USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume I > Part 28
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1 N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VII, 468-70, + Ibid, 478, 485.
2 Ibid, 665-9.
Ibid, 478, 487.
" See lists in notes at close of chapter.
3 Ibid, 477.
18
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
years at the commencement of Revolutionary hostilities. In his store, on the west side of Main street, a few rods south of its junc- tion with the Hopkinton road, or Pleasant street, he had heard of " Lexington." Forthwith he hastened to Exeter, and returned with commission to raise and organize a company for six months. This he did; encouraging enlistments by furnishing " on credit " supplies from his store to families of his hastily enlisted men, and, in conse- quence, suffering considerable pecuniary loss.1
When it was known to the investing camp that the English in Boston contemplated occupying Bunker Hill, an advantageous posi- tion in Charlestown, the Americans determined to anticipate the enemy's movement by seizing that height for themselves. Suddenly, in the early morning light of June the 17th, stood revealed on that coveted hilltop, an American redoubt,-the work of one short summer night,-a surprise and a defiance to waking foes below, across the Charles. Early, two hundred men of the New Hampshire regiments were ordered to the hill; later, the main body marched to join them there, and took position in the left wing of the southerly- facing line of defense, along the slope between the redoubt and the Mystic. There they stood behind their breastwork, partly of doubled rail fence filled in with hay mown yesterday ; partly of simple stone wall, thrown up by themselves down by the river. Behind this bare wall, on the extreme left, were posted Captain Joshua Abbot, with his Concord company, and Captain John Moor, with the men of Amoskeag.
When, in the blazing heat of mid-afternoon, the enemy advanced, with the fine regiment of Royal Fusiliers upon their right, they were met by so well aimed and deadly a fire from the American line- especially from the rudely sheltered left-that, with thinned and disordered ranks, they beat a precipitate retreat. Rallied and rein- forced, they returned to the attack, but only to be hurled back agam in death and rout-leaving ghastly windrows of dead and wounded before the rail fence and stone wall. Now the shattered foe, having been rallied and reinforced anew, came up the hill, for the third time, in attempt to turn the left and right of the American line, by simultaneous assault. To turn the left was impossible ; the assault being fearfully and effectually repelled by Stark's dread marksmen of the Merrimack and their worthy comrades. But American success on the left did not decide the day; for the redoubt could not be held, with failing ammunition, against the enemy's overwhelming numbers, stoutly defended though it was by Prescott and his gallant men. Retreat became inevitable-a retreat,
+ Autobiography of Levi Hutchins, 24, 88.
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defiantly closed by the men of New Hampshire, who had fought on the victorious left. These were the last to leave the bloody field, where they had sustained one third of the American loss and inflicted three fifths of the British. To the heroic doing of the militia at Bunker Hill, which, in moral significance, made defeat the synonym of victory, the men of Concord contributed their full share ; and thus had helped to justify Washington's glad prediction in view of the result,-" The liberties of America are safe." Of the fifteen slain in Stark's command on that day, William Mitchell, of Captain Abbot's company, was one.
The colonial congress reassembled ten days after the event of Bunker Hill to continue, with occasional recesses, its important labors until November; the public interests being entrusted, in re- cess, to the vigilant Committee of Safety, with the faithful Meshech Weare at its head. Of course military affairs primarily engrossed the attention of the congress. The regiments of Stark and Reid, having, after the battle of Bunker Hill, been joined by that of Poor, which had been retained for home duty, were posted north of Charles- town in the left of the American line investing Boston. These, including the men of Concord in the companies of Captains Abbot and Hutchins, were soon largely enlisted into the continental army.1 At Bunker Hill there had been some loss of fire-arms, equipments, and clothing in the New Hampshire regiments, though it was com- paratively small in the Concord companies. The duty of strictly ascertaining that loss and of making compensation therefor in behalf of the colony was assigned by the congress to Ichabod Rawlings (or Rollins) and Timothy Walker, Jr., and was faithfully and acceptably done.2 In accordance with the recommendation of the continental congress, the militia, comprising " all men from sixteen to fifty years of age," was divided into twelve regiments, with Colonel Thomas Stickney in command of the one embracing Concord.3 In September four regiments of minnte-men were ordered to be enlisted out of the twelve regiments of militia, consisting of a quarter part of each company. The enlistments from Colonel Stickney's command were assigned to the third regiment of minute-men, of which Timothy Walker, Jr., was appointed colonel. They met for drill every fort- night, and stood ready for service at a minute's warning. Concord had at least one company in this important organization.
