THE FIRST MARTYR OF BUNKER HILL

From the battle of Bunker Hill, sprang the protection and vigor that nurtured the tree of liberty, and to it, in all probability, may be ascribed our independence and glory.

The name of the first martyr that gave his life for the good of his country on that day, in the importance of the moment was lost, else a monument, in connection with the gallant Warren, should be raised to his memory. The manner of his death was thus related by Col. Prescott.

"The first man who fell in the battle at Bunker Hill was killed by a cannon ball which struck his head. He was so near me that my clothes were besmeared with his blood and brains, which I wiped off in some degree with a handful of fresh earth. The sight was so shocking to many of the men, that they left their posts and ran to view him. I ordered them back, but in vain. I then ordered him to be buried instantly. A subaltern officer expressed surprise that I should allow him to be buried without having prayers said. I replied 'this is the first man that has been killed and the only one that will be buried to-day. I put him out of sight that the men may be kept in their places. God only knows who, or how man of us will fall before it is over. To your post, my good fellows, and let each man do his duty.'"

"The name of the patriot who thus fell is supposed to have been Pallard, a young man belonging to Billerica. He was struck by a cannon ball, thrown from the line-of-battle-ship Somerset."

GENERAL PUTNAM FIGHTING A DUEL

General Putnam is known to have been decidedly opposed, on principle, to dueling. It once happened that he grossly affronted a brother officer. The dispute arose at a wine table, and the officer demanded instant reparation. Putnam being a little elevated, expressed his willingness to accommodate the gentleman with a fight; and it was stipulated that the duel should take place on the following morning, and that they should fight without seconds. At the appointed time, the general went to the ground armed with a sword and pistols. On entering the field, Putnam, who had taken a stand at the opposite extremity, and at a distance of about thirty rods, levelled his musket and fired at him. The gentleman now ran towards his antagonist, who deliberately proceeded to reload his gun.

"What are you about to do?" exclaimed the general, attending only to the first question "a pretty question to put to a man whom you intended to murder. I'm about to kill you, and if you don't beat a retreat in less time than it would take old Heath to hang a tory, you are a gone dog;" at the same time returning his ramrod to its place, and throwing the breech of his gun into the hollow of his shoulder.

This intimation was too unequivocal to be misunderstood; and our valorous duelist turned and fled for dear life.

It is believed that this was the only single combat in which Putnam was ever engaged - a circumstance the more to be wondered at, as he was exceedingly fiery and impetuous in his disposition. However well his reputation for courage might have been, association with officers of all descriptions during a war of eight years' continuance, must have brought him into situations in which it required a great degree of forbearance to avoid personal combats.

YOU CAN BETTER SPARE ONE MAN THAN TWO

The following anecdote, says a correspondent of the "Village Record," comes from a source entitled to perfect credit.

During the revolutionary war, two British soldiers, of the army of Lord Cornwallis, went into a house, and abused the inmates in a most cruel and shameful manner. A third soldier, in going into the dwelling, met them coming out, and knew them. The people acquitted him of all blame, but he was imprisoned because he refused to disclose the names of the offenders. Every art was tried, but in vain; at length he was condemned by a court martial to die. When on the gallows, Lord Cornwallis, surprised at his pertinacity, rode near him --

"Campbell," said he, "what a fool you are to die thus! Disclose the names of the guilty men, and you shall immediately be released, otherwise you have not fifteen minutes to live."

"You are in an enemy's country, my lord,' replied Campbell; "you can better spare one man than two."

Firmly adhering to his purpose, he died.

Does history furnish a similar instance of such strange devotion for a mistaken point of honor!

AN AMERICAN GENERAL

In the American revolutionary war, two young subalterns, who had been wounded, were taken prisoners, and on parole took up their residence on a place called Dobb's Farm.

One day, as they were sitting down to dinner, a swarthy man, of bold and full countenance, entered the room where they sat, and without announcing himself, asked how they liked their situation, and how they were treated? They answered in such a manner as gave pleasure to their good host and hostess. The stranger expressed his satisfaction also; and begging leave to dine with them, seated himself at the table without waiting for an answer.

When dinner was over, a couple of horsemen made their appearance, and desired to know the stranger's commands. "You will bring the wine hither," said he; "get some refreshment yourselves, and saddle at five o'clock." The yagers withdrew, and their commander, seeing the surprise of the officers said, "Gentlemen, my name is Morgan, a major-general in the service of America." They interrupted him with apologies for the unceremonious reception he had met with, which he begged not to hear, saying that he had come on purpose to see them, and to render any assistance they might require; adding, that he was very glad to see them so well accommodated.

Then, filling a glass of wine, to which they had been for some time strangers, he gave, "A speedy peace," in which he was pledged most cordially. The bottle was quickly circulated, and the healths of the principal commanders in both armies were drunk in succession. A song was proposed, and after one of the officers had complied, the general won the hearts of his auditors by singing, in allusion to his former profession, "When I was driving my wagon one day."

