Connecticut western news., 1873-10-17
The Battle of Golden Hill.
A Stepping-stone to the Revolution
 ary War.

Stepping-stOne to the Revolution
 The 'tBattle of Golden Hill," in New York City, was one of the first steps towards the revolutionary war. A flag. tention between the Sons of Liberty and the soldiers, and had been four times de, stroyed by the latter. On the 18th oi January, 177O, party of soldiers again attacked it, and cutting off the wooden braces, made fruitless attempts to blow it open with gunpowder. Failing in this, they assaulted number of citiz- ems standing by public house, which was the headquarters of the Sons oi Liberty, and forced them into the house at the 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 barracks. They subse- quently succeeded in their attempt, and leveled the pole to the ground, sawed it in pieces, and derisively piled it up before the Sons of Liberty's door. Three hundred citizens assembled that night at 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 the rank of orderly, except sentinels, who should appear armed in the streets, and all, armed or unarmed, who were out of their barracks after roll-eall should be regarded as enemies of the city and dealt with accordingly.
 The next day three soldiers were de- tected by two citizens, Isaac Sears and Walter Quackenbos, in the act of post ing scurrilous placard abusive of the Sons of Liberty. Sears grasped one and Quackenbos the other, while the third soldier rushed upon Sears with his bayonet to free his comrade, but Quackenbos. seizing an old ram B horn which happened to be near by, hurled it into his face and placed him hors de combat. Twenty soldiers came to the rescue with drawn bayonets, 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 soldiers to their barracks. They sullenly yielded obedi ence, retiring as far as Golden Hill, in John street, between William and Cliff streets, closely followed by the citizens. Here they were met by reinforcement, headed by @ presumed officer in dis guise, who gave the command to halt and charge upon the people. A few who had been able to obtain weapons placed themselves in front of their de- fenseless friends, and battle ensued, in which numbers were injured on both sides. A peaceable Quaker standing in his own door was wounded in the cheek, a sailor at distance was cut down, boy, wounded in the head, lied to neighboring house for shelter, and as the door was kindly opened by wo- man, brutal soldier thrust his bayonet at her, fortunately without injury. The citizens surrounded the hill and block aded their enemies, but acted on the defensive, repelling attacks, when they might easily, if disposed, have mas sacred their enemies. The officers at last arrived, when the people at once opened their ranks and raised the siege, endingthe first day's battle.
 The next morning the soldiers com menced the conflict by insulting wo- man returning from market. The peo- pie gathered in groups and discussed this and the events of the preceding day. About noon group of sailors and . party of soldiers came into col lision, sailor being wounded by bay onet run through his body. The Mayor ordered the soldiers to disperse, but they refused. A messenger was sent to the barracks for their officers, but the soldiers intercepted him. Just then 6 party of "Liberty Boys" returning from game of ball, came to the rescue and the soldiers were dispersed, hostil- itles ceasing for few hours.
 In the afternoon they were renewed. A group of citizens having assembled in front of the new jail, party of soldiers approached them in body and insult ingly endeavored to force their way through, when the citizens quietly opened their ranks and gave them free passage. Not satisfied with this, the soldiers then assaulted the people, who had only stones to defend themselves. The "Liberty Boys" soon came to the rescue, when 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 jail for trial, thus ending the two days battle of Golden Hill, one of the stepping-stones to the battles of the Revolution.