USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 1 > Part 7
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Three principal campaigns were planned for 1756; one against Fort Niagara, a second against Fort Du Quesne, and the third against Crown Point, with the ultimate intention of pos- sessing the Champlain valley and the strongholds of the French in Canada. But notwithstanding the elaborate character of these campaigns no substantial gains were made by the English during the year, while the French were active everywhere. The Hampshire county troops were on the frontier, but the Indians scarcely penetrated the country beyond the cordon of forts es- tablished two years before by Colonel Williams.
In 1757 the campaign was arranged by the English in pro- portions equal to that of the previous year, and similar results were achieved. The war in America now had assumed an inter- national character on both sides, and the leading military men of the colonies had no voice in the councils and very little to do except to obey the orders issued by the inefficient officers sent by the crown; and knowing nothing of the Indian character and the savage method of warfare, these orders almost invariably were wrong and resulted disastrously to the colonists.
The principal campaign of the year was that designed to oppose the progress of Montcalm, who held the Champlain val- ley and threatened the English posts to the southward, in the valleys of the Hudson and Connecticut rivers. But instead of taking the aggressive, the English acted on the defensive. Mont- calm laid siege to Fort William Henry, and after a stout resist- ance Colonel Monroe was forced to surrender, although only fifteen miles away lay General Webb (at Fort Edward) with
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4,000 effective men. It was the rank cowardice of Webb that lost both of these strong posts when he possessed the men and means to achieve a signal victory over the French; but as the result of his contemptible action southeastern New York and all of New England was practically laid open to the enemy.
Although the campaign of the previous year had been one of disaster to the English, that very fact seemed to infuse a little spirit into the ministry through that gifted statesman, William Pitt. A million and a half of people inhabited the British colo- nies, and an army of some 50,000 men was subject to the com- mand of Abercrombie. Commercial intercourse with the mother country was almost untrammeled, and there seemed no sufficient reason why the French power should not have been extinguished in one grand movement. The predominance of the English, however, was considerably impaired by the fact that the French had gained stronger influence with the Indians, and the Canadian population was more concentrated, while above all, the French cause was under command of by far the most able and brilliant men. In the language of a contemporary, "Britain had sent to her colonies effete generals, bankrupt nobles and debauched para- sites of the court; France selected her functionaries from the wisest, noblest and best of her people, and therefore her colonial interests were usually directed with sagacity."
The English had supposed that Montcalm would follow up his victories by invading the province of Massachusetts, and therefore took immediate steps to oppose his progress. To this end Governor Pownal ordered a large body of militia and all the cavalry of the province to Springfield, to be placed at the disposal of Sir William Pepperell, lieutenant-general of the province, a new and unknown officer and the holder of a rank previously unknown in the colony. But Sir William was an officer of the crown, and was supposed to be more than able to cope with the enemy under Montcalm, whose advance was expected during the season. A regiment of artillery was ordered to be raised and to rendezvous at the same place, and previous to this time Spring- field was designated as a depository for a large quantity of muni- tions of war, military stores and provisions.
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In relation to the events of local importance in connection with the latter part of the French and English war, Mr. Holland says : "Sir William was ordered, in case of the advance of the enemy, to have the wheels struck off all the wagons west of the Connecticut, to drive in the cattle and horses, and to make a stand on the east side. The similar order, given eighty years before, for the inhabitants of the west side to repair to the east, will show how comparatively slow and painful had been the prog- ress of settlement during this long and disturbed period. The garrisons at Fort Massachusetts and West Hoosac were strength- ened, and preparations made in every quarter for defense against a foe which never came. When it was found that Montcalm was content with the advantages he had gained, and had retired to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, the troops were recalled, and the usual garrisons reduced to their ordinary force. From this time until the surrender of the Canadian province to Great Brit- ain in 1760, no events of special interest occurred in the western part of the Massachusetts colony, except the closing acts of In- dian hostility that took place on the 20th and 21st of March, 1758."
