The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-05
FOR TIVE DEFENSE or sosToN
Traces of Ereastworks of the kevoAosio11
.ry Period.

FOR TIE DEFENSE OF soSToN
rr>--. ~ rre.ssworks of the Revoautio1,
ary Period
Some slight traces of the first regulaf,
breasfworl< constructed by the CONT
nentals when they circuuE allated Bos-
ton nay~c - seen upon the estate or
the late aniel j. Brsdlee, at the
corner o. Inland and Ce<iAr streets
Hoxbury. ne rear Of his residence,
snd on wh - stands his observatory.
The estate. which was recently sola.
is being cut UP into lots and apartment
houses viii De erected thereon The
estate was long known a. Dr. Portsrs
cow pasture, the doctor having inherit7
ed 1t through his wife, who was
daughter of Maj Nathaniel Rrgyles-
The work was irregular in its out
lines, following the natural conigurs-
ton OF the rock, except On its northern
side; its eastern base now forms a ter
race 1t extended about 400 feet from
north to south, with an average width
OF about $50 feet The northeast ard
southwest sides OF the rock were very
steep. The walls Of the fort were a
feet rtsck and FIVE feet high. and each
angle was Fashioned The main gate
or entrance was on the side opposite
tho aluEhouse. Two heavy cannon
were mounted here on the evening o.
June 81. and ON July 24-poundsr
also, which. saws Heath. was fred
swice; the second shot grazed the ene-
r,vpS "a ~, r.af 49,, s&r-..ir u, A.
snd occesioRed some confusion By its
elevation, this fort completely COM
nanded the avenue to Boston over tia
Neck. In 1894 this ''losver fort 81
called to distinguish It from the ono
built to the south OF 1t, was ths,s de-
ecribeG: ats interior occupies about
two acres of ground. and al the hill 70
bare OF soil, the place may still be seen
where the earth was taluen I'd form the
ramports. This fortifcstion has nos
been At all injured. and the esnlrasures
may sIin be noticed where the CANON
were placed which fired upon the ad-
<nDcea lima OF the enemy. A former
owner Of the estate, Mr.. Alvah Kit
tredge, found on building tia dwelling
hone in 1886 that the hzesstwork great
~ obstructed its light on the west side,
and had it removed He related the fol-
lowing incident Connected with the
siege:
"Eefore tina work WIS takcn away,
Mr. AaHon willard. the weH-hno~n
chocSmAlser, then very ared. visited mo
ard uold me that when he waa IS wears
old be came 20 Roxbury a. . ffer OF
company OF minute men from Grafton
HIS native town, AID that they, witt
many others, were set at work imre-
tiateiy 10 throw up the rcdoubt herr!
After a hard days work they threw
themselves upon the ground behind IA
~nd slept soundly, wrapped in their
blankets. Just as the sun rose the next
snornng they were reused from tlseir
slamoers by 24-pound shot, whieh
plowed through the brea.sswurlS, and
scattering the soil on him md others.
finally buried itself in the earth.
Without waiting for further compli-
Dents eff the same nature, they speed
lily Withdrew, standing not upon tho
order of their going. aud. regardless OF
bruiss, turbied over each other In
their hssty decent OF the steep rocle
IN the rear. lie pointed out the Kpot
where ne judged the ball mus, hays
lodged. and there il was found when
sfterward took the work down
~The earliest reference 10 this fort
occurs IN a letter from Henry Knox.
Rfterwerd Gen. Knox, To bis wife, dated
RoKbuy, Judy 6. ITS Yesterday. 80
was going 10 Cambridge, l met ths
generals Washington and Lcs), who
begged me 20 return 30 RoSbury. which
did. When they had viewed fireworks
they expressed the greatest pssasme
and Surprise at their situstion AMI az
parent utility, to say nothing of the
plan. which did not eScaps thsir
praise.'"
Washington wrote to the president II
congress On July 10 that Gen. Thorn-
~ had thrown u p q strong work on tia
hill about BOO yas<is abovo the meeting
house, which. with the brokenasc=s Of
the ground. had MADE that pass verY
standardization Herald.