city and vicinity may have been previous to the arrival of the fleet, the addition of so many persons would, of necessity, cause a scarcity, and a pro- portionate advance in prices ; and some even concealed the pro- visions in their possession.


Such being the state of things, an adequate supply could not be obtained, and Gov. Dudley was obliged to issue a stringent " Order for searching for provisions." Searchers were appointed, and Capt. Samuel Gookin and Capt. Samuel Phips were appointed "to attend constantly at the camp on Noddle's Island in the day time, to see there be no extortion or oppres- sion in the sale of victuals or exchange of money." Had their authority extended into the night, we might call them watchers.


This order effected a general compliance on the part of the citizens, but as some individuals refused to submit, the British officers very unjustly and ungenerously charged the colonial government with unnecessarily delaying the fleet ; whereas, on the contrary, extraordinary measures were taken to remove every impediment. Indeed, many of the principal men of Bos- ton, in their self-denying efforts to aid the admiral, and to pre- vent any lack of fresh provisions among his forces, engaged, while the fleet lay there, to eat salt provisions, and no other, in their families, - a self-sacrifice which was imitated in the Revo- lution, when the the people, for the public good, refrained from the enjoyment of their tea. Thus every exertion was made by


348


HISTORY.


[1711.


the authorities, and personal sacrifices endured by private indi- viduals to meet the demands of the admiral.


It was a great mistake in the plan of the expedition to de- pend upon obtaining at Boston a supply of provisions at so short a notice. Another mistake was in believing that pilots could be obtained here, competent to take the fleet up the St. Lawrence, without having previously ascertained the fact. The consequence was that the government was obliged to impress into the service for pilots shipmasters, who had but little experi- ence, as they had been only once or twice up the river.


Another difficulty with which the officers had to contend was the desertion of the men. To prevent this, the general court passed an act imposing a penalty of fifty pounds, or twelve months' imprisonment, upon all persons harboring any soldier, marine, or sailor, who should desert from the fleet. Previous to this, orders had been issued to the towns to guard the highways by the military. Still, when the fleet sailed, it was found that a great number had deserted.


On the 19th of July, preparations were commenced for break- ing up the camp, the admiral directing the captains to send boats on the following morning (20th), before high-water, to Noddle's Island, to assist in the reembarkation of the forces on board the transports, and also, directing the boatswains, gunners, and carpenters to go on shore and sign the receipts for such stores as they had been supplied with by Mr. Faneuil; and on the 20th, he ordered the "long boats to fetch off the Baggage from Noddle's Island belonging to the Marines, and also their sick men."


The Boston News-Letter of July 23, 1711, says, that on Friday, the 20th, the camp broke up, and the British forces em- barked again on board the fleet. Having occupied the Island thirty-five days, on the 30th of July the fleet sailed for the St. Lawrence.


It came over the water to our shores in all the pride of power, dazzled every eye and impressed every heart with the magnificence of its display, and with the prayers of thousands for its safety and success, turned its prows again to the wide ocean, and with sails filled by the western winds, and pennants


!


349


THE FAILURE OF THE ENTERPRISE.


1711.]


flying, majestically moved away, and soon appeared in the dis- tance like summer clouds floating in the far-off horizon.


As our particular interest in the expedition is limited to its connection with Noddle's Island, it need only be added that the fleet arrived at the mouth of the St. Lawrence on the 14th of August, and on the night of the 22d, in thick and stormy weather, was driven among the breakers. Eight or nine of the transports and a thousand men were lost. The remainder of the fleet escaped; but by this disaster and from other causes which need not be detailed, the officers were disheartened, and the expedition was abandoned. Gen. Nicholson, who had ad- vanced as far as Lake George by land, retreated with his army, the New England men returned home, and the admiral went back to England.


Thus came, went, and perished, an expedition, which in its effects hardly made an additional ripple on the tide of human affairs, and only added one more to the many monuments of human weakness, and one more to the many instances of fatal- ity which have attended several expeditions against Canada.


