USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with genealogical registers > Part 13
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128
MARSHFIELD LOYALISTS.
[1775.
The following letter, from a loyalist of Boston to a gentle- man of New York, also relates to the affair, and is dated Jan. 26th, 1775.
" About a week ago one hundred and fifty of the principal inhabitants of Marshfield entered into Gen. Ruggles' associ- ation against the Liberty Plan. When this was known at Plymouth, the faction there threatened to come down in a body and make them recant, or drive them off their farms. On this the Marshfield association sent an express to Gen. Gage to acquaint him of their situation and determination, and begged support. This was readily granted, and a captain and three subalterns and a hundred private men were imme- diately detached on board two small vessels to Marshfield, where they landed very quietly last Monday; and, when last accounts came, there was no appearance of the Plymouth rebels.
The detachment carried with them 300 stands of arms for the use of gentlemen of Marshfield; one hundred and fifty more having joined the association on advice of the Plymouth threatenings; the whole three hundred have solemnly engaged themselves to turn out in case of attack.
That the liberty rebels of this town [of Boston] might save their own credit, and that of their adherents in Plymouth, and that they might have something to say for not opposing the detachment, they, on first hearing where the soldiers were going, wisely sent off an express to their confederates, begging them to desist from doing what they really had no mind to do."
In speaking of this case Gen. Gage in a letter to the Earl of Richmond said : "It is the first instance of application to Government for assistance, which the faction has ever tried to persuade the people they would never obtain; but be left to themselves."
The town of Marshfield, in town meeting assembled on the 20th of Feb. 1775, voted not to adhere to Congress; and also to make addresses to Gen. Gage, and Admiral Graves. Dr. Winslow was moderator of the meeting, and framed the addresses. Their original answers are now before me .* Gen. Gage's is as follows :
" TO THE LOYAL INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF MARSHFIELD.
GENTLEMEN, - I return you my most hearty thanks for your address, and am to assure you, that I feel great satisfaction in having contributed to the safety and protection of a people so eminent for their Loyalty to their King, and affection to their country at a time, when Treason and Rebellion is making
* Rev. B. Kent's MS. Coll. 210, 211.
129
BALFOUR'S TROOPS.
1775.]
such hasty strides to overturn our most excellent constitution and spread Ruin and Desolation thro' the Province.
I doubt not that your duty to your God, your King and country will excite you to persevere in the Glorious Cause in which you are engaged, and that your laudable example will animate others with the like Loyal and Patriotic Spirit.
THO. GAGE."
Admiral Graves replied as follows :
" TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF MARSHFIELD.
GENTLEMEN, - The warmth with which you declare your principles of Loyalty to your Sovereign and his Constitutional Government cannot fail of being grateful to the mind of every lover of his country : and it is much to be wished that the uniform propriety of your conduct will extend its influence to the removal of those groundless jealousies, which have unhappily warped the affections of too many of your coun- trymen from the parent state, and which are now tending to raise violent commotions, and involve in Ruin and Destruction this unfortunate Province.
The approbation you are pleased to express of His Majes- ty's appointment at this critical juncture to the command of his American fleet, is flattering ; and you may be assured that my countenance and support shall never be wanting to protect the Friends of British Government and reduce to order and submission, those who would endeavor to destroy that Peace and Harmony, which is the end of good Legislation to produce. SAML. GRAVES."
A protest was circulated against the proceedings of the above meeting and received 64 signatures.
This detachment was under the command of Capt. Balfour, and consisted of one hundred men with two field pieces. The presence of these troops caused but little uneasiness to the inhabitants, as they were under good discipline, and used no improper conduct towards them. They frequently visited Duxbury in various numbers; and one Sabbath surrounded the meeting house, during the services, and amused them- selves in looking in at the windows, somewhat to the discom- posure of the more timid within. Toward the close of March, Capt. Balfour devised a project of attacking Plymouth, and accordingly a conference was had at the house of Edward Winslow, Esq., and in the discussion of the question Capt. B. enquired of John Watson, Esq., "Will they fight ?" " Yes, like devils," was the cheerful assurance of Mr. Watson, and upon further consideration the plan was abandoned.
