The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-05-18
That Bunker Hill Powder.

Every good student Of history has
learned that the battle of Bunker Hill
was lost to the Americans chiefly because
they had not enough powder.
The king having opposed, by every
means in his power, the manufacture of
munitions Of war in the colonies, the
patriots at first found great difficulty in
procuring ammunition and the supplies
for the early part of the war were obtain
ed in such adventurous ways that accounts
of these exploits are very interesting.
Indeed, portion of even the scanty stock
which our people had at Bunker Hill had
been brought over the sea to be used
against the enemies of Great Britain.
[ have only recently found out Just
how this powder came to do service for
the patriots, instead of their British op-
pressors /; and, being quite sure that the
story has never been fully told, | have
undertaken its recital for the pleasure Of
the numberless young patriots who read
81. Nicholas.
Adjoining the town of Rye, in New
Hampshire, and directly north of its
noted beach, is the town of Newcastle.
On the site of the present Fort Constitu-
tion in this town there was, in the days
of the Revolution, a quite formidable
work called "Fort William and Mary"
No visit from foreign enemy being
anticipated, the fort was manned at this
time by captain and five privates only.
A weak garrison, surely; but it was sup.
posed that, in case of danger, the friends
of King George in the neighborhood
would amply reinforce the guard, even
weio ,ho,o Nv. ,i-.- e. .Lo ~ ,.~or.
nor, Wentworth, to bring the militia to
the rescue As to any serious attack by
disaffected inhabitants, it was too bold
an act for belief; and if it were possible,
in any case, that the militia should prove
insufficient, General Gage, with three
thousand regulars, was in Boston, and
British feet was in its harbor.
What subject, however rebellious,
would dare to touch his Majesty's pro.
perty, or its custodians, under these cir.
cumstanccs? The act would be treason,
and the life and possessions Of the offend.
er would be forfeited and who could
save him from the kings hand Pro.
badly not even the most ardent patriot
thought Of it, until Paul Revere came
riding into town one evening.
The news he brought was startling.
An order had come from the king that
all military stores in the colonies should
be seized at once.
Major John Langdon afterwards gov.
ernor) the same evening received cali
from his friend, Captain Thomas Pick
eriDg. After the compliments of the
hour had been passed, the Captain sur
prised his friend by an invitation to ac-
company him to Fort William and Mary
to take glass of wine with its command
er.
at will not do" replied the Major,
cautiously evading declaration of his
own sentiments "it will not do under
the present state Of public affairs"
Major Langdon's sympathies were with
his oppressed countrymen; and he revolt.
ed at the idea Of receiving the hospitali.
ties Of one whose duty it might be on the
morrow to shoot down his guests as foes
of the government.
Captain Pickering next disclosed de.
sign of securing the arms and ammunition
of the fort; showing his purpose to be
quite other than the invitation indicated
"If twenty. eight like ourselves could
be found" said he, IL would undertake
to lead in the capture
To this purpose Major Langdon hearti.
ly assented,
Before noon Of the next day a drum
and fife were sounding about town to bring
the people together and the order of the
king for securing the ammunition was
made known The effect of this news
was increased by report that the armed
vessels Scarborough" and "Cauceaux"
were on their way from Boston with
British troops to possess the fort and hold
the town in awe.
When Governor Wentworth heard of
this meeting Of the citizens, ho warned
them against committing any rash act :;
and as the people soon dispersed. it was
supposed that nothing would come OF the
meeting. But this was mistake.
A little before twelve that night-it
was the fourteenth Of December, 1774-
the nearly full moon looked down upon
some two hundred men setting out in
boats from Portsmouth wharves, and
heading for Newcastle.
Haitian. hour later their boats grounded
near the island, aud the men waded
ashore through the shallow water, which
froze upon their clothing. Yet the land.
ing had been so quiet that no attention
was attracted at the fort. Captain Pick.
ering, being in advance Of the others,
scaled tho grassy rampant unattended,
and seizing the sentinel with one hand
and bis gun with the other, he demanded
silence on pain of instant death.
Crowds OF men were now clambering
up the walls ard, leaving the sentinel 10
their charge, the leader hastened on to
the quarters Of the commandant. He
entered the room before that officer was
fairly awake, announcing to him that the
Tort was captured and he prisoner. lie
had previously been warned that an attack
upon the fort was medtated, yet his gar.
rison was not on the alert and he at
once surrendered to the only man that APP
peared. He gave his sword to Captain
Pickering, who politely returned it, say.
ing
You are gentleman, and shall retain
your s;de.arms."
Pickering turned to leave him. when
the dishonorabe officer, having him al
disadvantage, aimed blow at his captor
with the sword which had that minute
been restored to him. But the muscular
patriot parried the blow with his arm,
and then, not deigning to draw his own
sword, felled the miscreant to the ground
with his clenched hand His followers
were now at the door, aud the fallen OF.
fcer was placed under guard The rem,