USA > New Hampshire > The history of New Hampshire, from its discovery, in 1614, to the passage of the Toleration act, in 1819 > Part 16
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1767.
Aug. 11.
In New Hampshire, Governor Wentworth had been removed by the British ministry, on charges of neglect of duty, and his nephew, John Went- worth, appointed governor. He was a favorite of the people, had been active in procuring a repeal of the stamp act, and was appointed by the minis- try through whom it was repealed. Through the influence of his principal friends, he prevented the
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adoption of a non-importation agreement in Ports- CHAP. mouth. " We cannot depend on the countenance IX. of many persons of the first rank here," said the Sons of Liberty; "for royal commissions and family connexions influence the principal gentle- men among us at least to keep silence in these evil times." But the support which the cause of England gained in New Hampshire fell far short of the sanguine hopes of the governor and his friends. It was evident that he was fast losing his popularity. The majority were on the side of liberty. As the crisis approached, the union became more general. Those who felt disposed to advocate the cause of England, from fear of the popular hatred and derision, either became silent, or were forced by the strong current of public opinion to espouse the popular cause; so that 1774. when the first cargo of tea arrived in Portsmouth, it required all the prudence of Governor Went- worth, all the vigilance of the magistrates, all the firmness of the friends of order, to send away the hateful commodity without a tumult .* A town meeting was called, and it was pro- posed to Mr. Parry, the consignee, to reship it. To this he consented, and it was peaceably sent to Halifax.
June 25.
Not long afterwards, a second cargot came, consigned to the same person. The popular fer- ment could not be allayed. His house was attacked and the windows broken. He applied to the governor for protection. The governor sum- moned the council and magistrates. But, in the meantime, the town committee prevailed on Mr.
Sept. 8.
* Portsmouth Town Records, II., pp. 295, 297, 299, 300, 303. + Ibid. 305.
-
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CHAP. Parry to send the tea to Halifax, and quiet was IX.
restored.
Nearly all the towns had by this time passed resolves condemning the use of tea. Committees of vigilance and inspection, composed of the most vigilant of the Sons of Liberty, aided by the senti- ment of the people, carried those resolves into effect. Public sentiment banished tea from the table entirely. The women, with praiseworthy 1774. spirit, gave it up; and tradition says that the more inveterate devotees of the herb descended into their cellars, and, having barred the doors, secretly and with trembling gave way to their love of the proscribed and obnoxious beverage.
Everything indicated that the people of New Hampshire were fast uniting with the views of Massachusetts and the other colonies. In vain did the governor labor to prevent the free action of the people. In vain did he dissolve and adjourn their meetings. In vain did he declare them ille- gal. They rose when he entered among them to declare their proceedings void ; but no sooner had he retired than they resumed their seats and pro- ceeded, unrestricted by forms. An authority was rising in the province above the authority of the governor-an authority founded on the broad basis of the people's will-an authority before which the shadow of royal government was destined to pass away. The people appointed committees of cor- respondence, and chose delegates* to the provin- cial congress at Philadelphia ; and nowhere were the proceedings of the congress more universally approved. " Our atmosphere threatens a hurri-
July 14. Sept. 4.
* Nathaniel Folsom and John Sullivan.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE.
cane," wrote the governor to a confidential friend. CHAP. " I have strove in vain, almost to death, to prevent IX. it. If I can, at last, bring out of it safety to my country, and honor to our sovereign, my labors will be joyful."
The people of New Hampshire soon gave an example of the spirit by which the whole country was animated equally with themselves. An order had been passed by the king in council prohibiting the exportation of gunpowder to America. A Bel- knap. copy of it was brought by express to Portsmouth, at a time when a ship of war was daily expected from Boston to take possession of fort William and Mary. The committee of the town, with 1774. secrecy and despatch, collected a company from Bel- knap. Portsmouth and some of the neighboring towns, Dec.11. and, before the governor had any suspicion of their intentions, they proceeded to Newcastle and as- saulted the fort before the troops had arrived. The captain and five men, who were the whole of the garrison, were taken into custody, and one hundred barrels of powder were carried off. The next day another company removed fifteen of the lighter cannon, together with all the small arms and other warlike stores. These were carefully secreted in the several towns, under the care of the committees, and afterwards did effectual ser- vice at Bunker's Hill. Major John Sullivan and John Langdon were the leaders in this expedition. No sooner was it accomplished, than the Scar- borough frigate and sloop of war Canseau arrived, with several companies of soldiers. They took possession of the fort, but found only the heavy cannon. Sullivan and Langdon were afterwards
1775. Jan. 25.
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CHAP. IX. chosen delegates to the next general congress, to be holden on the tenth of May.
