USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 33
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When at the South bridge they were on the westerly side of Concord village, while the North bridge was a little to the north of east. Their way, therefore, was by something of a circuitous course ; and, to reach the point to which they were ordered, they were to pass the house of Colonel Barrett, a mile and a half north-west of the village, where Captain Parsons with three British companies were destroying Con- tinental stores. When the Sudbury soldiers came within sight of Colonel Barrett's house they came to a halt. Before them were the British engaged in their mischievous work. Gun carriages had been collected and piled together to be burned, the torch already had been applied, and the resi-
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dence of their Colonel had been ransacked. They halted, and Colonel How exclaimed, " If any blood has been shed not one of the rascals shall escape!" and, disguising him- self, he rode on to ascertain the truth. It was, probably, not far from nine o'clock when this event took place. This indicates the celerity with which the Sudbury troops had moved. From the morning alarm, by which the minute men met at the West Side meeting-house, until the fore- going transaction but about five hours had passed, and, meanwhile, the mustering, the march, the arrival. While the Regulars were engaged in their destructive work at Colonel Barrett's, the Provincials were concentrating their forces in preparation for what was to come. Their place of gathering was at Punkatasset Hill, about a mile north of the Concord meeting-house. While here, they increased their forces by repeated arrival of troops. Says Drake, " Mean- while," that is while the British were engaged at Colonel Barrett's, " the Provincials on Punkatasset were being con- stantly reinforced by the militia of Westford, Littleton, Acton, Sudbury, and other neighboring towns, until the whole body numbered about four hundred and fifty men, who betrayed feverish impatience at playing the part of idle lookers on while the town was being ransacked ; but, when . flames were seen issuing in different directions, they could no longer be restrained. A hurried consultation took place, at the end of which it was determined to march into the town at all hazards, and if resisted to " treat their assailants as enemies." Colonel Barrett told the troops to advance. From Punkatasset they moved to Major Buttricks, but a short distance above the North bridge, and from Major Buttricks they marched to the bridge where the Americans and English met face to face. The circumstances at the bridge are too familiar to need any narration by us. The British attempted to remove the planks, a remonstrance was made and the work ceased. The Provincials advanced with rapid steps; when a few rods away a single shot was fired by the foe, which was at once followed by a volley. The first shot wounded two of the Americans, and the volley killed two- Davis and Hosmer of Acton. The order then
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came for the Provincials to fire. It was obeyed, and three British soldiers were slain, besides several officers and four soldiers wounded. Then came the retreat and pursuit. Whether or not the companies of Nixon and Haynes had joined the Provincials at Punkatasset when the command to move forward came, we leave the reader to judge for him- self. Drake implies that they had ; some circumstances may also favor this theory, for, after leaving Colonel Barrett's, they would likely hasten to join the main force, which was not far distant. But other things would lead us to conclude that they had not caught up with the column when it reached the bridge.
Shattuck says, "Two companies from Sudbury under How, Nixon and Haynes came to Concord, and having received orders from a person stationed at the entrance of the town, for the purpose of a guide, to proceed to the North instead of the South Bridge, arrived near Col. Barrett's just before the British soldiers retreated." The same author, after speaking of what we have just narrated of Lieutenant- Colonel How, states, " Before proceeding far, the firing began at the Bridge, and the Sudbury companies pursued the retreating British." From these statements and facts, we may infer this, - that these companies passed the British at Colonel Barrett's and pushed on to meet the force at the bridge, that before they joined it the foe made his attack and that they joined in the hot pursuit. This theory accords with the statement that we have quoted before, as made by a survivor of the fight, which is that "Sudbury Companies were but a short distance from the North Bridge when the first Opposition was made to the Haughty Enemy."
Thus, to an extent, have we traced the course of two Sudbury companies during a part of that eventful day. As to the others, it is supposed they attacked the British at different points along the line of the retreat. The men who came from East Sudbury would, as we have hitherto said, be likely to march through Lincoln to Concord. If so, they would be likely to strike the British retreat; there it is that we hear of them. Two encounters, at least, are mentioned in which East Sudbury soldiers were engaged. To rightly
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understand how and where these engagements took place, let us notice the movements of the British after the events that transpired at the old North bridge. Having fired on the Americans as they approached the bridge from the oppo- site bank, by which fire two Acton minute men fell, and having received the Provincial fire in return, by which three of the English were slain, Lieutenant Gould of the regulars withdrew his shattered guard to the village. Three signal guns having been fired by the British just before their troops fired at the bridge, all the distant detachments came in. Captain Parsons hurried his companies from Colonel Barrett's to the old North bridge; and, seeing the havoc that had been made with Gould's guard and their dead comrades upon the bank, " they were seized with a panic and ran with great speed to join the main force." Captain Pole with- drew his companies from the old South bridge, and then Colonel Smith began to retreat towards Boston. But it was not only a retreat but a rout. The battle at the bridge was but the beginning of aggressive work. The foe were followed and hard pushed from point to point. At the cross-roads they met fresh arrivals of Provincial troops. The stone walls and stumps were coverts from which they directed their fire. In addition to an almost continuous engagement, occasional encounters occurred which were exceptionally sharp and severe. In two of these severe encounters the soldiers from East Sudbury were engaged, - one at Merriam's Corner, the other at Hardy's Hill.