Immediately after the news arrived of the bloodshed at Lexington, Col. Cotton with his regiment formed for an attack on Balfour's party. On the 20th Col. Cotton and Maj. Sprout
17
130
BALFOUR'S TROOPS. [1775.
met in Duxbury, at Col. Briggs Alden's for consultation. Maj. Judah Alden, who was in Rhode Island when the news came of the fight, had just returned, having ridden all day on horseback, and soon after learning the circumstances of the case, he met Cato, a negro who had been sent by Capt. Balfour to ascertain the numbers of the men who were march- ing against him. Maj. Alden suspecting his design, told him to tell Balfour, they were coming in a host after him, and dis- missed him. Col. Cotton again returned to Plymouth ; and, about 7 o'clock, on the morning of the 21st, marched for Marshfield with a portion of his regiment, consisting of the Plymouth company under Capt. Mayhew, the Kingston under Capt. Peleg Wadsworth, and the Duxbury under Capt. Geo. Partridge. They proceeded to Col. Anthony Thomas', about a mile N. W. of Capt. John Thomas', where were Balfour's troops. At this juncture Col. Cotton and Lt. Col. Alden held a long conference, as to the course to be taken. At noon there were assembled about 500 men, including the crews of many fishing vessels in the harbor. In the afternoon Capt. Clapp's company from Rochester and Capt. Harlow's from
Plympton arrived. Capt. Peleg Wadsworth was greatly dissatisfied with the delay, and moved forward his company until within a short distance of the enemy, and then halted
as his numbers were too small to venture an attack. About 3 o'clock, P. M., two sloops hove in sight and anchored off the Brant rock. Balfour then conveyed his company through the Cut river in boats, and reaching the sloops soon sailed for Boston, leaving however several sentinels behind to watch the movements of the Americans, who also set guards for the night. The British watch finally left and in going to their boats, they passed one of the American sentry posts, where were stationed Blanie Phillips, and Jacob Dingley, both of Duxbury. Dingley was seized, and conveyed to their boat, when they concluded to release him. Phillips escaped, fired his gun, and gave an alarm, which roused the country for many miles around. Balfour, it is reported, said that if he had been attacked, he should have surrendered without a gun. In their hurry to escape they left much of their camp equipage behind. He fought with his company at Bunker Hill, and, as he afterwards told an inhabitant of Duxbury, whom he recognized in New York, he left the field with but five men following him, upon which he had entered with as fine a company as was in His Majesty's service.
On the Ist of May, four companies of the Regiment were ordered to Plymouth. The company from Duxbury was now commanded by Samuel Bradford, whose officers were the same as had been previously. These were stationed at Ply- mouth until the 1st of Sept. as a guard. During this time a
131
COL. COTTON'S REGIMENT.
1775.]
detachment of twelve men under Maj. Judah Alden performed guard duty at Captain's Hill. In August, Col. Davis, the quartermaster, came from Roxbury with orders for the regi- ment to embark in whaleboats, and proceed to Sandwich to receive 100 barrels of flour, which had been brought from New York, and conveyed across the isthmus. Twenty boats were immediately despatched under the care of Capt. Sylva- nus Drew, and the command of the expedition was given to Capt. Samuel Bradford. Converting their blankets into sails they reached Sandwich about one o'clock, having been five hours on their passage. In passing the bar they had to encounter a strong wind, in which some of the boats were swamped, though none of the men were lost. Having loaded their boats with the flour, they started on the next day, and landed it safe about five o'clock in the afternoon on Cohasset beach, and it was conveyed by land to Roxbury. On the 26th of June preceding, the committee of correspondence of Plymouth, those of Duxbury and Kingston joining in the prayer, sent a memorial to the Provincial Congress, expressing their regret that they had made a determination to move to Roxbury a portion of Col. Cotton's Regiment. "We know," said they, " that Admiral Graves has said we were a rebellious people, and because we have built a fort, it would not be long before he would blow the town about our ears ; " and we now request that the troops may be permitted to remain, or else the town will be left.
On the 1st of Sept. Col. Cotton moved his regiment to Roxbury, which formed a part of the detachment ordered to throw up entrenchments on Dorchester heights, March 4th, 1776. The officers of the regiment at this time were - Theophilus Cotton, Col .; Ichabod Alden, Lt. Col .; William Thomas, Surgeon; John Thomas, Surgeon's mate; John Cotton, Jr., Quarter-master ; Joshua Thomas, Adjutant.
Captains.
Lieutenants.
Ensigns.
