Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1896-08-13
FoR THE DEFENSE OF BOSTON.
Traces Of Brcastwork- Of the Revolution
AIRY Period

Some slight traces Of the first regular
breast,vork constructed by the Cont
nentals when they circumvallated Sos-
ton may vet be seen upon the estate o.
the late Nathaniel J. Bradlee, nj the
corner Of Highland and Cedar streets
RoNbury, in the rear OF his residence
and on which stands his observatory.
The estate. which was recently sold.
is being cut up into lots. and apartment
houses will he erected thereon. The
estate was long known rs DIR. Por'ers
cow pasture. the doctor having inherit
ed il through his wife. who was a
daughter of Mai. Nathaniel Ruggles.
The work was irregular in its out
lines. following the natural confrura-
tion Of the rock. except on its northern
side. its eastern base now forms a ter
race. II extended about l80 feet from
north to south, with an average width
81 about 80 feet. The northeast and
southwest sides Of the rock were very
steep. The walls 81 the fort were 2
Zee, thick and five feet high. and each
angi. was Fashioned. The main gate
or entrance was on the sid. opposite
the almshou~e. Two heavy cannon
were mounted here on the evening o.
June -. and on July I a 24-Pounder
also. which. saws Heath. was hred
twice: tbs. second shot grazed the enc
my's parapct. then struck in the parade.
and occasioned some confusion. By'its
elevation. this fort completely COM
man,led the avenue TO Boston over the
Neck. In isal this lower fort" Sc
called TO distinguish it from the one
built 20 the south Of it, was thus de-
scribsd: Its interior occupies abou.
two acres Of ground. and as the hill il
bare Of soil. the place may still be seen
where the earth was taken To form the
ramports This fertilization has not
been n all injured. and the embrasures
may still be noticed where the cannon
were placed which fired upon the AL
vanced line OF the enemy. \ former
owner of the estate. Mr.. Alvah Kit
tredge. found on building the dwelling
house in lsl6 that the breastwork great
" obStructed its light on the west side.
and had il removed. He related the fol-
lowing incident connected with the
siege:
Before the work was taken away
Mr.. Aaron Willard. the weli-knovs
ciockmaker. then very aged. visited me-
and told me that when he was u years
old he came 20 Roxbury as a fifvF Of a
company Of minute men from Grafton.
his native town. and that they. with
{
diately to throw up the redoubt herr
Nfter a hari days work they threw
themselves upon the ground behind .
and slep; sOundly. wrapped in their
blankets. Just as the sun rose the next
morning they were reused from THEN
slumb-rs by a 24-pound shot. which
plowed through the breastwOrk. AMI
scattering the soil on him and Others.
finally buried itself in the earth.
Without waiting for further eompli-
ments of the same nature. they speed
lily withdrew. standing not upon the
order of their going. and, regardless OF
bruises. tumbled over each other in
their hasty descent of the steep rock
in the rea-. He pointed out the spot
where he judged the ball must have
lodged. and there il was found when /
afterxarti took the work down.
The earliest reference to this fort
occurs in a letter from Henry Knox.
afterward Gen. Knox. to his wife. datet.
RoNbury. July 6. 17T5. Yesterday. As
| was going TO Cambridge, | met the
generals Washington and Lee). who
begged me to return to RoNbury. which
l did. When they had viewed the works
they expressed the greatest pleasure
and surprise at their situation and APP
parent utility. Ia say nothing of the
plan, which did not escape their
praise. ="
Washington wrote to the president OF
congress on July 10 that Gen. Thorn
as had thrown up strong work on the
hill about 200 yards above the meeting
house. which. with the brokenness OF
the ground, had made that pass very
secure.-Boston Herald.