The action at Merriam's Corner occurred at about half- past twelve. Three circumstances concurred to bring about and make severe this conflict. First, there was a junction of roads, the one from Bedford meeting that leading to Lexington along which the English marched. By this road had come reinforcements from Reading, Chelmsford, Bed- ford and Billerica. To this point, also, had come some Provincials across the great fields in the direction of the old North bridge. Another circumstance that made the fight sharp was that here the British massed their forces because of the lay of the land. In their march from Con- cord, which was about a mile thus far, the British threw out
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a part of their infantry to serve as a guard to their flanks and to protect the main body as it marched on the road. These flankers moved along the dry upland on the right of the road, as it curves gently from Concord village, until they reached Merriam's Corner where they joined the troops in the road, in order to avoid the moist land by the way- side, and pass the dry causeway to the highway beyond. As this flank guard thus joined the main force it gave the Provincials, who as we have indicated were there gathered in force, an opportunity which they were not slow to make use of. They poured upon the regulars a destructive fire. " Now and here began," says Drake, "that long and ter- rible conflict unexampled in the Revolution for its duration and ferocity, which for fifteen miles tracked the march of the regular troops with their blood." A company from East Sudbury were in time for this second conflict. This, doubt- less, was the one commanded by Joseph Smith. Rev. Mr. Foster, an historian of 1775, says of this conflict : " Before we came to Merriam's Hill we discovered the enemy's flank guard of about eighty or a hundred men, who on the retreat from Concord kept the height of the land, the main body being in the road. The British troops and the Americans at that time were equally distant from Merriam's Corner. About twenty rods short of that place the Americans made a halt. The British marched down the hill with a very slow but steady step without a word being spoken that could be heard. Silence reigned on both sides. As soon as the British gained the main road and passed a small bridge near the common, they faced about suddenly, and fired a volley of musketry upon us. They overshot and no one to my knowledge was injured by the fire. The fire was immedi- ately returned by the Americans, and two British soldiers fell dead at a little distance from each other in the road near the brook. Several of the officers were wounded, including Ensign Lester." The other engagement in which the Sud- bury soldiers are especially noticed was at Hardy's Hill, a short distance beyond. One narrator has spoken of it as a spirited affair, where one of the Sudbury companies, Captain Cudworth, came up and vigorously attacked the enemy.
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It is interesting that we can thus trace our soldiers and know so much of their whereabouts and what they did on that memorable day. An incident of the fight was related to the writer by the late Mr. Josiah Haynes when eighty- five years old. He said that his grandfather, Josiah Haynes, one of the militia of Sudbury at the Concord fight, captured a gun from a British sergeant. The Briton was with a squad of soldiers a little removed from the main body, prob- ably a part of the flank guard before mentioned. Mr. Haynes lay concealed behind a stone wall with some com- rades who soon left him alone. As the squad approached, he thought they were coming directly upon him, but, as the main body followed a curve in the road, the squad turned also. With this movement, Mr. Haynes placed his gun on the wall, and on firing the sergeant fell. Mv. Haynes sprang and seized the sergeant's gun and tried to tear off his belt and cartridge box, but these last he did not secure. The squad, but a few rods away, turned and fired. The balls whistled about him, but he escaped unhurt. It would be interesting to know more of the incidents and adventures of our soldiers on that April day, but time has made havoc with tradition and the records are scant. Years ago the last survivor of the Revolution died, and years before, they were scattered, many of them into other towns and other States. But the fragments of tradition that have floated down from that far-off period are all the more valuable because they are few.
THE LOSS.
