Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-05-14
NJ | s { Z l. l. A N Y.
From the Historical Magazinc.l
THE WESTMINSTER MASSACRE"

by B. II. HALL
Read before the New YoIk Historical Society, March
1st, 1859.
If there is any portion of history more than
another with which men desire to be acquaint-
ed, it is that which relates to those scenes in
the existence of nations, which have marked in
peculiar manner their advance or their decline
in freedom, civilization, and refinement. The
point in American history to which we all love
best to turn, is that which records the struggles
of our ancestors in the war of the Revolution
their successes and their defeats. Antigua
rians patient in research, compilers accurate in
arrangement, and historians clear in unfolding,
have already presented the narrative of the
Revolution so fully, that all are acquainted with
its main features, and it would argue supreme
arrogance in any speaker, should he at the
present day propose to relate what has been so
many times, and so much better, written and
described.
OF particular incidents connected with this
subject, one may, however, discourse without
presumption, and if the specially be that, which
has been comparatively neglected, one may
hope not only to afford pleasure, but convey
information.
intend to speak of an event which occurred
at Westminster, a town in Vermont, on the 18th
of March, l775, at which time two of the in
York We're killed. lied whe h 5aaa Ra 10 Of NsS
the aggressions of the British. This event has
been alluded to by historians as the "Westmin-
ster Massacre" and to such illusions of a page
or even less, the general knowledge of the sub
ject has been limited.
When we consider the hardy character of the
early settlers of Vermont, their uncompromis-
ing hatred of oppression, and their holy love OF
freedom, which feelings, originating in Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut, had, among the hills
Of their adopted State, attained their full
strength. and reached their complete proper
tions-when we reflect on these considerations,
we need look no further for the cause which
obtained for Vermont the honor, though late
accorded, yet none the less real, of being the
State which gave the American States the pro-
to-martyrs of American Independence.
The early inhabitants of Vermont were prin-
cipally persons who had been sent out by the
government of Massachusetts, to protect the
latter State from the approaches of the French
and Indians. During the Indian wars which
closed with the peace of AK la Chapclle in the
year 74S, civilization in the border settlements
even if it had not retrograded, had made but
little advance. The people not belonging tc
the garrisons, and who still remained on the
frontiers, lived in fortified houses, which were
distinguished by the names of the owners oil
occupants, and afforded sufficient defence from
the attacks of musketry. The settler nevel
went to his labors unarmed, and were he to tol
in the field, would as soon have left his instru
ments of husbandry at home, as his gun or hi,
pistols. Often was it the case, that the woods
which surrounded his little patch of cleareC
ground, and sheltered his poor but comfortable
dwelling, sheltered also his most deadly enemy
ready to plunder and destroy.
/ A..
comfortable, and their fare, though not alway
the richest, was good of its kind. Hard labo
in the woods or in the field, or on camp duty
afforded seasoning to their simple repast tn
| pleasantness of which efieminate ease never i'm
agined. Those who kept watch by night reste,
| by day, and none, except in times of imminen
danger, were deprived of their customary al
| lowance of sleep.
In the spring when the ground was to b
ploughed and the grain sown, with prope
guard stationed in different parts of the field
the laborers accomplished their toll. In tn
pleasant afternoons, when the genial sunshin
was bringing ont ''the blade, then the ear, afte
that the full corn" game at ball on the well
trodden parade, or of whist, with broad fla
stone for table, and a knapsack for an cas-
cushion, served either to nerve the arm 70
brave Deeds and quicken the eye with an Ind
uil lHsllnCt, Ut W sHdfpci III tnc IIHSHSh iHlh
that principle which nowadays has its full dc
yelopment in Yankee cunning. Pleasant ais
was it to snare the unsuspecting salmon; eH
citing too, to spear him when endeavoring t
leap the falls which impeded his advance.
The grass ripened in the hot summers da,
and the crop was carefully gathered, that tn
"kindly COW" might not perish in the long VIII
ter, and that the soldier might occasionally r,
new his homely, but healthful bed of hay. B
and by, when the golden silk that had swaye
so gently on the top of the tall stalk, turnin
sere and crinkled, told that the maize wit
which God had supplied the hunger of the Ii
dian for ages, was ready to yield nourishmeI
to his bitterest enemy, the white, then. for
while was the sword exchanged for the sickl
and the shouts of harvest-home sounded in
strange contrast to the whoop of the foeman.-
And then at the husking, no spacious bar
which had received the golden load, beheld b.
meath its roof the merry company assemble
for sport as well as labor but, when gathere
in knots of three or four, or it might be a hal
dozen, while they stripped the dried husk, ar
filed the basket with the full ears, or cast Il
dishonorcd nubbins in some ignoble corne
who doubts that their thoughts wandered ba(