USA > New Hampshire > Colony, province, state, 1623-1888: history of New Hampshire > Part 32
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386
HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1777
of the troops who took a part in the contest was made up from Gen. Larn- ard's brigade of Massachusetts troops and a detachment commanded by Col. Marshall, of Patterson's brigade. The analysis of Gen. Poor's brigade would show about the following result : first, the three New Hampshire Continen- tal regiments. These regiments had been enlisted for three years, or during the war, and organized under their several commanders early in the year 1777. Most of them had seen service in some previous campaign. The first regi- ment was commanded at this time by Col. Cilley of Nottingham ; the second by Col. Geo. Reid of Londonderry; the third by Col. Alexander Scammell of Durham. The number in all these regiments would not exceed 1000. Their whole number on the 28th of the preceding June was only 1119, and the unfortunate battle had since occurred at Hubbarton, in which Hale's regi- ment (now Reid's) had suffered a severe loss of nearly 75 men (mostly pris- oners). The balance of Gen. Poor's brigade was made up from militia from Connecticut, one regiment of which was commanded by Col. Cook, also by two small detachments of New York militia. Wilkinson says: "The stress of the action on our part was borne by Morgan's regiment and Poor's bri- gade." The battle commenced about three o'clock P. M., and continued until dark. Each party then retired to their respective camps. Wilkinson says also that Larnard's brigade went into the battle late in the day. The impetuous Gen. Arnold complained because Gen. Gates declined to order more troops into action. Hence severe language passed between them, and harsh feeling was exhibited by both generals.
In order to ascertain with some degree of accuracy those who actually fought the battle of September 19th. we refer to Wilkinson's return of the whole loss in killed, wounded, and missing, as assigned by him to each, and all the troops engaged on that day. According to his summary of the loss, and we believe he has reported accurately, the New Hampshire troops suffered as much, or more, in officers and men, than all the others combined. The fig- ures will show the comparative sacrifice, and to whom the honor and glory of this contest justly belong.
Morgan's regiment lost in killed and wounded
16
The New York militia
33
The Connecticut militia
66
General Larnard's brigade
35
Colonel Marshall's regiment
10
160
Major Dearborn's battalion of infantry
43
Colonel Cilley's Continental regiment, first N. H.
58
Colonel Reid's second N. H. regiment
32
Colonel Scammell's third N. H. regiment
28
16
It will thus be seen that New Hampshire lost, in officers and privates, 161 out of 321 men, or 118 from Poor's brigade, which lost, as before stated, 217 - leaving 99 for the other corps belonging to this brigade. Honorable
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mention should be made of Colonel Cook's regiment of Connecticut militia, which encountered the loss of 53; Colonel Latimer's Connecticut loss, 13- 66 total loss.
In this struggle New Hampshire lost many valuable officers. In Scam- mell's regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Coburn of Marlborough was killed; also Lieutenant Joseph M. Thomas and Ensign Joseph Fay of Wal- pole were mortally wounded. In Reid's regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Win- born Adams of Durham was killed. Captain Frederick M. Bell of Dover was also mortally wounded, and died in hospital soon after the battle. Lieu- tenant Noah Robinson of Exeter and Ensign Bell of New Castle were both wounded, but survived. In Colonel Cilley's regiment, Captain William Scott of Peterborough, Lieutenant James Gould of Groton, Lieutenant Jonathan Emerson of Dunstable, and Lieutenant Barzillai Howe of Hillsborough were all wounded, and Captain Jason Waitt of Alstead and Lieutenant John Moore of Pembroke were made prisoners. In Major Dearborn's battalion, Lieutenant William Read and Ensign Foster were killed, and Captain Ball was wounded.
