History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 138

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 138

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men in the house. She replied she thought not. They asked if there had been any there that day. She answered, one or two gentlemen dined up stairs this afternoon. They asked her where they went to. She answered, they sent them off to Jericho Swamp, a dis- mal swamp about two miles from Jones' tavern. By this time their fury was subsided, Capt. Jones set on a bottle of spirits to drink, which they drank, and all retired.

" Now the hired mnan went home, saying he should call again in the evening. After breakfast I went to work upon my journal, here I set down the number of militia arms and ammunition of this place, sent to me by the hired man from Mr. Jones. After din- ner Mr. Wheaton introduced his two daughters, stat- ing to them that I was a British officer in disguise. Here we sat and played cards till tea time. After tea the ladies retired and I lie down, being very tired and expected company. That evening about eight o'clock the hired man called for me, and said he was going with me to Marlborough, but said we could not go by Capt. Jones', for they were lying in wait for me there. So I bid Mr. Wheaton and his family Good- bye, and off we set on the back road, coming out above Capt. Jones one mile on the Worcester road. Here I found the roads good to Sudbury River. Here I found myself twenty-five miles from Boston. Here we examined the river for a fording place, providing the bridge should be moved. We found a place which was fordable in Framingham, a town opposite from here. We proceeded for Esq. Barnes', in Marl- borough, and found the roads bad. We traveled all night, examining the roads as well as possible, and arrived at the house of Esq. Barnes at two o'clock in the morning of the seventh. Here we knocked at the door, the Esq. put his head out of the window and asked who was there. My guide answered Capt. Jones' hired man. He struck a light and let us in. I gave him a letter from Gen. Gage. My guide like- wise gave him one from Capt. Jones. After reading them he took me by the hand, saying he wished me good luck in my undertaking, and promised to assist me all in his power. He set on the table a bottle of brandy and some victuals. After refreshing ourselves I asked him if he had heard of the affair of the spies at Watertown and Weston. He answered he had, but it was not believed in that quarter. Here my guide bid me good-morning, and left me. The Esq. said I had better go to bed and rest myself, and that he would find means to help me to Worcester. I went to bed about four o'clock and slept till nine. Then the Esq. waked me, informing me that he had been to the tavern, and reports were there that two men, supposed to be spies by their examining a small bridge near the house where a woman, being up with a sick child, saw them. She said they went on toward Worcester.

"The Esquire told me I must remain there that day, make out the plan of the road so far as I had come,

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and any other writing I wished to do. He said he would go back to the tavern and see if there was any stir about the spies. If there was, he would let me know seasonably enough so that I could be conveyed to the swamp. Here the table was furnished with victuals and drink, pen, ink and paper, and the Es- quire left me to go to the tavern. About four o'clock in the afternoon he returned and said all was quiet, the stories had turned out to be negro stories. I must wait till dark, when he would let me have a horse, as he concluded I was tired to go to Worcester, when I must examine the roads and bridges as well as I could in the night, and I must remain in Worcester till the next night.

" About eight o'clock in the evening I started for Worcester on the Esquire's horse. I rode all night and it snowed all the time. I arrived in Worcester about an hour before sunrise, found the roads very hilly and bad. I had slow work getting along for I had to get off my horse to examine the road and

bridges. Here I delivered a letter to Mr. . . from Esquire Barnes, and one from General Gage. After reading them, he ordered my horse put up, and con- veyed me to a private chamber, where he said I must remain all day. Here I was furnished with all things which were comfortable. I was informed of the num- ber of militia, and of the quantity of military stores in this place. Nothing particular took place during the day. After dark Mr. . . .. took me to the place where the military stores were deposited, showed me the place where I could break in; also two old wells where I could throw in them the flour and ammuni- tiou. Now I returned to the chamber, after he had looked over my papers, I asked him what he thought of an army coming from Boston to Worcester. He said he did not think a man would dare lift a gun to oppose the regulars, and asked me what was my opin- ion. I told him if he would keep it a secret, I would give him my opinion. He frankly declared he would. I then told him if General Gage sent five thousand troops with a train of artillery from Boston to Wor- cester, they would never one of them get back. Then he answered, We, his Majesty's friends, are in a bad situation.

