USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > Sketches of Framingham > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
24
ACTIVE HELPERS
from which he never recovered. Colonel Swett says that his life was saved by a dollar in his trouser's pocket.
But the Framingham name of special prominence in any account of Bunker Hill is Peter Salem, a colored man owned as a slave by the Belknap family, but given his freedom so as to enlist as a minute man in Simon Edgell's company and later in John Nixon's regiment. Temple credits him with firing the shot which killed Major Pitcairn. Here is the paragraph:
"Peter served faithfully as a soldier, during the war, most of the time in Col. Thomas Nixon's regi- ment, and as the Colonel's body servant. He was in the Battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1775. During the action, he with others, was sent from Capt. Drury's company, as a support to Col. Prescott in the redoubt. He reached the redoubt just as Pres- cott's men had spent their last powder; and with a single charge in his gun, and perhaps another in his powder horn. Just then, in the language of Judge Maynard, 'I saw a British officer come up with some pomp, and he cried out, 'Surrender, you - rebels!' But Prescott made a little motion with his hand, and that was the last word the Briton spoke; he fell at once! There is a concurrence of testimony which leaves no doubt that this shot was fired by Peter Salem. Maj. Pitcairn fell into the arms of his son, who bore him off to a boat, and thence to a house in Prince Street, Boston, where he died. The loss of so gallant an officer at this
The portion of the Bulfinch "Battle of Bunker Hill" showing figure by some thought to be Peter Salem.
25
FROM FRAMINGHAM
critical moment, formed one of the most touching incidents of that eventful day."
I have a copy of Trumbull's picture of the Battle of Bunker Hill, also an enlargement of a section of this picture, showing a wounded soldier leaving the battle field accompanied by a colored man. Rev. Calvin Steb- bins, the Pastor of our First Parish Church, was in'ter- ested in the identification of this figure as that of Peter Salem, and I have interesting letters on this subject, one from Samuel A. Green, well known as a historian, particularly of the Town of Groton, would have us believe that the identity of this figure was a colored man from that town, and the other from F. B. Dexter of the Yale University Library, fails to indicate any individual identity.
Mr. Green writes, "Your note of today is just re- ceived. I have no doubt that Trumbull intended to commemorate the black men in the battle by putting the negro in the foreground of his picture. Peter Salem is not the only colored brother, who has the credit of shooting Pitcairn. Dr. Jeremy Belknap, the noted antiquary, says: 'A negro man belonging to Groton, took aim at Major Pitcairn, as he was rallying the dispersed British Troops, & shot him thro' the head, he was brought over to Boston & died as he was landing on the ferry ways.' Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc., Vol. XIV, p. 93.
My local patriotism prompts me to believe in Belknap's account, as there were colored men in the army from Groton. Caesar Bason, of Westford, killed in the Battle of the seventeenth, was a black man."
Mr. Dexter writes, "We have in the Trumbull
26
ACTIVE HELPERS
collection of pictures in our Art Gallery what I suppose is the original of the Bunker Hill picture, though there are no doubt copies of it by the artist elsewhere.
I am sorry to say that I know nothing of any tradition of the name of the negro represented in the position which you describe. I believe the name is not given in the key to the figures represented which the painter gives in one of his catalogues."
In a letter to me from George H. Langzettel, Secre- tary of the Yale School of Fine Arts, the colored man is referred to as a faithful negro attending a young Ameri- can officer, wounded in his sword hand, and the official reading of the picture identifies this officer as Lieutenant Grosvenor. I doubt if it can be proved that Trumbull had in mind any definite colored man but probably in- tended by this figure to give credit to the part taken in the battle by colored men.
But whether or not the artist Trumbull honored Peter Salem in this picture, the orator Edward Everett honored him in his address at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1857. This monument, so he said, "is the monument of the day of the event, of the battle of Bunker Hill, of all the brave men who shared its peril alike, of Prescott and Putnam, the chiefs of the day, and the colored man Peter Salem, who is reported to have shot the gallant Pitcairn as he mounted the parapet."
