Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-07-23
.tDt TO ADVERTISERS.


friend of ours, in rummaglng the gar
ret Of his ancestral home in the west viii
laae, struck some antiquities, and has
kindly handed us the following letter. 1t
was written by a student in Yale college
who was pursuing his studies for the min
istry, to his father, the colonel of Massa-
chusetts regiment In the French war. He
was a gun smith of Northampton, Mass.
Amer the victory at Fort William Henry
on Lake George, the New England militia
were honorably discharged, and so the Col
one was enabled soon thereafter 10 meet
with his dutirul family by his own Preside.
Tho next brush he had was at the battle of
Bunker Hill. The same Colonel, Seth
Pomoroy, with his gay hair, in his 10th
year, was in the fight, though without
command. In the retreat this is what the
historian Bancroft says of him: "Pomeroy
walked backwards, facing the enemy and
brandishing his musket, ill 1t was struck
and marked by a ball" But the gray
haired veteran escaped. OF the eight Brig
adler Generals elected by Congress five
days after the battle, our heroic Colonel
was the first named. But rejecting on bis
age and his infirmities, the old warrior de-
clined to accept of his commission. His
descendants treasure his memory and pass
him down the ages as one OF the brave old
fellows of the past.
northampton, 81 Septemb'r, a. d. 1905.
Honoured & dear Eathr.-The last Time
1 wrote was by Cap. Peck from Newhaven,
which / trust you have received. l then
had heard an imperfect account of your En-
gaRement of the Sth Inst. and wrote full Of
Fears lest you might have fallen with 9TH
ers. Being thus in Suspense "a most I'M
easy Situation of Mind that Day about
the Middle of afternoon set from n. haven,
and came Home from Capt. Jno. Lyman's
Sunday Morning, and found surprising
Mixture of Joy & Grief. OF Joy because
of the glorious Victory of the army, and
that you yourself in particular was pre-
sery'd in the Midst Of Danger: But OF
Grief that so many brave Men had fallen
Relations Il Friends. 1t was in Short Or ii
may be SO called) pleasing dreadful News.
Yet the best accounts we can get are wrote
in a great Hurry & Confusion & 50 must
be imperfect. We have never yet got an
exact account of the Enemy's Numbers,
but are surprised that such an army could
pass undiscovered, and more so that 1900
Men should be surprised in the midst of
them, & suffer them 10 give the first Fire.
But lis not to be expected that we at this
Distance should have the clearest Notions
of those villains. We therefore content
ourselves Will anu the
God of armies who gave upon the Whole
so signal Victory. We tremble to think
how near they were TO driving in your
Camp when your Men retreated struck
with such violent Panick, and the Enc
my elated with their advantages rushing
with all Fury upon you. What Heart OF
Steel would not melt when to stand was 10
look a thousand flying Deaths in the Face,
and to run no less fatal nay far more,
since swift Destruction would soon over
take. Then would have New Eng'd's Hopes
perished-then had our Case been almost
desperate. But thanks TO Almighty GOD
who has been better to us than our Fears,
who inspired with Courage & gave the Vic
tory. Surely we have Reason 10 take En-
enlargement and still to trust in God who
has thus evidently own'd your Cause. May
we not hope this is but the Beginning of
Favours9 Is it not the Cause OF GODS
Church? and what has been Bearer than
that9 TITS true your Enemies are many,
subtle and strong, we therefore rejoice in
your late Success with Trembling, for Fear
of what is yet to come. For my own Part
am full Fears, and want 10 know Qf it be
not SecreD how you will pass the Lake,
whether the whole or Part of the army
whether there be no Way by Land. Espe-
cially as to that Difficult Place at the upper
End OF the Lake and calPd here the Mar
rOiUS, whether the French have fortified it,
or whether there be no Way TO go Round
y
reinforced. The whole Country are en-
gagged, and the Prayers, the fervent Pray
ers OF many good People (who tho not
able 10 help you in Person, yet we trust
have good Interest at the Throne of
Grace) are not wanting for you. Affairs
seem bro't almost to Crisis, and perhaps
GOD is going to do great Things for his
American Church, and who would not es-
TEEN themselves honoured to be employ'd
as instruments TO bring them about.
III H..
of both your Field-Ohicers (Which we
heartily lamenO we doubt not must add
greatly TO your Care q Burden; but hope
You will have increased Wisdom and
Strength in Proportion to the Increase of
your Trust & Concern, and that yon may
be equal to so great q important Trust.
We especially my Mother, want much to
know how you fare as TO Provisions, and
what Comfortables you need that we can
possibly convey. We may send by-a
Gag OF Butter, Gingerbread, Biscuits, Dyet
Bread.
Gould we think it pleasing to you we
should dispatch Horse & Man to carry
what you might need but we fear the Dam
ger is great u are not enough acquainted
with your Wants. 1 myself would my
Health permit (Which has not been so firm
as usual this Sumer) would visit you, il
you are like to larry long on this side Lake
George. Nay, so much Is my Mind In the
Affair, that had my Designs in Life been
any other than they be, should have Pc
tion'd for your Ensign's Commission,
which have not heard you have disposed
Of Your Family are all in comfortable
Circumstances. 1t is most likely / may
stay here this Winter, and shall rejoice il l
can be of any Service in any Part of your
Business. 1t indeed goes on as well as
may be expected, My Brother Quartus in
herlts his Fathers Virtues of Steadiness,
Diligence & Industry that he manages the
Shop Affairs to good advantage. The Bust
ness without Doors goes on well. So
hope you will not add to your Multiplicity
of Cares, any anxious Concern for your
Family. Your Letter of the 18th Inst. we
have received. We detest and abhor the
cruel q peridious Designs of the French,
rejoice that you have escaped their Hands,
aud lament the loss of so many brave Men.
Yea write that you expect one violent at
tack morel hope 1t will end in their
greater confusion. Their Numbers per-
haps will be superiouT, but If they have
no other advantage 1 hope they will be
beaten. For in almost all Histories great
Il important Battles, the Victory has al
ways been gained by the weakest Side.
The Reason of which Lord Bacon, the
greatest Politician the English Nation per-
haps ever had says Is because Fear is like
ly TO enter sooner into large Number than
smaller, as there is greater Number of
towards. And he lays II down for Max
i'm that the Battle is always lost on that
Side where Fear first enters. tho't it
might not be amiss TO hint this Observa-
lion, as II was new TO me, as perhaps 1t
may be 10 you.
Wishing the continual Protection of
Heaven in every Circumstance yet before
you, am Sr. your o6edient Son q Ser
want, SETH POMERoY, Jun'r.
Col. 8. Pomeroy.
P.S! Please to give my Compliments 10
EnauiTeTs.-tO Col. Whiting whose l left
the sooner because of the News.
Yours &c.