USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1630, to the present time, 1855 > Part 19
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" And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the said companies or corps, when raised and organized, shall be under the command of the Major-General of the division in which they shall be respectively formed, and shall be subject to the rules and regulations that are already, or may hereafter be, provided by the Legislature, or the Commander-in-chief of the militia of this Com- monwealth, for the general government of the militia."
It will be observed that these companies might be raised by the recommendation of the Major-General, and the officers and members composing them may be scattered in the differ- ent towns within the division. Cases occurred where the three superior officers lived in separate towns. On this account, these corps were called divisionary companies. Another peculiarity was, that they were subject to the order of the Major-General alone, and were never commanded by a Brigadier-General. They were not connected with any brigade, but took the place of a brigade ; and on the field, at a general review, they took the right, because they were commanded only by the Major-General. This right, or assumption, often caused trouble on great muster-days ; and once, when the Brigadier-General ordered the Medford Light Infantry to take the left, the Captain marched his company off the field, and returned to Medford without being reviewed. They maintained their cause, and never yielded their priority. The Weston Infantry was organized under the same law, but always gave precedence to the Medford on account of its greater age.
1789: When General Washington made his visit at Cam- bridge, he was attracted by the superior appearance of the Medford company on parade, and took great pains to ask General Brooks what corps it was. He passed a high com- pliment on it.
There were many companies organized in the Common- wealth under the law; some artillery, some cavalry, but generally infantry. On general review-days, the Major- General and his staff would ride and stop in front of a bri- gade, and there go through with their examinations and reviews : when they came to the Medford Light Infantry, they would all stop, and go through the same examinations
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MILITARY HISTORY.
and reviews which belonged to a brigade. This was any thing but agreeable to the reviewing officers and to the sol- diers of the regular brigades. Few only of these companies remain in commission. The Boston and Salem Cadets are yet flourishing. In 1840, the question of the companies, organized under the law of 1785, taking the right of brigades, came up again, and was decided against the divisionary corps ; and they are now " subject to the rules and regulations that are already provided for the general government of the militia."
Major-General Brooks certified to the Governor, in 1786, that he thought it expedient that a divisionary corps should be raised in his division ; and, as the Medford Light Infantry had united in petitioning for organization, the petition was granted, and the organization took place Nov. 29, 1786. The choice of officers on that day resulted as follows : -
Ephraim Hall
Captain.
Francis Hall
Captain's Lieutenant.
Samuel Buel
Lieutenant.
The office of Ensign was not deemed indispensable ; and none was chosen till May 3, 1791, when J. Bucknam was elected. The names of the commanders of this long-respected and efficient company are as follows : -
Ephraim Hall (promoted to an aide-de-camp in 1790) 1786 to 1790.
Name unknown
1790
1798.
Andrew Hall .
1798
1803.
Ebenezer Hall, jun.
1803
1806.
Nehemiah Wyman, of Charlestown
1806
1808.
Caleb Blanchard .
1808
1809.
John Cutter
1809
1811.
Ephraim Bailey
1811
1814.
J. P. Clisby
1814
1815.
Thomas Shed .
1815
1818.
Gersham Cutter
1818
1821.
John P. Bigelow
1821
1823.
Martin Burrage
1823
1824.
Edmund Symnes
1824
1827.
On the 11th of January, 1828, it resigned its commission, and has never been revived. For the first twenty-five years of its existence, this company stood among the first for cele- rity and grace of drill-exercise and martial manœuvre. It felt that it had a sort of brigade character to sustain ; and the
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
ambitious young men of Medford joined heartily to make it the banner corps of the county.
In the war of 1812, this company was called to guard the powder-house, and did duty there for some weeks.
The zeal for military display declined after 1814, and there was only an annual training for keeping up the show of warlike preparation."
March 7, 1831 : One hundred knapsacks were ordered by the town for the use of the militia.
BROOKS PHALANX.
Sept. 22, 1841 : Fifty-two citizens of Medford petitioned the Governor for a charter to establish a company of volun- teer militia, to be attached to the fifth regiment of infantry, in the first brigade and third division of Massachusetts mili- tia. This petition was granted ; and the company adopted the name of Brooks Phalanx, in honor of his late Excellency Governor Brooks.
Oct. 11, 1841 : The following officers were chosen : -
Samuel Blanchard . Captain. H. N. Peck
1st Lieutenant.
Joseph W. Mitchell 2d Lieutenant.
James B. Gregg
3d Lieutenant.