In the next battle, of October 7th, we find the same brave men, who had so well and so obstinately fought the first, again commanded to take the field. General Gates' order to Wilkinson was : "Tell Morgan to begin the game." He did begin it, attacking theenemy on the right flank. The New Hampshire troops receive and obey the next order, and are soon found both in front and on the left flank of the enemy. Wilkinson says : " After I had delivered the order to General Poor, directing him to the point of attack, I was commanded to bring up Ten Broeck's brigade of New York troops, 3000 strong. I per- formed this service, and regained the field of battle at the moment the enemy had turned their back, only fifty-two minutes after the first shot was fired. I found the courageous Colonel Cilley astraddle of a brass 12-pounder, and exulting in the capture." The whole of the British line was broken. It was commanded by General Burgoyne in person. It gave way, and made a disorderly retreat to their camp, leaving two brass 12-pounders and six brass 6-pounders on the field, with the loss of more than 400 officers and privates killed, wounded, and prisoners. Gen. Frazar was killed, while Majors Ackland, Williams, Clarke, and many other officers were wounded and prisoners. The battle thus far had been between the two camps, which were located about two miles apart and at right angles with the Hudson river. After the retreat of the British to their entrenchments, then came the furious attack upon their defences. In this general charge upon the British works Generals Larnard, Patterson, Nixon, Ten Broeck, Colonels Brooks and Marshall, urged on by Arnold, all participated. Many of the militia from New England and New York also lent essential aid. Colonel Breyman, at the head of his troops, was killed, and a decisive victory was gained. Subsequently Burgoyne undertook to extricate himself from his perilous position, but was baffled in his efforts, and finally surrendered his army on the 17th of October. The American army, or the returning officers thereof, failed to furnish a correct statement of the loss in killed and wounded in this last battle. The New Hampshire troops suffered severely. Many of the new levies, or militia, belonging to Gen.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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Whipple's brigade, shared in the dangers of the conflict in common with the regular soldiers. One of their most worthy officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Sam- uel Connor of Pembroke, was killed. Also Captain John McClary and En- sign Tuck were mortally wounded, and Captain Nathan Sanborn of Deerfield was severely wounded. In Poor's brigade, Scammell's regiment, Scammell himself was wounded. Also Lieutenant Thomas Simpson of Orford, Lieu- tenant Joseph Huntoon of Kingston, Lieutenant Joseph Hilton of Deerfield, and Ensign Nathaniel Leavitt of Hampton were wounded ; while Lieutenant Amos Webster, of Captain Livermore's company, and a resident in Plymouth, and Ensign Lieman of Hollis were killed. In Col. Reid's Regiment, Lieuten- ant James Crombie of Rindge and Ensign William Taggart of Hillsborough were wounded.
Our inspection of the rolls of the New Hampshire Continental regiments engaged in both battles enables us to confirm Wilkinson's list of the killed and wounded and missing of the battle of September 19th, and to render the other fact quite certain, that our loss in the battle of October 7th was quite equal to that of September 19th. We give a comparative statement of the killed in both battles, embracing the names of subalterns and privates, with their places of residence, so far as we could ascertain them, commencing with Colonel Cilley's regiment.
September 19th, 12 killed.
October 7th, 1777, in the same regiment, : 16 killed.
We give next the killed, subalterns and privates, in Colonel Geo. Reid's regi- ment, September 19th : 13 killed.
October 7th, killed : 11 ; 24 in all.
Private Daniel Grant, Exeter.
Edmund Smith, Kensington.
Ebinezer Gove, Seabrook.
Wm. Moreland, Salem.
Corporal Moses Rollins, wounded, died October 13, 1777.
Private Stephen Batchelder, Newmarket, wounded, died November 2, 1777-
Jacob Flanders, South Hampton.
Samuel Magoon, Brentwood.
Richard Goss, Rye.
Paul Pearl, Rochester.
66 Nath. Briggs, Keene, died of his wounds October 18.
The subalterns and privates of Colonel A. Scammell's regiment, killed September 19, 1777, at Bemis's Heights, or Saratoga : -
Sergeant Iddo Church, Gilsum.
Private Jonathan Fuller, Claremont.
Daniel Snow, Keene.
Jonah Stone, Temple.
Benjamin Warren, Winchester.
Azariah Comstock, Richmond.
John Magoon, Sanbornton.
66 Stephen Fifield, Brentwood.
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Private Abraham Potter, Deerfield.
66 John Crawford, Chester.
Abram Cummings, Greenland.
James Flagg, Moultonborough, wounded, died September 24, 1777.
Edward Peavey, New Durham, wounded, died September 23, 1777-
James Hastings, Canterbury, wounded, died September 2S, 1777-
October 7, 1777 : -
Sergeant Samuel Baker, Newmarket.
Private Seth Shackford, Newington.
Frederick Freeman, Marlborough.
Obadiah Kimball, Concord.
Abial Stevens, Concord, wounded, died October 20.
John Mason, Loudon, mortally wounded, died October 25.
John McCarty, Hawke.
Collins Eaton, Goffstown.
John Rollins, Chichester.