The winter of 1774 passed away in gloomy apprehension and anxiety. It was evident that the breach between the two countries was too wide to be healed, No mediator could be found, and there was too much reason to fear that this controversy must be decided on the field of battle .* The port of Boston was shut and guarded by ships of war. Its commerce was ruined, its poor with- out bread, its merchants without business. A military governor presided over them, and was concentrating troops, as if in apprehension of an approaching crisis. Parliament had voted the existence of rebellion in Massachusetts, and the king had demanded an augmentation of his forces by sea and land.
On the night of the 19th of April, Gen. Gage, governor of Massachusetts, despatched a body of his troops privately, to destroy a magazine of pro- visions and ammunition which the provincials had collected at Concord. He hoped also to secure the persons of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, two of the most active and ardent of the Sons of Liberty. At eleven in the evening the troops were embarked at Boston, under the command of Lieut. Col. Smith and Maj. Pitcairn. The pro- vincials had notice of their approach, and at five o'clock, on the morning of the eighteenth, they had assembled at Lexington, to the number of
* The spirit which was displayed by the people may be seen by reference to the New Hampshire Gazette for the period of 1760 to 1775. The follow- ing papers are of especial interest, viz .: 1767, Jan. 2; Nov. 27; Dec. 11, 24; 1768, Jan. 15, 22, 29; Feb. 12, 19, 26; March 11, 18; April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6; June 17, 24; 1769, Nov. 10; Dec. 29.
April 19.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE.
seventy. The royal troops appeared in sight, and CHAP. Major Pitcairn, riding forward, brandished his IX. sword at the head of his column, and cried out to the Americans, "Disperse, ye rebels ! lay down your arms and retire !" Not being instantly obeyed, he ordered his men to fire. Eight of the provincials fell, and the remainder retreated, pur- sued by the British.
Thus was spilled the first blood of the Revolu- tion. Thus was opened the grand drama, which closed in the dismemberment of a great empire and the birth of the first American republic. The American Revolution !- that revolution which was to make the names of its actors celebrated with immortal praises, and their memory dear to pos- terity-that revolution which was to be the dread of tyrants, and the example and the hope of free- men, to the latest ages.
A simple monument, raised a few yards from the church, now marks the spot where fell these first martyrs to the cause of liberty. The detach- ment proceeded to Concord, and, after a hot skir- mish, destroyed or removed the stores, and then retreated precipitately towards Lexington, assailed with fury by the provincials. The minute-men, hastily assembling from all quarters, followed in
close pursuit. Posted behind fences, trees, and stumps, they kept up a galling and destructive fire along the whole line of the march, which it was impossible for the British to return. They at length reached Lexington, where they were met by Lord Percy, with a reinforcement of nine hun- dred men. At sunset they reached Charlestown neck, overcome with fatigue, and having lost two
30
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. IX. hundred and seventy-three in killed, wounded and missing. The provincials lost eighty-eight.
Weems' Life of Wash- ington.
The news of the battle of Lexington spread everywhere with electric speed. From all parts the cry rung, to arms. The militia poured in from all quarters, and soon there was collected in the neighborhood of Boston an army of twenty thou- May. sand men. In May, the Americans, under Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, surprised and took the strong fortress of Ticonderoga ; and soon after, a detachment, under Colonel Warner, took pos- session of Crown Point. During all these hostile movements, Governor Wentworth, who, like most of the British governors, entirely mistook the genius of the people of New England, continued to be sanguine in his hopes to plant the root of peace in New Hampshire. He summoned a new assembly, and in his speech* exhorted them to di- rect their councils to peace. He earnestly con- jured them to an affectionate reconciliation with the mother country. But the spell of royal influ- ence was broken. 6 The assembly desired a short recess, and he adjourned them to the twelfth of June. Meanwhile, the crew of the Scarborough proceeded to dismantle fort William and Mary. They also seized two vessels, coming into the harbor, laden with provisions. The inhabitants demanded their release; but the governor refused to give them up. Immediately a body of men armed themselves and proceeded to a battery at May 26. Jerry's point, at Great Island, and seized eight pieces of cannon and brought them to Portsmouth. But while they were engaged in this, the Canseau
* Prov. Rec., Jour. House, 1770 -- 1775.