Thus did He who rules the winds and waves defeat the plans of human wisdom. Meeting with the same fate as the Spanish Armada, fitted out for the invasion of England, and the mighty armament of the Duke D' Anville for the recovery of Louisburg, this powerful fleet was shattered in an hour, even without hav- ing seen the enemy ; and the names of the master-spirits, which, to human view, seemed destined to live immortal on the his- toric page, will die " unhonored and unsung." Here might have been a Nelson or a Wolfe; but instead, the brightness which was so near breaking on the world's history, and the names which the pen had commenced writing on the list of heroes, were darkened by the frowns of a mysterious Providence.


Turning our attention again to Noddle's Island, we find that the army, during its encampment on the hill, had, in their lack of sufficient provisions, made free with the property of Chris- topher Caprill, the tenant of the Island. He complained to the general court that he had " suffered very much, and been greatly damnified by the army," which had trampled down two hundred and thirty acres of grass, dug trenches, taken apples from his


30


350


HISTORY.


[1711.


orchard, vegetables from his garden, stolen sheep, and committed various trespasses, and that he had spent thirty days' time in watching them and endeavoring to prevent these robberies ; injuring him, according to his estimate, to the amount of ninety- two pounds and seven shillings (£92 7s.). As the depredations were committed by troops fitted out by the home government, the general court resolved that " It doth not belong to this Prov- ince to pay the charge."


It would seem that the " watchers" of whom mention has been made were not seasonably remunerated for their services, for in their petition to the general court they state that they " were by Order of his Excellency in Councill dated the 3ª day of July last Appointed & Impowered to Attend constantly in the day time at the Camp lately at Noddles Island, to see there should be no Extortion or Oppression in the sale of vict- ualls or Exchange of money or other things that the Clarks of the markets ought to do.


" In Obedience to which order your Petitioners Attended & Performed that difficult & troublesome service from the 4th day of July aforesa, to the 24 day of the same and have as yet received no Consideration for the same.


" But your Petitioners now humbly Pray Your Excellency & Honours to Grant such allowance to your Petrs as in your Wisdom & Justice shall be thought meet for their service afore- said &c. SAML PHIPPS, for himself & SAML GOOKIN."


" In answer to this petition, it was resolved that £5 be paid to each petitioner in full for their service. Oct. 26, 1711." 1


" No war nor battle sound" disturbed the Island for more than sixty years, and the solitary tenants had no one " to molest or make afraid." The recollection of the splendid but ill-fated Canada expedition faded from their memories, and they pur- sued their peaceful occupations until the Revolutionary war.


1 Archives, LXXI. p. 833.


351


THE BATTLE IN 1775.


1775.]


II.


Battle upon Noddle's Island in 1775. - Information con- cerning the earlier battles of the Revolution is of peculiar interest, and of great historical value. Partly on account of the suddenness with which the resort to arms came upon the people, and partly on account of the confused and ex- cited state of the public mind and the lack of system in our operations, our knowledge of the opening battles of the war is limited, when compared with the official and other accounts we have of subsequent engagements after the army was organized, and the general pulse beat regularly to the strife for free- dom.


Still, those early battles struck the key-note to the whole Revolution, and light thrown upon them reflects upon the whole contest, and aids us in seeing "the end from the begin- ning ; " and while the actions of the colonists, previous to any systematic organization, were, of necessity, varied and without concert, yet they were the first and important steps upon which the remainder of the seven years' march depended.


The battle, or as the British called it, " the skirmish," of Lex- ington, concerning which our accounts are pretty complete, took place on the morning of April 19, 1775. The intelligence flew to all parts of the land on the wings of the wind; and the country, long in a feverish state of expectation, heard the news with eager ears, and then with one heart and soul made prepa- ration for


" The grappling vigor and rough frown of war."