Tho. Matthew,
Nathl. Lewis,
Benj. Warner,
Earl Clapp,
Isaac Pope,
Chas. Church,
John Bradford,
Jesse Sturtevant,
Tho. Sampson,
John Brigham,
Edw. Sparrow,
Nehemiah Cobb,
Joshua Benson,
Wm. Thompson,
James Smith,
Isaac Wood,
Abiel Townshend,
Foxwell Thomas,
Peleg Wadsworth,
Seth Drew,
Joseph Sampson,
Amos Wade,
Archelaus Cole,
Lemuel Wood,
Saml. Bradford,
Andrew Sampson,
Judah Alden,
Edw. Hammond.
Timothy Ruggles.
Nathan Sears.
On the removal of the Americans to New York in 1776, several others of Duxbury joined Capt. Bradford's company,
132
COL. ICHABOD ALDEN. [1775.
and proceeded on with the regiment. Among others were Isaac and Nathl. Delano, and Consider and Oliver Glass. The company remained in New York about a year, when Capt. Bradford resigned his commission, and came home with a great part of his company, many of whom soon again enlisted. Commissions were now granted to Joseph Wads- worth, Adam Fish, and Judah Alden, all of Duxbury, to be Captains. Each of these immediately raised their companies, and had many Duxbury men under their command. In the summer of 1777, Capt. Wadsworth having raised a company in Duxbury, marched to Boston, to proceed to join the army of Gen. Gates.
Col. Cotton's second in command, Lt. Col. Ichabod Alden of Duxbury, had not, previous to the commencement of hostili- ties, seen any military service, except that he had been for a short time an officer of the militia. He inherited much of the fortitude and independence of his ancestors. His feelings were in perfect unison with the whigs, and he denounced the provoking usurpation of their rights as tyrannous and not to be borne, and was among the foremost to resort to means of violence for the protection of those privileges bequeathed to him from his ancestors, and to whose memory he owed it to preserve them for posterity. He thought, that
" To fight
In a just cause and for our country's glory, Is the best office of the best of men ; And to decline, when these motives urge, Is infamy beneath a coward's baseness."
He was soon after promoted to the rank of Colonel, and after the capture of Burgoyne, at Saratoga (Oct. 17th, 1777), was stationed with a regiment of the continental army at a place called Cherry Valley, sixty miles west from Albany, for the defence of the frontiers. In consequence of its exposed situation a fortification had been erected here, during the preceding spring, by order of Lafayette, and its command was at once solicited by Col. Gansevoort, with the regiment which had so greatly distinguished itself in the preceding year in the defence of Fort Schuyler. It was nevertheless given to Col. Alden, under whose superintendence it had been built, who soon after arrived with his regiment. We have now to relate his sad and mournful end, while in command of this post. He was attacked by surprise by the enemy under Capt. Walter N. Butler, a royalist, and Brant, a noted Indian Mohawk Chief, with about 700 loyalists and Indians. Col. Alden with a large portion of his officers and men fell victims to their savage cruelty. He had received due notice
133
COL. ICHABOD ALDEN.
1775.]
of this preconcerted plan of the tories and Indians, for on the Sth of November he received a despatch from Fort Schuyler, conveying the intelligence, which had been received there by an Oneida Indian, who reported that he had learned it from one of the Onondagas, who had been present at a great meeting of the Indians and tories at Tioga, at which this determination had been formed. Col. Alden discredited it, and for good reasons perhaps, as a mere idle Indian rumor, yet he took precautions, but refused the inhabitants of the village permission to deposit their valuables in the fort, (from whence they had been removed, not anticipating farther hostilities before spring,) giving as a reason that it would only be a temptation for his soldiers to plunder; and at the same time assured them, that he would use all diligence against surprise, and by means of vigilant scouts be at all times prepared to warn them of approaching danger. Accord- ingly scouts were sent out on the 9th, and proceeding down the Susquehannah, as it were in the very face of the enemy, they kindled a fire in the evening, and by the side of which very foolishly laid themselves down to sleep. The result might have been foreseen, for they were prisoners when they awoke.
Had they followed the dictates of prudence, the scenes to follow would probably have never occurred, and the charges of imprudence, now sometimes so unjustly imposed on the vigilant colonel, would have missed their record on the page of the historian. In the mean time the enemy, drawn thither by the light of the fire, soon surrounded them, and, having extorted all necessary information, moved forward on the 10th, encamping, however, for that night on the top of a hill thickly covered with evergreens, about a mile southwest of the fort and village of Cherry Valley. There was a light fall of snow in the night, but it turned to rain in the morning, with a thick and cloudy atmosphere. The officers of the garrisons were accustomed to lodge about among the families near the fort, and from the assurances of their colonel the ap- prehensions of the people were so much allayed, that they thought themselves reposing in perfect security. Col. Alden, with Stacia, his lieutenant-colonel, lodged with Mr. Robert Wells, a gentleman of great respectability. The enemy hav- ing ascertained the localities of the officers, approached the unsuspecting village in the greatest security, veiled by the haze which hung in the atmosphere. An alarm was however given before the enemy had actually arrived at the village, by the firing of an Indian upon a settler upon the outskirts, who was riding thither on horseback. He was wounded, but nevertheless pushed forward, and gave instant information to the colonel, who still disbelieved the approach of an enemy in force, supposing the shot to have proceeded from a straggler.
