The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-05-12

recommendation proved to be unnecess
ary. as more than the desired pumber Of
volunteers locked to the standard raised
in support of their liberties.
As these arrived, g .naIals Putnam,
Stark, Ward and others were there to
d receive them. There was no master
spirit, howevcr, to guide, control. or ad-
] wise. Every one there was warrior
on his own account. Officers took COM
| mano of the several divisions. but ere
entirely independent of each other
The wholearnly. if such it might be call.
ed, seemed more like gathering of en-
thusiastic people, each considering him
self leader in the cause. Nothirg 2
but devotion to their country could
have convoked such an assembiage
Our friends from Fairfield had upon
th,ir way j tined several other compa.
nies. whom they met advancing. aud had
| placed themselves, temporarily at least,
under the charge of chosen Colonel.
aud thus arrived at Cambridge For
some time all tAat cosld be dome by the
provincial army was to confne their op
ponents TO Boston, and this they did
| efectually.
On the End day of July following
W Washington, who had been chosen Com
mander in Chief Of the forces. arrived
at the head quarters. He at once pro
ceeded to mould into shape the crud
materials around HIM. Then com
meuced the work that has cast imperish-
able renoyn up"n the heroes of that
time. CsPtai. Keeler aud his undaun
psa men mere dispatched with nine hun
ired others, auaer Major Prescott, tn
sake possession of Banker Hill. with or
der to throw up without delay Ferti6
cations for its defence. A mistake oc
CURED in selecting the site, aud Breeds
Hill was chosen. With such speed and
caution did .he men work, that before
morning they Lad erected . redoub
upon which the wandering eyes of the
British tel as the sun rose ab We it,
Straightway the guns of tie vessels and
batteries were pointed against the little
force. but stili the work progressed
'.Flipch not - cried the aged Captain,
as bold and industrious rs any of his
younger compatriois Let not the
leaaen death intimidate or unuerve you.
You will be looked ueon by future gen.
erations. Toll on. then. and be sue
cessful"
Aud so they didl The CALLING Gre
seemed to lend them new activity, until
at last the work was nearly completed
General Gage hereupon determined to
dispossess the Americans The history
of that event is already known. Twice
were the assailants driven back with ter
rible loss Again under the. lead of
General Clinton. did tie British march
up to the redoubt. The ammunition of
rhe provincials was now exhausted =
| Blu. not one hch did they retreat.
Club your guns, men, and let every
! stroke tell. Select each your man aud
spare him not G led Keller.
As he spoke. number of officers
forced th. ir way into the ranks Throw
ing aside tie musket he had used so
ff.ctually, the old man. young again,
drew his sword aud rushed upon them!
Que of them fell Instantly before his
powerful blow. Placing one foot up. II
the dying man, he sprang to meet the
others: with might that astopished
even himself, he deal thick aud telling
strokes, His manner seemed to strik,
awe to the hearts OF those facing him,
although they still fought. Gradually. +.
however. they yielding posst ssion of the
| ground, aud 6naIIy retired and fed
wounded. before the vigor of the veter
ans arm. Nor did he pause here. The
co,fict was raging every where around
the fight dealing death and conservation
wherever he went. By some strange
fatality he did not receive singl,
wound.
..For our Coun,ry's liSeftyl T. he cried.
as he cheered on his companions, setting
them an e3a,apie that they could noi
choose bot follow
At last rbe true patriots Sere forced
to retire before superior numbers, Cap
tain Keeler was last 10 ieavei Bot ali
had been done that could BE- effected
When the result was known. our venter.
sn received the full approval of his su
periors, aud the respect Of his fellow pat
riots.
In sfter years, when peace came to
Bless the freside bf those mho had strug
gled and suffered, for our veteran lived
long after that period. he would tell 10
the friends around him. the stirring
events of the battle.
"Exempt :" be would say. "No one
is exempt from duty when bis country
calls. Ifever again foreign foe should
invade oul land, pause not to consider
age Or condition If ye are men. you
will meet your enemies before they have
encafnped ~
mn -, z. ..}ata.,, ..s,...b