Dudley Marsh, Pelham, mortally wounded -died November, 1777-
John Crossfield, Keene, died of his wounds October 12, 1777.
Total killed October 7, 11.
Recapitulation of number killed : -
Colonel Cilley's Regiment, killed September 19
12
Reid's
13
Scammell's "
14
-
39
Battle October 7, Cilley's Regiment,
16
Reid's
II
Scammell's " II
38
In both battles -officers killed, S; subalterns and privates, 77; rank and file, S5.
We have on hand a list of over 90 men who were wounded or died in the Northern army of 1777, belonging to the aforesaid regiments, without in- cluding their loss at Hubbarton, July 7. The enumeration of the names of these men would only fatigue your readers.
As the New Hampshire troops, including Poor's brigade, Dearborn's bat. talion, and General Whipple's brigade of militia, were all actively engaged in the battle of October 7, we may infer from the list of the killed here furnished that their loss on that day equalled or exceeded that of September 19th. Scammell's regiment had previously experienced the loss of Captain Rich- ard Weare, who was mortally wounded at Fort Ann, on the 4th of August, 1777, and had died at Albany soon after. He was a valuable officer, and the favorite son of Chief Justice Weare. The same regiment suffered the loss of Captain Hezekiah Beal of Portsmouth, on the 6th of November, 1777, having been wounded in one of the previous battles with the enemy.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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We would not omit to state the fact that two full companies of New Hampshire men, commanded by New Hampshire officers, were enrolled in Colonel Michael Jackson's Massachusetts regiment and General Larnard's brigade. This regiment participated in both of the battles that led to Bur- goyne's surrender. The amount of the loss of these companies we have not ascertained, nor have we had access to the rolls of Whipple's brigade or Dear- born's battalion to ascertain the extent of their loss.
In conclusion, history tells us that the campaign of the Northern army, in the beginning of 1777, commenced in defeat and gloom to our good cause and terminated in success and glory. From the facts and figures before- stated the candid reader can easily determine or apportion the just amount of praise and gratitude due to the New Hampshire troops for their achieve- ments in that eventful year. We have stated our claim with no intent to do injustice, or to disparage the distinguished services rendered by the men from the other New England States, as well as New York and Virginia, in contributing their aid and well-concerted measures, which resulted in the final surrender of Burgoyne and his army.
General Jacob Bailey of Vermont, who participated in that campaign as one of the commanders of the forces there employed, on the 20th of November, 1777, wrote to Honorable Meshech Weare, in his plain characteristic style, viz. : -
" Dear Sir, -I congratulate you on the happy reduction of General Bur- goyne's army by General Gates, in which New Hampshire State, first and last, was very instrumental. The turning out of your volunteers was extra- ordinarily advantageous in that affair," etc.
Such was the judgment of an honest and impartial eye-witness.
There is no doubt that the active, bold, and fearless conduct of Arnold in both battles infused life and energy into the American troops. He had the credit, as commander in the first battle. It is said that Captain Samuel Ball of the New Hampshire volunteers was wounded on the head by a blow from Arnold's sword. That in return Ball raised his gun and would have shot Ar- nold had not his lieutenant interfered and seized Ball's arm. The cause of the difficulty was not stated. Arnold made a subsequent apology to Ball. The killing of Arnold may have been pronounced wrong or rash in the case of Ball, if his purpose had been carried out, but it might have saved to the name of Arnold the terrific word " traitor "! Captain Ball lived to a good old age, and died in Acworth.
In the battle of Monmouth, in 1778, New Hampshire troops under Colonel Cilley and Lieutenant-Colonel Dearborn behaved with such bravery as to win the approbation of General Wash- ington.
Early in 1778 General Stark was ordered to assume the com- mand of the Northern department at Albany, where he remained during the season.
.
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In November he was ordered by General Washington to pro- ceed to the assistance of General Gates in Rhode Island, and, joining Gates soon after at Providence, was stationed for the remainder of the season at East Greenwich. As winter ad- vanced he returned to New Hampshire, by way of Boston, to urge the necessity for recruits and supplies.
