The Minute Boys of Boston

by James Otis

  CHAPTER IX

  ON SPECIAL DUTY

  When we were come to the Penny ferry our consort had discharged hercargo, and there were forty or fifty men, I should say, engaged indriving the sheep and transporting the grain out of harm's way, for,save as to a few sentinels, our people had no force stationed at thatplace.

  After some considerable trouble Archie and I succeeded in getting twocarts with horses to carry our dead and wounded, for I was determinedthe bodies of those lads who had given up their lives for the Causeshould be carried where they might receive a soldier's burial.

  Because we were forced to move slowly on account of the wounded, anotherday had fully come before we entered the encampment, and I was surprisedat finding that all our people there seemed to know as much concerningwhat had been done near Hog island as did we who had taken part in theaction.

  The sailors of the sloop which we had aided to escape, were so loud intheir praise of what the Minute Boys of Boston had done, and so eager tomake every person acquainted with the part we had played, that had webeen veritable heroes the reception accorded us could not have beenwarmer.

  Men whom I had never seen before shook me by the hand as if we werefriends of long standing, and had much to say in praise of the pastday's work. Doctor Warren seemingly made it his especial business togreet each of us in turn, and repeated again and again that he was notsurprised because of our having shown ourselves men, since he knew theday we carried his message to Lexington that we had in us the making ofsoldiers.

  As a matter of course I was proud of being thus received by my elders,but when my father came up hurriedly, taking me in his arms and kissingme on the cheek as if I had been a mere child, truly was my cup ofhappiness running over!

  I tried to belittle the affair, although way down in my heart I believedit was of considerable importance; but he would have none of it,claiming that those who manned the sloop could not have stretched thetruth, since the result showed that we must have acted nobly.

  Now it can well be fancied that we Minute Boys were considerably puffedup because of all this praise, more particularly when our elders greetedus as equals. My pride and happiness vanished, however, on thatsorrowful day when our comrades were buried.

  General Ward had issued orders that the lads be committed to the earthwith all the ceremony of a military funeral, and we Minute Boys who wereable to march, acted as guard of honor. It was all very imposing; but atthe same time solemn, and my heart grew chill with fear as to thefuture, when I realized that it was more than probable others of ourcompany would give up their lives before we had won out in this fightagainst the king.

  During four or five days after the funeral our company of Minute Boysremained within the encampment, for by this time we were come to beconsidered a portion of the army, or, a better way of putting it wouldbe, that our elders recognized us as being worthy of being calledsoldiers, and meanwhile Hiram's wound was healed.

  Many, many times during every twenty-four hours did we discuss thequestion of going back to Boston town, the greater number of usbelieving that we could do better work as spies than by loitering aroundthe camp, where were so many idle ones.

  As a matter of fact we did not, even in our warmest discussions,consider for a moment that Archie would be warranted in returning, andall of us understood that most like our names were down in GeneralGage's black books, for it was reasonable to suppose that Seth Jepsonhad given to the enemy all information concerning us that was possible.

  It was true we might walk the streets of Boston without being recognizedby the lobster backs, even though the hue and cry had been raised, butshould we by accident come upon Seth Jepson, Amos Nelson, or any of thatkidney, then was it certain they would compass our arrest.

  However, despite all the dangers which might attend our entering thetown, Silas and I were hankering to make the attempt. Hiram would giveus no advice either way, claiming that until the wound in his arm hadfully healed, or, in other words, meaning while he was not in conditionto perform a soldier's duty he would take no part in recommending othersto risk their necks.

  I pressed him to know whether, if he was in fit bodily condition, hewould advocate going into Boston on the chance of being able to learnsomething that might be of importance to our people; but he evaded adirect answer by saying:

  "All that is as may be. Should it happen that the lobster backs began tonestle around like a hive of bees making ready to swarm, then it mightbe I should say we had best go; but just at present there is nothing toshow that you could learn more than may be picked up by any of ourfriends in town."

  Then it was I appealed to Doctor Warren, telling him we Minute Boys wereeager to be up and doing, and that it seemed as if we might be ofassistance as spies; but he cut short the conversation by saying in whatsounded to me like an odd tone:

  "There'll soon be ample work near here, and I see no reason why you ladsshould be so venturesome when there is little call for anything of thekind."

