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CHAPTER V

      They helped to light the torch of liberty's fires. A man who makes a sacrifice for his fatherland, be he never so lowly, his name should be forever written in the history of the nation. – HON. JOHN R. MURPHY, June 17, 1889.

REV. CHARLES BABBIDGE'S EXPERIENCE WITH OLD SOLDIERS OF THE. REVOLUTION. – THOMAS PAINE'S "COMMON SENSE." – NO GOVERNMENT HOMES FOR VETERANS OF THE WAR. – MILITARY SERVICE OF HARVARD COLLEGE. – STORY OF EDMUND BANCROFT. – BURGOYNE'S OFFICERS AND THEIR DOGS. – STORY OF EDMUND BLOOD

      BESIDES the general narrative, the young pastor gathered much in the way of incidents from the older members of his parish, who, as they neared the threshold of eternity, seemed to live over again the experiences of their early years, particularly those of the war. Says Mr. Babbidge, "I sat by the bedside of an old soldier, one of my parishioners, about to depart this life. His thoughts, dwelling upon the future, led him to desire to discuss the works of Thomas Paine. There had been placed in his hand, while in camp, a pamphlet entitled "Common-Sense," written in a

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popular style by Paine. In this he advocated the cause of the American Colonies against the mother country. The success and influence of the publication were extraordinary; and it won the author the friendship of Washington, Franklin, and other distinguished leaders, as well as the confidence of the soldiers fighting for their independence. This Pepperell soldier had treasured the pamphlet, and naturally been led to study other works by the same author, and been greatly impressed by his infidel opinions, which seemed to be clouding the light of revelation as he was nearing his end. I was impressed by this experience with the fact that these old veterans had not only scars of body, but of mind, as the result of their early service in the war."
      Our country was in no condition to make the liberal provisions for the soldiers after the Revolution that it did after the Civil War, and not a few of them ended their lives in the almshouse. "This was the case in Pepperell," said the clergyman; "and I frequently visited old soldiers at that institution when in the discharge of my parochial duties, and there caught anew from the veterans the impulse of patriotism. They were old and worn-out men; and no one could look upon them, and think what they had sacrificed and endured, and not be drawn to them very strongly. There was Moses Blood, 'an Israelite without guile,' and Jedediah Jewett, 'Uncle Jeddie,' as he was famil-

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iarly known, and Mr. Wright, all tenderly cared for in that most excellent home. Each had his peculiarities, and was allowed to indulge them. Their sayings are frequently quoted in the town to this day. The wit of one of them, Thomas Seward, seemed to sharpen with advancing age. Rev. Mr. Bullard, my predecessor, called at the almshouse, and there met the veteran. Desiring to know how many inmates there were, he said to Mr.,Seward, 'How many here are supported by the town?' The reply was, 'Two, sir; myself and you, and being the older I put myself first.' This, to the minister, whose support was provided in town-meeting, in much the same manner as was that of the poor, was so well put that the pastor did not fail to report it."
      While the town of Pepperell has never been neglectful of the anniversary of April 19, and with the other towns in that locality duly appreciates it, their especial day of annual observance has been that of the 17th of June. As long as any of the old heroes lived, they were the central figure in the local celebration. A military spirit always prevailed in the town; guns were fired in all parts on the 17th, a dinner was served, the Prescott Guards were on duty, and an oration was always delivered.
      "The military discipline throughout the State," said Mr. Babbidge, "if properly conducted, tends to cultivate obedience and good manners, and thus

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is conducive to proper life. This was true in a large degree throughout the Commonwealth as long as the organization was kept up. When I was in Harvard College we had one of the finest companies in the State, consisting of the students. The State provided our arms, and we drilled for exhibition four times each year. Robert C. Winthrop was our captain. While sitting here by my hearth-stone and looking backward, I can but attribute much of the success of the Northern army in the Civil War to the familiarity with arms which dates back to those days."
      Among the Pepperell men who served at Bunker Hill was Sergeant Edmund Bancroft, who is represented there to-day in blood and name by his grandson, Edmund Bancroft. There is no more convincing evidence of the character and ability of the yeoman soldiery of 1775 than is found in this town, where one of their men, a sergeant, who fought at Bunker Hill, served the town later in the second and third Provincial Congresses. The home of the soldier and representative to Provincial Congress has disappeared; but on the same acres is the home of his grandson, Edmund of to-day. This man repeats the familiar narrative as he received it, a fireside tale, confirming that of many others; but he naturally introduces that later experience of the war in which the town had a most interesting share, the surrender of Burgoyne. Colonel Prescott, with other men of

