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Subject: Chelmsford at the Battle of Bunker Hill - Hist. of Chelmsford by Rev. W. Waters.
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 22:26:01 EDT

Chelmsford at the Battle of Bunker Hill
Source: History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts by Rev. Wilson Waters, M.A.,
B.D.
Printed by the Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Massachusetts, 1917.

p.225
Chelmsford men took a prominent part in the battle of Bunker Hill on June
17, 1775.
It was on the previous day that Capt. John Ford volunteered to carry from
Cambridge
to Bunker Hill a message from General Artemas Ward. It was necessary in
accomplish-
ing this to pass within range of the British guns while crossing Charlestown
Neck.

Realizing his peril, General Ward ordered him to dismount and cross on foot,
thus
to escape observation. "But he ran the risk, and passed and repassed on
horseback.
While at Bunker Hill he warned Colonel Prescott that from the movements of
the
enemy it was evident that they were preparing to attack the Americans upon
the
hill and urged the necessity of immediately casting up breastworks and
redoubts.

"When the dawn of light revealed to the astonished Britishers the American
works
on Breed's Hill, Captain Ford, who was now in command of the Chelmsford
company,
which consisted of sixty men, was stationed with the army at Cambridge under
Gen.
Artemas Ward. When the preparations for the battle began, the gallant
Captain,
who had no taste for inactivity, obtained permission from General Ward to
with-
draw his company privately and march directly to the scene of action, to
rein-
force the troops. They marched across Charlestown Neck, which was being
raked by
cannon from the British ships (a tradition given by Deacon Otis Adams is that
some wavered and one or two turned back) and were proceeding down Bunker Hill
when they were met by General Putnam, who ordered Captain Ford with his
company
to draw the cannon, which had been deserted by Capt. Callender, and left at
the
foot of the hill, into the line. The Captain at first remonstrated on the

p.226

ground that his company were ignorant of the management of artillery, many
having never seen a cannon before, but finally obeyed and moved with the
cannon
and the General himself to the rail fence which they reached just before the
battle
began." It was here that Joseph Spaulding of Ford's Company, being unable
to re-
strain his impetuosity, began the battle by firing the first gun.

It was from the hand of General Putnam that he received a blow on the head
for it,
and the General threatened to cut down with his sword the next offender who
dared
to risk the waste of another musket charge. It is related that Spaulding
always
declared that he killed Major Pitcairn, and Farmer's Geneological Register so
states. It is thus recorded in the Chelmsford church records. He may have
aimed
at the Major, who, having been twice wounded, again placed himself at the
head of
his forces, and fell with four musket balls in his body. He did not die on
the field.

Capt. Knowlton and the Connecticut troops were also stationed with Colonel
Stark and
the New Hampshire troops at this part of the defences. The right wing of
the British
army, under General Howe, was directed against the rail fence for the
purpose of
turning the flank of the Americans, and cutting off their retreat from the
redoubt.

As the enemy advanced to the attack, the artillery manned by a portion of
Capt. Ford's
company opened upon them with great effect, some of the shots being directed
by Gen.
Putnam himself. The muskets were ordered to reserve their fire until the
enemy were
within forty yards, and again, until the whites of the enemies' eyes could
be seen.

It was at this time that Spaulding and then some others fired, while the
enemy paused
to destroy the fence which obstructed their advance. When the word was
given, the
fowling-pieces mowed down their victims with fatal celerity and the enemy
was obliged
to retreat, "leaving on the ground," as Colonel Stark related, "where but
the day
before the mowers had swung the scythe in peace, the dead as thick as sheep
in a fold."

When upon the third assault of the enemy the fortunes of the day were
reversed, and
the Americans were obliged to retreat from the redoubt, the force at the
rail fence,
where some reinforcements had been received, maintained their ground with
great firm-
ness and intrepidity, and successfully resisted every attempt to turn their
flank.

This line indeed was nobly defended. The force here did great service, for
it saved
the main body, who were retreating in disorder from the

p.227 THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

redoubt, from being cut off by the enemy. When it was perceived that the
force
under Colonel William Prescott had left the hill, these brave men gave
ground, but
with more regularity than could have been expected of troops who had been no
longer
under discipline. Captain Ford behaved with great spirit in the engagement.

Thirteen men of his company were wounded. Benjamin Pierce (afterward General
Pierce and the father of President Pierce) was a member of his company. He
after-
wards related that when Putnam ordered Ford to man the cannon, the latter
"address-
ed his company in a very animated, patriotic and brave strain, which was
character-
istic of the man." The men then seized the drag-ropes and drew the cannon
to the
rail fence. One of these pieces burst after being fired eleven times. The
firing
continued until all the ammunition was spent.

