USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The Boston news-letter, and city record > Part 12
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A letter from New-York says, "One of the best results of the late earthquake report has been to make many persons acquainted with the in- side of churches, of which they might otherwise have died in totalignorance."
CITY RECORD.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Thursday, Jan. 19. - Aldermen Welsh, Oliver, Loring, and Robbins, Messrs. Lodge, Baldwin, Torrey, Bar- nard, and Rice, were appointed a Com- mittee to consider and report upon the expediency of digging a well in South Market street ; also to consider the ex- pediency of locating a Reservoir in said street.
Aldermen Oliver, Loring, and Jack- son, were appointed a standing Com- mittee on the subject of Quarantine.
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THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER,
Petitions of James Page and Benja- min Crombie ; of Benj. L. Weld ; of Cornelius Coolidge ; of Zephaniah Sampson ; were committed.
Aldermen Welsh, Oliver, and Lor- ing were joined #8. committee on the subject of the powers of the Mayor and other officers of the City.
The Mayor, and Aldermen Oliver and Loring were joined to the Com- mittee to report some practicable plan by which Juvenile offenders may be reformed.
Aldermen Marshall, Welsh, and Oliver,were joined to a committee on the subject of Ancient Records.
Monday, Jan. 23. -- The board unanimously appointed Samuel Devens Harris, Esq. as Chief Engineer.
The board proceeded to elect and appoint twenty Engineers for the fire department of the city, and the follow- ing gentlemen were elected and ap- pointed accordingly, viz : Daniel C. Bacon, Geo. Darracott, Gerry Fair- banks, Simon Wilkinson, John Callen- der, Thomas B. Curtis, Alex. H. Gibbs, Wm. Tileston, Oliver C. Green- leaf, Thos. H. Perkins, Jr. Wm. Tuck- er, Saml. F. Coolidge, Benj. Darling, John Farrie, Jr. Horace Fox, Henry Fowler, Jr. Joseph D. Emery, Flavel Moseley, Brewster Reynolds, Alpheus Stetson.
Ordered that the above-named En- gineers take rank in the order ia which they stand in the above list. Sent down for concurrence.
Petition of James Page and Benj. Crombie praying that the elevation of Spring and North Allen Streets may be determined, as they are about build-
- ing on the corner of said streets. Com- mitted to Aldermen Welsh and Loring to report.
Petition of Benj. L. Weld praying that an Avenue for foot passengers be opened from Atkinson Street to Pearl Street, opposite Berry Street. Com- mitted to Aldermen Bellows and Rob- bins to consider and report.
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
Monday, Jan. 23 .- An Order to authorize the committee on Neck
lands, to prepare and offer for sale fifty lots of land, together with the petition of Thomas K. Jones and others on the extension of Front Street, was read and committed to Messrs. Stevens, Tracy, Peabody, Lodge and Eveleth.
The Committee to whom was re- ferred the petition of Timothy Fuller, reported that they have had the sub- ject under consideration and that the lot mentioned be sold at Auction ; and that the time of sale be Thursday the 9th of Feb. next, at half past three o'clock in the afternoon, and the con- ditions of the sale be, that the purchas- er have liberty to pay the whole amount on delivery of the deed, or ten per centum, and the residue within five years, secured by a Mortgage with Interest at six per cent. payable annu- ally. Order accepted in the board of Aldermen and thereupon ordered, that the same committee be authorized to carry the report into effect. Con- curred.
Ordered that Aldermen Bellows and Robbins be a committee to consider and report upon the expediency of purchasing a piece of land in the vicin- ity of Franklin place for a new En- gine House, passed in Board of Al- dermen and Messrs. Curtis, Torrey and Baldwin were joined.
Messrs. Gray, Brooks, Hastings and Farnsworth were added to the commit- tee on the subject of juvenile offenders.
Order of the Board of Aldermen appointing Samuel Devens Harris Esq. Chief Engineer of the Fire depart- ment for the year ensuing. Concur- red.
Ordered that the sum of five thou- sand dollars be added to the appropri- ation for " paving and repair of streets" and that the same amount be with- drawn from the appropriation for the payment of installments of the City and County debt. Twice read, sent for concurrence.
Ordered that the Committees for building Engine Houses and houses for ward meetings report the expedi- ency or otherwise of furnishing one room in each building for a primary school.
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AND CITY RECORD, JAN. 28, 1826.
HISTORICAL.
REVOLUTIONARY FORTS.
' THE following article appeared originally in Silliman's Journal. We believe it is the production of an En- glish gentleman, and that circumstance adds no little to the interest with which the remarks it contains will be read. The attention paid by him, to these relics of our fathers' glory, conveys no small reproach upon us, who seem likely to suffer them to be utterly de- stroyed.