During the day Sudbury sustained the loss of two men, Deacon Josiah Haynes and Asahel Reed. Joshua Haynes was wounded. Deacon Haynes was eighty years old. He was killed by a musket bullet at Lexington. He belonged to the old Haynes family of Sudbury, where his descend- ants still live. He was one of the original signers of the West Precinct Church Covenant, and was made deacon May 24, 1733. He was buried in the Old Burying Ground, Sudbury Centre. The grave is marked by a simple slate stone. Mr. Asahel Reed was of Captain Nixon's minute
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men. His name is found on that company's call roll to which we have before referred ; it is left out after the battle, probably because after his death the name was stricken from the list. He belonged to the old Reed family of Sudbury, whose progenitor, Joseph Reed, settled at Lanham about 1656. Probably he was also buried in the old ground at Sudbury Centre. Mrs. Joseph Reed, a member of the same family and grandmother of the writer, said many years ago that the body of Mr. Reed was brought to Sudbury. So, although no stone has been found which marks the grave, he doubtless rests somewhere in the old burying-ground at the centre, which was the only one at that time in the West Precinet. Joshua Haynes, who was wounded, may have been one of Captain Nixon's minute men or one of the militia of Captain Haynes. The same name is on each company's muster roll; but the one in the latter was ser- geant while the one wounded is mentioned without any title. Lieut. Elisha Wheeler, whose horse was shot under him, and Thomas Plympton, Esq., who had a bullet put through the fold of his coat, were both volunteers on horseback.
After the fight the soldiers showed no undue haste to return, but some of them lingered from three days to a month to repel attack or serve their country in whatever way it might require ; and, when at length they returned to their homes, it was only, in the case of some of them, to bid the loved ones good-by and then go away again to engage the foe.
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CHAPTER XXI.
1775-1800.
Revolutionary War. - Sudbury Soldiers at Bunker Hill. - Muster Rolls of Captains Russell, Moore and Haynes. - Battle of Bunker Hill. - Position and Service of the Regiments of Colonels Nixon and Brewer. - Number of Casualties. - The Siege of Boston. - List of Men in Two Months Service. - List of Men in Colonel Whitney's Regiment. - Government Storehouses at Sand Hill. - Service outside the State. - List of Officers in Sudbury Companies in 1776. - List of Men in Capt. Aaron Haynes's Company. - Men in Captain Wheeler's Company at Ticonderoga ; in Colonel Robinson's Regiment, in Colonel Read's Regiment. - Supplementary List. - Soldiers at Ticonderoga in 1776; in Captain Wheeler's Company, Captain Craft's Company, Captain Edgell's Company, Captain Aaron Haynes's Company. - Canada Campaign. - New York Campaign. - Men Enlisted for Three Years in 1777. - Guard Roll. - Pay Roll. - List of Two Months Men in 1777. - List of Three Months Men in 1777. - Names of Sudbury Captains and Companies in the Field in 1778. - Captain Maynard's Company. - Captain Wheeler's Company. - Captain Moulton's Company. - Captain Haynes's Company. - Cap- tain Bowker's Company. - Prices Paid for Enlistment in 1780.
Few were the numbers she could boast ; But every freeman was a host, And felt as though himself were he On whose sole arm hung victory. MONTGOMERY.
SUDBURY was represented by three companies at the battle of Bunker Hill. These were commanded by Sudbury cap- tains and made up mainly of Sudbury citizens. The town also furnished three regimental officers, - Col. John Nixon, Major Nathaniel Cudworth and Adj. Abel Holden, Jr. Capt. John Nixon of the minute men was promoted to the rank of colonel, and was authorized, April 27, to receive nine sets of beating papers. Capt. Nathaniel Cudworth was
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made major in the regiment of Col. Jonathan Brewer, who received enlistment papers April 24, and Abel Holden, Jr., was made Colonel Nixon's adjutant. The Sudbury men who served in these companies are as follows : -
A list of Captain Russell's company in Colonel Brewer's regiment.
Thaddeus Russel Capt.
Corp. Joshua Kendall
Nathan Tuckerman Lieut.
David Rice
Nathan Reeves Ens.
David Damon
Sergt Josiah Wellington
Drumer Thomas Trask
" Thomas Rutter
Fifer Nathan Bent
Thad Bond David Smith
PRIVATES.