There is a tradition that, when the first man in Ford's Company fell, his
com-
rades, then for the first time under fire, were seized with panic; but
thereupon
one of Ford's officers began to sing "Old Hundred" in a firm voice and this
so
reassured the men that they gave no further sign of panic. It is related
that,
just as the ammunition of the Americans was exhausted and orders were given
to
retreat, a British officer mounted the breastworks and with a flourish of his
sword, exclaimed, "Now my boys, we have you." Hearing this, Captain Colburn
of
Dracut, Mass., picked up a stone, about the size of a hen's egg, and,
throwing
it with all his might, hit the officer in the forehead, knocking him down
back-
wards. The Captain and his men then hastily retreated with the rest of the
American forces.

p.250
From a Paper by Miss Josephine H. Earl.
Capt. Ford's company belonged to the regiment of Col. Ebenezer Bridge. This
regi-
ment on the morning of the battle of Bunker Hill had not yet left their
quarters in
Cambridge. It shows the impatient disposition of the man that becoming
restive at the
delay, he gained permission to lead forth his company alone and proceeded to
Bunker
Hill. It is related by one of his historians that while at Bunker Hill, the
day before
the battle, Capt. Ford warned General Prescott that it was evident that the
British
were preparing to attack the Americans upon the hill and urged the necessity
of
immediately throwing up a breastworks. Prescott, who had not feared such an
attack,
yielded to the persuasion of Capt. Ford and before morning, the
fortifications were
completed without which the Americans could not have held their ground or
achieved the
immortal glory of that day. Mr. Chase in his article pertinently asks,"Is
it asking
too much to claim a share of that glory for the brave and sagacious Capt.
Ford?"

p.252
John Ford married Sarah Barker of Methuen. They were blessed with eleven
children, seven
of whom lived to manhood and womanhood. Sarah Ford the eldest, born in
Chelmsford in
1767 married John Corliss of Chelmsford, afterward of Haverhill, N.H. The
other children,
Deborah & Prudence lived unmarried and died on the old homestead. Elisha
Ford who was
a civil engineer spent many years in the service of the Locks and Canals
Co., and helped
to build the Pawtucket bridge, the wooden structure that preceded the
present bridge. He
was captain of the militia of the Town of Chelmsford and represented the
town of Lowell
in the General Court in 1828. John Ford died November 6, 1822 aged 84 years
and was
buried in the Pawtucketville Cemetery.

p.254
A return of the company of the 7th Regt. of Militia in the County of
Middlesex.
Capt. John Ford, Commissioned June 11, 1775 - Chelmsford.

p.255
In a Muster Roll of Capt. John Ford's Company in ye 27th Regt of Foot in the
Continental
Army, these officers are given:
1775.
John Ford, Captain
Isaac Parker, Lieut.
Jonas Parker, Ensign
Moses Barker, Sergt.
Parker Emerson, Sergt.
Daniel Keyes, Sergt.
Jonas Pierce, Sergt.
John Bats, Corp.
William Chambers, Corp.
William Cambell, Corp.
Benjamin Berritt, Corp.
William Ranstard, Drummer
Barzilar Lew, Fifer
[Massachusetts Archives Vol 55 p. 49.

Return of Capt. John Fords Company in Col. Bridge's Regt
June 15, 1775.
John Ford, Capt.
Isaac Parker Lieut.
Jonas Parker, Ensign.