A Constitution and By-laws having been adopted, the first parade was on the 22d of August, and seldom has any com- pany appeared better.
Aug. 21, 1843 : The ladies of Medford presented the Pha- lanx with a beautiful standard. The ceremony took place before the meeting-house of the first parish, and was worthy the occasion.
Captain Blanchard having been promoted to the office of Lieutenant-Colonel, he resigned his office as commander of the Phalanx ; and, Nov. 13, 1844, James W. Brooks was chosen as his successor. In 1846, Captain Brooks was honorably discharged ; and, April 10, Charles Caldwell was elected Captain. After serving acceptably, he resigned ; and, May 9, 1849, Gilman Griffin was elected in his place. The last meeting held by the company was Dec. 18, 1849, when it was concluded to discontinue the organization, resign the charter, and return the standard to the ladies who gave it. The standard was placed in the Town Hall.
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MILITARY HISTORY.
LAWRENCE LIGHT GUARD.
This young and enthusiastic corps begins its military career under the most favorable auspices ; and every one wishes it prosperity. It is composed wholly of Medford men, and it will sustain a Medford reputation. It was orga- nized Oct. 1, 1854 ; and its officers, chosen with unanimity, are as follows : -
Henry W. Usher
Captain.
Asa Law .
1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Thomas R. Hadley Samuel Lawrence 3d Lieutenant.
B. W. Parker
4th Lieutenant.
The number, including rank and file, is sixty. Their first parade was Oct. 12, 1854, when they were exercised in firing at a target. They are Company E, Fifth Regiment Light Infantry.
There was a military manœuvre designed and executed by Captain THOMAS PRITCHARD, of Medford, while in com- mand at New York, which deserves honorable mention. The English had taken possession of the city, Sept. 15, 1776, but were greatly annoyed by the American forces in its neighborhood. Captain Pritchard was personally known to some of the British officers, and he was remarkable for his celerity and skill in the war tactics. One day he had been making explorations with his company, when he came unex- pectedly among a large force of British cavalry in a road. The English commander cried out to him, " Well, Pritchard, we've got you at last." "Not exactly," replied Pritchard ; and he immediately ordered his men to form across the road, and to prepare for a charge. The cavalry stopped. The wind was favorable to carry the smoke of Pritchard's fire directly among the enemy. The English commander felt that there must be great loss to him if he should open a fire, owing to the narrow defile and the adverse wind. He there- fore stood still. To retreat, and also to gain time, was Pritchard's policy ; and he accomplished it thus : He walked behind his men, and touched every other one in the whole line, and then ordered those that he had touched to retreat backwards twenty steps. They did so, and there halted. This position kept each of his men in a fit order to fire or to charge, as might be necessary. As soon as this
25
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
half had halted, he ordered the remaining half to retreat slowly in the same way ; to pass through the line, and retreat twenty steps behind the front rank. They did so success- fully. The cavalry rushed forward, but did not fire. Prit- chard's men understood the movement, and were not terrified at superior numbers. They continued to retreat in this unassailable and American fashion for nearly an hour, when the narrow road ended in a broken, rocky pasture. Now their destruction seemed certain. Captain Pritchard saw near him a ledge of rocks and a narrow pass. He resolved to get there if he could. But how could it be done ? The enemy had now come out, and nearly surrounded him. He formed his men into a hollow square, and ordered them to retreat sideways towards that narrow pass. They did so, each keeping his place, and presenting his bayonet to the foe. They reached the rock ; and there they must stop. With their backs to the precipice, and their face to the enemy, they must now surrender or die. They had resolved to try the chances of battle. The British had now come round them in such overwhelming numbers, that they felt desperate. Just as the British officer had ordered them to surrender, a detachment of American troops came suddenly upon them. The cavalry saw they themselves must be taken ; and they turned and fled.
Major Brooks narrated to General Washington every par- ticular of this victorious strategem ; and Washington said, " There is nothing in our military history yet that surpasses the ingenuity and fortitude of that manœuvre." Captain Pritchard was very young, and a great favorite in the army ; and, when it became his turn to watch through the night, it was a common saying among the officers, " We can sleep soundly to-night ; Pritchard's out." He returned to Medford after the war, resumed his trade of cooper, and died, June 8, 1795, aged forty-three.
COLONEL EBENEZER FRANCIS, son of Ebenezer Francis, was born in Medford, Dec. 22, 1743, on Thursday, and bap- tized on Christmas Day, the next Sunday. Living in Med- ford till his majority, he was studious to gain knowledge, and succeeded beyond most others. He moved to Beverly, and, in 1766, married Miss Judith Wood, by whom he had four daughters and one son. That son he named Ebenezer, who now resides in Boston, is nearly eighty years of age, and one of our most distinguished merchants.