"Then I collected up my papers, ordered my horse, and started from Worcester about nine o'clock in the evening to go to Esquire Barnes. The night was clear and cold. I was now fifty miles from Boston and in danger of being captured every moment. The night was long and dismal. I often wished that night that I had never undertaken the business of a spy. Noth- ing particular took place during that night. I arrived at Esquire Barnes' about the break of day on the 9tb, where the Esquire kindly received me.

" Here I had some hot sling and a warm breakfast. Soon after breakfast I gave the Esq. my papers. He told me I must go to rest and lie till one o'clock and he would go to the tavern and see if he could make any discoveries which would operate against me. At

one o'clock he called upon me and informed me that all was safe, but it would not do for me to tarry in his house that night. I got dinner and then I collected my papers, after the Esq. had given me an account of the militia and ammunition from there to Worcester, and from this place to Weston, and all this he found out while I was gone to Worcester. Now he took me to his garret window and pointed the way for me to go to Concord. He said I must go across the lots and roads. He said I must start about eight o'clock. Then we retired to a private chamber ; we conversed about the British coming to Worcester. Then 'I got my papers and tied them up in a bundie and threw them on a table all ready for a start, then he set on a bottle of brandy and we drank. Now, it being about eight o'clock, we heard a knocking at the front door. The Esq. told me if he did not return in one moment to make my escape out of the chamber window upon the shed and from there into the swamp, and make for Concord. I heard a man say, E.q., we have come to search your house for spies. I heard him say, I am willing. I then hoisted the window, leaped upon the shed, which being covered with snow, my feet flew up and I fell flat on my back in the garden. I recov- ered a little from the fall, picked up my bundle and hat, and made for the swamp, though considerably lame. Here I was afraid they would track me, the snow lying about six inches deep. When I got into the swamp I looked back to the house, and could see lights dodging at every window. I heard horse's feet in the road as if great numbers were collecting at the Esqr.'s house.

"Now, I traveled, as near as I could judge, four miles, the snow being on the ground. It was tolerably light. I came to a negro's house, where I found a black man and his wife. I told them I be- lieved I had got out of my way and enquired the way to Concord. The man said I bad better stay all night and he would show me the way in the morning. I told him my business was urgent, and if he would show me the way to the road which led to Concord I would pay him, showing him a silver dollar. He asked me what my business was, that I wished to go that night. I told him I was going to making guns to kill the regulars, for I thought they would be out of Boston in a few weeks. Now the man consented to go. The woman observed, she wished I could make guns to kill the regulars, as she, understood there had been a number about Esq. Barnes' a day or two. I asked her if Esq. Barnes was a tory. She said he was. I said J hoped they would catch him and hang him.

" Then I set out with my black guide. We pro- ceeded on to Concord River ; my guide went to a black man's, a little above, where he borrowed a canoe, and carried me safe over. He said he would go with me a mile farther if I would give him a half a dollar, which I readily granted. When we arrived here he went up to a house and said we could buy some rum

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

here if I wanted. I told him I should be glad of it, and if he would go in I would follow him. Then he knocked and they bid us come in. Here my guide told them about my coming to his house, and our route across the lots, and my business. The people in the house appeared to be very glad. I called for some brandy and it was set on. I told my guide to help himself, which he did quite freely. The man of the house said I better tarry till morning and he would go to Concord with me, it being now nearly daylight. By this time my guide was fast asleep. I slept till about sunrise, and I called for some break- fast. I set out for Concord, which was in sight. Mr. Wetherby accompanied me to Concord, where he in- troduccd me to Major Buttrick and several other gentlemen, and informed them that I wanted to get into business, which was gunsmithing. They said I was the very man they wanted to see, and would assist me all they could, and immediately went to hire a shop. Here they brought me several gun locks for me to repair, wbich I repaired with neatness and dispatch, considering the tools I had to work with.