27
FROM FRAMINGHAM
George Washington arrived in Cambridge July 3, 1775, as Commander in Chief of the Colonial forces. Kenneth Roberts has described this army as a "rabble in arms." It was surely a nondescript collection of un- disciplined men, a few only with prior experience as soldiers. Sabine states that there was a sad record of crimes, that officers were tried for falsehood, disrespect to superiors and privates for desertion, robbery, steal- ing and bounty jumping. Such description, however, adds to the patience and skill of Washington in bring- ing something of order out of this chaos.
John Nixon was foremost in assisting him. Justin Winsor in his Memorial History of Boston, states, "A good deal of the military spirit of the camp was derived from a veteran of the French and Indian Wars, John Nixon." One of the first appointments by Washington was a General Court Martial organized July twelfth, with Colonel John Nixon, president. The first defen- dant was Col. James Scammons of the regiment from Maine, who was charged with "disobedience of orders and backwardness in the execution of his duty." He had halted on the way and had failed to reach the real hill. William Tudor, a lawyer, who had been associated with John Adams, was Judge Advocate. The Court held sessions July thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth, and made a finding of "not guilty" on the seventeenth. The proceedings are reported in the New England Chroni- cle or Essex Gazette of February 29, 1776, and I have a photostat copy from an original in the library of the American Antiquarian Society. This is the first im- portant court martial of the Revolution, and it is inter- esting to note the orderly procedure of organization, arraignment, pleading, presentation of testimony, argu-
28
ACTIVE HELPERS
ment, consideration and judgment and the president of the court a Framingham farmer!
The record of enlistments in short periods through the early months of the Revolution in Framingham is as follows: As already stated, we had 153 enrolled as in the service April nineteenth. The call of April twenty- third was for eight months' service, and Temple gives the names of fifty-nine Framingham men regularly en- rolled under that call. Then, on December first there was a call for 5,000 men for six weeks and thirty-three Framingham men are enrolled as in Captain Simon Edgell's company. On January 20, 1776, there was the call for 4,368 men to April first and here again Captain Simon Edgell led eighty-five men. On March fourth a special call for men to defend Dorchester Heights with five men coming from Framingham. In June troops were called for the defense of Boston and ten Framing- ham men are enrolled under Sergeant Frederick Man- son. On June twenty-fifth came the special call for men for Ticonderoga, and Simon Edgell raised a company of seventy-eight men, eleven including himself, coming from Framingham. On August twenty-second, twelve more men from Framingham for defense of Boston, and on December first, eight more for three months' service, and on September tenth Captain Gardner of Sherbon raised a company of seventy men, twenty-three from Framingham.
In the fall of 1776 there was the call for a regular army to serve during the war, the occasion of the Revo- lutionary draft of every seventh man sixteen years old and upwards, except Quakers. These men were known as the "first three years' men," and the list includes thirty-five Framingham men, many of them being re-
29
FROM FRAMINGHAM
enlistments. Washington surely had his difficulties by reason of this sequence of short term enlistments.
The siege of Boston continued during the summer, fall and winter of 1775-6. Nixon's regiment was sta- tioned at Winter Hill, Somerville, in General John Sullivan's brigade. One of the features of this siege was the arrival of the artillery train from Ticonderoga. Markers are now placed in the different towns through which Henry Knox brought these cannon, and one of these markers is on the Library lot in Central Square. There is this record in Heath's Memoirs, a contem- poraneous journal kept by General William Heath of Roxbury, of which I have this original edition of 1798. "Feb. 18th. Col. Knox, of the artillery came to camp. He brought from Ticonderoga a fine train of artillery, both cannon and mortars, and which were ordered to be stopped at Framingham."
And John Adams, in his diary, records:
"Jan. 25, 1776, Thursday. About ten, Mr. Gerry called me, and we rode to Framingham where we dined. Colonel Buckminster, after dinner, showed us the train of artillery brought down from Ticon- deroga by Colonel Knox. It consists of iron, nine eighteen pounders, ten twelve, six six, four nine pounders; three thirteen inch mortars, two ten inch mortars; one eight inch, one six and a half howitzer; and one eight inch and one half and one eight. Brass cannon; eight three pounders, one four pounder, two six pounders, one eighteen and one twenty four; one eight inch and a half mortar, one seven inch and a half dts, and four cohorns. After dinner rode to Maynard's and supped there agreeably."
30
ACTIVE HELPERS
And Heath further adds, "Feb. 25th. Some heavy cannon were mounted on works at Leechmores Point," and again, "March 1st. Several mortars were sent over to Roxbury and great preparations were made to annoy the enemy."