It was a busy year for the colonial congress. Portsmouth, down by the sea, had to be provided with adequate means of defense, as had also the western and northern frontiers up along the Connecti-
1 See Continental Service in 1775-6-7, in note at close of chapter.
? N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol, VII, 584-600,
3 Ibid, 577.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
cut river and the Canadian border. For the latter purpose, a ranger regiment was organized in midsummer, and placed under command of Colonel Timothy Bedel. Concord was probably represented in this regiment, as it certainly was in another under the same com- mander, raised early the next year to join the northern continental army and help to retrieve the disasters of the Canadian campaign. There were Concord men in the companies of Captains James Os- good and Ebenezer Greene, in this regiment, for there are recorded the names of eighteen who were taken prisoners in May, 1776, in the " unfortunate affair " of " the Cedars,"1 a post on the St. Lawrence, thirty-six miles above Montreal.
New Hampshire men, including some from Concord, had previously participated in the operations against Canada. They had been pres- ent in the unsuccessful assault upon Quebec on the last day of 1775, when Arnold's force, after its fearful march through the wilds of Maine, had made junction with that of Montgomery, advancing from the Hudson by way of the St. Lawrence. Of those engaged in that assault was Nathaniel Eastman of East Concord, who saw the gallant and lamented Montgomery fall at the head of the assailing force.2
The colony had already more than three thousand troops in service, when, about the 1st of December, General Washington, through Brigadier-General Sullivan in command on the left of the line invest- ing Boston, requested more men from New Hampshire on short enlistment. The exigency was a pressing one, for certain Connecti- cut troops, refusing to remain beyond the period of their enlistment, were about to leave a dangerous gap on the left through which the beleaguered enemy might escape from Boston by land. The colonial congress had dissolved, but the Committee of Safety promptly pro- cceded to comply with the urgent request of the commander-in-chief. The requisition to enlist, for six weeks, thirty-one regiments of sixty- four men each, officers included,3 was, in a few days, substantially fulfilled, and between eighteen hundred and two thousand volun- teers 4 had rendered again entire the American line on Winter Hill. Nor were these brave "Six Weeks' Men " punctilious as to the period of enlistment, but remained upon duty for nearly double the time, and until the British army was compelled to evacuate Boston, in March, 1776. Concord was not remiss at this exigency, but con- tributed a company, in command of Captain Benjamin Emery, with John Bradley and Moses Eastman as lieutenants.5
1 Bouton's Concord, 752; see Continental Service, etc., in note at close of chapter; also see N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VIII, 152-3, and Military History, N. H. Adjutant-General's Report, Vol. II (1866), pp. 286-7.
2 Adjutant-General's Report, 285 (note). 3 N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VII, 675.
4 Mil. History, N. H. Adjutant-General's Report, Vol. II (1866), p. 277; Hammond's Rev. War Rolls, Vol. I, 209.
" Adjutant-General's Report, Vol. II (1866), pp. 277-80.
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EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION.