The domination of France in America was ended by the fall of Quebec, September 18, 1759, thus leaving the English masters of all Canada, for the surrender of Vaudreuil on September 8, of the next year, was an inevitable result. Although hostilities between the two nations had now ceased, a formal peace was not established until 1763, when, on February 10, the treaty of Paris was signed, by which France ceded to Great Britain all her possessions in Canada.
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CHAPTER VII
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
The years immediately preceding the revolution were filled with important events connected with the history of Hampshire county ; and in no part of the entire region of western Massa- chusetts was there shown more determined loyalty to the cause for which the American colonists were contending than in that part of the mother territory which was afterward set off to form Hampden county.
The political situation in Hampshire county during the revolution, and indeed for several years previous, was novel and interesting, since it included influences politically antagonistic, while socially there was no unfriendliness among the pioneers. They had stood together, shoulder to shoulder, in many a hard fought battle with the savages whom in earlier years they had fed, warmed and clothed, and now their interests were too nearly identical to admit of serious division on the question of loyalty to the crown or loyalty to the cause of the American colonists. Undoubtedly there existed in the Connecticut valley a diversity of sentiment as to the rights of the British ministry and the obli- gations of the colonists, but there was no feeling that at any time took the form of organized opposition to the strong measures adopted by the Americans in resisting the unjust burdens sought to be put upon them by the mother country. A careful examina- tion of the political sentiment in the valley at the time referred to leads to the conclusion that the patriots were very strongly in the majority, and if there were a few scattered "loyalists" in the region, they were exceedingly timid in expressing their views. In other words, the "Tory" element of population in Hampshire
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county at the beginning of or during the war for independence was too weak to be a factor in any circle of public affairs.
The taxation to which the colonists were subjected by the mother country really began almost as far back as the time of the overthrow of the Dutch power in America, for it seems to have been the king's determination to make them self-supporting even from the beginning. At the close of the last French war the burden of debt was very heavy on Great Britain, but it chiefly was created by the wars in which she had engaged on her own side of the Atlantic. That portion, however, incurred by the wars on this continent she proposed to be paid by the colo- nies, notwithstanding the great increase of her domain through these wars.
The time at length arrived when tame submission to British imposition could no longer be endured. The colonists them- selves were heavily burdened with the expenses of the French wars, which resulted so favorably to England, yet almost before the smoke of the battles had cleared away the ministry began de- vising plans to tax them without their consent. In 1764 a proposi- tion was submitted to the house of commons for raising a reve- nue in the colonies by the sale of stamps, and a bill to that effect was passed in March, 1765. It was bitterly denounced in the colonies, especially in New York and Boston, and the "Sons of Liberty" were organized to oppose the obnoxious law. So great was the popular indignation that parliament finally repealed the act, but this was done more to satisfy English tradesmen than to relieve a distressed people; and in its place were enacted other equally oppressive laws, one of which required the colonies to pay for maintaining a British army in New York city.
In 1767 a bill was passed by parliament imposing a duty on tea, glass, lead, paper and painter's colors imported by the colo- nies. This renewed the opposition, and in the following year the Massachusetts assembly addressed a circular letter to the sis- ter colonies soliciting their aid in defense of the common liberties. More retaliation followed, for the British ministry was so wrath- ful that a letter was sent to each of the colonial governors for- bidding their assemblies to correspond with Massachusetts. This
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mandate, however, was ignored and most of the assemblies ac- companied their disobedience with declarations of inherent rights together with denunciations of parliament, and the people gen- erally sustained their representatives in their action.