And there is this entry in a letter from Knox to Wash- ington, December seventeenth from Fort George, "I have made 42 exceeding strong sleds, and have provided 80 yoke of oxen to drag them as far as Springfield, when I shall get fresh cattle to carry them to camp." It would seem probable that these cannon were delivered here in some central place in Framingham, within a day's haul to Cambridge and Roxbury, hired oxen dismissed, and that Washington with his army oxen sent for them as his engineers were ready to place them.
The siege of Boston ended with the evacuation by the British March 17, 1776. Washington had foreseen this happy ending of the Massachusetts campaign, and immediately carried into effect plans to hold the New York area.
From this point on Framingham can emphasize as her special contribution to the history of the Revolu- tion, the conspicuous record of her native son John Nixon, and I can therefore follow with some abridg- ment and revision my paper read before the American Antiquarian Society April, 1926, entitled "The Mili- tary Record of Brigadier General John Nixon," com- piled from special study of original records in Wash- ington.
31
FROM FRAMINGHAM
Washington assigned Nixon to the command of Gov- ernors Island in New York Harbor July 1. This was an important post at the very front of Manhattan Island and had been strongly fortified. While assigned to this duty Nixon was commissioned a Brigadier General, August 9, 1776. His brigade was organized with the following colonels: James Mitchell Varnum, Moses Little, Daniel Hitchcock, Thomas Nixon and Jacob Bailey, a list of distinguished soldiers; Varnum a gradu- ate of Brown, a leader of the bar in Rhode Island, later a Brigadier General; Hitchcock, a graduate of Yale Col- lege, lawyer from Providence, who commanded these regiments of Nixon's brigade at Princeton where he received thanks from Washington for his gallant service; Little from Newbury, Mass., honored by the Common- wealth; Bailey also from Newbury, who later served the northern army as Commissary General; and Thomas Nixon of Framingham, younger brother of John, who served with honor throughout the War.
The strong defence planned for Governor's Island was in keeping with other preparations by Washington to guard New York against direct attack from sea. The British success came through an indirect attack cul- minating in the Battle of Long Island, August twenty- sixth and twenty-seventh. This defeat was a bitter blow to Washington. He wrote to Congress, "Our situation is truly distressing. The check our detachment sustained - has despirited too great a proportion of our troops, and filled their minds with apprehension and despair. The militia instead of calling forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition in order to repair our losses are discouraged, intractable, and impatient to return. Great numbers of them have gone off, in some instances almost by whole regiments, by half ones and
32
ACTIVE HELPERS
by companies at a time." Three new divisions were organized September first, and Nixon's brigade was placed in the Central Division under Generals Spencer and Greene, the former to command until the latter recovered from illness. The American Army withdrew to a new line of defence across Manhattan Island at Harlem Heights. Nixon was active in this retreat. There are these entries in the orderly books in the Old Records Department of the Adjutant General's Office: Septem- ber sixteenth, "General Nixon's brigade is to retire to their quarters and refresh themselves, but to hold them- selves in readiness to turn out at a moment's warning." September twenty-ninth. "General Nixon with his brig- ade is to remove over to the Jersey and will receive orders from General Greene with prospect to his in- camping, and such men of his brigade as are now on duty must be relieved."
On October fifteenth Nixon was ordered to send a regiment to relieve the guard at Throg's (also called Frog's) Neck. Here General Howe made a landing October twelfth, but after waiting five days, discouraged by the strong defence, abandoned the attempt to ad- vance north from this point.
Washington at this time had withdrawn from Harlem Heights up the Hudson River and had thrown up re- trenchments from Fordham Heights to White Plains. Howe made a second landing and advanced against the American line at White Plains. A battle followed October twenty-eighth which Howe hoped would be "the decisive battle of the War." The account given by General Cullum in Winsor's Narrative and Critical History recalls Bunker Hill. "As the main British body . .. clambered up the steep declivity it was met by a withering fire from the infantry and artillery from
33
FROM FRAMINGHAM
which it recoiled and sought shelter. A second assault up the slope met with an equally determined resistance and for some time the enemy was held in check . ... Two regiments that had forded the Bronx a quarter of a mile below now appeared on the Americans' right and drove the militia from their post.