  It is needless to say that I abandoned the idea of going immediatelyamong the lobster backs, for Doctor Warren's opinion had great weightwith me, and he had spoken so positively against it that I set abouttrying to make myself content with the idle life we were leading.

  It was soon proven that I was to get my fill of right down hard work,together with more of danger than the most gluttonous swashbuckler couldhave mapped out.

  I think it was the second, or it might have been the third, day after myconversation with Doctor Warren, when Hiram Griffin sought me out whereSilas and I lay on our backs in the college yard, sunning ourselves asdo chickens. There was an expression of wisdom on his face, as if heknew more than he intended to impart, when he said to me:

  "Lad, do you know Colonel Prescott of the Pepperell Minute Men?"

  "You yourself pointed him out to me not long ago," I replied lazily.

  "Do you know where his headquarters are?"

  "With his men, I reckon. One of them acted as sailor aboard the sloopthat carried the live stock and grain from Hog island, and you can getfrom him what information you need concerning the colonel."

  "It's not information I'm after, lad. You, as captain of the Minute Boysof Boston, are ordered to report to Colonel Prescott."

  "For duty?" I cried excitedly.

  "Well, I reckon it may be something of the kind, for it don't stand toreason that such a man as Colonel Prescott sends out orders for a ladlike you to report, if he simply wants an every-day bit of gossip."

  "Come on, Silas! If there's a chance for us Minute Boys to have a fingerin any pie that is baking, don't let's linger here!"

  "Silas best stay where he is," Hiram said, and there was a look ofdisappointment on the lad's face, for he was no less eager than I to bedoing something against the lobster backs, and most like burned withimpatience to know what Colonel Prescott might have in hand for us.

  I had but little difficulty in finding the officer who had sent for me,and he did not keep me in suspense many minutes.

  "How many lads in your company are fit for duty now?" he askedimmediately I stepped before him.

  "Eleven, sir, I believe--twelve if Hiram Griffin calls himself one of usand can use his arm."

  "Muster your company in front of General Ward's headquarters an hourbefore sunset, taking care to provide yourselves with blankets and oneday's rations."

  Having given this command he turned to speak with an officer who wasstanding nearby, and seemingly gave no more heed to me, yet I stood likea simple, rather than one who claimed to be a soldier, awaiting furtherinformation, until mayhap five full minutes had passed when I came torealize my stupidity. Then saluting, even though his back was turnedtoward me, I went out and ran with all speed to where I had left Silasand Hiram.

  They were awaiting me patiently, evidently counting on my comingdirectly back, and once I was within speaking distance Hiram askedlaughingly:

  "Well, did the colonel send for you that he might learn whether theMinute Boys had any complaint
to make regarding their quarters or theirrations?"

  "We are ordered to assemble in front of General Ward's headquarters anhour before sunset!" I replied breathlessly, giving no heed to hisbanter.

  "Then there is some work to be done!" Silas cried joyfully.

  "It must be so since we are to provide ourselves with blankets and aday's ration."

  "I'm thinking that Colonel Prescott would have been wiser had heforgotten the blankets and ordered more food," Hiram said with an oddexpression on his face, and I taxed him with knowing more regarding thepurpose for which we were to assemble than he had told us.

  "Nay, lad, whatever may be in my head is only suspicion, aroused by aword here and a word there dropped by some of our officers. You know Ialways hold that a man should gather all the information he can whenthere is nothing else to be done. I've had my ears opened mighty widesince knowing the Committee of Safety held a secret session not longago, and from that time out it strikes me there have been manyconversations between our commanders."

  "Tell us what you suspect," Silas demanded, and Hiram shook his headwith the air of one who has come to an end of his budget of news.

  "It is only that we are to make some important move mighty soon, andmore than that I am in the dark. You can set it down as a fact, however,that this ordering of the Minute Boys to be ready for what looks likespecial duty, goes to prove that our people are aiming to give GeneralGage a black eye inside of a short time."

  We speculated upon what might be in the wind, during ten minutes or morewithout coming to any satisfactory conclusion, and then I realized itwas my duty to make the other lads acquainted with the orders of theday, so far as they concerned us, therefore I hastened away in order tofind them, for my Minute Boys were prone to scatter all over theencampment, instead of remaining in any one particular place.

