The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-07-06

and beef barrels he could find in camp
and 800 carts, with oxen and horses t
draw them.
March came. On the night of tn,
Sd, the cannon in the American line.
were roaring all night long, those in
Roxbury, Cambridge, on Winter Hill
Cobble Hill, Inman Farm, and other
places, all going at once, throwing sc
many shot and shell into Boston that
the British soldiers and the citizens re.
naming there had very little sleep
\ The next night, the 4th, Just after sun.
set, an order came for the regiment tc
which Abner belonged to parade al
once. Abner seized his gun and pow
Eder- horn, and fell into line The Col
Onel gave the order to march, and the
regiment moved on, joining other regi-
ments, making two thousand soldiers
in all. They turned south, over the
Dorchester hills, then east, and came
to the salt marsh.
No talking in the ranks" said the
Colonel, and they moved on in silence.
The moon was shining. Abner could
see Boston in the northwest. Beyond
it, in Cambridge, at Charlestown neck,
on Winter Hill, and in Roxbury, the
cannon were flashing and laundering,
and the shells were exploding over the
town. -.
Behind the troops, as they passed
over the marsh, were the three hundred
ox-teams, with the great baskets and
empty pork barrels in them. The team
sters were not allowed to speak a word
to their oxen. The long procession as
cended the hill on the east side of the
marsh, and when the top was gained,
Abner looked down upon magnificent
scene.
Below, in the harbor, was the great
feet of war ships, portfolios open, and
the muzzles of the cannon thrust out.
He could hear the bells on board strik-
ing, and the sailors crying, Eight
bells. The tide was flowing, and the
ships were swinging in the stream.
He had no time to gaze idly about
him, however, but seizing a shovel,
went to work digging with all his might
Some of the soldiers took the great
baskets, set them in rows, and shOVeled
earth into them Others took the pork
and beef barrels, filled them with stones,
and placed them in such position that
they could be cut loose in an instant,
and 90 rolling down the steep hill to-
wards the harbor, to roll the red-coats
out fiat if they attempted to climb the
hill.
All through the night they worked,
and when morning came they had a
strong fortifcation. When the light
began to streak the east, the sentinels
on board the ship were astonished to
see a great bank of yellow earth loom
ing above them. The Admiral COM
the fleet looked at it, shook his !
head, and sent word to Gen. Howe that |
the Yankees were on Dorchester |
that they mEst be driven off, |
or they would soon rain a shower of |
bullets upon his decks, and drive him |
out of the harbor.
All through the 4th of March there |
was a great commotion in Boston.
Gen. Howe was getting together all the
boats he could lay his hands upon.
There was marching to and fro of the
and general preparation for
/ battle.
All ILLS W ullt hDIeT anu HIS lGllOW-
soldiers were working like beavers, get
ing cannon moun,ed, and making the
Ortifications stronger.
Gen. Howe was going to send his
lrrny in boats from Boston, land the
soldiers at the foot of the Dorchester
nils, and march up the hill and get in
ear of the Americans, and so drive
hem out, or cut them off from the main
and and capture them; but the wind
began to blow, and the waves
an so high that he could not embark
lis troops, and he had to do the only
hing left for him to do-get out of Bos-
on. 81. -..
A few days later, the whole British
Lrmy, and a great many of the citizens
Who had sided with the king, embarked
N their ships, and the fleet sailed away
or Halifax.
1t was proud day when the ships
pread their sails and disappeared in
he distance. Abner and his fellow
oldiers swung their has and hurrahed.
BY patience, perseverance and devotion
o duty, they had driven the British out
# the town, and so ended the first cam
'aign of the Revolutionary War
'Outh's Companion.