Meanwhile the duties had been removed from all articles ex- cept tea, and for a time colonial affairs moved more smoothly. The East India company, conscious of the injustice in placing a duty on tea, tried to have the latter removed, but in vain, for the ministry still boasted its right to tax the colonies ; and to enforce the British claim, in 1768 General Gage with a thousand troops was stationed in Boston. The soldiers of the crown openly in- sulted peaceful citizens, made arrests on specious pretexts, and in every way tried to overawe the populace with the show of force. A little later on two other regiments and seven armed vessels sailed into the harbor, and even then the spirit of liberty would not be restrained, for when three ships laden with dutiable tea anchored in the harbor, there followed the event which has ever been known as the "Boston Tea Party." In retaliation for this bold defiance the ministry closed the port of Boston against all commerce-an outrage which awoke national indignation. Pub- lic meetings were held to consider the common grievances, and among the plans suggested for mutual protection was the assem- bling of a colonial congress.
The "Continental Congress" was held in Philadelphia in September, 1774, and having adopted a declaration of rights, it added a petition to the king and an appeal to the people of Great Britain and Canada. The delegates from Massachusetts were James Boudoine, Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, John Adams and Robert Treat Paine. The congress first expressed approval of what had been done by the people of Boston and Massachu- setts, "warmly exhorted them to persevere in the cause of free- dom, and voted that contributions should be made for them in all the provinces."
"The inclinations of the people were in exact accordance with the decision of the congress. The inhabitants of Boston were supplied by contributions from all quarters. Even those who by their station seemed likely to derive advantage from the
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cessation of their trade were most forward to relieve them in their distress. The people of Marblehead offered them the use of their harbor, wharves and warehouses free of expense. Every one who could procure arms was diligent in learning their use."
"Complete unanimity, however, did not exist. Some of the late emigrants on whom England had bestowed offices, and many who feared her power, clung to her authority and declared them- selves her adherents. Whigs and Tories were the distinguishing names of the parties. The former favored the cause of the colo- nists ; the latter that of Great Britain."1
In Boston, which city was the center of interest and patriot- ism in the early years of the revolution, there was little of the tory element and influence, although the soldiers of the king were on every hand. There the people were either "loyalists" or "patriots."
General Gage, who also was governor under appointment of the crown, having a large number of red coats quartered on Bos- ton common and elsewhere in the city, thought prudent to fortify the narrow strip of land which connected the city with the main- land; and he also took forcible possession of a quantity of pow- der, ammunition and other military stores collected by the pro- vincials at Cambridge and Charlestown.
In the latter part of September a call was made for a meet- ing of the provincial assembly, but almost immediately the gov- ernor forbade the sitting; but despite the executive injunction the representatives met at Salem, and after waiting a day for the governor's arrival (as a matter of form only) they declared themselves a "provincial congress," electing John Hancock presi- dent and assuming charge of the governmental affairs of the col- ony. The delegates adjourned to Concord, and on reassembling the congress resolved, "that for the defense of the province a military force to consist of one-fourth of the militia should be or- ganized and stand ready to march at a minute's warning." Thus originated that remarkable body of Massachusetts soldiery known as "Minute Men." Before the adjournment of the con-
1Willard's "Republic of America."
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gress a committee of safety was appointed to act when the gen- eral body was not in session.
Soon after the work of the provincial congress began to as- sume definite form in the organization of means of defense, Gen- eral Gage was informed that the colonists had collected a number of field pieces at Salem, and sent a body of soliders to take them, in the name of the king; but it appears that the assertion of the crown's authority had not the awe-inspiring effect of former years, and when the soldiers were advanced to a bridge which they must cross, the little provincial army had removed the "draw," hence the king's soldiers were compelled to return to Boston without having accomplished their purpose.
Gage's next order to his troops was more eventful, for it pre- cipitated the revolution ; a struggle which in the order of things must come, though neither side was fully prepared for it at the time. However, in a defensive warfare the Americans had been taught by a century and more of almost constant strife1 to be pre- pared for any emergency that might arise.