While the colonial congress of 1775 was largely occupied with military affairs, other matters required and received its attention. The provincial records, civil and judicial, were transferred from Ports- mouth to Exeter, now the colonial capital. A census was ordered and taken, whereby the number of people was found to be eighty- two thousand two hundred.1 Of this number Concord had ten hun- dred and fifty-two. Events, moreover, forcibly directed attention to the subject of future government. As to this, the advice of the continental congress was sought, and, early in November, was given in a resolution recommending " to call a full representation of the people ; and that the representatives, if they think it necessary, establish such a form of government as, in their judgment, will best produce the happiness of the people, and most effectually secure peace and good order in the province during the continuance of the present dispute between Great Britain and the Colonies."2 Acting upon this advice, the convention appointed a committee-of which Colonel Walker, of Concord, was one-" to report a method for rep- resentation."3 On the 14th of November the committee presented a report, which was adopted. This provided that every legal inhab- itant paying taxes should be a voter ; that every person elected as a representative to the colonial congress should have real estate in the colony of the value of two hundred pounds lawful money ; that every one hundred families entitled a town, parish, or precinct to one rep- resentative,-places, each containing less than that number of fami- lies, being classed ; that on the basis of the recent census, eighty- nine representatives, authorized by their constituents to serve for one year, might be chosen to meet in congress at Exeter on the 21st of December; and, finally, that the congress should be empowered to resolve itself into a house of representatives, if the form of govern- ment assumed by the colony on the recommendation of the conti- mental congress, should require such action.4 Having provided for duly notifying the one hundred and sixty-four towns, parishes, and precincts of this " method of representation," and for calling meet- ings of the inhabitants to carry it ont, the congress dissolved on the 15th of November, 1775.
Accordingly, on the 5th of December, Timothy Walker, Jr., was elected to represent the parish of Concord 5 in the fifth provincial, or second colonial, congress. Within a week after the meeting of this body on the 21st of December, a committee was chosen to draw up a plan for the government of the "Colony during the present contest with Great Britain." 6 The plan was presented and adopted on the 5th of January, 1776.
Belknap, 363.
2 N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VII, 642.
4 Ibid, 657-660.
"Town Records, 147.
3 Ibid, 655.
G N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VII, 703-4.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
The watch for persons manifesting in any way a spirit inimical to the American cause, became more and more vigilant. Town commit- tees of safety were now very generally appointed to transmit to the colonial authorities " the names and places of abode " of all suspected persons, with "the causes and evidence of such suspicions." Accord- ingly, at the annual March meeting of 1776, " Philip Eastman, Colonel Thomas Stickney, Timothy Walker, Jr., Joseph Hall, Jr., and Richard Herbert " were chosen "a Committee of Safety for the parish of Concord " during the current year. Such a committee was annually elected during the next three years.1 To secure still more effectually united support to the cause of America, and the detection of all persons disaffected thereto, the continental congress, in Marclı of the same year, resolved " that it be recommended to the several assemblies, conventions, and councils, or committees of safety, of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and refuse to asso- ciate, to defend by arms the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies." 2 To carry this resolve into execution, the Committee of Safety, "for the Colony of New-Hamp- shire," by "Meshech Weare, Chairman," issued in April, to the selectmen of the several towns and parishes, a circular containing the resolution of the continental congress, and a Declaration, or Associa- tion Test, with the following recommendation : "You are requested to desire all males above twenty-one years of age,-lunatics, idiots, and negroes excepted,-to sign to the declaration on this paper ; and when so done, to make return thereof, together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the General Assem- bly, or Committee of Safety of this Colony." 3 The declaration to be signed was in the following words: "In consequence of the above Resolution of the Hon. Continental Congress, and to show our deter- mination in joining our American brethren, in defending the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of the United Colonies ; We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and for- tunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and armies against the United American Colonies."4 In Concord this test, or pledge, received one hundred and fifty-six signatures.5 Nor was there to be found one delinquent name to mar the proud record of patriotic unanimity.
That bold pledge of resistance to British tyranny was but the
1 See names in note at close of chapter.
2 N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VIII, 204-5.
3 Ibid, 204.
‘ Ibid, 204-5.
5 N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VIII, 203-4; see, for signatures, Association Test in note at close of chapter.