  There is little reason why I should waste words in trying to repeat allthat we said regarding this special duty, or in striving to describe thejoy which was felt by all because of our having been ordered to report,thus showing that we were considered as a portion of the army.

  It may readily be understood that at the appointed time we Minute Boyswere drawn up in line facing General Ward's headquarters, and within thenext fifteen minutes no less than a thousand men filed into the Commonin our rear.

  When we had been there nearly an hour, during which time I could hearthose directly behind me striving in vain to hit upon the duty which wasto be performed, General Ward, Colonel Prescott, and mayhap a dozenother officers, came out of headquarters, and with them was ParsonLangdon, he who, as I afterward learned, was the president of thecollege.

  While we stood at attention the clergyman prayed long and devoutly, thusproving to my mind, at least, that we were to be engaged in a service ofgreat danger and much importance.

  After the prayer had been ended there was no little delay caused by aconference of the officers, who seemed to be at loggerheads aboutsomething, and it was near to nine of the clock before the order wasgiven for us to march. By this time night had come, and in order that wemight not go astray, Colonel Prescott himself, with two sergeantscarrying dark lanterns which were opened toward the rear, led the way.

  Now although Hiram Griffin had claimed that his wound was stilltroubling him, he fell into line with us when we marched down toheadquarters, declaring that it was his right so to do since heconsidered himself as belonging to the Minute Boys rather than any otherorganization.

  When I would have argued that none but the able-bodied were called for,he insisted it was possible for him to do as good service as any otherof the company, and refused to give way despite all our urging.

  Therefore it was that when we set out on the march in columns of four hewalked by my side. Next him was Archie, and then Silas. Thus we had anopportunity for conversation, provided our voices were not pitched toohigh, for orders had been given that we refrain from making a noise, andwhen Colonel Prescott and the two sergeants took the lead with theirlanterns, Hiram said in a low tone to me as if it was a matter that gavehim greatest pleasure:

  "I'm beginning to think this movement is of more importance than Ifancied. You may be certain something of moment is afoot, for a thousandor more armed men are not sent out under cover of darkness unless for aweighty reason, but what that may be beats me."

  It was idle for us to speculate as to the future, and yet we didthroughout that march of nearly three hours, although we failed tosucceed in convincing ourselves upon any one point until we were come toCharlestown Neck. There we found drawn up by the side of the road, wagonafter wagon filled with spades, pick-axes and such like tools, whereuponHiram cried suddenly:

  "I'm not claiming to be any great shakes of a soldier; but he must be ablind man who could not see that our business this night is to throw upintrenchments at some place, and where should that be, considering theroad we have come, if not in Charlestown?"

  Again did it appear as if our officers were not fully decided upon whatshould be done, for Colonel Gridley and Colonel Prescott, together witha number of captains, consulted a long time, while we remained in linenear the wagons.

  Then we were ordered forward again, nor did that portion of the commandwhich our Minute Boys followed halt until we were come to a hill inCharlestown, mostly of pasture land, lying about an hundred and thirtyrods southeast of Bunker hill, where all hands were speedily set to workwith spades and pick-axes throwing up the earth to form breastworksaccording to instructions given by Colonel Gridley.

  We Minute Boys could handle pick-axe or shovel as well as any man, andI'll answer for all that they labored most industriously once the workwas laid out for them.

  "If we were hankering for danger, truly we are getting all that isneeded," Archie whispered to me as we stood side by side throwing up themound of earth which was to protect our people against the onslaught ofthe Britishers. "It seems as if we were close upon the lobster backs,for more than once have I heard the cries of their sentinels, and unlessthe king's ships have changed anchorage since I was last in Boston town,then they must be near to this shore."

  Our officers understood as well as did Archie or I, how much of dangerthere was in our thus working under the very noses of the enemy, for,when not wielding the pick or shovel, they were walking around among themen cautioning them against making any noise save that which wasabsolutely necessary, until I came to believe there was even more ofperil in this undertaking than the lads of our company had fancied.

  The dullest among us could well understand that what was being done mustbe finished before daybreak, or else left uncompleted, for it wentwithout saying that as soon as the Britishers got a glimpse of us, therewould be lively times. We worked like beavers with that thought in mind,for now it was certain we had been sent to make ready for the coming ofthose who were to hold that which we had built, and negligence on ourpart might cost the lives of many.