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sloop convoyed the two provision-vessels to Bos- CHAP. ton, for the supply of the British fleet and army. IX. ~
A convention of the people had been called, and was at this time sitting at Exeter. They passed a vote of thanks to those who had removed the cannon from the battery, and to those who had taken the powder and guns from the fort, under Sullivan and Langdon. Recognising the doctrine that the representative is the mere organ, servant, or agent of the people, and bound to obey their known will, the people had instructed the repre- sentatives how to proceed in several important par- ticulars at the next assembly. They had come freshly from the people. In this body the province was fully and equally represented, and the voice of the convention was therefore regarded as the voice of the people. Pursuant to adjournment, the house met on the twelfth of June, and the governor again recommended "the conciliatory proposition."* The house gave him no heed, as appears by the first step they took. Recognising the duty of the representative to obey the voice of his constituents, they proceeded, in obedience to the instructions of the convention, to expel three members whom the governor had called by the king's writ from three new townships. This they did because these members were elected from their known partiality to the royal cause,t while other towns, much older and more populous, were not represented. One of the expelled members, having censured this proceeding, was assaulted by the populace, and fled for shelter to the governor's house. The peo-
Bel- knap.
June 12.
* The proposition of Lord North. Parl. Deb.
+ Prov. Rec., Jour. House, 1770-1775.
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. IX. ple demanded him, and, being refused, they pointed a gun at the governor's door ; whereupon the offender was surrendered and carried to Exeter. The governor retired to the fort, and his house was pillaged. He afterwards went on board the Scarborough and sailed for Boston. He had adjourned the assembly to the 28th of September. But they met no more. In September, he issued a proclamation from the Isles of Shoals, adjourn- ing them to April next. This was the closing act
of his administration. It was the last receding step of royalty. It had subsisted in the province ninety-five years. The government of New Hamp- shire was henceforth to be a government of the people.
The news of the battle of Lexington aroused all America. Men of all classes-the mechanic from his shop, the farmer from the field-all has- tened towards Boston ; and a volunteer army of thirty thousand men were found assembled in a short time, and closely pressing the siege upon the British within the city. Twenty thousand of these were sent home by the American generals .* But of those who remained, twelve hundred were from New Hampshire, under command of the colonels Stark and Reid ; the former of whom, while at work in his saw-mill, heard of the battle of Lex- ington, and instantly dropped the implements of labor, seized his musket, and hastened to the post of danger. So closely were the British troops besieged, and so completely was their communi- cation with the adjacent country cut off, that it was impossible to obtain supplies. They dared
* Botta, I., 186.
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not to sally forth even to procure food ; yet they CHAP. IX.
looked upon the insurgent people with disdain.
All eyes were now fixed on the two armies at 1775. Boston; the one composed of the regular troops of the king within the city, the other a body of raw militia, collected from the workshop and the plough, closely pressing a siege upon their disciplined and confident foe. The Americans had elected Gen. Ward commander-in-chief, with Col. Putnam for the second in command. The British, already reinforced, were under the command of Gage, Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne; all skilful and ex- perienced commanders. They had come from the battle-fields of Europe freshly decked with lau- rels. They had combatted successfully against the most warlike nations in the world. Were they to be seriously opposed by "a flock of Yankees ?" as they contemptuously named the Americans. Elated with the recollection of their past achievements, they panted to wipe off the dis- grace of Lexington. They could not bear to rest under the thought that they had turned their backs at Concord, and retreated before a foe whom they despised and persisted in calling cowards.
They were now suffering extremely from scar- city of food. This, as well as a desire to execute something, determined the British to attempt some mode to extricate themselves from their difficult position, and gain an entrance into the open coun- try. The American generals were apprized of their intention, and, in order to prevent this move- ment they resolved to fortify the heights of Bun- ker's hill. Orders were therefore given to Col. William Prescott to occupy them with a detach-
Botta, I., 202.
