Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-24
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERIoAN
 HISTORY L
THE FIRST AMERICAN COMMAND.


 Somewhere in the old churchyard al Van Ccrtlandville near PeekEkill, New l York, lie the remains of the first com | | nahder Of the American army. His name I was Seth Pomeroy. When Seth died, 1 | on February 1s, 1777, long procession with nuhed druuros and reversed arms ! moved slowly and sadly over the road, bearing to his burial one of the nobiest
 old heroes this country knew in its early
 days, but they failed to leave stone to l mark his resting place.
 The name and fame of Major Gen Seth Pomeroy ought to be dear to
 every American, and yet how few Of
 the present generation knew of his deeds of valor. His was a most dra-
 matic life. SHe was born in 17o6 in | the little village of Northampton,
 Mass He grew up a resolute, God Ffearing man, and. very daring Hon.
 brs and public trusts were showered
 upon him. He exomplifed all the
 virtues Of an honest man and a
 Christian soldier. For thirty years he
 warred against the Indians and the French, and always with conspicuous
 bravery, and distinguished success. A specimen of the original Puritan, he counted obstacles in his way but as
 trials to his faith, and bravelyN. sur mounted them.
 At the sieke of Louisburg Pomery
 received q letter from his wife say ing that the whole town was daily
 praying for him and for his command. He and two others were appointed to gen. l said: Flight, my brave boys, for the 2 2 whole town is moved with concern, and our fathers and mothers are hold |, ing prayer meetings every night I Fight, for the Lotd is on our side Who shall be against us?"
 !, And to him more than to any othh, :. is due the fall of that great Louisville = ! fortress. Al the conc .usion of ,ne 1 French war the old soldier hung ur .' his sword and cultivated the arts ol
 peace, but the fires of religious pa
 tritism and martial ardor burned as y brightly as in the days of his youti : and he and two others were appointed generals of the American armies at thei o.' organization prior to the breaking ou e or actual nOst...ies ...4d washington V taking command.
 q When news came of the battle 0
 Lexington though past seventy years
 of age, Ponefoy stopped neither on ac
 count of business nor inhrmities, bu 1 rode directly to the front Worn ou .s with labor, he returned in few day ~ to his farm in Connecticut. He ha - 'barely reached his door when a eourne told 6am that the battle of Bunker Hi :. was soon to be fought
 " Never pausing for a moment Pom ,e eroy turned about and dashed ava Iu htor the scene. As one horse gave ava m he procured another and another. an
 reached Charleston Neck in the mids
 of the fray. Handing his horse {
 a friend because it was too valusbl m to be shot, he ran on foot acros sS the neck, then hwepr by the enemy X shipping. and up to the hill and leape nA into the trench un the heights. i- Putnam wrung his hands and sai he "Porneroy, you here! God. l belle, h. a cannon would wake you if yc es slept in the grave" Putnam offers ry him the command, but he refuse ue and took his place with the ConnecticI a troops.
 w Pitcairn, who commanded at Lexin
 ton. lead the British column. He point,
 Pomeroy out to two sharpshooters al
 Pitcairn fell mortally wounded. The ar me intuition gave out, the soldiers began le- retreat Pomeroy leaped upon the raf In. part, waved over his head a gun made ne himself and shouted: Don't run, bo, err don't run. Club them with your muske .ch as I do. No enemy shall ever say to saw the back of Seth Pomeroy." ith Worn out after the battle, Pomer in returned to his home. but when da no- ger came near Peekskill, he could ,nS longer remain, and, at the earn, csc sollcildIon or WaenlnBtoni ne LOOK fit. command here, and at that place
 died on the 18th of February, TIT.
 Seth Pomeroy's early vocation IL, mechanic and ginship was of good a , alr, vantage as a hEter During the sic iey of LounSv:lie he had charge of more tn m em twenty smiths who were engaged in dr sIy ing captured cannon.
 % %Ior It was a few days after the bat neo Of Bunker Hill that Pomeroy recei, 'no the appointment of senior briead er- general, being first on the list among
 eight named by congress. but as {
 action caused some difficulty in the
 iustment of rank he declined the hon , | When New Jersey was overrun by ,ot. British he headed force of militia fir
 his neiehborhood and marched to rescue of Washington. He reached -. Hudson river. but never returned "" Tomorrow efferson's' Gunboat Flee