The death of Micajah Gleason, the captain of the Minute Men of April nineteenth occurred in this cam- paign. He had served in close connection with Col. John Nixon, a captain of one of his companies at Bun- ker Hill and through the siege of Boston then in the New York campaign, a captain with Col. Thomas Nixon. His company was in the battle of White Plains and according to Temple he was killed in this fight. There is this record, however, in Heath's Memoirs that in a smart skirmish on the heights of Harlem Plain, September sixteenth, the Americans had several officers killed and wounded, among the former Lt. Col. Knoul- ton of the Connecticut line and Captain Gleason of Nixon's Massachusetts regiment "two excellent officers." Gleason was thirty-six years old, a younger man than the average of the Revolutionary officers. Something of his personality may be inferred by reading that dur- ing the years of peace he established his house as a tavern - an old time landlord was usually a man we would like to know - also that he won as his wife one Hannah Drury, who had equal ability, it seems in keeping the tavern, so that she made money while he was in the service, and after his death, her personal merit and charm were such that she became the wife of General John Nixon.
In July, 1777, the record shows that General Nixon was at Peekskill, and that his brigade was composed of the regiments of Col. John Greaton, Col. Rufus Put-
34
ACTIVE HELPERS
nam, Col. Ichabod Alden and Col. Thomas Nixon. Here as in the previous formation he had with him officers of superior ability.
Major General Israel Putnam in command of the division had learned of the movements of Burgoyne from the north and ordered Nixon's brigade to prepare for immediate advance to Albany to strengthen the northern army. He communicated with Washington, who replied July first, "I approve much of your conduct in ordering Nixon's brigade to be in readiness." Wash- ington also wrote to the President of Congress, July second, expressing his fear that Burgoyne and Howe were planning "a junction of their two armies by way of the Lakes and the North River. If they have their whole Canada force on the former, this is certainly their ob- ject," and he adds, "On receiving these accounts I wrote immediately to Gen. Putnam to embark Nixon's brigade for reinforcing the northern army."
General Nixon's advance was by boat up the Hudson. Washington was concerned in his progress, as he again wrote to Congress July tenth, "I am told by a gentle- man, who came to Camp yesterday that Nixon's brigade would certainly arrive at Albany on Tuesday morning, as he saw the vessels in which it was embarked, standing up the evening before with a fair wind."
Burgoyne's advance, however, had been more rapid than Washington or even General Schuyler, who was then in command of the northern army, had anticipated. Ticonderoga had fallen on July fifth, but General St. Clair had escaped with his men, so that the loss did not prove overwhelming. St. Clair said at this time that he had "lost a post, but saved a province." When the first news reached Washington, July twelfth, he wrote still further to the President of Congress.
35
FROM FRAMINGHAM
1152397
"In respect to General Schuyler's demands, it is not in my power to comply with the whole of them. Not a single tent can be furnished, the kettles will be, and are ordered on; and an express is go- ing to Springfield for all the musket-cartridges, sixty barrels of powder, and a proportionable quan- tity of lead and cartridge-paper for his use. Ten pieces of artillery, with harness, are also ordered, with proper officers from Peekskill. I have written to him to procure horses and drivers himself, as they are to be obtained with much more ease where he is than here; nor can he be supplied with the heavy cannon, which he requests, supposing them necessary, not having one to spare from a more important use, the defence of the Highlands. Colonel Putnam, I imagine, will be with him be- fore this, as his regiment is part of Nixon's brigade, who will answer every purpose he can possibly have for an engineer at this crisis. A supply of in- trenching tools was sent to him four or five days ago, in consequence of an application then made."
.