As the firing at Lexington broke upon the ears of the startled populace, and the tidings of the battle spread through the neighboring towns, the excited inhabitants left their farms and workshops and flocked to the scene of action, anxious to do something, they knew not what, for the common welfare. The engagement at Concord was but the continuation of the fight at Lexington ; and as the news of actual war spread with lightning rapidity through the country, within a very few days there was scarcely a village in New England but had heard of the contest, and was sending its men to the central point. All


352


HISTORY.


[1775.


hearts beat in unison to the one idea of liberty. Men of all classes and conditions in life, of all ages, of every degree of experience, and vast numbers without any experience, in mili- tary affairs ; a few well, but by far the greater part poorly, equipped, assembled at or near Cambridge, which town, after the battle of Lexington and Concord, was made the head- quarters of the gathering host.


Among other officers here was the impetuous Arnold, who had rushed hither with his company from New Haven. When the news of the battle reached New Haven, the town was thrown into an uproar, and, amidst the ringing of bells, the populace collected on the public green. Arnold, who was then the young captain of the Governor's Guards, made a speech to the multitude, imbued with all the fire and eloquence of which he was master, and offered to head any volunteers who would accompany him. Sixty men put themselves under his com- mand. The selectmen declined to furnish them with ammuni- tion, whereupon Arnold sent a peremptory summons to the town-officers to deliver up the keys of the magazine, or he would break it open by force. The keys were surrendered, and the company, supplied with ammunition, marched rapidly to Cam- bridge. Upon his arrival, perceiving that there was no call for immediate action, and unable to restrain his ardor, he proposed to the committee of safety to head an expedition against Ticonderoga ; and on the third of May he received the com- mission of colonel from the committee of safety, who were then in session at Cambridge, and the requisite authority for the exe- cution of this project. Allowing of no delay, within three days after his commission was made out he was on the western border of the State prosecuting his march.


Here was Stark, who, in ten minutes after hearing the cry of war, was in his saddle and on the way to the place of rendezvous, his New Hampshire volunteers hastening on behind him. This is the same John Stark of whom Gen. Gage spoke when, on the morning of the battle of Bunker Hill, some one asked him if the rebels would stand fire; "Yes," said he, "'if one John Stark' is there, for he is a brave fellow."


Here was the invincible Putnam, who had, at a moment's warning, left the plough for the sword, and who, twenty-four hours previous, was nearly one hundred miles from the spot.


1775.]


353


THE GATHERING AT CAMBRIDGE.


He caught the tidings of battle while ploughing in his field ; leaving his plough in the furrow he unyoked the team, and, mounting his swiftest horse without delaying to change his clothes, hastened to the scene of action.


Finding, on his arrival at Cambridge, that the British had retreated to Boston, and were surrounded by a force sufficient to watch their movements, he returned to Connecticut, and, ob- taining authority of the legislature, levied a regiment. Leav- ing orders for the troops to follow him with as little delay as possible, he hurried back to Cambridge, having been absent only one week. The colony now promoted him to be a briga- dier-general on the provincial staff, and this appointment was, in a short time, confirmed by congress, on the continental estab- lishment.


Soon afterward the British commander-in-chief, perceiving the superior abilities and great influence of Gen. Putnam, and con- scious of the valuable acquisition he would be to the British government, privately made a proposal to him to relinquish his commission in the rebel army, and offered him the rank of major-general, and great pecuniary compensation for his ser- vices. The sturdy general spurned the proposal, and prudently kept a knowledge of it from the people.


Such was the spirit, and such the devotion to the good of the country, which animated the men who so soon were to engage in the horrors and vicissitudes of war.


Mrs. Anna Pope, whose one hundred and second birthday occurred on the 16th of December last, recollects with distinct- ness the stirring events of those times. She was born in New- ton, and her memory goes back with much vividness to the scenes of the Revolution. Mrs. Pope recently described to a visitor the appearance of the men as she saw them hastening towards Lexington on the morning of the 19th of April, and with what feelings of devout solemnity those of the citizens of Newton who had taken part in that day's encounter stood up in the aisle of the church on the following Sabbath, while thanks were publicly offered from the pulpit for their safe return, - several of them still bearing the marks of musket balls in their garments. A similar scene was repeated on the Sabbath following the battle of Bunker Hill.