FORTS AROUND BOSTON, WHICH WERE ERECTED DURING THE WAR OF INDE- PENDENCE. - BY J. FINCH.
Every Fort made use of to defend the heroes of the revolutionary war has acquired a title to the respect, the gratitude, and the veneration of all friends to liberty in every part of the world. In future ages, they will en- quire where the fortifications are, which were thrown up around the town of Boston, which held a British army besieged during eleven months, and finally compelled them to carry their arms and their warfare to other lands. Impelled by curiosity, let us visit these lines, which will be so cel- ebrated in history-where the stand- ards of liberty were unfurled, and freedom proclaimed to the vast conti- nent of America-where the first en- trenchments were raised against the forces of Britain-and from which, as from a barrier of iron, their armies re- coiled. There cannnot be any no- bler monuments than these on the earth ; if they do not yet boast
"La Gloria di una remotissima antichita," every passing day, every hour, every moment, is conferring this quality up- on them.
Nearly half a century has elapsed since these lines were erected, and it is desirable to have some record by which posterity may know, how much they have suffered, during that period by the war of the elements, and by the hands of men. The first cause of destruction has been tri-
fling, but the storms of a thousand years would not have achieved the injury which has been committed by the industrious farmers. Wherever these works were an impediment to cultivation, they have been levelled to the ground, and fortresses, which were directed by a Washington, or built by a Putnam, or a Greene, have been destroyed, to give room for the production of Indian corn, or to afford a level pasture for cattle. . It would redound to the high honour of the state of Massachusetts, if some plan were devised, by which the forts, which still remain, could be saved from the oblivion which apparently menaces them.
Annexed to Marshall's Life of Washington is a Map of the country around Boston, in which the situation of the various forts and batteries is represented, and a stranger will find it a guide to many of the positions ; but on an attentive examination he will perceive that the map is rather inac- curate in some of the details.
1. At Breed's Hill, that blood-stain- ed field, the redoubt thrown up by the Americans is nearly effaced ; scarcely the slightest trace of it remains ; but the entrenchment, which extended from the redoubt to the marsh, is still mark- ed by a slight elevation of the ground. The redoubt thrown up by the British on the summit of the hill, may be ea- sily distinguished.
2. Bunker Hill. The remains of the British fort are visible, the works must have been very strong, and occu- pied a large extent of ground-they are on the summit and slope of the hill looking towards the peninsula.
3. Ploughed Hill. The works up- on this hill were commenced by the Americans on the night of August 26th, 1775, and received more fire from the British than any of the other forts ; in a few days, more than three hundred shells were fired at these for- tifications. A small part of the ram- part remains, but the whole hill is sur- rounded by the mounds and fosse of the ancient fort, which has been near- ly obliterated.
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THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER,
4. Cobble or Barrell's Hill was for- . tified, and occupied as a strong post, in the war of the Revolution, by General Putnam, and, in consequence of its strength, was called Putnam's impreg- nable fortress. Every fort which was defended by that General might be con- sidered as impregnable, if daring cour- age and intrepidity could always resist superior force ; yet this title seems to have been more exclusively given to the one noticed above. It was com- menced on the night of November 22d ; and the activity of its fire is well known to those who have studied the details of the siege of Boston. This fort has been destroyed ; but the position is easily identified. In Mar- shall's map, the entrenchment, which is placed between this hill and the creek, should be removed to the south- ern shore.
5. Lechmere Point Redoubt, one hundred yards from West-Boston bridge, displays more science in its construction, and has a wider and deeper fosse than most of the other fortifications. It was commenced on Dec. 11th, 1775, and it was several days before it was completed, during which time it was much exposed to the fire of the English in Boston. Two or three soldiers of the revolutionary army were killed at this redoubt. and the Prunus virginiana, with its red ber- ries, marks the spot where they were probably interred. Upon one angle of the Fort where the cannon were pointed with most destructive effect, a , church is now erecting, and when I visited the spot, the carpenters were busily engaged in preparing the wood- work in one of the bastions. The glacis, the counterscarp, the embra- sures, the covered way, and the batte- ries, are fast disappearing. Diggers of gravel on one side, and builders on the other, were busily employed in completing the destruction of the strongest battery erected by the army of America, and were thus achieving, without opposition, that which an ene- my could not effect.
A causeway made across the marsh, the covered way which crosses the
brow of the hill, and the lines which flanked Willis' Creek, are still perfect, and may be traced with great facility.
6. Winter Hill Fort appears to have been the most extensive, and the en- trenchments more numerous, than any of the other positions of the American Army. The fort on the hill is almost entirely destroyed ; only a small part of the rampart still remains perfect.
