The National tribune., 1884-08-21
"ISAAC DAVIS. y
"A Post Named In Honor OF the First Victim OF the
Resolution-Pstriotism OF Acton, Mass.

To THE EDITOR 1t may not be uninterest-
ing to your readers all over this great country
to see an article from the old historic town of
Acton, Mass. From this town the first blood
of the Revolution was shed in the persons of
Capt. Isaac Davis and Privates HAYWOOD and
Hosmer. The Post of the GAR in this town
have taken the name that we all delight TO
honor-Isaac Davis. On that memorable 10Th
OF April i775, when. in council Of war near
that old North Bridge in Concord, with the
British soldiers in their front Capt. Davis was
asked If he was afraid to go, said :. No; nor /
haven't man that is afraid" and he immedi-
ately ordered his company from the left to the
right of the line, and with His Maiesty's SOL
diers on one side OF the bridge, the attack CON-
menced and Capt. Davis and Private Hosmer
were instantly killed the first organized fight
of the Revolutionary War.
History tells us that Capt. Davis was about
30 years old that he was husband aud father:
that he left his family that morning with the
firm conviction that he should see them no
more, and although his lip may have quivered
and his eyes moStened rs he trod his own free
hold for the last time, fear had no part in those
emotions. singular and interesting eOinci-
dence is. that Capt. Daniel TuttIe and his com
pany, with headquarters in Acton was on the
streets of Baltimore on the 10Th of April 1861,
and formed part of the old 9th regiment, and
the blood of two of his soldiers besprinkled the
streets of Baltimore.
Capt. Daniel Tuttle, an honored citizen of
our town, member or our Post, with q family
of 10 children, at the commencement of the
war of the rebellion received an order early in
April, 1851, to report in Lowell with his COM
pany the next morning, and he and Capt. Aaron
Hondly rode all night to notify his men, and
the result was that Capt. Tuttle and his COM
mand were in Lowell the next morning at 6
o'clock. The men left their families and farms
and all their business and social relationship
with few hours notice, and we have reason TO
believe were the means of saving Washington.
Such was the spirit of our town in the RevOlu-
tionary War and also in the last war / well
recolIect that during the last war; at the time
Gen. Banks and his command were in danger in
the Shenandoah Valley, and no troops available
to go 10 his assistance, the General Government
made requlSltlon for troops upon the Governor
of Massachusetts The old 9th was ordered out
and in less than is hours our company was in
Faneuil Hall, Boston. Acton had, first, Capt
Tuttle's company, three months campaign; then
Capt. Wm Chapman, three years Capt Aaron
Hondly, nine months; Capt. f. III. Whitcomb
100 days, and lastly Capt. VIM. Chapman, re-
enlistment for three years or the war; the 9Th
and 26th Mass. Capts. Tuttle, Hondly and
Whltcomb are now members of Isaac Davis Post,
GAR, of Acton, which numbers about 80.
We have often thought that if the Confeder-
ate armies had undertaken to have marched
eurouSH massachusetts Lhey would nave met
with like experience with the British sol
diers. A single incident: man by the name
of Fox, belonging to the town of Carlisle Mass.
hearing that the enemy were coming, ran to meet
them, and secreted himself behind wall next
to the road, and when the red-eoats or British
soldiers, arrived against his position he drew
up and fired. Then there was no alternative
but to run, and he was obliged to go over a
little ascent before he could get out of range,
and he was so near that he heard the officer
right face platoon and order a fire. and lust
at the moment they fired he stumbled and fell,
and heard them say, There, we've killed one
- Yankee" but as good providence would
have it, as he fell all the bullets went over him,
and he picked himself up and went on his
way for another crack at them.
The first Commander of our Post, G. W.
Parker, worthy and honored soldier of one
of the Connecticut regiments. was one of the
unfortunate number who spent about year in
Andersonyille, and received thereby a legacy
OF broken constitution, with continuous en-
feebled health. l have often asked myself,
What does this country owe such man =? Some
OF them get a pittance for pension, and are
then called the Nations paupers; but the men
who staid at home and piled up their dollars
and bought bonds and became rich-they are
the ones that are now hOnored. The copper
head Democracy and many of the Republican
stay are to-day reaping the fruits of
our boys In blue, ana 7ecrying against paying
so much money out for pensions.-H., West
Acton, Mass