195
MILITARY HISTORY.
Colonel Francis had three brothers, who became officers in the Revolutionary army, and did their native Medford credit. Ebenezer was commissioned as Captain by the Continental Congress, July 1, 1775 ; next year rose to the rank of Colonel, and commanded a regiment on Dorchester Heights from August to December, 1776. Authorized by Congress, he raised the eleventh Massachusetts regiment, and, in Janu- ary, 1777, marched at the head of it to Ticonderoga. Mon- day, July 7, 1777, a skirmish took place between the eleventh Massachusetts regiment and the British, at Hubbardton, near Whitehall, N. Y., in which Colonel Francis fell. A private journal of Captain Greenleaf, now in the library of the Massa- chusetts Historical Society, says : -
" Colonel Francis first received a ball through his right arm ; but still continued at the head of his troops till he received the fatal wound through his body, entering his right breast. He dropped on his face."
His chaplain says : -
"No officer so noticed for his military accomplishments and regular life as he. His conduct in the field is spoken of in the highest terms of applause."
A British officer, who was in the battle of Hubbardton, happened to be quartered as a prisoner in Medford. He wrote a history of that battle ; and we make the following extracts, which relate to a Medford mother then living in her house at the West End. The officer says : -
" A few days since, walking out with some officers, we stopped at a house to purchase vegetables. While the other officers were bar- gaining with the woman of the house, I observed an elderly woman sitting by the fire, who was continually eying us, and every now and then shedding a tear. Just as we were quitting the house, she got up, and, bursting into tears, said, 'Gentlemen, will you let a poor distracted woman speak a word to you before you go?' We, as you must naturally imagine, were all astonished; and, upon inquiring what she wanted, with the most poignant grief, and sob- bing as if her heart was on the point of breaking, asked if any of us knew her son, who was killed at the battle of Hubbardton, a Colonel Francis. Several of us informed her that we had seen him after he was dead. She then inquired about his pocket-book, and if any of his papers were safe, as some related to his estates, and if any of the soldiers had got his watch; if she could but obtain that, in remembrance of her dear, dear son, she should be happy. Captain Ferguson, of our regiment, who was of the party, told her, as to the
,
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Colonel's papers and poeket-book, he was fearful lest they were lost or destroyed; but, pulling a watch from his fob, said, 'There, good woman ; if that can make you happy, take it, and God bless you.' We were all mueh surprised, and unacquainted that he had made a purchase of it from a drum-boy. On seeing her son's watch, it is impossible to describe the joy and grief that were depicted in her countenance. I never, in all my life, beheld such a strength of pas- sion. She kissed it; looked unutterable gratitude at Captain Fer- gurson ; then kissed it again. Her feelings were inexpressible ; she knew not how to utter or show them. She would repay his kindness by kindness, but could only sob her thanks. Our feelings were lifted to an inexpressible height; we promised to send after the papers ; and I believe, at that moment, could have hazarded life itself to procure them."
This watch is now in the possession of Colonel Francis's son, in Boston.
JOHN FRANCIS, a brother of the Colonel, born in Medford Sept. 28, 1753, was Adjutant in the regiment commanded by his brother, and fought bravely at Hubbardton. He was in several battles during the six years of his service, and, at the capture of Burgoyne, was wounded. He died, July 30, 1822, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, in Beverly, the place of his residence. He was esteemed for his hospitality and cheerfulness.
Another gallant action by a Medford Sergeant, in the heat of the battle at White Plain, deserves a special record. FRANCIS TUFTS saw the standard-bearer fall : he flew to the spot, seized the standard, lifted it in the air, and rushed to the front rank of the line, and there marched forward, calling upon the men to follow. This was seen by General Wash- ington. As soon as victory was won, the General asked Colonel Brooks the name of the young man, in his regiment, who achieved that noble act. He was told; and there, on the stump of a tree, the General immediately wrote his com- mission of Adjutant.
Medford furnished its full quota of soldiers for the war of 1812, and shed its blood in sustaining the national cause. The following are the names of those who volunteered enlist- ment : John Gates, Zachariah Shed, Edmund Gates, Amos Hadley, Thomas Cutter, Jacob Waite, Samuel F. Jordan, Jonathan Tufts, jun., Randolph Richardson, Rehoboam Ri- chardson, Miles Wilson, Joseph Peirce, John Lee, John Weatherspoon, John McClough, Stephen D. Bugsby, Robert Hall, Benjamin Symmes.