  There was little wonder Parson Langdon had prayed so fervently, for hemust have known we were going down into the very jaws of the lion,risking our lives an hundred times over, and yet there were many of ourpeople in the secret who believed it would be impossible for us to doall that we did.

  Now I am minded to set down what I afterward learned regarding thatnight's work, and put it in proper words as told me by another, for I amnot sufficiently well versed in warfare to be able to describe soimportant a thing in my own language.

  You must first understand that the easterly and westerly sides of thishill on which we worked, were very steep. On the easterly side, and nearthe foot, were brick kilns, clay pits, and much marshy land, while onthe westerly side was the more central portion of the town itself.

  The redoubt which we built was eight rods square, with the eastern sidebordering a large field or stretch of pasture. On the northern side wasan open passageway, and the breastworks on the easterly side extendedabout one hundred yards northward. The trench we did not have time tofinish. Between the south end of the breastwork and the redoubt was asally-port, an
d on the inside of the parapet were steps of wood andearth on which, during an action, men might mount and discharge theirweapons.

  Now even though you may not be versed in warfare, you must realize thatfor a thousand men to throw up such a fortification as I have described,between midnight and daybreak, which came about four of the clock, was awonderful piece of work, and in addition to all this two strong fencesmade of stones and rails had been built either side of the entire works,thus forming a fairly good obstacle in case an enemy attempted to makean attack elsewhere than directly in front. In the rear was the sharpslope of the hill up which soldiers could not well make their way.

  When the day broke we were all working at our best speed, giving no heedto fatigue because by this time every man jack among us had come tounderstand the importance of the labor. Then it was the lobster backsgave the first warning that they had discovered what we were about.

  His majesty's ship _Lively_, which was lying at anchor midway betweenthe ferry and Morton's point, suddenly opened fire with her great guns,and upon the instant we dropped our intrenching tools, standing erect asif expecting to be attacked immediately; but straightway I heard ColonelPrescott cry out:

  "Keep to your work, lads, that ship can do no harm to us, and before thered-coats have got their wits fully about them we can strengthen thesedefenses amazingly!"

  As a matter of fact the missiles from the ship were passing directlyover us as we worked within the intrenchment, and after I had heard twoor three balls sail across with an ominous whistling, I gave no moreheed than if they had been so many locusts singing in the air.

  Reeking with perspiration, aching in every joint, and knowing full wellthat within a short time we would have all the king's men striving todislodge us, we Minute Boys did our portion of the work with the men,and it gave me no little pride to see that never one of them shirked,although here and there I could see great hulking farmers throwthemselves upon the ground as if it was impossible to remain longerstanding.

  I believe Hiram did more to hearten and help us, than did the knowledgeof all that depended on this labor of our hands.

  He ever had a cheery word; was always on the lookout to aid this lad orthat who might be struggling with some weight beyond his strength, andall the while continued to picture what we would do with General Gage'slobster backs before another sun had set.

  Some among us ate as we worked, taking a bite of corn bread now, and abit of bacon then, as they stopped to regain their breath; but others,like myself, waited until the task should be completed, believing thenwe would have a breathing spell. As the day grew older we who hadrations at hand forgot our hunger as we gazed across to Boston townwhere it was possible to see the people gathering, most like inamazement at what had been done, until it was as if that portion of thewater-front facing us was crowded with human beings.

  "I'm wondering if Seth Jepson is among that gang," Archie said grimly ashe and I wasted twenty precious seconds or more gazing at the throngs.

  "If he is I'm thinking it doesn't do his heart any good to know howthoroughly we have outwitted the Britishers," I replied gleefully. "It'salmost certain there will be a battle soon, and most like that cur comesno nearer than the shore of the town; but let him stick ever so close tohis red-coated friends, the day must dawn when we Minute Boys will havea chance to pay the debt we owe him."

  "That is if so be we live long enough," Silas suggested, and for theinstant I fancied it possible to detect a tremor in his voice. "Insteadof watching yonder curious ones who can do nothing for nor against us,look around at the king's ships, and see what a force General Gage hasgot behind him when he sends the lobster backs to shoot us down."