30 *


1


354


HISTORY.


[1775.


Although military zeal was so signally displayed by the offi- cers at Cambridge, it was not the only ardor which influenced them, for we find that Noddle's Island was the early scene of the operations of both the civil and military staff. In illustra- tion of this, and on the authority of his son,1 to whom the writer is indebted for the interesting incident, an anecdote is given of the Hon. William Tudor, a member of the civil staff, and judge- advocate-general of the American army, which shows him to have been as ardent a follower of Cupid as his brother officers on the military staff were of Mars, and as zealous a lover as he was patriot.


At the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and while Cambridge was the head-quarters of our army, Miss Jarvis (a sister of Dr. Jarvis), the lady whom Judge Tudor afterward married, and to whom he was then very attentive, was on a visit at the house of Mr. Williams, on Noddle's Island. The proximity of the British fleet rendered it at least inconvenient, if not really dangerous, for him to leave head-quarters and go to the Island to see the object of his affections. If it be true that " Labor omnia vincit," it is doubly true when the " labor " is one of love. It was aggravating to Mr. Tudor to be within so short a distance of his lady-love and not be able to reach her. Consequently, he would leave Cambridge, and go to the neighborhood of Winnisimet ferry, at Chelsea, take off his clothes, and tying them upon his head to keep them out of the water, cross the channel like Leander at the Hellespont, then redress on the Island shore, and make his well-earned visit at the house where resided the lady for whom he had passed through the ordeal of fire and water. His devotion was rewarded in the successful issue of his suit, three sons and two daughters, all remarkable for eminent talents and high social position. This same story was related in the following manner to Major Barton, when he kept the Maverick House, by an aged lady then stopping there. It deviates but slightly from the one just given.


1


At the time Boston was besieged, and the harbor was filled


1 Frederick Tudor, Esq., well known as the "Ice King."


355


ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.


1775.]


with the British fleet, notice was given that the town would be fired upon ; and that all the women and children who wished could leave it. About twenty young ladies, relatives and friends of the Williams family then residing on Nod- dle's Island, took up their residence there for the time. One of the young ladies chanced to have a beau residing in the city, and notwithstanding all communication by boats was cut off, this young lover was determined to see his mistress ; and every night he swam across the channel with his clothes upon his head, to see the object of his affections. The parties, one of whom was the lady who told the story, afterward were married.


Thus we present the anecdote from both the parties.


Over the martial multitude at Cambridge, Gen. Artemas Ward, of Massachusetts, being the oldest officer, was appointed commander. " His commission as commander-in-chief of the Bay troops was delivered to him on the 20th (April) by the provincial congress." 1


Soon after the battle of Lexington and Concord,2 some


1 Gordon's Hist. Am. Rev. Vol. I. p. 486.


2 The mere names of Lexington and Concord remind the writer of his duty to the memory of his much respected friend, the late Gov. Brooks, which has for so long a time been omitted. The account which follows was received from him when riding with him to attend a review near Concord. On the way, in passing over the bridge, he pointed out the very barn under cover of which he made the attack. The sight of these brought to his mind the circumstances which he then related ; or otherwise, from his well-known modesty, it is probable the public would never have been informed of the par- ticulars of this attack of the gallant captain, with a single company, upon the whole British army, which would hardly have been justifiable had not the enemy been on a hasty retreat.


When speaking of the valor of our undisciplined militia in the first day's conflict at Lexington and Concord, which spread so much alarm through the country, he observed that the Reading company of minute-men, which he was chosen to command when he first commenced the practice of medicine in that town, were a little better drilled, although he did not claim for them greater courage, than those who were earlier engaged in the conflict. When he took the command of that company, lie judged from the signs of the times that it was his first duty to those who had placed confidence in him, to acquire what knowledge he could of military matters. Accordingly he made a visit to Salem to consult Col. Pickering, who was then considered the best tactician


356


HISTORY.