Men's Names Age Day Inlisted Town they belong to Completion
Size Occupation
Sgt. Moses Barker 36 April 25. Dracutt Light
6 farmer
Sgt. Parker Emerson 30 April 25. Chelmsford Fresh
5'10 hsewright
Sgt. Daniel Keyes 37 April 25. Chelmsford Fresh
5'10 farmer
Sgt. Jonas Pierce 25 April 25. Chelmsford Fresh
6' hsewright
Cpl. John Bates 28 April 26. Chelmsford Dark
6' farmer
Cpl. Wm. Chambers 25 April 25. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Cpl. Wm. Cambell 37 April 25. Chelmsford Dark
6' farmer
Cpl. Benj. Berret 42 April 25. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
John Keyes 26 April 25. Chelmsford Fresh
6' farmer
Alex' Davidson 27 April 25. Tewkesby Dark
5'9 Crdwiner
John Chambers 27 April 26. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Samuel Briton 18 April 25. Chelmsford Dark
5'6 farmer
p.256
Moses Barker, Jr. 16 April 25. Dracutt Light
5'6 farmer
Benjamin Pierce 19 April 26. Chelmsford Light
5'8 farmer
David Chambers 26 April 27. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Ebenezer Shed 25 April 25. Chelmsford Dark
6' hsewright
Samuel Wilson 21 April 25 Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Jonathan Sprague 19 April 25. Chelmsford Light
5'8 hsewright
Nathaniel Foster 20 April 26. Chelmsford Dark
6' farmer
James Dun 23 April 27. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Isaiah Foster 22 April 25. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Benja. Parker 22 April 27. Chelmsford Dark
6' farmer
Enoch Cleaveland 19 April 27 Chelmsford Light
5'8 farmer
Benja. Butterfield 18 April 27. Chelmsford Light
5'6 farmer
Samuel Haywood 17 April 26. Chelmsford Dark
5'6 farmer
Moses Esterbrooks 30 April 27. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Robert Aynger 42 April 28. Billerica Light
5'5 farmer
Elijah Haselton 25 April 29. Tewksbury Dark
5'6 farmer
John Glode 25 April 28. Chelmsford Dark
5'10 farmer
Jesse Dow 21 April 29. Methuen Dark
5'10 Blksmith
Joseph Spaulding 20 April 25. Chelmsford Dark
5'10 farmer
Francis Davidson 23 April 26. Chelmsford Dark
5'9 farmer
Oliver Cory 18 April 28. Chelmsford Dark
5'6 farmer
Samuel Marshel 23 April 29. Chelmsford Dark
6' farmer
Joseph Chambers 21 April 26. Chelmsford Dark
6' farmer
Nathaniel Hunt 20 April 29. Tewksbury Dark
5'9 farmer
Reuben Foster 23 April 27. Chelmsford Light
6'1 farmer
Joseph Spaulding Jr. 19 April 27. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Noah Foster 18 April 27. Chelmsford Light
5'6 farmer
Jonas Spaulding 19 April 29. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Solomon Keyes 23 April 29. Chelmsford Light
5'10 farmer
Isaac Barret 22 April 25 Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Benja. Farley 17 April 25. Chelmsford Light
5'10 farmer
Timothy Adams 18 April 29. Chelmsford Light
5'6 farmer
Josiah Fletcher 18 April 28. Chelmsford Light
5'6 farmer
John Parker 20 April 26. Chelmsford Dark
5'10 farmer
James Chambers 16 May 2. Chelmsford Light
5'6 farmer
Silas Parker 17 April 29. Chelmsford Light
5'6 farmer
Benja. Haywood 21 April 28. Chelmsford Light
5'5 farmer
Robert Richardson 33 May 4. Chelmsford Light
6' farmer
Berzillia Lew 30 May 6. Chelmsford Negro
6' Cooper/fifer
William Rowell 25 May 6. Sandown Light
6' farmer
William Ranstard 14 May 6. Boston Dark
5' drummer
Thomas Bowkell 25 April 27. Chelmsford Light
5'10 farmer
William Brown 23 April 25. Dracutt Light
6' farmer
James Alexander 26 April 28. Chelmsford Dark
5'10 farmer
Solomon Farmer 21 April 28. Chelmsford Dark
5'6 farmer
William Brown May 29. Enlisted into the Train
James Alexander May 29. Enlisted into the Train
Solomon Farmer May 29. Enlisted into the Train
Thomas Bewkell June 25, 1775, Deserted from camp in Cambridge.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 55. p.54.]
Another roll Vol. 56. p. 179 dated September 25, 1775 has the same names as
above.
Note: Mr. Henry S. Perham once expressed to the write the opinion that the
name Chambers
on the forgoing roll might be erroneously given for Chamberlain.

This was the first enlisted company of Chelmsford men and was stationed at
Cambridge
from April 25, 1775 to February, 1776.


Roll of Chelmsford Minute Men who participated in the
the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775.

Capt. Ford, Commander

H. S. Perham, Capt.
Saml. Hagerman
J. A. Bartlett, Liet.
Thos. Borden
J. C. Hobbs, Ensign
Asa H. Webber
Rev. E. FitzGerald,
Sergt. E. G. Nickless,
Geo. Spalding,
Sergt. 0. N. Thissell
Robt. Fletcher, Sergt.
c. E. Parkhurst .
Chas. Christy,
Sergt. Isaac Dutton
A. G. Green, Corp.
C. A. Parker
N. P. Dadmun, Corp.
C. H. Hall
E. B. Kittredge, Corp.
W. Whitfield.
Milo J. Proctor, Corp.
Geo. F. Reed
Herbert H. Emerson
J. H. McFarlin
A. C. Thissell
J. H. Willis
C. Proctor
John H. Lane
Henry B. Hunt R.
Wilson Dix
A. W. Allen I
Henry Martin
G. W. Butterfield.
Frank Kelley
E. R. Marshall
C. D. Tichnor
E. H. Warren
E. Crosby

Otis Adams, Jr.
Geo. P. Mansfield
A .H. Park
H. F. Ebert
Luther C. Upham
John Larey
Gee. E. Hall
F. Sweetser
Levi Lamphere
Pearson, Drummer
I. L. Putnam
Willie Adams, Fifer
Jas. H. Hazen

p.248
Additionally names to Roster of Chelmsford men at the Battle of Bunker Hill
These names below are supplied from the October Return
These men were undoubtedly at Bunker Hill with the others,
as there were practically no enlistments between the dates
of these rolls:

David Putnam
Davis Osgood
Samuel Marshall
Benjamin Osgood
Phinehas Kidder
David Walker
Thomas Adams
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 16, p. 57.]

p.355
Chelmsford men who were wounded in the Battle of Bunker Hill as given by
Allen:
Col. Ebenezer Bridge.
Lieut. Col. Moses Parker
Capt. Benjamin Walker.
John Keyes
Moses Barker
James Dunn
Elijah Hazelton
Samuel Marshall
John Parker
Benjamin Hayward
Solomon Keyes
Robert Richardson
Joseph Spaulding
Noah Foster
*Francis Davidson
*The last name is from Bridge's Diary.
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
God Bless America

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