" I was now invited to take dinner at the tavern with a number of gentlemen. The conversation at dinner was respecting the regulars at Boston, which they expected out. I asked them if there were many tories in the place. The answer was, they expected there were, but not openly. I was asked by a gen- tleman where I was from. I answered Pownalbor- ough, down east. The gentleman asked what I might call my name. I answered him, Wood. He asked me if I was a relation of Col. Wood, of Pownalbor- ough. A distant relation, I said. He asked me whether he was called a liberty man. I answered him it was doubtful which way he would be. He said he would write the Col. a letter immediately to stand his hand. He asked me when I was going to return there. I answered him that I was going right down to get some tools to carry on my business here. In- form the Col. when you see him, that you have seen old Major Parmenter of Sudbury ; tell him I say, that if he turns tory I will seek his life at the risk of my own.

" By this time we had got through dinner. After dinner we walked up to the store house to examine some guns, they asked me if I could make such guns. I told them I could make any kind they wished. Here I found a quantity of flour, arms and ammuni- tion. After examining the gates and doors attached to yard and store house, I returned to the tavern, where, after taking some brandy and water, I took leave of them, and set off for Pownalborough after my tools as they supposed.

"Now I set out on the road to Lexington, I travel- led about two miles, here I called at a small house a small distance from the road. I found it inhabited by an old man and his wife. The old man was cleaning his gun. I asked him what he was going to kill, as he was so old I should not think we could take sight

at any game. He said there was a flock of red coats at Boston which he expected would be here soon, he meant to try and hit some of them, as he expected they would be very good marks.

" I asked him when they were expected out, he said. hc should not think strange if they should come be- fore morning, he said some supposed they would go up through Watertown to Worcester for we hear they have sent out spies that road. I asked the old man how he expected to fight. He said open field fight- ing or any way to kill them red-coats. I asked him how old he was ? he said seventy-seven, and never was killed yet. The old man asked me what parts I was from, and what my business was, I repeated the same story I did at Concord. I asked the old man if there were any tories nigh there. He said there was one tory house in sight, and he wished it was in flames. I asked what the man's name was. He said it was Gove. I very well knew where I was now, being the very house I wanted to find, it was situated in Lin- coln, about four miles from Concord, Mr. Gove being one of his majesty's friends. Here the old gentleman told the old lady to put some balls in the bullet pouch. She asked him how many. He said 30 or 40, perhaps I shall have an opportunity to give some to them that have not got any. The old woman pulled out an old drawer and went to picking out. The old man says, Old woman, put in a handful of buck shot as I understood the English like an assortment of plumbs. Here I took leave of them. I travelled on the Lexington road about one mile, then I turned out west for Mr. Gove's house, arrived there about half hour after sunset, inquired for the man of the house, he immediately came forth. I told him I wanted to speak to him in private. He took me to a private room I informed him of my business and told him I put my life in his hands. I laid my papers on the table and asked him to examine them. He told me to give my- self no uneasiness for he was my friend. He informed me he was at Southboro at the time I escaped from Esq. Barnes', he informed me the mob were supplied with tar and feathers to apply to the Esq., if they found me in the house.

" I was furnished with refreshment and apparatus for continuing my Journal. I wrote until about 10 o'clock when Mr. G. came into the chamber and in- formed me he must remove me to an out house he had at a small distance to lodge, for fear the plot would be found out at Concord, and his house would be imme- diately searched. Accordingly I did, and retired to rest. He called me about break of day, this being the 11th day, and said I might return to my chamber, and he would go to Concord, and see if he could hear any thing new.

"He returned from Concord about 10 o'clock, and said they were very much pleased with the prospect of having an armory established there. He said I must stay until evening, and he would convey me to Charlestown which was about 12 miles. Accordingly

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CONCORD.

about eight o'clock in the evening we set out for Charlestown both on horseback and examined the road through Lexington to Charlestown, and arrived there about 12 o'clock. I took leave of Mr. G. and . he took the horse I rode and returned back. I went to the ferry, and took a boat and crossed over to Bos- ton the 12th (April), about two o'clock in the morning and retired to my quarters to rest.

" About sunrise I turned out, threw by my yankee dress and put on my British uniform, and walked down King Street, and directly met Col. Smith, he took me by the hand, and said how do you do John ? We heard you broke your neck jumping out of Barnes' chamber window. Smith further said come go up to the General's quarters. I told him I should rather go after breakfast.