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the town, were in that service when the Northern army surrendered.[1]
      After the surrendered army arrived at Cambridge, several of Burgoyne's officers were sent out to Pepperell on parole. Two of them were boarded in the Bancroft family, and others were quartered in the neighborhood. This provision was doubtless made through the influence of Mr. Bancroft. Says the present Edmund, "My father, who was Edmund second, was a boy in the family, and much in company with these prisoners. His recollection of the guests, as they went about wearing their side-arms, was very vivid; and he frequently furnished the evening's entertainment for us children, as we sat about the open fire, by telling the stories of those disappointed men who had been obliged to surrender. They provided their own support and had attendants, as was frequently the case with the British and German officers when in this country. These had dogs with them, called by the names of Barstow and Bisbee. Our boy nature was greatly aroused by the incidents in which these dogs played a part." It is claimed that these officers were permitted to meet at a certain place once a week for friendly conference, a monument having been erected to commemorate the tradition. The story by Mr. Bancroft, of quartering the officers in the remote towns, is strengthened by the history of the times; and Longfellow,


[1] For narrative see subsequent chapter.

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gives us a glimpse of their dogs in "The Open Window," –-

"The large Newfoundland house-dog was standing by the door."
      Among the many family mementoes of the Bancroft home proudly shown by the Edmund of today is the powder-horn carried by his grandfather in the fight. It is elaborately carved, and bears the initials "E. B.," with dates, etc. As evidence of an inheritance of the family military spirit on the part of the one who now bears the name, appears t!he record of service of Edmund the third as major of a regiment of militia in which were the Lowell City Guards, when Benjamin F. Butler was a lieutenant, and learned military tactics of this officer.
      Neither the deaths at Bunker Hill, nor the loss of their patriotic minister in the cause of freedom, deterred the men of the town from responding to the successive calls for service and money. At first it was necessary that a man should be of full height, of age, and of good health, to "pass muster;" but there came a time when it was not so easy to keep the depleted ranks of the Continental army full, and men were accepted although not recorded as "liable to do military duty." Boys were admitted who had prematurely reached the stature of manhood, although they had not attained the age of sixteen years. Edmund Blood of Pepperell was found in the service when yet in his

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teens. He was but eleven years of age when the Lexington alarm called the people of Pepperell to action; but fired with the spirit so generally pervading the town, he anxiously waited the time when he, too, could enter the service, and seized the first opportunity, which was the call of June, 1780. He is recorded as of light complexion, and "5 ft., 7 in." in stature. His service was at North River, New York. Having served out his time, he returned to his home in penury, – the condition to which a large share of the soldiers were reduced. In many instances they were discharged hundreds of miles from their homes, with no provision for the journey. They counted themselves fortunate if they were not forced to make the journey on foot, with not even as much as a remnant of a shoe or stocking, thus destitute and weary coming back to the old home to share the burden of debt occasioned by the war. A most convincing proof of this general condition of discharged soldiers is found in the family home of Edmund Blood at Pepperell. A son of the young soldier, bearing his father's name and culivating his paternal acres, has a discharge paper, – his father's passport from Fishkill, N.Y., to Pepperell, Mass.
      Mr. Blood of to-day is but sixty years of age, yet is one of the few living children of a soldier of the Revolution who has had the tale of personal experience from his father's lips.

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      "I marched July 4, 1780, arrived at Springfield July 8, and went on to New York. I was in the Eighth Division, under Ebenezer Kent, and chiefly occupied in doing guard duty. I frequently saw Washington, and early learned to admire his manly form, open, frank countenance, and uniform courtesy to all, regardless of rank. When we were discharged, Dec. 5, 1780, each received a written certificate bearing the signature of the Colonel. This was proof that we were not deserters, and also a recommendation to the charity of the farmers, whose aid we sorely needed. We had no money of any sort, and when we were finally paid off, it was in the worthless currency, which had nothing but bulk to commend it."

[Photo - "DISCHARGE OF EDMUND BLOOD"]

      This slip of paper, carried by Edmund Blood in his waistcoat pocket from Fishkill to Pepperell, has been kept in the home where the returned soldier put it, and is prima facie evidence of what many have accepted as doubtful tradition.
      It would seem as though this experience were

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enough to satisfy the young man's love of adventure, but Edmund Blood soon appears with twenty of his townsmen in the privateer service.[1] A statement of his final settlement with Captain Manley, showing his share in prizes captured, is

[Photo - "THE BLOOD HOMESTEAD"]

one of the family treasures at the Blood homestead, from which comes the Pepperell spring water, now being shipped to the, same State in which the young soldier did service for his country.


[1] See Story of Priviteering in this series.

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