University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 27 text:

, ., .. , .-1. , , - I ...Y ,-q . V x x ' 3- Q It 1' l x A A -t-.fy T, A P' W JV' . 'J QT' ' ' 1 , gk f f ' at 25 'I 1 I S 1 ' T l x . . ' C512 7'-. ' 1' ' 1 , f' -lw-.Q L f' , 1' - -sg, tag , -.. i, i .,',' f'-5. '- Y f fwat lew'fii .V,,.., ,I I . gli- u 1 MA A t -, .QA 4. -. ' -t f, ' '2Jfi,... t , now, ,f , mga, 12,9 : , - t- tul ips , 2 r, Af- -t l, g, s k i. st.. -ily? -5-' ,PF 'i ' ': .iziliff 57 V Q, - .. V , N A... ,ps - -,gi ew '. .321 ' 'ii1ittS: g if ' ef 1.4. Q4ri fC-fs?-5.5. . M g-.2 5 515 , .3 'gy , .1ik.:.'::4-H271 -- at--get ,Y . 1. L-.R t 1- t f .P f:1's--- -4 whiz' 11.1. '-f 5-1115 -in-Fl, 1-1:-w . V- il - A' 41- l ' A gt ' in , Qs ., . , -,. 'ww . l ,1 -swf: 1 'f f rf . , --- IE ' W 5 . C .lfiffff 'F' .3-ct ' 1511- : fs, if P' 1 , ,, ' V, . -g f , Q 1 gi :t j , ri.ff4figa'3fQ . , ff, i g, 5 I 1 y l n -jfgi l , - g.:,,5gg'?,.:.,:? ,S 5-If-r .,g' ,, :,. k, L .., 3 - ' 1 -:aug if-wi -l'f li: R -.Tilt Q .ff.7f.1 4A. ff 'fm ,, we - ---- ' --V---1 V--- ----- - ,, , .- w. l 23 The celebration of the Bicen- tennial will mean different things to different people and will be celebrated in a variety ofways. Massachusetts started off the National Bicentennial Ce- lebrations in Concord and Lex- ington on the 19th and 20th of April. Millions of people from all over the country and the world crammed together, in these towns and the surrounding ones, to catch either a glimpse of Minutemen and Redcoats, or the performers at the Peo- ple's Bicentennial Party. Here is one student's ac- count as she spent a couple of sleepless nights and braved the rain and cold weather for this historic event. Friday morning, April 18, we got up early and headed for Concord for the big Bicenten- nial weekend. The official start of our nation's celebration of having survived for 200 years. Massive crowds were ex- pected for the event, and as we toured Concord on Friday, hordes of people were arriving, streets were being closed off, and the town was disrupted. That quality of apprehension and excitement present before any big event was there. A kind of electricity and uneasi- ness pervaded the atmosphere, as policemen, guards, photo- graphers and press corps sur- veyed the area, sized up the passersby and looked suspi- ciously at anyone carrying a knapsack, sleeping bag, or even too many cameras. Trou- ble was expected, and perhaps even hoped for. Members of the People's Bicentennial Commission CPBCJ were com- ing to harass the President. I felt it was viewed that way by those in charge of keeping order. Townspeople rnust have felt that such a group would shed an unfavorable light on their town, and look bad to the President and his men. Resi- dents of Concord are proud of their heritage, and rightly so. Fear of anything going wrong was not a pleasant thought. An all-night concert was planned to start at midnight. The stage was set up and the people came. Thousands, equipped with tents, blankets, cameras, notebooks, pot, brandy and anything else to

Page 26 text:

Major John Pitcairn was one of the most able and popular British officers. His account is a report to his commanding officer, General Gage. Rev. Jonathan Ashley was settled in Deerfield for life and nothing short of an ecclesiastical revolution could upset him. He had prayed publicly for the King for 40 years and continuing true to him and his ministers took no pains to conceal his loyality. He was a strong- minded man and his influence was all against the Whigs and their 'wicked re- bellion'. The Whigs were desirous to get rid of him by any means in their power. The town, hoping to freeze him out, in 1774, refused to vote him any salary or firewood, but the Tories over- rode the attempt. Later the Whigs tried to dismiss him, but could not. They did succeed, however, in not furnishing him any firewood, but he still remained. It is said that, When Parson Ashley of Deerfield finished reading a procla- mation from the pulpit ending with the customary 'God save the Common- wealth of Massachusetts', he rose to his full height and with serious tones ad- ded, gand the King, too, I say, or we are an undone people., happened near and at Lexington on the 19th Inst agreeable to your desire, I will in as concise a manner as possible state th Facts, for my time at present is so much employed as to prevent more particular narrative of the occurrences of that day Six companies of Light Infantry were detached by Lt Col Smit take possession of Two Bridges on the other side of Concord Three in the Morning, when we were advanced within about Two of Lexington, Intelligence was received, that about 500 Men in arms assembled, determined to oppose the Kings Troops and retard the their March - On this intelligence, I mounted my Horse and Gallope to the Six Light Companies - when I arrived at the Head of the vanced Company, Two Officers came and informed me that a Ma the Rebels advanced from those that were assembled had presentc Musquet and attempted to Shoot them, but toe Piece flashed tn the - On this I gave directions to the Troops to move forward but o account to Fire, or even attempt it without orders when I arrived a end of the Villiage, I observed drawn up upon a Green near 200 0 Rebelsg when I came within about One Hundred Yards of them began to File off towards some stone walls on our Right Flank Light Infantry observing this, ran after them - I instantly called t Soldiers not to Fire, but to surround and disarm them and after se repetitions of those positive Orders to the men, not to Ftre8LC so . 7 . 1 . . . 1 Y l Sir, As you are anxious to know the particulars that 4 IN n v r 1 1 t f t o v rr the Rebels who had jumped over the Wall, Fired Four or Five Shot the Soldiers which wounded a man of the Tenth and my Horse Wounded in two places from some quarter or other and at the same several Shott were fired from a Meeting house on our Left upon without any order or Regularity, the Light Infantry began a scatt Fire, and continued in that situation for some little time contrar repeated orders both of me and the officers that were present , will be needless to mention what happend after as I suppose Co Z Smith hath given a particular account of it I am sir Your most obedt Bggggngggp humble ?Z5Z2'l5,m,m ll txt 1775. Here is what is undoubtedly the most accurate ofall the scenes ofthe battle of Lexington. lt was made by Amos Dooltttle1nl775