" Tell me nothing about your breakfast; you are under me now. Accordingly we went to the gene- ral's quarters, where the officers were generally col- lected. I thought they had been taking their bum- pers rather too freely by their actions. The general said ' Good morning, John. How do you like the Rebels?' I replied I should not like to fall into their hands. I took my papers out and presented them to the general. I asked him after he had perused them if he would return them to me. He told me he would, with fifty guineas with them. The general said, adjutant take charge of the papers. He took the papers, handed me a guinea. He said, take that, John, and go and get some liquor ; you are not half drunk enough for officers' company. The general told me to call at his quarters at 11 o'clock. Accord- ingly I did. The general said, 'John, we have exam- ined your journal ; you are well deserving the name of a good soldier and a lucky and expert spy. How large an army will it take to go to Worcester and de- stroy the stores and return safe ?' By answering that question I must stand or fall, but I was determined to give my opinion in full, turn as it would. I said, if they should march 10,000 regulars and a train of artil- lery to Worcester, which is forty-eight miles from this place, the roads very crooked, stony and hilly, the in- habitants generally determined to be free or die, that not one of them would get back alive. Here Smith exclaimed, ' Howe has been scared by the old women.' Major Pitcairn says, 'Not by a negro wench, John,' which caused a great laughter. The general asked me what I thought of destroying the stores at Con- cord, only eighteen miles. I stated that I thought 500 mounted men might go to Concord in the night and destroy the stores and return safe ; but to go with 1000 foot to destroy the stores the country would be alarmed; that the greater part of them would get killed or taken. The general asked me what I thought of the Tories ? I stated that they were gen- erally cowards, and no dependence could be placed on them.

" The general asked me how old I was. I told him I was twenty-two. He said my judgment was very

good for a beardless boy of twenty-two. Here are your papers and money, John. You shall be exempt from carrying a firelock; " and I was dismissed for that day. He said I must call again the next day at nine o'clock. Accordingly the next day at nine o'clock I called at the general's headquarters. He said he should want me to put on my Yankee dress and go on horseback through Malden, Lynn, and Marblehead to Salem, on the 18th, at night to carry letters to the Tories in those places, to have them use their influence to restrain the militia and secure the arms and ammunition, if they should attempt to take up arms against his majesty's regulars, as I shall detach Major Pitcairn to march on the 19th, at 1 o'clock in the morning with 800 grenadiers; to have me on my return from Salem, if I heard of any alarm from the Americans to ride through the adjacent towns east of Concord to see what preparations were making, if any, to let Major Pitcairn know without delay. This I told the general I would undertake ; he might rely on my faithfulness in this dangerous undertaking.

" Accordingly, on the 18th, the troops were put in readiness ; about two o'clock we embarked and crossed over to Charlestown. Here I left the troops, mounted on a country horse prepared for the purpose, with my Yankee dress. I called at Malden on one Mr. Goodridge, delivered him a letter from the Brit- ish general. I rode from this place to Lynn. Here I called on another tory ; delivered my letter. I now proceeded to Marblehead; there I delivered another message. Then I proceeded to Salem, where I ar- rived about daybreak, making the distance about 15 miles. Here I refreshed myself and my horse. About sunrise I mounted, returned back to Lynn, where I called for a breakfast. While at breakfast, the thundering news came that the regulars had gone to Concord, and had killed 8 men at Lexington. Such a confusion as the people were in I never heard or saw. They asked me where I had been and where I was going. I told them I was a Bostonian and had been to Salem to notify the people that the regulars we were afraid were going out of therc to Concord. They said I had better make my way through Read- ing and Woburn, also through Billerica to Bedford and Concord, and notify the people that the regulars had gone on, and have themselves in readiness to march to Concord. Now I set out full speed ; wher- ever I saw the people were alarmed, I informed them that the British had come out and gone to Concord, and for their lives and country to fly to arms. Where there was no alarm I made none. When I arrived at Woburn, ten miles from Boston, I found the militia about on their march for Concord. Here I omitted going to Billerica, it being ten miles further into the country.