Ephraim Allen
William English
Longley Bartlett
Ambros Furgison
Rolon Bennet
William Grout
Peter Brintnall
Elisha Harrington
Timothy Bent
Richard Heard
Samuel Curtis
William Mallet
Edward Sorce [Vorce]
Samuel Merriam
Jacob Speen
Cuff Nimra
Ephram Sherman
Benjamin Pierce
Samuel Tilton
Nathel Parmenter
Asa Travis
James Phillips
David Underwood
Samuel Pollard
Jonathan Wesson
Rufus Parmenter
Lemuel Whitney
Edward Rice
Samuel Sherman
Martin Rourke
Nahum Dudley
Denis Ryan
Oliver Damon
Amos Silleway
A return of Captain Moor's company in the fifth regiment, commanded by Col. John Nixon, Sept. 30, 1775.
David Moore, Capt Micah Goodenow 1st Lieut Jona Hill, 2ond Lieut Framingham SARGENTS.
Elijah Willis Daniel Loring
Hopestill Brown Daniel Wait
Jesse Moore Uriah Wheeler
CORPORALS.
James Rice
Joseph Balcom
Oliver Rice Aaron Eames Jun.
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DRUMMER AND FIFER. Ebenezer Boutwell Thomas Nixon Framingham
PRIVATES.
Nathaniel Bryant
Thadeus Moore
Aaron Emes
Jesse Mostman [Mossman]
Benj Bennet
Israel Maynard
Samuel Cutting
William Maynard
Micah Goodenow
Nathan Rice
Ephraim Goodenow
Israel Willis
Lemuel Goodenow
Ephraim Whitney
Asahel Gibbs
Abel Thompson
Uriah Hunt
Ezra Smith
Isaac Moore
Charles Rice
Eliab Moore
Total in the Co. 48. From Sudbury 33.
A list of names of the officers and soldiers in Captain Haynes's company in Colonel Brewer's regiment.
Aaron Haynes Capt Mathias Mossman 2ond Lieut Sergt Josiah Moore Cop John Weighting
Cop Daniel Putnam Drummer Aaron Haynes Fifer Naham Haynes
PRIVATES.
John Bemis
Abel Parmenter Asa Putnam
Nathan Cutter
Porter Cuddy
Ephraim Puffer
James Durumple
John Brewer
Joseph Dakin
Isaac Rice
Joseph Green
Aaron Mossman
Francis Green
Joshua Haynes
Prospect Hill, Oct. 6, 1775 AARON HAYNES, Capt
Total in the Co. 47. From Sudbury 21.
The following names found in the Stearns Collection, as being in the eight months service, we give in connection with the foregoing lists.
Jonas Haynes John Stone Caleb Wheeler Hezekiah Moore
Jeremiah Robins Benj Berry [or Barry] John Shirley Wm Dun
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Total number in these three muster rolls is one hundred and fifty-two. Of these, one hundred and four were from Sudbury, and only the latter have been here given except when designated. Lieut. Nathaniel Russell re-enlisted a part of the East Sudbury company and reported for duty April 24. Capt. Aaron Haynes went into service with his com- pany May 3. These companies were in the regiments of Colonels Nixon and Brewer, which did valuable service in the engagement of June 17. A consideration of the plan of that battle and something of its history will show where these regiments were, what they did, and the conduct of the Sudbury soldiers.
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
On the 16th of June, the Americans, under command of Colonel Prescott, to the number of about one thousand men repaired at night to what was then called Breed's Hill, to fortify the place by earthworks. Their object was to pre- vent the occupation of Charlestown by General Gage, who had been reinforced by about ten thousand men. Through the still hours of the night they plied the pickaxe and spade, and at daybreak General Gage, from his quarters in Boston, surveyed the newly-made works with surprise. British batteries soon opened their fire from ship and shore, yet steadily the provincials worked on. Gage summoned his officers in council, and it was determined to take the place by storm. Immediately, columns were formed and set in motion, boats were procured to carry troops to the Charles- town shore, and a scene of general activity set in. Mean- while, the Americans were also astir forming plans to resist the assault. Reinforcements were ordered to the Charles- town peninsula, and long lines of troops filed from the neighboring encampment to join their comrades at the hill. The march was attended with hazard, for British batteries swept the way, and ranks broke into detachments and squads, rather than pass the ordeal in closely formed lines. Among those who marched over this perilous way were the regiments of Brewer and Nixon, and they arrived on the field in season to form for the fight.