A redoubt situated upon Ten Hill Farm, which commanded the naviga- tion of the Mystic river, is complete, as are also some slight entrenchments near.
A redoubt, situated between Winter and Prospect Hill, has been completely carried away, and a quarry has been opened on the spot. In the general orders, issued at Cambridge, guards were directed to be stationed at White House Redoubt, and this I believe was the post intended. General Lee is said to have had his head quarters in a farm house immediately in the rear of this redoubt.
7. Prospect Hill has two eminences, both of which were strongly fortified, and connected by a rampart and fosse ; about two hundred yards are quite en- tire ; they are ornamented with the Aster, Solidago, Rosa, &c. ; and those, who feel any curiosity about these lines, will be much gratified by the view here afforded. The forts on these hills were destroyed only a few years ago, but their size can be dis- tinctly seen. On the southern emi- nence a part of the fort is still entire, and the south west face of the hill is divided into several platforms, of which I cannot exactly ascertain the use. There are also evident marks of' the dwellings of the soldiers. The extensive view from this hill, the walk on the ancient ramparts, and the sight of the various stations occupied by the American army will render this hill, at a future period, a favourite resort.
8. Forts marked No. 3, on Mar- shall's Map, near the S. W. of Pros- pect Hill have some of their bastions entire, but the surface is cultivated, and part of the outline destroyed.
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AND CITY RECORD, FEB. 4, 1826.
9. The Cambridge Lines, situated upon Butler's Hill, appear to have con- sisted of six regular forts, connected by a strong entrenchment. The most northerly of these forts is perfect, with the exception of one of its angles des- troyed by the road, it appears as if just quitted by the army of America, its bastions are entire, the outline is perfect, and it seems a chef d'œuvre of the military art. The state of preservation in which it is found, and the motives which led to its erection, all confer a high degree of interest up- on this fortification. May it continue uninjured for a long period of years, with no other foe but the assaults of time !
A square fort may be seen near the southern extremity of these lines, in fine preservation, it is in a field within two hundred yards of the road to Cam- bridge. As it was near the head quar- ters of the army, it must have been often visited by General Washington, and this circumstance alone would render it an object of interest ; but the proprietor appears to have wanted no inducement but his own mind to preserve this monument of times which are gone. The eastern rampart is lower than the others, and the gateway with its bank of earth still remains.
The other forts and batteries of this line of defence, which constituted the firmest bulwark of the American army, are all levelled with the ground, and the entrenchments which were raised and defended by warriors, are now employed in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture.
10. The second Line of Defence may be traced on the College green at Cambridge, but its proximity to the Public Halls may have produced some inconvenience, and it has been care- fully destroyed.
11. A semicircular battery, with three embrasures, on the northern shore of Charles river, near its entrance into the Bay, is in a perfect state of preservation. It is rather above the level of the marsh, and those who 7*
would wish to see it, should pass on the road to Cambridge, until they ar- rive at a cross road, which leads to the bank of the river ; by following the course of the stream, they may ar- rive at this battery, without crossing the marsh, which is its northern boun- dary and difficult to pass. Marshall places two batteries in this situation, but I could find only the one noticed above.
12. Brookline Fort, or, as it is cal- led in the annals of the Revolution, the Fort on Sewall's Point, was very ex- tensive, and would be still perfect, were it not for the road which divides it into two nearly equal parts, with this exception, the ramparts, and an irregular bastion, which commanded the entrance of Charles river, are en- tire. The fort was nearly quadrangu- lar, and the fortifications stronger than many of the other positions of the American army.
13. A Battery, on the southern shore of Muddy river, with three em- brasures, is only slightly injured. The ramparts and the fosse were adorned, when I saw them, with the beautiful leaves and the red fruit of the sumach, and with the dark red foliage of the oak.
14. A Redoubt placed by Marshall to the westward of this position, could not be discovered, nor three others, placed on the map between Stony brook and the Forts at Roxbury ; per- haps the researches were not sufficient- ly accurate.
Two hundred yards north of the lower Fort at Roxbury, near the spot on which the meeting-house now stands, was an intrenchment, which, I am in- formed by Gen. Sumner, was levelled many years ago.
15. Forts at Roxbury. If it is pos- sible that any person should feel indif- ferent about the fortresses which achieved the independence of the Eastern States of America, a visit to these Forts will immediately recall to his mind all those associations which are so intimately combined with that proud period of American history.
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THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER,
The lower Fort at Roxbury appears to have been the earliest erected, and by its elevation commanded the avenue to Boston over the peninsula, and pre- vented the advance of the English troops in that direction. It is of the most irregular form, the interior occu- pies about two acres of ground, and as the hill is bare of soil, the places may still be seen whence the earth was taken to form the ramparts. This fortification has not been at all injur- ed, and the embrasures may still be noticed where the cannon were plac- ed which fired upon the advanced lines of the enemy.
