The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-30
Vermont Claims First Blood spilled
I'm the Rcv0l luton.

| a correspondent of the New Hampshire
Sentinel, writing from walpole, New
Hampshire, says:
"Wc seem just now to be in a centennial
period, and since the glorious deeds of
our forefathers have been duly celebrated
at Lexington and Concord, it may be- we'll
to refer to centennial anniversary period,
previously past, viz: the 18th ult. True,
King Georges 'red-coats' first met the pa
triotic yeomanry, and the blood of the
royalist and the colonist was first spilled
in fight at Lexington; but it was at the
Court House in Westminster, VT, where
the first blood was spilled in open resistance
by the colonists to the encroachments of
the crown on the liberties of the people,
and became the first beacon light of the
revolution. This collision occurred be-
tween Tories and Wings near midnight,
Monday, March 10, 1775. Crowded in
the narrow passages of the lower story of
the building, on the stairs, and among the
benches of the courtroom, the hostile par
ties amid total darkness sustained for
time a hand-to-hand conflict. But the
strife was of short duration. The shouts
Of the sheriff and his men soon announced
that their deadly weapons and superior
numbers had given them the victory. Some
Of the Wings escaped by a side passage,
ten were wounded, two MORALLY, and seven
were made prisoners. Of the sheriff's posse,
two received slight flesh wounds.
So great was the Indignation aroused
among the people in the surrounding coun.
try that at noon Of the next day four hun
dred persons had assembled in the village
of w estminister, one-half of whom were
from New Hampshire. 'One company from
Walpole was commanded by Capt. CATER
ward ColoneD Benjamin Bellows of Rev
dictionary distinction. Capt. Stephen Sar-
geant brought his company from Rocking
( liam; Guilford furnished an organized band
and the Westminster militia were in full
force under their old leader, Axariah
Wright The Wing prisoners were re-
leased and the Tory Judges placed in ar.
rest and held in confinement in the very
court room, the scene of the encounter the
night before. Many curious visitors to see
how judges and justices appeared in prison
were admitted by four or five at time.
Passions ran high, evaporation was rank
and inhuman suggestions almost prevailed.
To the presence of Capt. Bellows the of
ficers of the court owed the security which
they enjoyed, amid this malestrom of pas
SION Firm in the cause of the people, he
uiu Hot IOrBet Wnat was que 10 Justice.
In the old burial ground in Westminster
stands an uppretending stone bearing the
following inscription:
SIN memory of William French, son to
Mr.. Nathaniel French who was shot at
Westminster March Ye 18th, 1875, by the
hands of Cruel Ministerial tools of George
We 3rd, in the Courthouse at IL o'clock at
night in the 22nd year of his Age.
ltc
For murder his blood Tor vengeance cries,
King George the third his tory crew
tina with a bawl his'head shot threw,
FOR Liberty and his country's good
he lost his life his dearest blood"
William French was the proto-martyr to
the Revolution and American Liberty.
Lexington, Concord and Charlestown
point with pride to their battle grounds,
marked with significant and costly monu-
ments, but 1t was at midnight, in the Court
House on the plains of Westminster, that
the cause OF freedom received it's victim,
and IN his grave were buried all hopes of
reconciliation with the mother country"