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When the regiments had all arrived on the Charlestown peninsula, an almost unbroken line stretched along from the Charles River on the south to the Mystic River on the north. The places of the respective regiments were as fol- lows : Prescott held the redoubt near the summit with about one hundred and sixty-three men ; a breastwork to the northerly, near this, was occupied by men of Prescott, Bridge and Frye; on the left, to the northwesterly or north, were the regiments of Brewer, Nixon, Knowlton and Stark; while on the right, to the southeasterly or south, were the regiments of Wyman and Robinson with about three hundred men. Sudbury soldiers were thus placed on the left of the line to the northerly of the Bunker Hill sum- mit. Between the breastwork and redoubt, and the Mystic River or left flank on the northerly, there was, for a time, an unfilled space. By this way, the foe had only to advance, attack the American works in the rear, and the place was captured and retreat cut off. General Putnam discovered this gap in time, and ordered troops to man it at once. Stark, Knowlton and Reed took their stand on the north by the Mystic, Brewer and Nixon on the south of them. Thus was filled the hitherto unprotected gap, which, if neglected, had invited the foe, and caused speedy and most disastrous defeat.
The British, knowing the importance of the position thus held, brought against it a formidable force. This was led by Sir William Howe in person. Some of the troops had been recently at the Concord and Lexington fight. They were likely eager to recover their prestige or avenge the fate of their fallen friends. Furthermore, the protection of the Provincials at this point was weak ; no entrenchments were there to protect them from the foe. The most favored had but a few rude improvised works, hastily constructed after they arrived on the ground, but the position of the regiment in which the Sudbury men served was the most exposed of any in that poorly protected column. A part of the line had not the slightest protection whatever. The only attempt that was made to construct a breastwork was by the gather- ing of some newly-mown hay that was scattered about the
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place. But they were prevented from the completion of even such a slight breastwork as this. The foe advanced and they were compelled to desist. But no exposure to the fire of well-disciplined, veteran troops, and no lack of breast- work protection led those brave Middlesex colonels and com- panies to turn from or abandon this important position. It was enough to know that there was an unguarded gap. The practised eye of Col. John Nixon, who had so often seen service in the old French wars, doubtless saw at a glance what the case required, and knowing the need took measures to meet it. Says Drake, " Brewer and Nixon immedi- ately directed their march for the undefended opening so often referred to between the rail fence and earthwork. They also began the construction of a hay breastwork, but when they had extended it to within thirty rods of Prescott's line the enemy advanced to the assault. The greater part of these two battalions stood and fought here without cover throughout the action, both officers and men displaying the utmost coolness and intrepidity under fire." The same author also says of Gardiner, Nixon and Brewer, "Braver officers did not unsheathe a sword on this day ; their battal- ions were weak in numbers, but under the eye and example of such leaders invincible." He states that, " with about four hundred and fifty men, they stood in the gap with Warren and Pomeroy at their head." Just before the attack, Putnam gave the order not to fire until they could see the whites of the enemy's eyes. When the foe was fairly in range the Provincials opened fire. The lines blazed with a hot discharge ; whole ranks were swept down before it, men dropped on the right hand and left; no mortal could withstand that withering storm ; it was an unerring, death- dealing discharge. Howe's attendants were struck down at his very side, and for a time he stood almost alone. He gave the word for retreat, and his shattered remnant withdrew from the field. He had failed to break the ranks of these left line regiments, and hence the redoubt was still safe from an attack in the rear. But these soldiers were again to be put to the test. For about an hour there was a cessation of strife, then the column advanced to a second assault. Steadily the
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veterans moved forward and bravely did their opponents await them. When the signal was given the engagement began. The same tactics were employed as before, and with like results : whole ranks melted away before the Provincial fire, battalions were reduced to mere companies, Howe's best officers were dying or dead, the way was mown by Provincial bullets, and again the redoubt and breastwork were safe. But the British, persisting with the tenacity that belongs to the race, reformed for still another assault, and this time they were more successful, for the ammu- nition of the Provincials was exhausted and there remained nothing but retreat or a hand-to-hand fight. The order was given and the Provincials withdrew, but before leaving, there was a terrible encounter. Prescott, who so bravely held the redoubt while the left line regiments held the British from an attack on the rear, now rallied his men to fight in an improvised way. With clubbed guns, and with bayonets wrenched from the foe they still fought the unequal fight, until, steadily pressed, they were compelled to give up the redoubt. This captured and the breastwork abandoned, the men in the gap were between two fires and the only resort was to retreat. They stood while there was any hope of success, and did not abandon the gap until General Warren, who, it is said, stood at the head of the rail fence breastwork between the regiments of Brewer and Nixon, considered it expedient. In fact, Colonel Nixon's regiment was one of the last to leave the battle-ground. Both Nixon and Brewer were wounded, the former so severely that he was borne from the field, and their brave leader, General Warren, was slain. Thus nobly was the defence maintained. The losses sustained by the regiments of Brewer and Nixon were as follows : -
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