In April, 1775, having been informed that the Americans had collected a large quantity of ammunition and military stores at Concord, General Gage sent Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn with eight hundred British soldiers to seize and destroy what- ever the "rebels" had deposited there. Concord was about twenty miles distant from Boston. The British were directed to "pro- ceed with the utmost expedition and with all possible secrecy," their commander evidently having in mind the failure that at-
1In commenting on the character and condition of the inhabitants of the Connecticut valley at the close of the last French and English war, Holland truthfully and aptly says : "From the first settlement at Springfield until the conquest of Canada in 1760, a series of one hundred and twenty-four years had passed away, and by far the larger part of this time the inhabitants of the terri- tory embraced in old Hampshire had been exposed to the dangers, the fears, the toils and trials of Indian wars or border depredations. Children had been born, had grown up to manhood, and descended to old age, knowing little or nothing of peace and tranquillity. Hundreds had been killed and large numbers carried Into captivity. Men, women and children had been butchered by scores. There is hardly a square acre, certainly not a square mile, in the Connecticut valley, that has not been tracked by the flying feet of fear, resounded with the groan of the dying, drunk the blood of the dead, or served as the scene of toils made doubly toilsome by the apprehension of danger that never slept."
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tended the raid on the Salem supply of stores. But notwith- standing the stringency of the order, the provincials were pre- pared to receive the soldiers of the king on their arrival at Lex- ington, five miles from Concord, on the morning of the 18th of April. The British found the militia drawn up on the parade (common) ready to receive them. The advance line of regulars approached within musketshot, when Major Pitcairn rode forward and exclaimed "Disperse, you rebels ; throw down your arms and disperse." But the order not being obeyed immediately, he dis- charged his pistol and commanded his men to fire. They did fire and eight men were killed. The militia then dispersed, but the firing continued. The British troops proceeded to Concord and took possession of the stores deposited there.
Thus was begun the war for independence-the American revolution, as known in the history of nations; a struggle which continued for years and ultimately resulted in the establishment of a new system of government on the western continent, a free and independent republic, thenceforth to be known and recog- nized among the powers of the earth as the United States of America.
After the British had completed their work of destruction at Concord and begun the return march to Boston, the provincials followed them closely on all sides, attacking them so savagely that the triumphant march of the victors became a disorderly re- treat. At Lexington the British were reinforced by nine hundred men under Lord Percy, still on every side they received a galling, killing fire, until they reached the heights of Bunker Hill and camped for the night under the protection of a British man of war that lay in the bay. The loss to the British in the first bat- tle of the revolution was two hundred and seventy-three men, while the provincials lost eighty-eight men.
Almost before the echoes of Lexington's guns had died away, mounted couriers were speeding across the country to the remote towns of Massachusetts, sounding the alarm in every locality and calling the minute men into immediate action. On April 19 the news reached Springfield and Northampton and other settlements in the valley, and on the morning of the 20th the militia of every. town were marching toward Boston on the old "Bay road."
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The original order left by the courier in Springfield has been preserved among the papers in the city clerk's office, and reads as follows :
"Watertown, Wednesday Morning, 10 o'clock.
"To all friends of American liberty : Be it known that this morning before break of day a brigade consisting of about 1,000 or 1,200 men landed at Phips farm in Cambridge and marched to Lexington, where they found a company of our col- ony militia in arms; upon whom they fired without any provoca- tion and killed six and wounded four others. By an express this moment from Boston we find another brigade are now on their march from Boston, supposed to be about 1,000.
"The bearer, Mr. Isaac Russell, (is) charged to alarm the country quite to Connecticut, and all persons are desired to fur- nish him with such horses as they may be needed.
"I have spoken with several persons who have seen the dead and wounded.
"Pray let the delegates from this colony to Connecticut see this.