  Now, strange though it may seem, while saying to myself that before manyhours had passed the red-coats would be upon us, I had failed toconsider, even for a moment, how much of strength the enemy had; I hadgiven no thought to the thousands upon thousands of men who could besent across from Boston to over-run the hill we were fortifying.

  Directly in front of our intrenchments was, as I have already said, the_Lively_, a ship of twenty guns, and, as I afterward learned, carryingan hundred and thirty men; northward, over away somewhere opposite thebrick kilns, was the _Falcon_, which must have been as heavily manned asthe _Lively_; nearly abreast of the town hall was the _Somerset_, ofsixty-eight guns, and having on board five hundred and twenty men, thencame the _Cerberus_ of thirty-six guns; the _Glasgow_, twenty-fourguns, and the transport _Symetry_.

  Taking it all in all, as nearly as a landsman like me could figure it,there must have been among that shipping of his majesty's no less thanone hundred and eighty-six guns, with somewhere about twelve to thirteenhundred men. In addition to these, General Gage could transport anywherefrom five to eight thousand men, landing them upon Charlestown shoreclose under our noses.

  Now as all this came to my mind, with the proof so distinctly before me,I am not ashamed to say that for the moment I grew timorous, believingthe time was near at hand when I should fall as had fallen those twobrave comrades of ours in the engagement off Hog island, and, let himlaugh who will, there came into my heart a feeling of regret because Icould not hope to be laid away in Mother Earth as they had been.

  Those aboard the _Lively_ must have understood that her shots were doingno damage, for after twenty minutes or more the cannonading ceased; butwe continued strengthening the defense, for, as Hiram said:

  "If the Britishers are fools enough to give us a chance to do as wewill, it's a case of buckling to it the best we know how."

  "That's what we have been doing since midnight," Archie replied grimly,"and while there is no thought of complaining in my mind, I'd almostwelcome the coming of the enemy, since it would give us good excuse forthrowing down these pick-axes and shovels."

  "If General Gage knows on which side his bread is buttered, the lobsterbacks will soon be upon us," Hiram cried as if exulting in such apossibility. "I fail to understand why two or three thousand of theirfancy red-coated, overly-drilled men have not been sent already to stirus up."

  "It may be the king's governor is so kindly-hearted that he means togive us every opportunity to make ready for his coming," Silassuggested.

  Then one lad had some bantering word, or another pictured what theTories might be doing and thinking, while a third proposed that theenemy would wait before attacking, until reinforcements could come fromEngland, and so the time went on with many a quip and jest; but nocessation of the work until about an hour and a half after daybreak,when the British battery of six guns on Copp's hill opened upon us as ifbeginning the battle.

  These last missiles were like to do us more harm than had those from the_Lively_, for the iron balls came among us far too plentifully, andaltogether too near at times, to be pleasing to those among us whosehearts were inclined to be faint, and I question much whether all ourpeople would have remained at work during such a cannonading but for thefact that Colonel Prescott showed himself here and there, regarding notthe danger in order to encourage and prevent the least show ofretreating.

  When he cried out that that which we failed of doing might cost the lifeof many a good man, or as he shouted that every spadeful of earth thrownup was accomplishing just so much toward protecting those who weredevoting themselves to the colony, from the hirelings of the king, weforgot that our hands were torn and blistered, that our joints achedwith fatigue, or that our backs had been bent until near to the breakingpoint--forgot all save that we must put forth every effort in makingready for this real measuring of strength between well-armed soldiers ofhis majesty's and "rebels," who had whatsoever in the way of weaponscould be picked up at home, with no uniforms and but little knowledge ofmilitary drill.

  I cannot say when we first became aware that troops were being madeready for transportation across from Boston. As the day wore on andnothing was heard from General Gage, save now and then a shot from the_Lively_, or the random firing from the guns on Copp's hill, it seemedmuch as if the king's governor was afraid to a
ttack us, even despite thefact that his force out-numbered us eight or ten to one, and when nooncame we were nearly at the end of our work with pick and shovel.

  Then it was possible to hear the beating of drums in Boston; the rumbleof artillery trains, or even the cries of the mob in the streets. Wecould see dragoons galloping here and there as if carrying orders; thencame the marching and counter-marching of troops, and finally theringing of church bells. It was when this last noise struck upon ourears that Hiram said with a laugh:

  "It must be that General Gage counts on calling out all the old womenand children, else why should the bells be ringing as if there was afire?"