1 The Keene Raid, an episode of the Revolution, ought not to be forgotten, as it serves, in some measure, to illustrate the spirit of those times. The hero of the affair was Captain Elisha Mack of Gilsum, who with his brothers were at that time building what was long known as the " Great Bridge " over the Ashuelot. Hc was well known as a bold and honored veteran, having served first as private, then as lieutenant, and afterwards as captain in two regiments. At the battle of Bennington he commanded the ninth company of Colonel Nichols' regiment in Stark's brigade. Gilsum, which then included most of Sullivan, had no Tories, while Keene had many, thirteen having refused to sign the association test. Some of the leaders were obliged to flee from the fury of their exasperated townsmen. Those who remained were suspected of secreting stores of ammunition and provisions to give " aid and comfort " to the British at the first opportunity. Some zealous patriots of Keene were indignant at this state of affairs, but hesitated to proceed to extremities with their neigh- bors. Knowing Captain Mack's ardent temperament and patri- otic energy, they took him into their counsels, and concocted a plan to discover the hidden stores, and oust the obnoxious Tories. On the evening of May 30, 1779, a guard was set over every sus- pected house. Captain Mack had easily collected a company of willing men, and, placing himself at their head, rode into Keene in the early morning. Proceeding from house to house, he col- lected the prisoners, and confined them in a chamber of Hall's Tavern, on the east side of Main street, just below the present railroad tracks. The search for contraband stores, however, proved fruitless. The Keene militia was under command of Captain Davis Howlet, who summoned his company to resist the lawless invasion of their town, and sent a messenger with all
I Sylvanus Haywood.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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dispatch to Winchester for Colonel Alexander, who then com- manded the regiment. When he arrived "he asked Captain Mack if he intended to pursue his object. 'I do,' replied he, 'at the hazard of my life.' 'Then,' said the colonel, emphatically, 'you must prepare for eternity, for you shall not be permitted to take vengeance, in this irregular mode, on any man, even if they are Tories.' " 1
Captain Mack, though a brave man, recognized the folly of diso- beying his superior officer, and doubtless began to realize the unlawfulness of his expedition. He therefore soon withdrew his company towards home, amid the derisive shouts of the excited Keenites.
In the spring of 1779 General Stark joined the army at Prov- idence, and was employed all that season in watching the Brit- ish army and preventing inroads. About the 10th of November the English sailed away from Newport, and General Stark took possession of the town the next morning, placing guards to pre- serve order.
At this time General Washington ordered Generals Gates and Stark, with the troops who had blockaded Newport, to join him in New Jersey ; and soon after sent General Stark to New Hampshire to make requisitions for troops and supplies. He performed this service, and returned to the army at Morristown, in May, 1780, and took part in the battle of Springfield, in June following. Immediately after this battle General Stark was sent to New England, with orders to collect a body of militia and volunteers, and conduct them to West Point. He arrived at that post with the troops a short time before Arnold's desertion ; and, after delivering up the reinforcement, joined his division at Liberty Pole, New Jersey.
In September he was ordered to West Point, to relieve Gen- eral St. Clair and the Pennsylvania line. While at West Point, he was called upon to participate in the trial of Major Andre, being one of the thirteen generals composing the military tribunal. About this time, Washington had formed the design of surprising Staten Island ; and to mask his intentions, General
I Kecne Annals.
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Stark was detached with 2500 troops, and trains of cavalry and artillery, and forage teams, to overrun the country north of New York, and, if possible, to draw out and engage the enemy. But the British were suspicious of concealed designs, and suffered the detachment to pillage this Tory country, as far down as King's Bridge and Morrisania, for several days, and then to retire unmolested. The Staten Island project was not carried out. The army soon after went to winter quarters at West Point, New Windsor, and Fishkill, and General Stark, being severely ill, was sent home on furlough, with the standing order for men and supplies.
The early history of the Free Will Baptist denomination in the State is the early history of the denomination itself, as it orig- inated here, and is the only religious sect that took its rise in the State. Its origin was in the country township of New Durham, in the year 1780. The founder of this sect of Christians was Benjamin Randall. He was a native of Newcastle and was born in 1749.
From New Durham the new denomination spread, first into Maine, next into Vermont and Massachusetts, and later into various sections of the West. Its missionaries are now scattered through the South, India, and other parts of the world.
1 In 1780 Samuel Livermore was elected a delegate to the Provincial Congress to succeed Josiah Bartlett. Congress then met at Philadelphia, and the journey thither was a horseback ride from Holderness of eighteen days, with food and shelter of the most miserable kind for man and beast. .