On a higher eminence of the same hill, is situated a quadrangular fort, built on the summit of the rock, and being perhaps their first attempt at regular fortifications, it was considered by the militia of unparalleled strength, and excited great confidence in that wing of the army stationed at Roxbu- ry. An admirer of the poetry of Os- sian would here fancy himself sur- rounded by the scenes which he des- cribes ; he would immediately recog- nize
The grey Sandstone, peeping from the earth, Covered with many a variegated moss,
and the bold masses of detached rocks which he might imagine were the monuments of the heroes of the war of independence. To confer, if possible, additional interest upon this hill, and the fortresses of the right wing of the American army, the plants which adorn them are numerous, and some of them rare. Accompanied by a dis- tinguished botanist we noticed in a short space of time more than fifty va- rieties of shrubs and plants. In No- vember the leaves of the Anemone nemorosa were still to be seen, and the Dianthus armeria was in flower. We perceived the Aquilegia canaden- sis, Myrica cerifera, Saxifraga vernalis, Sarothra gentianoides, Antirrhinum canadense and linaria, Aster many va- rieties, Podalyria tinctoria, Chrysan- themum, Ranunculus, Polytrichum, Juncus tenuis, Polygonum tenue, Eri- geron canadense, Verbascum, the Physcia or Barreri chrysophtalma and
many others. The ramparts of the lower fort were covered with the bright yellow flowers of the Tanacetum, and the Polypodium vulgare displayed its golden seeds. The rocks are shielded from the storms of winter by a cover- ing of the Lycopodium rupestre, and the Lichen rangiferinus or rein-deer moss. If you should pay little atten- tion to the flowers, yet the higher or- der of plants cannot fail to attract your notice. The whole of the hills except the interior of the Forts, is cov- ered with a profusion of shrubs, among which are the Rosa eglanteria or sweet briar with its red fruit, and the Ligus- trum with its black and shining seeds ; the Celastrus scandens which informs the European that he is at a great distance from his native plains, and the Berberis which induces him to be- lieve that he is at home. The Juni- perus virginiana has taken quiet pos- session of a great portion of the ground, and let us hope that it may never be molested in its dominion. A few oaks and the Platanus occidentalis adorn the higher fort. Let the bota- nist in the spring visit this spot, and while gathering the flowers, offer up a wish, that the ramparts which protect them may never be disturbed.
16. The Roxbury lines, about three quarters of a mile in advance of the forts, and two hundred yards north of the town, are still to be seen on the eastern side of the peninsula, and may be distinguished by any person going by the nearest road to Dorchester, over Lamb's Dam.
17. At this period it may be proper to mention the British fortifications. The lines situated upon the Neck are almost as perfect at the present day as when first erected, with the exception of that part destroyed by the road. They may be seen to great advantage on the western side of the isthmus, about a quarter of a mile south of the Green Stores. There appear to have been two lines of entrenchments car- ried quite across the peninsula, and the fosse, which was filled at high wa- ter, converted Boston into an island.
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AND CITY RECORD, FEB. 4, 1826.
The mounds, ramparts, and wide ditches which remain, attest the strength of the original works. The small battery on the common, erected by the British, may perhaps- remain for a long period of years, as a me- morial of ancient times.
18. The Dorchester Lines. Of these, some very slight traces may be distinguished.
19. Forts on Dorchester Heights.
We now hasten to the last forts, the erection of which terminated the con- test in this portion of the Eastern States of America.
On March 3d, 1776, the following order was issued at the camp at Rox- bury : " It is expected that every man, in every station and department, will now exert all his power for the salva- tion of America. Freedom and glory -- shame and slavery, are set before us : let us act like men, like christians, like heroes, -and form a character for the admiration of posterity."
On March 4th. "Brig. Gen. Thom- as is to take the command of two thousand one hundred men, which are to be paraded at six o'clock this even- ing ; with which he is to proceed to Dorchester point, and there to throw up such works on the two command- ing eminences, as he, with the advice of the engineers, shall think most proper for the defence of the ground, and annoyance of the enemy ; and defend the same. By order of Maj. Gen. Ward. J. WARD, A. D. C."
It is to be regretted that the en- trenchments thrown up by the army of the revolution, on the Heights of Dorchester, are almost entirely oblit- erated by the erection of two new forts in the late war. But some traces of the ancient works may be seen on both hills ; the old forts were con- structed with more skill, and display more science than the recent works. the ramparts of which are even now falling down ; and we would gladly see them destroyed, if from their ruins the ancient works could re-appear.
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