Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-07-21
SCENES OF THE
REVOLUTION.
From Woodworth's Literary Casket.
RECoLLECTIONs ORA
SOLDIERS DAUGHTER,


the passion ofmilitary glory, and he was
among the first enrolled under the ban
ner Of American liberty.
The sentiment Of freedom was electric
and no age or sex was exempted from its
influence. The fond mother, who had
shrunk from exposing the darling of her
bosom to the slightest personal danger,
now bcheld with proud satisfaction, that
son decorated with the knapsack her own
hand had made, cheerfully resigned him
to the call of patriotism.
Thus do the sentiments of freedom ell
cvate the mind above its ordinary exer-
tions, and call the latent energies of soul
that have immortalizcd Cornelia.
My venerable grandsire, who, | can
Just remember, was an old man with
snowy locks, who used to pacify my i'll
fant clamors with tales of military Prov
ess, was often heard to boast that he led
five sons to the battle of Bunker Hill.
The third of these sons was he from
whom | inherited that spirit of patriotism
which has accompanied Inc through life.
With feelings, which neither time nor
sorrow can obliterate, review the scenes
of my childhood, and while my brave
parent, bending with age and inlirmity, is
verging to the grave, a desire to snatch
his memory from oblivion prompts me to
record the following detail.
Some of the brightest years of my ex-
istence were passed in the vicinity OF
Bunker Hill, and l was early taught to
venerate that spot, as connected with a
display of magnanimous virtues. 1t was
on that spot my gallant father led his
family Of sprightly boys, and, over the
grave of Warren, inculcated lessons
of hcroism and virtue. Nor was l al
ways excluded from the party {; foI
though my father believed that nature
had designed me for domestic sphere
he did not believe that an ardent love o.
liberty, and a thorough estimation of it.
value, as purchased by the blood of my
fathers, could unfit me for the discharge
the important duties which Providence
has assigned to woman.
ltwas fine morning in May, and ma
ture seemed to have communicated her
smile to her heart, and difiused a joyous
serenity over all its feeling, when my
three little brothers and myself received
the welcome summons to prepare to at
tend our parent in his morning excursion
l"Whither shall We walk" said he, as we
sailed forth with all the eagerness OF
childhood: "To Bunker Hill," was the
spontaneous reply of every little voice,
and to Bunker Hill my father led the
way.
Days ofarless innocence! alas! We are
fled forever. Never can | recall the
sportivc hilarity with which we lightly
bounded over the interjacent fields; new
er regain the innocent gayety and i'm
proyident lightness of heart, that under
the present enjoyment, shun the future
from my view. Yet memory, oft retreads
the flowcry way, and, in the visions OF
the past loses the sense of the present,
and the future.
With what buoyancy Of spirit which
refuses to yield to WEAKNESS, we climbed
the ascent, and found ourselves on the
summit, from whence we were presented
with view of the whole peninsula, with
the bay and harbor of Boston. My IA
thcr pointed out the relative position of
the armies, and entered into minute de-
tail Of events, which abler historians
have recorded; they will not, therefore,
occupy place in this narration.
His own personal adventure, and mar
row escape from living grave, are all
that filial piety will justify this feeble at
tempt to perpetuate.
"Pray, father" said my eldest broth
er, twas it here you received that ugly
would that had nearly cost you your lifeF
cit was on this very spot, my son, be-
hind this breastwOrk-but the story is
long-you must have patience, and LET
me commence at the beginning"
Each little heart beat high with ex-
pectation, and mutually promising pro-
found attention, we listened to the follow
ing tale.
"You see that atnarrow neck ofland ,yon-
der, that unites the peninsula of Charles
town to the adjacent country. Over that
isthmus, it became my duty to head the
little band under my command to join the
main army in the entrcnchment where
we now stand. You see how it is ex.
posed to the watcr-woll, there lay the
Glasgow frigatc, which kept up con-
slant fire of shot and bombs across the
path, while several floating batteries, and
the Notifications on Copp's Hill, endeav.
ored to annoy the troops on the hill and
drive them from the entrenchmcnt.
"My little band had each the spirit OF
a Leonidas, and not u murmur was heard
when ! ordered them to attempt gaining
the hill by running singly across the