"They know
"J. PALMER
"One of the Com. of S --- y
"Col. Foster is one of the delegates
"A true Coppy"
In the old county of Hampshire the call to arms found the militia1 prepared for the emergency, and the tidings of battle occasioned little surprise. In the early summer of 1774 county
1The Hampshire county minute men who marched to Boston on the occasion of the Lexington alarm, having enlisted for eight months, were there reorganized and served in different regiments. Col. Timothy Danielson, of Brimfield, had command of one regiment, in which were 61 men from Springfield under Capt. Gideon Burt, 1st Lieut. Walter Pynchon and 2d Lieut. Aaron Steel. Westfield sent a full company of 70 men-and all Westfield men-under Capt. Warham Parks and Lieuts. John Shepard and Richard Falley. West Springfield sent 53 men under Capt. Enoch Chapin, 1st Lieut. Samuel Flower and 2d Lieut. Luke Day. Blandford and Murrayfield sent a company of 36 men under Capt. John Ferguson. Granville furnished 60 men under Capt. Lebbeus Ball and 1st Lieut. Lemuel Bancroft of Southwick. Besides Col. Danielson, the other regimental officers were Lieut .- Col. William Shepard, of Westfield, and Major David Lom- bard.
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congresses were assembled in Northampton and Springfield, and the people almost to a man declared themselves on the side of the colonists. Delegates were sent to the provincial congress that disputed the authority of Governor Gage, and in accordance with the recommendation of that body, every town in the county or- ganized and equipped its company of minute men, and nearly all appropriated money for the purchase of powder and lead.
On September 22 and 23 (1774) a convention of the com- mittees of safety from each town in the county, except Charle- mont and Southwick, was held in Northampton, "to consult upon measures to be taken in this time of general distress in the province," etc. Timothy Danielson, of Brimfield, was chosen chairman and Ebenezer Hunt, jr., of Northampton, clerk of the convention. After a somewhat prolonged discussion, a com- mittee of nine reported a series of resolutions similar to those adopted by other county congresses, which were passed.
"In substance the resolutions were," says Holland, "that the county did not intend to withdraw from allegiance to the king; that the charter of the province ought to be kept inviolate, and that the inhabitants had not violated it; that the subversive acts of the British parliament, being before the continental con- gress, they would not act with regard to them; that the acts of Governor Gage were destructive of their rights, and that it was doubtful whether he was the constitutional governor, and whether his acts ought to be of any validity," etc.
The leading events of the revolution took place outside the limits of Hampshire county, and not once during the period of the war was hostile foot set on its soil. Still, in the war the county played an important part, and Springfield was a central point of operations. The town was an appointed rendezvous for troops, an important military depot, and at one period can- non were made there. On the order of General Gates, General Mattoon came from Amherst with a number of men and took the cannon to Saratoga, and they were used with telling effect in that memorable battle in 1777, when the British received their first decisive check at the hands of the Americans.
Within ten days after the call to arms nearly 20,000 minute men were assembled in the vicinity of Boston, but General Gage
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had so fortified his position that an attack was useless, while, on the other hand, the British force was too weak to attack the Americans. Gradually a part of the latter withdrew and at- tached themselves to other commands, while still others, whose immediate service was not required, returned to their homes. Many of them were again called into service in June following, when the Americans established a fortified camp on Breed's hill, thereby hoping to prevent Gage from threatened invasion of the province; and there were Hampshire men in the battle which was fought on the morning of June 17, when the British went out in force to dislodge the Americans from their position on the hill. At length they were compelled to retire, but not until they had twice repulsed the enemy and their own ammunition was exhausted. In the battle-always known as "Bunker Hill" -the Americans lost 450 and the British 1,050 men. General Warren was killed, yet Colonel Prescott was the real commander of the provincials during the fight. These officers had been elected by the troops, and thus far no recognized military system was established. The men fought independently, but they fought viciously, and every onward step of the enemy was made at the cost of many men.
On June 15, 1775, two days before the battle of Bunker Hill, the continental congress appointed George Washington commander-in-chief of the American army. Soon afterward he visited Boston to take command of the troops in that locality ; and on the journey thither he passed through Springfield, tak- ing the "Boston road," and resting under the protecting branches of the "Washington elm," in the town of Palmer.
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