[1775.


measures of precaution on the part of the provincials became necessary. The first steps of this kind on record were taken by General Ward, who gave orders to Colonel Stark to take a small escort and examine Noddle's Island, with a view to ascer- tain the practicability of erecting a battery there to annoy the British shipping. He was accompanied on this expedition by Major McClary, who a few days after did valiant service in the battle of Bunker Hill, where his sonorous voice rang clear above the din of arms, animating and encouraging the men,


with whom he could readily confer. He found the instructions he thus received of great use when, soon afterward, he fired upon the British army on their retreat from Concord. .


As soon as the news of the fight at Lexington reached Reading, he called out his company and marched directly towards Concord, where were the stores which they supposed Gen. Gage had in view to destroy. On his march, at the intersection of the road from Chelmsford with the one that led from Bedford to Concord, upon which he was travelling, he came in contact with Col. Bridge, to whose regiment his company belonged. He was on his way to Concord with the rest of the regiment, or as much of it as he had been able to collect. Capt. Brooks saluted, and reported himself for orders. Col. Bridge said, "I am glad you have come up, Captain. We will stop here and give our men some refreshment, and then push on to Concord." The answer was, "My men have just refreshed themselves, and as I think there is no time to be lost, with your leave I will go ahead ; and as neither of us is aware of what is tak- ing place, if I get into any difficulty I shall know that you will soon follow me, and shall have the main body of your regiment to fall back upon." The colonel replied, " You may go ; but as you are unacquainted with the posture of affairs, be careful and not go too far ahead." Having this authority from his colonel, Capt. Brooks hastened on toward Concord, and when he came near the main road from Concord to Lexington, he saw the flank guard of the British army on this side of a hill which intervened and kept the main body from his sight. He imagined that the soldiers he saw belonged to the Charles- town Artillery Company (having the same colored uniform) on their retreat from the scene of conflict. He halted until he discovered his mistake by see- ing the flank guard fall in with the main body to cross a bridge over a large brook on the road. Finding that his position could not be outflanked, he ordered his men to advance, and, taking a position at Merriam's Corner, covered by a barn and the walls around it, told them to fire directly at the bridge, which was twenty or thirty rods off. As the British army was in great haste to make good its retreat, it fired but one volley in return. When the enemy had passed, examination was made to see what had been the effect of the fire, and several persons - the writer thinks he said nine - were found hors de combat on or near the bridge.


357


SKIRMISH.


1775.]


while his brave deeds showed them a brilliant example. He was killed near the close of the battle, and the circumstances attending the death of this patriotic soldier were peculiar. " He had galloped to Medford, and returned with dressings for the wounded, when he ordered Captain Dearborn to advance toward the Neck with his company, whilst he crossed over to reconnoitre the enemy. He was returning with Lieutenant- colonel Robinson and others, and boasting that the shot com- missioned to kill him was not yet cast, when a cannon-ball from the Glasgow tore him to pieces. No smaller weapon seemed worthy to destroy the gigantic hero." 1


A slight skirmish took place on the Island between Colonel Stark's company and a party of the enemy, which landed with the intention of intercepting the return of the company to the main land. After exchanging a few shots, the British retired. At this time, the numerous islands in Boston harbor, which ren- der it so beautiful, were stocked with cattle, horses, sheep, etc. These were owned by different persons, some occupying the islands, others, gentlemen residing on the main land. The stock on Hog island was owned by Oliver Wendell, of Boston, one of the "committee of correspondence, inspection, and safety," and afterward known as Judge Wendell, for a long course of years one of the governor's council, and Mr. Jonathan Jackson, of Newburyport, who, after his removal to Boston, was appointed supervisor of the internal revenue ; he was also treasurer of Harvard University.2 The stock on Noddle's




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