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natural precursor of the bolder assertion of severance from the British empire. Indeed, the former was a sanction of the latter, and gave assurance that the popular conviction was fast coming to be well up with the advanced thought of those who, from the first, had foreseen and desired the independence of America. The all-important ques- tion of assuming independence was not much longer to tarry for decision. Upon that question the continental congress sought from the several colonies an authoritative expression of the popular will. New Hampshire promptly responded by her legislature. On the 11th of June, a committee of six-one of whom was Colonel Timothy Walker, of Concord-was appointed " to make a draft of a declaration of the general assembly for independence of the United Colonies on Great Britain." On the fifteenth a declaration was reported. It was unanimously accepted, as " setting forth the sentiments and opinion of the Council and Assembly," and was ordered to be sent to the New Hampshire delegates in congress. It was a strong, explicit manifesto, which, through its appropriate preamble of reasons for entering upon that most important step of disunion from Great Britain, reached this its bold conclusion: " We do, therefore, declare that it is the opinion of this Assembly, that our Delegates at the Continental Congress should be instructed, and they are hereby instructed, to join with the other Colonies in declaring The Thirteen United Colonies a Free and Independent State; solemnly pledging our faith and honor, that we will on our parts support the measure with our lives and fortunes." 1
Within three weeks the continental congress put forth that Decla- ration of Independence-sanctioned by separate colonial action- which announced the birth of another power among the nations of the earth, and made July the Fourth ever to be sacred in the calen- dar of liberty. Thenceforth New Hampshire was no longer a Colony ; it had become a State-one of the thirteen United States of America.
With characteristic energy, New Hampshire yielded full and ready military support to the cause of American liberty and independence. In course of the year 1776 the state had ten regiments in the field ; comprising the three in command of Stark, Poor, and Reid, of the regular, or continental, line, and seven of militia reinforcements- including that of Colonel Bedel, before mentioned.2 Concord men were in Stark's regiment-twenty-five of them in Captain Joshua Abbot's company,3 and others in that of Captain Elisha Woodbury, of which Daniel Livermore, of Concord, was lieutenant.4 There
1 N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VIII, 150.
2 Adjutant-General's Report, Vol. 1I (1866), p. 295.
3 See Continental Service, etc., in note at close of chapter.
4 Joseph B. Walker's address; Proceedings of N. II. Hist. Society, Vol. III, 66.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
were thirteen Concord men in Captain Benjamin Emery's company,1 belonging to Colonel Nahum Baldwin's regiment, of which Gordon Hutchins had become lieutenant-colonel; and five in the company commanded by Captain Benjamin Sias of Canterbury, in. Colonel David Gilman's regiment.1 Concord also contributed eighteen men,2 at least, to the regiments of Colonels Isaac Wyman and Joshua Wingate, but their names have not been preserved. The militia regiments of Colonels Baldwin, Gilman, Wyman, and Wingate rein- forced the continental army in New York; and some of them took part in the active operations of that neighborhood; for Colonel Hutchins led his regiment in the battle of White Plains, fought on the 28th of October, 1776.
After the evacuation of Boston by the British army, Stark's regi- ment, then in the continental line, accompanied General Washington to New York, whence it was sent to the help of the ill-fated expedi- tion against Canada, originally under the conduct of Montgomery and Arnold. But, as Stark foresaw, efforts in that direction proved futile ; the only real success achieved being General Sullivan's skil- ful withdrawal of the invading force to Crown Point and Ticon- deroga. Among those who perished of the virulent smallpox which prevailed during and after the retreat, was Abiel Chandler, who, at the Lexington alarm, had led to the front Concord's first band of volunteers in the Revolution, and had subsequently held important official positions in Stark's regiment.3 Late in the season Stark's regiment and others of the Northern department joined Washington's force on the right bank of the Delaware, strengthening the com- mander-in-chief for a timely retrieval of ill fortune, and enabling him to crown with victory the old year at Trenton, and the new at Prince- ton. Men of Concord helped to achieve that success which rent the thick cloud enveloping the patriot cause, and revealed its silver lining of hope.
With the year 1777, thus auspiciously opened, the Continental army was reorganized and strengthened by enlistment for three years, or during the war. A change of commanders occurred, too, in the three New Hampshire regiments. Upon the resignation of Stark, over whom the continental congress had unjustly promoted Poor, a junior officer, to be brigadier-general, Joseph Cilley succeeded to the coloneley of the " First." The other two regiments inter- changed numbering. The "Second," becoming the "Third," was put under the command of Alexander Scammell, as successor to Poor, promoted ; while Nathan Hale was made colonel of the " Third "-
.
1 See Continental Service, etc., in note at close of chapter.
2 Bouton's Concord, 753.
3Ibid, 610 ; also, Adjutant-General's Report, Vol. II (1866), pp. 265, 266.