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. ment of one thousand men, and to fortify himself IX. there. But, from some mistake, instead of repair- ing to the heights of Bunker's hill, he advanced farther on, and commenced his entrenchments on the heights of Breed's hill, another eminence which overlooks Charlestown, and is situated towards the extremity of the peninsula, nearer to Boston. 'The labor had been conducted with such silence as to be unperceived by the English ; and, by the following morning at daybreak, the Americans had already constructed a square redoubt, capable of affording them shelter from the enemy. The Eng- lish had no suspicion of what was passing. It was about four o'clock the next morning when the Botta, I., 203. captain of a ship of war first perceived it, and began to play his artillery. It now became impor- tant to dislodge the provincials from this formi- dable position, or at least to stop the progress 1775. of their entrenchments. The English, therefore, opened a general fire of artillery, which hailed a tempest of bombs and balls upon the works of the Americans. But, notwithstanding the fury of Botta, I., 203. the enemy's artillery, the Americans continued to work the whole day with unshaken constancy ; and towards night they had already much advanced a trench, which descended from the redoubt to the foot of the hill and almost to the banks of Mystic river. The small passage between they obstructed with two parallel palisades, which were made by pulling up some adjoining post and rail fence, and setting it down in two parallel lines near each other, filling the space between with grass .* The right wing was flanked by the houses of Charles-
* Morse's Revolution, p. 231.
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town, which they occupied ; the centre and left CHAP. wing formed themselves behind the trench, which, IX. following the declivity of the hill, extended towards Mystic river. The troops of Massachusetts oc- cupied Charlestown, the redoubt, and a part of the trench ; those of Connecticut, commanded by Capt. Nolten, and those of New Hampshire, under Cols. Stark and Reed, the rest of the trench .*
Before the battle commenced, Dr. Warren, who had volunteered his services, arrived, and joined the troops of Massachusetts. Gen. Pomeroy made his appearance at the same time, and took command of those from Connecticut. Gen. Put- nam directed in chief, and held himself ready to repair to any point where his presence should be most needed. About midday, the heat being in- tense, all was in motion in the British camp. A multitude of sloops and boats, filled with British soldiers, the whole under the command of General Howe and Brigadier General Pigot, crossed over 1775. to Charlestown, and landed without meeting resist- June 17. ance. Their debarkation was protected by the fire of the artillery from the ships of war, which forced the Americans to keep within their entrench- ments. The troops, on landing, began to display, the light infantry on the right, the grenadiers on the left ; but having observed the strength of the position and the good countenance of the Ameri- cans, Gen. Howe made a halt, and sent to call a reinforcement. The English now formed them- selves in two columns. Their plan was that the I., 204. Botta, left wing, under General Pigot, should attack the
* In describing the battle of Bunker's Hill, I have adopted the statements, and, in some instances, the language, of Botta, the Italian historian.
Botta, I., 204.
Botta, I., 204.
