Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-20
Peculiar Interview with the Sole surviv,
OfBunlIer Hill,

OI nunANE
A correspondent recently visited Ralph
Farnham, said to be the sole Survivor OF the
battle of Bunker Hill. He resides at Acton,
Maine, and was 104 years old on the 7th of
July. The following report of the gentle
mans conversation will entertain the reader
II was working on the farm" COM
menced the old gentleman, when the news
came of the trouble with the British. A
good many lads enlisted, and l felt like
listing as well as the rest; but my mother
didn't like to he If of my going away. How
ever, she suspected something, and one day
she see me cleaning my musket. Ralph,
she says you amt gone and 'listedP Not
Just yet, mother 1 said. Still she was
uneasy, and l see her go to a neighbor whose
son had gone down to Boston to jine the
army. 1 followed her, and when I got to
the house heard her crying. l was sorry
then, but it was too late.
1.-THE next day l and lot OF others were
marched to jine the army at Cambridge,
Ginral Washington had just come to take
command. On the road the people came
out of their houses and cheered us, and at
Andover, Colonel Abbott treated the officers,
and sent us out some cider and grog in pals.
We got to Cambridge, and the next day were
marched to Charlestown, and the Battle of
Bunker Hill was fought. All that was q
terrible, bloody fight 1t was a shocking
slaughter Twas the first time had ever
seen battle. After that l fought with the
army through three campaigns, from 1775 to
l777. / often saw Washington. He was q
fine man. We don't see such fine men
as Ginral Washington these days. And
old Putnami he was rough old fellow, but
brave as lion; he cared for nobody nor
| nothing. And Gates-he was brave man,
| toe, though he made no show.
Il was present at the surrender of Bur.
| goyne. was Oh guard at the camp where
| BuTgoyne and the other British officer!
ned with Gates after the surrender. They
were all very merry, for all they had beer
whipped. Gates sat at the head of the table
and there was some laughing done whert
Burgoyne was seated, and Gates wanted Il
know what it was about. Somebody said
Ginral Burgoyne says you look more ikt
| an old woman than soldier - Ginral.
| do p says Gates, laughing; Well perhaps
/ do. I've deliv red Ginral Buraoyne O.
! 10000 children at any rate, and they al
laughed heartily. Gates got the best of the
! Britshers.
| After the war WI over, l came and settled
on this farm. 1t cost 50 an acre. and l haC
100 acres. 1t was all wilderness then
nothing but forest for miles around, and tn
woods were full of bears and other vii,
animals; the bears often molested me, and
shot a good many. One day was in tn
woods with nothing but my ak, when bea
dropped down from tree close by; presently
another came down, and then three cubs.
didn't like the looks of it, but after staring
at me they all made off, and l let 'em go
Once l killed a moose-deer close by my loJ
hut. 1t weighed 900 poundsl 1 lived ii
the log hut by myself for four years. an,
then got married. and after awhile bull
this house just above where the log -cabi
stood have had seven children five c
them are still living. S Sxty years ago
Joined the Free-Will Baptists, and I've bee
a member of the church ever SINCE"