  "It is the firing on Copp's hill they are ringing for, and if so be thepeople would gather there to quench it, I should feel less need to duckmy head now and then, for truly I find it impossible to stand straightwhen a bullet comes near my ears," Archie cried cheerily.

  It was astonishing that we had been permitted by the enemy to do somuch, for, as I have already said, we had completed the fortificationwith the exception of the trench, while during the forenoon much hadbeen done toward strengthening the fences on either side, putting upadditional steps of wood and earth so that men might mount to dischargetheir weapons, and in nearly every portion of the work the breastworkswere raised six feet high.

  Two or three times during the forenoon did I see officers sent away onthe road over which we had come, and on calling Hiram's attention to thefact, when Major Brooks set off at full speed, was more than surprisedto learn that he believed Colonel Prescott was sending forreinforcements.

  "Reinforcements!" I cried in dismay. "Are we who have walked or workedall night supposed to be the army that shall defend this fortification?After laboring with pick and shovel since midnight, is there one amongus able to do the duty of a soldier during a battle?"

  "That's yet to be seen," Hiram replied. "It is a fact in my mind that wewere not only sent here to build this fortification, but to hold it, andnow when it is to be attacked, as can be seen from the movements inBoston, and he believes the lobster backs will come upon us in greatnumbers, our colonel is asking for assistance."

  "And why should not all the troops in Cambridge be sent here?" I askedpetulantly.

  "Well, there are many good reasons, my lad. That place is to be held,even if we are driven out of here, and a sufficient number of men arebound to stay there lest the enemy, making believe attack us, turn aboutthe other way and disperse our army. Every point which we now occupy onyonder shore must be held by men enough to resist any ordinary force,and what becomes of us is of little moment as compared with the need ofkeeping the Britishers shut up in Boston town, as in fact they are now,save that they may come across here for the sake of killing a fewrebels."

  Hiram's explanation was not so plain that I could understand fully whywe had been sent to throw up intrenchments simply that they might proveto be our grave, and for the moment I gave way to anger, even chargingGeneral Ward and those around him with having needlessly sacrificed ourlives.

  At high noon, and while I was still ranting like the stupid I have evershown myself to be, word was given for us to cease work and partake ofsuch rations as we had. This command went far toward restoring me to amore decent frame of mind.

  I was needing water more than food, and the cask which had been set nearwhere the Minute Boys were working having been emptied, I went furtherto the rear in search of something to quench my thirst. Then it was Ifound that the last two casks of water had been knocked to splinters byrandom shots from one of the vessels, and, so far as I could learn,there was no more that could be come at by us who were in theintrenchments, which was a bad outlook if so be we were called upon tofight.

  When we ceased work the flag of New England was hoisted over theredoubt. The intrenching tools which we had been using were sent acrossto Bunker hill where, as I was afterward told, a few hundred men, whohad just come over from Medford, were set at work throwing up anotherbreastwork under command of General Putnam.

  While we munched our corn bread, wishing in vain for something withwhich to wash it down, my comrades and I watched the lobster backs asthey were embarked in barges, some from Long wharf, and some from theNorth battery, making such a scene of warlike array as I had neverbefore witnessed.

  Even though they were our enemies, it was a glorious sight to see theprecision with which detachment after detachment came up, took theirplaces in the boats, and remained motionless as statues while theoarsmen pulled them across, heading for Morton's point, as it seemed tome.

  Now the cannons from the _Lively_ and the _Falcon_ began to belch forthflame and iron missiles, sweeping all that plain between our redoubt andthe water as if to prevent us from making any attempt at opposing thelanding.

  Had General Gage, or whosoever gave the orders for the vessels of war toopen fire, known how weary, how thirsty and nearly exhausted we were,their powder and balls might well have been saved, for I question ifeven Colonel Prescott, warrior though he was, or Doctor Warren, whom Ihad not seen until just before noon, would have given the word for us tocharge in the hope of checking that advance of well-trained soldiers, orto prevent them from stepping foot on shore.

  "How many men think you are in yonder barges?" I heard Silas ask Hiram,and he replied with never a tremor in his voice:

  "Nigh about three thousand, lad, and if they don't make us wish forwater 'twixt now and night I'll agree never to satisfy my thirstagain."