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. rebels in Charlestown, while the centre assaulted IX. the redoubt; and the right wing, consisting of light infantry, should force the passage near the river Mystic, and thus assail the Americans in flank and rear. It appears, also, that Gen. Gage had formed the design of setting fire to Charlestown, in order that the corps destined to assail the redoubt, thus protected by the flames and smoke, might be less exposed to the fire of the provincials. The dispositions having all been completed, the Eng- lish put themselves in motion. The provincials that were stationed to defend Charlestown, fearing lest the assailants should penetrate between the town and the redoubt, and thus to find themselves cut off from the rest of the army, retreated. The English immediately entered the town and fired the buildings, which being of wood, the com- bustion soon became general. They continued a slow march against the redoubt and trench, halting from time to time for the artillery to come up and act with some effect previous to the assault. The flames and smoke of Charlestown were of little use to them, as the wind turned them in a contrary di- rection. The scene presented by the hostile armies was sublime beyond the power of language. The veil of smoke rising from Charlestown, the flames, the crash of falling houses, the uproar of the artil- lery, and the sanguinary nature of the conflict, all conspired to render the spectacle one of surpassing sublimity and interest. On the part of the Eng- lish, honor was at stake-fame might be won. On the side of the Americans, the defence of their country, the liberty and rights of themselves and their posterity, now depended upon their arms and
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their valor. The spires and roofs of Boston, the CHAP. hills and circumjacent fields, were covered with IX. swarms of spectators, all intently viewing the men, who, unaccustomed to the glare of military show, clad in the rude vestments of husbandry, with scarcely a badge or a banner to deck their ranks, were to show, by this day's conduct, whether they were worthy to transmit freedom to their children. The English advanced, exulting in anticipation of an easy triumph. Their standards waved proudly above them, and the wild music of their martial bands rose on the air and mingled with the roar of the artillery. With muskets levelled, but re- serving their fire, the Americans awaited the result in profound tranquillity. The weather was clear, and permitted them to take good aim. Not a shot was fired until the English had advanced within a few yards of the works, when a terrible flash came from the redoubt, and a deluge of balls poured amidst the enemy's ranks. Volley after volley succeeded, with such fatal aim, that not even the practised courage of royal troops could withstand its effect. They reeled as before a whirlwind, and fled in wild disorder to the place of landing. Some threw themselves precipitately into the boats.
The English officers were now seen running hither and thither amongst the disordered battal- ions, with promises, with exhortations and with menaces, attempting to rally the soldiers for a second attack. At length, after the most painful efforts, they resumed their ranks and turned their faces again towards the deadly redoubt. The Americans reserved their fire, as before, until they had advanced within a few yards, and then poured
1775. June 17.
31
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. upon them the same deluge of balls. Overwhelmed IX. and routed, they again fled to the shore. For Botta, 205. a moment General Howe remained alone upon the field of battle ; all the officers who surrounded him were killed or wounded. At this critical con- juncture, upon which depended the issue of the day, General Clinton, who from Copp's Hill had watched all the movements, seeing the destruction of his best troops, immediately resolved to fly to their succor ; and entering a boat he was rowed rapidly to Charlestown. By an able movement, this experienced commander re-established order, and being promptly seconded by the officers, who felt all the importance of success to English honor, Botta, 206. led the troops to the third attack. It was directed against the redoubt at the several points. The ammunition of the Americans being exhausted, and being without bayonets, they defended themselves valiantly for a while with the butt-ends of their mus- kets ; but, seeing the redoubt and the upper part of the trench filled with enemies, they slowly retired. During the action the ships of war raked the isth- mus of Charlestown to prevent any reinforcements from passing to the Americans from Cambridge. General Putnam, seeing this, rode several times to and fro along the isthmus, to convince the Cam- bridge division that they could pass over with safety. But being apprehensive of an attack in their own position, they declined engaging in the battle. The Americans had not yet reached the Botta, 206. period of their greatest peril. The only way of retreat was by the isthmus of Charlestown, which was raked by the guns of the Glasgow ship of war and two floating batteries. The Americans, how
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ever, issued from the peninsula without losing any CHAP. considerable number of men. Yet their loss was IX. great, for it was here that the brave Warren was killed. A British officer singled him out and shot him with a gun which he borrowed from a soldier. He fell and died upon the spot. In him America lost a man of the purest patriotism and the most undaunted bravery-an able statesman, an ac- complished orator. New Hampshire here lost a gallant son, Major Andrew M'Clary, who was killed by a cannon shot after he had passed the isthmus. Thus ended the battle of Bunker's* hill, and with it the confidence which the British had reposed in the cowardice of the Americans. The Americans reaped the fruits of a victory. The British remained masters of the field. Their loss was ten hundred and fifty-four. The Americans lost, in killed, wounded and missing, four hundred and fifty three.t
Mass. Records, 232.
Bel- knap,p. 359. Whi- ton, p. 128.
In this battle the New Hampshire troops, posted behind the breast-work, on the left of the main body, behaved with distinguished bravery. They helped to sustain that galling fire which swept down whole regiments of the British as they advanced to the attack. They made good the defence of their position, until the loss of the redoubt compelled the American commander to sound the signal of retreat. The number lost from Stark's regiment was fifteen killed and missing, and sixty wounded; the number from Colonel
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