Page 28 text:

As the breach widened between England and America, colonial town meetings often turned into bitter disputes among loyal supporters ofthe king and patriots who demanded rebellion. The Tories in Amherst had a loud voice and determined much of the town's political feelings for awhile. Amherst got rid of the men in high positions who op- possed the war and finally in Jan- uary of 1776, the townspeople had a majority voice to support the Continental Congress. General Burgoyne and one-half of the British army marched through Am- herst on their way to Boston, knowing that the sentiments of the town officials were with the British. When Colrain heard of the Lexing- ton and Concord battle, they sent their Minutemen right away. Boston officials urged most of the men to return home because they were not prepared for warfare at all. After Northampton heard the news ofthe Concord and Lexington battles, the minutemen left immediately for the front and reached Concord on the 26th. On word of the British march on Concord. the Charlcmont Minutemen marched to Cambridge. Some returned home shortly afterwards and some re- mained to fight at thc Battle of Bunker Hill. and further saith not. owever to e est on my reco ec ion a ou o oc in e 0 ni being the 19th of April the 5 front Compys was ordered to Load whi we did, about half an hour after we found that precaution had be necessary, for we had then to unload ffirel again and then was the fi Blood drawn in this American Rebellion. It was at Lexington when saw one of their Compys drawn up in regular order Major Pitcairn of t Marines second in Command called to them to disperse, but their seeming willing he desired us to mind our space which we did when th gave us a fire then run offfl to get behind a wall. We had one ml militia in Lexington, do testify and declare, that on the nine teenth instant, in the morning, about one of the clock, being informed that there were a number of Regular Officers riding up 8: down the road, taking and insulting people, and also was informed tha the Regular Troops were on their march from Boston, in order to ta the Province Store at Concord, immediately ordered our 'Militia to m on the common in said Lexington, to consult what to do, and conclud not to be discovered, nor meddle or make with said Regular Troops- they should approachj unless they should insult or molest usg and up their sudden approach, I immediately ordered our militia to disperse a not to fire, immediately said Troops made their appearance, and rush furiousl 8c fired u n and killed ei ht of our art without receiving a I, John Parker, of lawful age, and commander of the ' l . . e I l f 1 I Y, P0 8 P Y 1 provocation therefor from us. I, Thomas Fessenden, of lawful age, testify and declare, that being a pasture near the meeting-house at said Lexington, on Wednesday, la: at about half an hour before sunrise, . . . I saw three officers on horsebar advance to the front of said Regulars, when one of them being within s rods of the said Militia cried out, Disperse, you rebels, immediately on which he brandished his sword over his head three times, meanwhi the second officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a pist pointed at said Militia, and the Regulars kept huzzaing till he had finishr brandishing his sword, and when he had thus finished brandishing 1 sword, he pointed it down towards said Militia, and immediately on whit the said Regulars fired a volley at the Militia and then I ran off, as fa as I could, while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. I furth testify, that as soon as ever the officer cried Disperse, you rebels, tl said Company of Militia dispersed every way as fast as they could ai while they were dispersing the Regulars kept firing at them incessant 4 John Park Thomas Fessendr 'H thb ll t' bt4Clk'thMr'3 l n 0 wounded of our Compy in the Leg his Name was Johnson also Maj Pitcairns Horse was shot in the flank we return'd their Salute ffirel and before we proceeded on our March from Lexington I believe we Kil1'd and wounded either 7 or 8 men. Asa Graves, a Sunderland native, was George Washington's bodyguard. A story in Deerfield runs that a mob of Whigs had gathered about John Wil- liams' fToryJ house. The Whigs found it garrisioned by well-armed friendsg that as they were advancing to break in the door, a window over it was opened and Seth Catlin appeared, musket in hand, threatening to blow a lane through them if they advanced another step. The crowd knew him too well to doubt his word and a parley was called. A committee of the mob was admitted 24 - Statement of Jeremy g Lister, of the 10th S Regiment, the youngest - British Officer present i 1 and for one hour the questions at issue were discussed. Meanwhile, the com- mittee was well plied with hot, strong spirits. The Committee declared them- selves well satisfied, went out and re- ported to their constituents that Mr. Williams was a good patriot and had given good Christian satisfaction. This report settled the affair and the mob went home. On April 20, 1775 a Deerfield town meeting voted to pay a small army in preparation for the Revolution.