During the dispute relative to the New Hampshire grants - the territory now constituting the State of Vermont - Mr. Livermore was selected by the legislature to act in behalf of New Hampshire. His well-known legal abilities prompted this appointment and excellently well fitted him for that duty. While acting in this position he was appointed to the high and responsible office of chief justice of the Superior Court of Judi- cature. The duties of the chief justice at that time were very onerous. He was expected to attend every session of the court,
I Fred Myron Colby.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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and as a usual thing, being the only lawyer upon the bench, was of course called upon to decide all questions of law. He retained this office from 1782 to 1790.
In 1785 Judge Livermore was again appointed a delegate to . Congress, and served, though he still retained his seat upon the bench. He was also one of the committee with Josiah Bartlett and John Sullivan to revise the statutes then in force, and report what bills they deemed necessary to be enacted at the session of the General Court. At the convention which formed our State constitution he was a prominent member. Under the constitu- tion he was elected representative to Congress, and being re- elected served in that body till 1793. In the convention of 1791 for revising the State constitution he was the presiding officer. His influence at this time was almost absolute. The constitu- tion is subscribed with his name. But he had not yet filled the measure of his honors.
In 1793 he was chosen United States senator to succeed Paine Wingate, and so well and ably did he perform the duties of that exalted station, and so well did he please his constituents, that he was re-elected. His commanding position in the Senate is. indicated by the fact that he was president, pro tem., of that body in 1797 and again in 1799. He resigned his seat in 180!, and retired to his seat at Holderness, where he died in May, I 803.
Samuel Livermore was intrinsically a great man. Upon his own age he made a profound impression. Men like Jeremiah Smith of Exeter, William Plumer of Epping, James Sheafe of Portsmouth, and Charles H. Atherton knew of his greatness. The latter declared that he was the great man of New Hamp- shire in his time, and he not only knew him well but was capable of estimating his character. His home at Holderness was characterized by the tastes of a cultured statesman ; and by the superiority of his elevated private as well as public character, no less than by his commanding personal dignity and the extent of his possessions, he ruled the town with the absolute power of a dictator.
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1 It is well known to all that slavery existed in New Hamp- shire, to a limited extent, in the last century ; the number of per- sons held in bondage, however, was small, and nearly two-thirds in Rockingham county. There is no record of its having been abolished by State law, and it must have died out gradually in obedience to public sentiment. By the census returns of 1767, the number of "negros and slaves for life " was 633 ; in 1773, 681. The number then gradually decreased to 479 in 1775, and to 158 in 1790 ; of the latter, 98 were in Rockingham county.
In 1779 an attempt was made to abolish the institution; a petition was drawn up in Portsmouth, dated November 12, 1779, to which was appended the names of twenty slaves asking for the enactment of a law giving them their freedom.
The petition was before the House of Representatives April 25, 1780, and a hearing appointed to come off at their next session, of which the petitioners were to give notice by publi- cation in the New Hampshire Gasette. John Langdon was at that time speaker of the House. The council concurred. The matter came up in the House again on Friday, June 9th, fol- lowing, and was disposed of as will be seen by the following extract from the Journal : -
" Agreeable to order of the day the petition of Nero Brewster and others, negro slaves, praying to be set free from slavery, being read, considered, and argued by counsel for petitioners before this House, it appears to this House that at this time the House is not ripe for a determination in this matter : There- fore, ordered that the further consideration and determination of the matter be postponed to a more convenient opportunity."
And that, so far as can be ascertained, was the end of it.
In June, 1780, Northfield was cut off from Canterbury.
At the close of the year 1780 the three New Hampshire regi- ments were reduced to two, and placed under command of Colonel Scammel and George Reid.
The following year a part remained in the State of New York, and another part followed Colonel Scammel to Virginia, and were present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
11. W. Hammond.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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In the spring of 1781 General Stark was ordered once more to assume the command of the Northern department, with head- quarters at Saratoga. There was an extensive frontier to be watched, and the country was overrun by traitors and spies, some of whom he was obliged to hang. With only a few feeble detachments of militia from New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire under his command, the duties of the general were both onerous and unpleasant. After the surrender of Corn- wallis, all apprehensions of inroads from Canada having ceased, General Stark was ordered to dismiss his militia, and to himself retire to New England to recruit, and collect supplies for the next campaign. Being at this time afflicted with rheumatism, he remained at home during the year 1782, and did not return to the army until ordered to headquarters by General Washington in April, 1783. He arrived at the appointed time, and was thanked by the commander-in-chief for his punctuality.
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