General Schuyler's distress is plainly shown in the letter of Washington which I have just read. He wanted men and supplies, and he was impatient at any delay. In Lossing's Life of Schuyler it is stated that "he called earnestly upon General Nixon to push on by forced marches from Albany with the troops he brought up from Peekskill." "The least delay," he said, "in march- ing up your brigade will certainly be attended with most fatal consequences. Let me therefore entreat you to march night and day to come up with me." He even wrote to Washington, "From the slowness with which he moved, I was led to conclude that he was at the head
36
ACTIVE HELPERS
of a formidable body, but to my great mortification I find the whole to consist of five hundred and seventy-five, rank and file fit for duty, and eleven sick, several of them are negroes and many of them young, small and feeble boys." Lossing then adds, "This force he (Schuy- ler) immediately ordered to Fort Ann to assist in put- ting obstacles in the way of Burgoyne's advance." Schuyler's order given when Nixon had arrived was dated July twelfth, and there could not have been much time lost after the slow-moving boats, referred to in Washington's letter of July tenth, had landed at Albany. This order to Nixon is as follows:
"Sir,
You will immediately march your brigade to Fort Ann. On your arrival there, you will dispatch two scouts, one on the west and the other on the east side of Wood Creek, to discover if the enemy are approaching either by land or water. You will direct the officers commanding the scouts to be as exact as possible in ascertaining the numbers of any of the enemy they may see, and to give you the earliest intelligence of it, that I may be advised thereof by you as soon as possible. Having dis- patched the scout, you will proceed to burn the sawmills which are near Fort Ann, and then fall the trees growing on the banks of Wood Creek into the same, and if such a superior body of the enemy should move towards you, that it is not probable that you can keep your ground, you are then to retire, advising me thereof, that your retreat may be covered. In retreating, you are to break up all bridges in your rear, that the enemy may be as much obstructed in their march as possible. Let
37
FROM FRAMINGHAM
me frequently hear from you, for much depends upon receiving early intelligence.
Axes will be delivered by Captain Wendell, As- sistant Deputy Quarter Master General, to your Quarter Master. If you should be obliged to retreat, be sure to bring the axes off with you, for we have none besides what will be delivered to you. Please therefore to impress your officers and men with the great necessity 'there is to be extremely careful of the axes.
You will find Brigadier General Fellows, with a body of troops, on your march. You are to take him and the troops under his command with you."
A second order followed dated July 16.
"Sir,
Both your letters of this day have been delivered me.
I am quite in opinion with you and General Fellows, that destroying the causeway will be a very material obstruction to the enemy's march. I beg therefore that you will do it in the most effectual manner, as I hope that of felling trees across the road is done; but unless both roads are completely stopped, it will be of little avail. You will therefore please, as soon as that which leads by Jones's is done, to go upon that which leads past Huffnagel's, and stop that also.
You will observe by my orders to General Fel- lows, that he was directed to send parties to the different farm houses, to drive off all the cattle. This you will please to do without exception, leav- ing only the milch cows with such families as can- not move off.
38
ACTIVE HELPERS
You will also bring away the scows, and all the iron work from Jones's and Huffnagel's mills, or see they do it themselves, that the enemy may not have the advantage of those mills.
Pray keep out scouts continually, and order them to go as far beyond Fort Ann as possible. When you have compleately carried into execution what is hereby directed, you will advise me thereof, that I may give directions for your future destination."
Lossing in a following chapter gives Nixon and Fel- lows credit for thorough execution of these orders. In describing Burgoyne's slow advance from Fort Ann he says the journey was made ten fold more difficult by . trees cut down and cast into the navigable waters of Wood Creek, and by the roads being broken, the cattle driven away and the forage destroyed.
"Lieutenant Anburey, serving with Burgoyne, writes from the British Camp at Fort Edward August 6, 1777: 'The country between our late en- campment at Skenesborough and this place was a continuation of woods and creeks, interspersed with deep morasses; and to add to these natural im- pediments, the enemy had very industriously aug- mented them, by felling immense trees, and various other modes, that it was with the utmost pains and fatigue we could work our way through them.'"
I have one of the reports sent back from Nixon while on this march to Fort Ann.
"Kingsborough 9 Clock 21st July 1777 Hond Sir
I sent out a Scout Yesterday under the Command of Capt. Lane of my brigade - consisting of 32
39
FROM FRAMINGHAM
Men officers included from which this Moment returned a Corporal and four Men, who informs me that Sun about two Hours high this Evening they were attacked by a large body of Indians near the House this side of Fort Ann judged 'to be near 400, who they suppose has cut off Capt. Lane and the Rest of the party. They likewise inform that a Body of Regulars with two field pieces came out from Fort Ann and that an Inhabitant informed them a little before the Attack, that 2000 Indians arrived at the Block House the Evening before. I have a party which I sent out three Days ago that is not returned yet. I am Sir
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.