"I made the best of my way through Bedford to Concord. Here my horse failed me in some measure. Here I overtook crowds of militia; I told them to drive on. I also told them there had been 8 men

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

killed at Lexington by the British. I told them I was afraid the regulars would leave the town of Con- cord. This kind of alarm I gave the people all the way. I soon arrived at Concord, where I found con- fusion, sure enough. Here I found the militia pour- ing in from every quarter. I rode up to Major Pitcairn and informed him that the militia were turning out all the way from Concord to Salem. Major Pitcairn informed me that he must have a reinforcement from Boston, or else he could not get a man back to Charlestown, for they were very sore and fatigued. I was furnished with a fresh horse and set off for Boston and alarmed the people on the road to fly to arms and waylay the regulars from behind fences and walls and any thing that would cover them from their fire. No person mistrusted but what I was a faithful American through the whole route. When I arrived at Charlestown I met Lord Percy with a regi- ment of regulars and two pieces of artillery. I passed the troops and went on the ferry and crossed over to Boston ; went to General Gage's headquarters and in- formed him of my route, and all that had taken place. He said he did not think the damned rebels would have taken up arms against His Majesty's troops, etc.

"From this time I was determined to leave the British Army and join the Americans."

CHAPTER XLIII.

CONCORD-(Continued).

Concord Fight-Brunt and Strife of Revolution.

THE BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN LIBERTY .- There are several personal accounts written by those who took part in the events that made the 19th of April, 1775, forever memorable. Rev. William Emerson's diary is the most complete and accurate. The journal of Lieut. Barnard, of the British Army, is clear and inter- esting in its details. Capt. David Brown's entry in his almanac, "Had a sharp squirmish with the Regu- lars to-day " is graphic. John Howe, the spy, writes : "That at Concord I found confusion sure enough." Martha Moulton's description of the conduct of the British at Concord is vivid. The depositions of the patriot soldiers, taken by the Committee of Congress a few days after the fight, are exact and carefully given under the solemnity of an oath. The report of Lieut .- Col. Smith, the commander of the regulars, is in print, and from this Gen. Gage's report to his King was garbled by the ministry before it was published, to meet the political necessities of the government, and is therefore unreliable. A letter to Jefferson, printed in his Virginia newspaper, and probably writ- ten by Gen. Warren the night after the battle, is the best of the published accounts in the press of that time. While the stories and traditions that have

grown up since, and the sermons and orations, the pamphlets and historics of the events, would fill a larger volume than this whole book. Relying on contemporaneous accounts, and neglecting the after- thoughts and one-sided statements when controver- . sies had arisen, the real facts may be ascertained.

CONCORD FIGHT .- General Gage, aware by the re- ports of his spies of the condition of things at Con- cord, determined to destroy the military stores and arms collected there. An expedition was secretly or- ganized for this duty, composed of six companies of the Tenth Light Infantry and the grenadier compa- nies of several other regiments in Boston. Lieut .- Col. Smith was the commander, with Major Pitcairn, of the marines, as the second officer. These troops were taken off their regular duty under pretence of learning a new drill, and were quietly embarked in the boats of the men-of-war from the foot of the Com- mon late in the evening of April 18th. The project was found out by the vigilance of the patriots in Bos- ton, and when the column started, Paul Revere set forth from Charlestown on his famous ride, and

" Gave the alarm

To every Middlesex house and farm."

The troops were rowed across the Charles River and landed at Lechmere's Point (now East Cambridge). After some delay, and a wet tramp through the marsh covered by the spring tides, they kept on through West Cambridge (now Arlington) in the great road leading to Concord. The country was alarmed, as the ringing of bells and firing of guns in the surrounding towns proved to the British officers, and Col. Smith sent back to Gen. Gage for reinforcements. Major Pitcairn hurried on with the Light Infantry to secure the bridges over the Concord River. His detachment arrived at Lexington as the militia company there under Capt. John Parker were forming on the Com- mon. Major Pitcairn rode up just at daybreak, and ordered the Provincials to disperse. They obeyed his orders when repeated by their captain, and were leav- ing the Common when the British fired on them a volley that killed eight and wounded ten men,-a massacre of which the inscription on their monument says: "The blood of these martyrs was the cement of the Union of these States." After the grenadiers had come up and joined the light infantry, the col- umn marched on to their destination, Concord.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 138

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226