134
COL. ICHABOD ALDEN. [1775.
He was soon convinced of his error, for, before the guards could be called in, the Indians were upon him. Unfortunately for the inhabitants, Butler, with his rangers, had halted just before entering the village, to examine their arms, the rain having damaged their powder. During this pause the Indians sprang forward, and the Senecas, being at that time the most ferocious of the six nations, were in the van. The house of Mr. Wells was instantly surrounded by the warriors of that tribe, and several tories of no less ferocity, who rushed in and massacred the whole family. Col. Alden himself escaped from the house, but was pursued down a hill by an Indian, who repeatedly demanded of him to surrender. This he refused to do, turning upon his pursuer, and repeatedly snapping his pistol at him, but without effect. The Indian ultimately hurl- ed his tomahawk with unerring aim, and, springing forward, seized in an instant his scalp. 'Thus in the outset fell the commander, who unfortunately was but little accustomed to Indian warfare ; and had he been as prudent as he was brave, might have averted the tragic scenes of that hapless day .*- W. S. Stone's Life of Brant.
Although some blame should be attached to the incredulity of Col. Alden, yet it must be recollected that many rumors of a like nature (though to be sure not always in the form of a despatch) were constantly reaching his ears, and all proving to be equally false and without foundation. And, perhaps, still further it may be urged in his favor, that the extreme lateness of the season would have seemned almost a guaranty, that no attack would be attempted, even upon the outermost posts of the frontier. Yet there are some who view his course more harshly, and consider him guilty of a " most criminal neglect of duty."
As an officer, Col. Alden was brave and persevering; as a gentleman, he was accomplished and agreeable; and in all his relations of life, he formed around him lasting and stead- fast friends, and in his intercourse with others was honor- able and just; and his untimely death could not but be lamented by all who knew him.
His widow in Duxbury received official tidings of the event, as she was proceeding toward Boston in her chaise; though none of his effects ever reached her.
1775. The town appointed (April 26th) Capt. Joshua Hall, Ezra Weston and Ichabod Alden a committee to pur-
* Lieut. Col. Stacia was taken prisoner, and most of the guard at Mr. Wells' house were captured or slain. Thirty-two of the inhabitants, mostly women and children, fell victims, while the garrison in the fort remained secure. - Stone.
135
REVOLUTIONARY ANNALS.
1775.]
chase a cargo of corn in a vessel at Duck hill, and store it for time of need .*
A third provincial congress was convened at Watertown on the 31st of May, and dissolved on the 19th of July. This congress, June 29th, "Resolved, that thirteen thousand coats be provided as soon as may be, and one thereof given to each non-commissioned officer and soldier in the Massachusetts forces, agreeable to the resolves of Congress on the 23d of April last ; and in order to facilitate their being procured," provisions were made for the several towns to furnish a cer- tain number of the 13,000. Plymouth county was to provide 1054; Essex, Worcester, Middlesex, Hampshire and Suffolk . alone furnishing none. The towns of Plymouth furnished in this proportion : Bridgewater 188, Middleboro' 160, Scituate 125, Plymouth 100, Rochester 86, Pembroke 66, Plympton 56, Marshfield 54, Abington 46, Duxbury 44, Kingston 38, Hanover 37, Wareham 30, and Halifax 24. A resolve was afterwards passed, advising the inhabitants to kill no more sheep, except in cases of necessity.
These were chosen (July 10) a Committee of Safety : Ezra Arnold, Levi Loring, Joshua Stanford, Dea. South worth, Capt. Hall, and Isaac Partridge; and afterwards (Aug. 7th, ) it was voted not to use powder, except to shoot destructive vermin.