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henceforth the "Second "-in place of Reid, disabled by blindness. These regiments, in a brigade commanded by General Poor, had rendezvous at Ticonderoga till midsummer.1 Captain Daniel Liver- more of Concord commanded a company in Colonel Scammell's regi- ment, containing seventeen of his townsmen.2
The members of the assembly for 1777 had been elected as the year before, but those of the council had been chosen for the first time by popular vote. One of the five councilors for Rockingham county was Colonel Timothy Walker of Concord, who had earned this promotion by distinguished service in the congress, and in the lower branch of the first legislature, and was twice to be re-elected to the upper house. Colonel Gordon Hutchins succeeded him as a member of the assembly. That council and assembly of 1777, as will soon be seen, had a rare and well improved opportunity to contribute war legislation, decisively promotive of the common cause.
In that crucial year of the Revolution, the favorite plan of the . British ministry to separate New England from the rest of the coun- try, by occupying the line of the Hudson, was seriously attempted. In early summer Lieutenant-General Burgoyne came out of Canada, over Lake Champlain, intending to co-operate with Howe and Clin- ton, who were to ascend the Hudson from New York. Washington, while thinning his own command to strengthen that of the Northern department, hindered Howe from effective co-operation with Bur- goyne. The latter advanced southward, and approached Ticonder- oga, where were stationed, with other troops, the three New Hamp- shire regiments of Poor's brigade.3 Meanwhile, numerous companies were enlisted in New Hampshire, and sent forward to the relief of the threatened fortress. Of these was one commanded by Lieuten- ant-Colonel Gerrish of Boscawen, containing twenty or more Con- cord men. This company, starting on the 5th of July, had marched seventy-five miles, when it was met by the news that Ticonderoga had been evacuated by the American forces. It was accordingly turned back, and discharged within the week.4 At the evacuation of Ticonderoga, and the occurrence of untoward events immediately succeeding, the alarm in Vermont was greatly intensified, and the assistance of New Hampshire was earnestly sought. To meet the case, the legislature convened in special session on the 17th of July. Within three days effective measures were matured to render aid in preventing the encroachment and ravages of the enemy.5 The mil- itia was divided into two brigades, one of which was placed in com-
I Adjutant-General's Report, Vol. II (1866), p. 304.
2 See Continental Service, etc., in note at close of chapter.
3 See Continental Service in note at close of chapter.
4 Bouton's Concord, 273-4 ; Adjutant-General's Report, Vol. II ( 1866), p. 313.
5 N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VIII, 634.
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mand of John Stark, who had been for a few months in retirement- the supersedure put upon him by the continental congress still gall- ing his patriotic spirit. But now his time had come to take a foremost place among his country's commanders, through brilliant, timely achievement in his country's cause. Brigadier-General by com- mission from New Hampshire, he could now raise his independent force on John Langdon's historic pledge of means,-in cash, Tobago rum, and silver plate,-and could lead it to a victory that should have in it the first sure guaranty of national independence at last.
The legislature, the wise and timely action of which had rendered possible so momentous a result, closed its labors on Saturday, the 19th of July. The earnest patriot who represented Concord could not tarry in Exeter ; but forthwith riding away on horseback, he pur- sued his homeward course through the night, and reached his jour- ney's end during the religious service of Sunday afternoon. Dis- mounting at the meeting-house, he hurried in, and, as he passed up the aisle, the venerable pastor interrupted his sermon with the inquiry,-"Colonel Hutchins, are you the bearer of any message ?" " Yes," replied the eager messenger, " General Burgoyne, with his army, is on his march to Albany. General Stark has offered to take command of New Hampshire troops ; and if we all turn out, we can cut off Burgoyne's march." "My hearers," responded Mr. Walker, " those of you who are willing to go had better go at once." That quiet suggestion from the pulpit was as a battle-cry to the men of the congregation, who at once arose, and went outside. Enlistments were promptly offered, and preparations went on during the night. When Phinehas Virgin said he could not go because he had no shoes, Samuel Thompson, a shoemaker, assured him that he should have a pair before morning, and made good his word. Jonathan Eastman had the same want as promptly supplied.1
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