New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-04
Busiker Hill Powder.

Dusler Hnl Powder.
Every good student of history has learned
that the battle Of Bunker Hill was lost to
the Americans chiefly because they had moi
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 ammuni-
| ton, and the supplies for the early part of
the war were obtained BY such adven turous
ways that accounts of these are very inter-
| esting Indeed, portion Of even the scanty
stock which our people had ct Bunker Hill
had been brought over the sea to be used
against the enemies OF Great Britain.
have only recently found out just how
patriots instead of the British Oppressors;
and, being quite sure that the story has
never been fully told. I have undertaken
lts recital for the pleasure of the number
less young patriots who read st Nicholas.
Adjoining the town of Rye, in New Hamp-
shire, and directly north Of its noted beach,
ls the town of Newcastle. On the cite OF
the present Fort Constitution, in that town.
there was, in the days of the revolution. .
quite formidable work called Fort Will
liam and Mary"
No visit from q foreign enemy being an
ticipated, the fort was manned at this timo
by u captain and five privates enly, A
that in case Of danger the friends OF King
George in the neigbborhOod would amply
reinforce the guard, even were there not
time for Wentworth, the royal Governor, to
bring the military to the rescue. As to any
serious attack by disafft cted inhabitants, it
was too bold an act for belief; and if il
were possible in any case that the militia
should prove insufficient, General Gage.
with 5000 regulars, was in Boston, and .
British fleet was in the h8rbOr.
What subject, however rebellious, would
dare to touch his majesty's property, or it's
custOdians, under these circumstances
The act would be treason. and the life and
possessions Of the offender would be for
feited, and who would save him from tho
Kings hands Probably not even the
most ardent patriot thought of it, until
Paul Revere came riding into town from
Boston 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 (afterward Gov.
ernOr) the same evening received q call
from his friend Captain Thomas Pickering.
After the compliments of the hour had been
passed the captain surprised his friend BY
an invitation to accompany him to Fort
william and Mary to take glass Of wine
with its commander.
tiously evading q declaration Of his own
sentiments, 1T will not do under the present
state Of public affairs"
Major LangdOn's sympathies were with
his oppressed country men, and he revolted
1t the idea Of receiving the hospitalisies of
one whose duty it might be on the morrow
20 shoot down his guests rs the foes of the
government.
Captain Pickering next disclosed design
u securing the arms and ammunition Of
ne fort, showing his purpose to be quito
'ther than the invitation indicated.
IF twenty eight like ourselves could be
ound." said he. Il would undertake to lead
q the capture
To this purpose Major Langdon heartily
ssented,
Before noon of the next day q drum and
lie we've sounding about town to bring the
eople together. and the order of the King
Or securing the ammunition was made
nOwn. The effect of this news was in
reased by report that the armed vessels
ray from Boston with British troops to
ossess the fort and hold the town in awe.
When Governor Wentworth heard of this
leetlng OF the citizens he warned them
galDst committing any rash act, and as
ne people soon dispersed it was supposed
nat nothing would come of the meeting.
tut this was mistake.
was the fourteenth of December, I774L
10 nearly full moon looked down upon
'me 2OO men setting out in boats from
ortsmouth wharves and heading for New
sstle.
Half an hour later their boats grounded
Ear the island and the men waded ashore
trough the shallow water, which froze
pom their clothing. Yet the landing had
zen so quiet that no attention was at
acted at the fort. Captain Pickering.
'lng in advance of the others. scaled the
'assy rampant unattended, and Selling the
ntlnel with one hand and his gun with the
her, he demanded silence on pain of in
ant death.
crowds of men were now clambering up
% walls, and, leaving the sentinel in their
arge' me leader FASTENED on to the quar-
rs or the cOmmandant. He entered the
ON before that officer was fairly awake.
'nounclng to him that the fort was can
req and ne prisoner. He had previously
en warned that an attack upon the fort
as meditated, yet his garrison was not ON
. aiert' and he at once surrendered to the
~ man that appeared He gave his sword
saving:
You n1 ,9, are gentleman, and shall retain
rickerlng tur1ed to leave him, when tho
shonoraole officer, having him at q disad-
ln'age, aimed q blow at his captor with
sword which had that moment baen
stored to him. But the muscular patriot
rled the blow with his ann, and then.
t de'gning to draw his own sword. falled
mlscreant to the ground with hia
'nched hand. His folio wers were now at
door, and the fallen officer was nlaced
der guard. The remnant Of the oar.
on gave no trouble.
ne military stores were now soupbt ont.
o. In the earliest light of morning ninetv,
ven barrels of powder were carried On
ara ~. Inc scows and gondolas and taken
IN the seventeenth of June the batt,a
''ch Bunker Hill CONFERENCE.-THE ~as =
'ght upon the heights of Charlestown
70 new Hampshire regiments were tbere 2
uer command of COlonels Stark and n.
ed. They we're postsd on the left wing
ana renee, from whence thew cut dowHx
o q, ranks OF the British as they adysncsze
the shore. Az l have before stated "a
9 portion of the powder taken from ~ Yit
!. AZ newcastle that supplied their mo
y day; and probably other troons th4p4re
80 OF the Granite State were fnrn;s ban
ID This providential stock.-N. Nic15 med
AT tho BarberSs ~