197
MILITARY HISTORY.
The first on the list still lives ; the others are dead. Ed- mund Gates was killed in the battle of Chippewa ; and Abiel R. Shed was killed in the sortie of Fort Erie, 1813.
One of the most signal sacrifices made by Medford to the cause of the country, in that war, was the death of Lieu- tenant John Brooks, son of General Brooks, who graduated at Harvard College in 1805, studied medicine with his father, and afterwards joined the army as an officer of marines. The personal beauty of young Brooks was a matter of remark in every company where he appeared. His courage was great ; and, by exposing himself in the hottest struggle of the fight, he was instantly killed by a cannon-ball, which struck him near the hip, and mangled him shockingly. This occurred in the famed battle on Lake Erie, Sept. 13, 1813, when Commodore Perry gained his brilliant victory over the Eng- lish fleet.
The remains of Lieutenant Brooks were buried on an island in Lake Erie, and there remained until November, 1817, when they were removed to Fort Shelby, in the city of Detroit, Michigan. The "Detroit Gazette," of Nov. 7, 1817, has the following notice of the removal : -
" Funeral of Lieutenant John Brooks. - On Friday last, the remains of Lieutenant John Brooks, who fell in the battle on Lake Erie, were interred in the new burial-ground, upon the glacis of Fort Shelby, within the Military Reserve of this city. The cere- mony was attended with military honors suited to the rank of the deceased.
" The body was escorted by a military corps, and preceded by the Rev. Messrs. Monteith and Larned. The pall was supported by six Lieutenants, with scarfs. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, and the officers of the Fifth United States Regiment, followed as mourners, flanked by marshals. Then succeeded Major-General Macomb, Governor Cass, and the civil, judicial, and municipal officers of the territory and city, citizens and strangers, and the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the army. The funeral service was per- formed by the Rev. Mr. Larned. The procession was solemn and sublime."
These services show the high esteem in which the brave and beautiful young officer was held by his comrades and commanders.
The following elegiac lines, composed for the occasion, were written by Captain Whiting, of the Fifth Regiment : -
198
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Too long on lonely isles neglected, Marked by no stone, thy dust has slept, By humble turf alone protected, O'er which rude time each year has swept.
Ere many summers there had revelled, Decking thy grave with wild-flowers fair, The humid earth, depressed and levelled, Had left no index vestige there.
Still had the wave around that dashes - Scene of thy fate - the story told, And, 'gainst the isle that held thy ashes, In seeming fondness ceaseless rolled.
But now, with kindred heroes lying, Thou shalt repose on martial ground, - Thy country's banner o'er thee flying, Her castle and her eamps around.
And friendship there shall leave its token ; And beauty there in tears may melt ; For still the charm may rest unbroken, So many tender hearts have felt.
Then rest, lamented youth ; in honor, Erie shall still preserve thy name ; For those who fell 'neath PERRY's banner, Must still survive in PERRY's fame.
Dec. 17, 1836, Medford was called to part with another officer high in command in the army of the United States. Among the brave, there were none braver than Colonel Alex- ander Scammel Brooks, eldest son of General John Brooks. He was born in Medford, 1777, on the day of Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. He entered Harvard College in 1798, and left it in 1801. He preferred a sailor's life ; but, when the embargo of 1808 was laid, he obtained a commis- sion in the army, and held it till that restriction on commerce was removed. He then resumed marine life, and continued in it till the war of 1812, when he again received a commis- sion as Captain in the United States army, and served through the war. So gallant was his conduct at the battle of Platts- burg, that he received a brevet as Major. He was retained in the army on the peace establishment, and commanded posts on the seaboard. In May, 1817, he married Miss Sarah Turner. In 1820, he was ordered to the command of Portland Harbor, where he remained seven years ; thence to Bellona Arsenal, on James River, Virginia, where he re- mained four years ; thence to Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor. He next came to Medford, and resided in the
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MILITARY HISTORY.
