The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-13
Tie Battle of Golden Hill.
A s.spplng-stOns to the Revolutions
Ery War

A stepplng-stons to the RevOlutIOn-
sry War
The "Battle OF Golden Hill" in New
York City, was one Of the first steps
towards the revolutionary war. A dag
staff had been for years d bone Of con.
tention between tho Sons OF Liberty and
thesoldiers, and had been four times de.
stroyed by the latter. On the 18th Of
january, ITO, party Of soldiers ngain
attacked it, and cutting off tho wooden
braces, made fruitless attempts to blow
it open with gunpowdOr. Failing in
this, they assaulted number OF citiz-
ems standing by public house, which
was The headGaarters Of the Sons OF
Liberty, and forced them into the
house at tho point Of the bayonet.
Doors were barricaded, but the soldiers
broke in and demolished windows and
furniture, and were only prevented
from further destruction by the timely
arrival OF their officers, who ordered
them to their barpcts. They subse-
Quently succeeded in their attempt,
and leveled the pole to the grolhd,
sawed it in pieces, and derisiyely piled
it up before the Sons Of Liberty's door.
Three hundred citizens assembled that
night at n public meeting upon the
common. Resolutions were passed de-
claring unemployed soldiers to be dan
gerous 10 the peace Of the city, while
their employment by the citizens when
off duty was detrimental to the inter.
ests Of the laboring classes, and should
therefore be discontinued. They fur
ther resolved that all soldiers under
tho rank Of orderly, except sentinels,
who should appear armed in the streets
and all, armed or tihatnedi who were
out OF their barracks after roll-call
should be regarded rs enemies OF the
city and dealt with accordingly.
Tho next day three soldiers were de,
tected by two citizens, fsatc Sears and
Walter Quackenbos, in the not Of post
ing sclrrilous placard abusive Of the
Sons OF Liberty. Sears grasped one
and Quackcnbos the other, while The
third soldier rushed upon Sears with
his bayohet to free his comrade. but
Quackenbos. seizing m old rams horn
which happened TO be near by, hurled
it into his face and placed him hOrs do
combat Twenty soldiers came to the
rescue with drawn bay6nets, while the
unarmed citizens seized upon the cart
stakes and defended their comrades.
The riot was increasing, every moment
great numbers being added upon both
sides, when Mayor Hicks came upon the
scene and ordered the Ddldiers 10 their
barracks. They sullenly yielded obcdi'
ence, retiring rs far as Golden Hill. in
John street, between William and Clifl
streets, closely followed by tho citizens.
Here they were met by n reinforcement,
headed by q presumed officer in dis.
guise, who gave the command to halt
aud charge upon tho people. A few
who had been able 10 obtain weapons
placed themselves In front Of their de-
lenseless friends, and u battle ensued,
in which numbers were injured on both
sides. A peaceable Quaker standing
in his own door was wounded in the
check, sailor at distance was cut
down, boy, wounded in the head, fled
to n neighboring house for shelter, and
us tho door was kindly opened by wo
man, q brutal soldier thrust his bayonei
at her, fortunately without injury. The
citizens surrounded the hill and block
aided their enemies, but acted on the
defensive, repelling attacks, when they
might easily, il disposed, have mas
sacred their enemies. The officers at
last arrived, when the people at once
opened their ranks and raised the
siege, ending the first days battle.
Tho next morning the soldiers com
menced the conflict by insulting wo'
man returning from market. Tho peo,
pie gathered in groups and discussed
this and the events Of the preceding
day. About noon o group Of sailors
and party OF soldiers came into col
lision, a sailor being wounded by bay
onet run through his body. The Mayoi
ordered the soldiers to disperse, but
they refused. A messenger was sent Il
tho barracks for their officers, but the
soldiers intercepted him. Just thor
l1 party OF LlOerty Dogs returlluE
from game Of ball, came 10 the rescue
and the soldiers were dispersed, hostil'
ities ceasing for a few hours.
In the afternoon they were renewed
A group OF citizens having assembled il
front OF the new jail, q party Of soldier
approached them in o body and insult
ingly endeayorcd to force their va,
through, when tho citizens quietl!
opened their ranks and gave them FREE
passage. Not satisfied with this, th,
soldiers then assaulted tho people, wht
had only stones to defend themselves
The "Liberty Boys" soon came to thl
rescue, when q sharp conflict ensued
the soldiers being driven to their bar
racks, their arms taken from them
some badly wounded and others arrest
ed and committed to the iail for trial
thus ending the two days battle o
Golden Hill, ono OF tho steppipg-stone
to tho battles OF the Revolution.
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