The Portland daily press., 1896-06-06
ON JULY FOURTH.
The Descendants of the Patriots VIII
Celebrate.

Celebrate.
Programme of the Observation-Disclosures
Historical Facts-List of Revolutionary
| Soldiers in Eastern Cemetery.
The Sons and Daughters of the Amerl-
can Revolution propose to celebrate July
fourth by field day at Portland, to ao-
quaint themselves with the historic
localities of Falmouth Neck, that are
| identified with the Revolutionary period.
They know that Maine had q very
honorable record during that war. as
well as in other wars. and few towns in
the colonies suffered as much or ICON
tributed more, in proportion to their
means, than Falmouth Neck. 1t Is pro-
posed to make our history of those times
moro prominent and give Maine her
proper place in history.
| In the heroic stand made at the battle
of Hubbardton by the regiments of Col
Ebenezsr Francis and Col. Seth Warner,
there were four companies from Maine
and they were about one fourth of the
commanded by Captain Samuel Thomas
| Of Stroudwater. Capt. Richard ayberry
of Windham, Captain George White of
Topsham and Capt. Daniel Wheelwright
of Wells, and they were in Col. Francis
Eleventh Massachusetts, regiment, whose
lieutenant colonel was Noah Moulton
Littlefeld of Wells, and the major was
William Lithgow, Jr., of Georgetown.
They had retreated from Fort Tioonde-
roga the day before, closely pursued by
the British, their regimental baggage
had been captured and the men had
thrown away everything, even their
blankets, in their fight. 1t was blue
morning when the enemy came up under
Gen. Frazier, but Col. Francis decided
to resist further advance of the British
and formed his two regiments for battle.
When they swung into line to make the
assaults the men were singing the hymns
that they sung in their village churches
at homo. The regiments had never met
the regulars in battle before, but three
times they forced them back, and the
enemy was reinforced when our army
was overpowered and forced to retreat to
Rutland. with heavy loss. In the
fourth assault, Col. Francis leading his
men, with wounded arm, was shot
dead, when Col. Warner took command
The bravery and obstinancy of our men,
commanded the ad miration of the British
officers, as they had opposed the best
disciplined troops. Those companies were
in the sbattle of Saltwater where they
did good service under Col. Benjamin
Topper. They were in tho assaults of the
left wing Of the army4at Saratoga and
witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne;
they spent the winter of 1777-S at Valley
Forge and participated in the battle of
Monmouth, when they suffered severely
and the colonel had his horse shot from
under him. AT V alley Forge. Captain
May berry's men at one time, had but
two pairs of shoessin the whole company.
These are but a sample Of Maine soldiers,
for our state had many men in the regi-
ments of Vose, Brewer, Bigelow. Alden,
Paterson, Wigglesworth AMI others.
The programmes for the day is u meet
ing in the forenoon at which will be
given the locations of the Notifications,
taverns, houses still standing and where
the prominent events took place, with
brief outline of the history of those
times. 1t is expected there will be adj
dresses by some of the members. In the
afternoon, the two societies will visit the
localities.
A mong the places Of interest will be
tho Eastern Cemetery, where probably all
the Revolutionary patriots were buried
and it is intended to mark every known
grave with a flag. Those interested will
be cordially invited to take part in this
field day if not mem Sers of the societies.
In Massachusetts, the cities and towns
are marking the graves of their Revolu-
tionary soldiers with the ornamental
marker adopted by the Sons of the
American Revolution, which seems to
give general satisfaction The cost of the
markers is but one dollar each and any
person wishing one placed at the grave
of Revolutionary patriot can have it
attended to by the Maine Society on the
payment of that amount to Hon.
Marquis E. King, at the Union Safety
Deposit Vault, Union Mutual Building.
Attention should be given this matter at
once, that they may be ready. A sample
marker can bs seen there.
In the Eastern Cemetery the following
patriots are kno wn to have been buried,
-