1776. Liberty or Death ! was now the prevailing sentiment of the land. The flag of freedom flying from the Liberty-poles throughout the province, bore this far-famed motto to the skies, and its holy influences upon all the assemblies of the people were exerted. " We leave the affair relating to independency to the Continental Congress, to STAND OR FALL WITH THEM," was the emphatic declaration of the town (May 23d), who were willing and ready to place in the hands of the chosen of the people the destinies of their lives and fortunes. To stand by them in prosperity, or to fall with them in adversity, was a duty, which they alike owed to the memory of those, of whose happiest boons they were the grateful recipients; which they owed to each other, and which they owed to posterity.
The Committee of Correspondence for this year (chosen May 11th,) were G. Partridge, Isaac Partridge, E. Arnold, Peleg Wadsworth, James Southworth, Perez Loring, Levi Loring, Gaml. Bradford, Jr., Bildad Arnold, Eliphas Prior, Judah Delano, Joshua Stanford and Reuben Delano.
Mr. Partridge was also this year the town's representative. He was appointed one of a committee of three of the General
* During the operation of the Boston Port Bill, supplies were sent to the suffering inhabitants of that town by many of the towns throughout the province. Duxbury forwarded (March 13th) twenty-one cords of wood, and (March 27th) the sum of £4 5s. 8d.
136
REVOLUTIONARY ANNALS. [1776.
Court, to visit the Commander-in-chief at New York, and ob- tain his advice concerning the term of enlistment, and the amount of bounty of the Massachusetts quota of troops. They had been instructed by the Massachusetts General Court to raise the men for one year; but on their arrival at New York. Gen. Washington requested Mr. Partridge to proceed to the National Congress, then sitting at Philadelphia. There he was advised to propose first to Washington a compliance with this instruction ; but if the Commander-in-chief should disap- prove of it, to propose the enlistment of men for three years, or during the war. When Mr. Partridge returned, he mentioned first the Massachusetts instructions to Washington, who, rais- ing his eyes to heaven, and clasping his hands, exclaimed, - " My God ! Sir, are you going to give me an army to last but one year ? I cannot consent to be commander-in-chief of such any army." Mr. Partridge then advanced the second propo- sition, and the men were raised for that period. - Rev. Benj. Kent's Address.
Early in the spring of this year, 700 bushels of corn, from a Virginian vessel, were purchased, to store it for time of need, at an expense of £99 3s. 4d. Other expenses attending it, made it amount to £106 13s. 9d.
Late in the year (Oct. 7) a meeting of the town was called, and it was decided, that it was not expedient for the General Court to form a new constitution or plan of government ; but "to go on in the same method as is usual, or as heretofore they have done." However, early in the next year (May 14th, 1777), they instructed their representatives "to act upon a new plan of government."
A fort was, early in this year, built at the Gurnet by the towns of Plymouth, Kingston and Duxbury. On the part of Duxbury, Isaac Partridge and Dea. Peleg Wadsworth were chosen (Feb. 20th,) their agents in the work of erection. No attack, it is believed, was made on this during the war. A few shots, however, were exchanged with the British frigate Niger, Capt. Talbot; and at this time one of the balls from the frigate pierced the light-house; and the vessel grounded on Brown's Island shoal, but soon got off.
A beacon was also erected on Captain's hill, and in the night time in any danger of attack by the enemy, tar barrels were fired, which called the neighboring towns to assistance.
The Gurnet fort mounted three 12-pounders, one 6-pounder, and two 9-pounders. The garrison consisted of about 60 men, nearly one half of whom were from Duxbury. The first officers were Capt. Wm. Weston of Plymouth, Lt. A. Sampson, and Ens. Nathl. Carver. These were succeeded by Capt. Andrew Sampson of Duxbury, Dea. Smith and Ebenezer Barker, both of Pembroke were Lt. and Ens .; and
137
RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN.
1777.]
afterward Capt. Stephen Churchill, whose second in com- mand was Lt. John Washburn.
Early in this year an incident occurred, which caused con- siderable confusion in the country around. The valiant Capt. Manly with a number of valuable prizes approached the harbor, and entering it anchored off Saquish point. It was supposed at the time that it was a British fleet, come to burn the towns around the bay. A beacon was immediately fired on Saquish, which was soon followed by another at Captain's hill, and at Monk's hill in Kingston, and at Plymouth. Troops came pouring in from the neighboring towns, and the companies of Duxbury assembled under arms at Captain's hill; but soon after the facts of the case were known, and the crowd dispersed.
This was a time of general fear along the coast by those who were expecting the execution of the threats of Admiral Graves. Sentinels were constantly posted, and they attended divine service on the Sabbath, with their arms.
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