house of his late father till ordered to the command of the New York Harbor. In May, 1836, he was ordered, with his command, into the Cherokee country, to move the In- dians. That duty performed, he went to Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Here he soon received orders to proceed immediately to Florida, and take command of the regiment of which he was Lieutenant-Colonel, and prosecute the war against the Indians, - a war abhorrent both to his principles and his feelings. He had a singular and unconquerable dislike of travelling by steam-power ; but here was a necessity ; and, almost for the first time in his life, he ventured on board a steamboat, the "Dolphin," bound for the Black Creek. The following account, published at the time in the " Jacksonville Courier," gives the sad sequel with touching particularity : -
" The United States steamer ' Dolphin,' from Charleston for St. Augustine, via Savannah and St. Mary's, was lost off the bar of St. John's River, on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 17, 1836, at half-past four in the afternoon. When within two miles of St. John's Bar, and she had taken two pilots on board, as the boat began to move, her boilers exploded, and, in an instant, she was a complete wreck. The bows and stern were separated, and the engine, &c., sank to the bottom. Mr. Donnelson was blown into the bows of the boat, much stunned. After the steam had cleared away, as soon as he could stand, he noticed Colonel Brooks just beside him, who laid lifeless, except one slight spasm ; after which, in an instant, the face turned purple. Mr. Donnelson thinks he was killed by the shock. Soon after this, Mr. Donnelson gained the stern, which was the largest part. Immediately afterwards, the bows sank, but soon rose again to the surface ; but Colonel Brooks was seen no more. Out of thirty-four persons, nineteen were saved, and fifteen were lost. The disaster was owing to the highly culpable negligence of the two engineers, who were both lost."
December 30, the body was recovered. His watch, filled with sand, was taken from his pocket, and sent to his family. A newspaper of St. Augustine gives the following particu- lars : -
" The body of the late lamented Colonel Brooks was found upon the beach, about thirty miles from this city, and brought here for interment on Thursday last. On Friday, the body was escorted to the grave by the St. Augustine Veterans and a company of volun- teers, and followed by the United States officers at this post as principal mourners, the volunteer officers in the service of the United States, the United States troops, the Judge and officers of
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
the Superior Court, the Mayor and Aldermen, and a large concourse of citizens. . The burial service was read, at the grave, by the Rev. David Brown, of the Episcopal Church."
Two years afterwards, his remains were brought to Med- ford, and deposited in the family tomb.
CHAPTER VI.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
THE history of their church, in many of our earliest New England towns, was almost the history of their settlement. So early as 1634, our fathers procured a preacher, Mr. James Noyes, afterwards minister of Newbury. He was born in England in 1608, educated at Oxford, came to Boston in 1634, and "was immediately called to preach at Mistic, which he did for nearly one year. He was much beloved and respected, - a very holy and heavenly-minded man. He was a man of singular qualifications, a reaching and ready apprehension, and a most profound judgment. He was courageous in dangers, and still apt to believe the best, and made fair weather in a storm."
After he left Medford, the inhabitants received religious instructions from Rev. Mr. Wilson and Rev. Mr. Phillips ; for, in the tax for the support of these gentlemen, Medford paid its share assessed by the General Court. These preach- ers were paid by six towns, and doubtless considered Med- ford as belonging to their pastoral watch and Christian fold.
At this time, our fathers were troubled with the sect of the Antinomians, whose spiritual father was John Agricola, of Isleben. They were against the moral law, not only as a covenant of life, but as a rule of moral conduct. Mrs. Anne Hutchinson brought the controversy from England here in 1634. The Colonists went for the law, and were called Legalists. The heat on one side for the " covenant of grace," and on the other for the " covenant of works," caused politi-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
cal as well as ecclesiastical trouble. Vane headed the Anti- nomians, and Winthrop the Legalists. The synod at Newton, Aug. 30, 1637, condemned the Antinomians ; and they were banished.
The first inhabitants of Medford belonged to that class of hardy, intelligent, Christian adventurers called PURITANS, who left their native England that they might here worship God and govern themselves according to the dictates of their own consciences, and here spread the truths of Christianity among the heathen. Nobler blood never flowed in human veins ; and we may rejoice that we are descended from war- rior-saints, who dared to lead where any dared to follow, whose souls were sanctified by Christian faith, whose union illustrated the natural rights of man, and whose characters were made invincible by a spiritual heroism. That such a people would faithfully provide for the worship which they had sacrificed their native homes to enjoy, is most natural. That our forefathers so felt and so acted, is undoubtedly true; as it is also true that their scanty means and divided condition postponed the settlement of a minister, - a failure of duty which drew upon them prosecutions and fines. We therefore find additional cause for lamentation over the loss of our early records, which would have explained the facts of their condition, and also proved to us how devotedly they attended public worship in the neighboring towns when they were not able to support a minister within their own borders. So soon as they could pay a clergyman, - yes, long before they could do it without extreme anxiety, - they made provi- sion for their spiritual nurture and their growth in grace.
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