It was now five o'clock, the horsemen presented themselves, and General Morgan took his leave in a most friendly manner, assuring them that he would use his best efforts for a speedy exchange, although saying, "I have no desire to see such men in arms against me." He left two hampers of wine, which had been brought for the prisoners, and which proved of infinite service to them in aiding the recovery of their health.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GALLOWS

A short time before the battle of Trenton, in 1776, the prospects of America were extremely gloomy, and many among her people, began to look forward to the consequences of an unfavorable result to their struggle for freedom. The inveteracy of Great Britain was too well understood, to admit of any doubt as to the course of revenge which they would pursue against those, who had been most active in the contest. William Williams, William Hillhouse, and Benjamin Huntington, meet at this crisis at the house of the first named gentleman; and as usual, their conversation turned upon the signs of the times, and the probable result of the war. At last, they began to consider what might be their respective fates.

"As for me," said Mr. Williams, "I shall, in all human probability, be hung among the first; because I have written much, talked more, and done all I could do in favor of independence." Hillhouse said, that he too would most certainly follow Williams in his career for the same reasons. Huntington then said that as for his part, he had kept pretty quiet, and that he had neither signed the declaration of independence, nor wrote any thing against the mother country, that he would, at all events, escape the gallows. "Then sire," said Williams, starting up with much violence of feeling, "You ought to be hung for not having done your duty."

PATRIOTISM OF GEN. NELSON

General Nelson commanded a large body of militia at the siege of Yorktown, which was his native place. One of the most conspicuous objects from the American lines, was his own house; and in the cannonade which daily took place, he was astonished to see that it escaped uninjured, while its neighbors were crumbling under the fire of the American artillery. At last he suspected that the men would not fire at it out of respect to his own property; and on asking if such was not the case, he found out that it was.

"Don't spare the house, my friends, because it is mine; the English know that as well as you do, and accordingly have taken up their quarters in it. They shall not escape, however, under my protection; so fire at it directly, and let us see if you can hit it." Two pieces were then pointed at the dwelling. The very first shot went through it, and killed two of a large company of officers, who were indulging in the pleasures of the table. Suffice is to say, that it was not a great while before the tenants were dislodged from their hiding-place, by the means of the patriotism of Nelson.

COLONEL JON LAURENS AND THE FRENCH KING

Colonel John Laurens was sent by Congress to negotiate a loan of money from France, during the revolution. The Count de Vergennes, the French minister, received him kindly, and promised that the loan should be made. He contrived excuses, however, from day to day; so that at the end of a month, Laurens found himself as far from the object of his visit as when he arrived in Paris. Fully aware of he immense importance of the loan to America, Laurens resolved upon a novel and almost daring procedure.

In defiance of all etiquette, he determined to make a personal appeal to the king himself. Dr. Franklin, the American minister at the court of France, endeavored to dissuade him; but finding him determined, refused to bear any part of the responsibility of such conduct. Laurens was not to be deterred; but at the first levee, walking directly to the king, he presented him with a memorial, and after explaining briefly its object, concluded as follows. "Should the favor asked be denied, or even delayed, there is cause to fear that the sword which I wear may no longer be drawn in defence of the liberties of my country, but be wielded as a British subject against the monarch of France." His decision was rewarded; delays no longer opposed him, and his negotiation was immediately successful.

BENEDICT ARNOLD, A TRAITOR

No instance of treachery perhaps ever produced so strong an excitement, as the desertion of General Benedict Arnold from the American cause; yet this moment was marked by the display of almost chivalrous generosity to the near friends and relatives of the traitor. When the capture of Andre was made known to Arnold, he knew that he was discovered, and hastening to the apartment of his wife, he exclaimed, "All is lost; Andre is a prisoner. Burn all my papers! I fly to New York!"

The unfortunate lady fainted and fell, and when she recovered found that her husband had departed. She remained in momentary expectation of hearing that he had been arrested in his flight, and punished as a traitor, and in wild distraction frequently called upon Washington for pardon. Washington knew her to be a tender mother and an affectionate wife. Arnold, and not she, was the object of his resentment; and anxious to relieve the agonizing suspense which he felt she must endure, he informed her, with the most delicate kindness, that her husband had escaped his pursuers, and was on board the Vulture, sloop of war.

At the same time he offered her safe conduct to the British lines, or to her relatives in Philadelphia. She said "she would share the fate of her husband," but before joining him she was anxious once more to see her parents. Her desire was gratified; and on her way to Philadelphia, the inhabitants of a town through which she passed, learning she was there, with a delicacy rarely found in moments of high excitement, by magnanimous consent suspended their preparations to burn Arnold in effigy, and treated her with the most respectful attention, as if they sympathized with her in her sad and irretrievable misfortune.

GENEROSITY OF AN AMERICAN LIEUTENANT

At the battle of Stono, in South Carolina when the detachment of the British 71st regiment had been nearly annihilated by a charge of the American light infantry, a British captain, who had behaved with the most intrepid bravery, was so severely wounded as to be unable any longer to exert himself; and supporting himself against a tree, he remained a spectator only of the termination of the combat.

In this situation a continental soldier had already raised his musket, to thrust the bayonet through him, when the weapon was turned aside, and his life saved by an American lieutenant, who upbraided the soldier for his intended slaughter of an unresisting foe.

At this moment, one of the chief American officers rode up, and exclaiming, "That is too brave a fellow to die," committed the Englishman to the care of the very soldier who would have deprived him of life, with the strictest injunctions to protect him.

COLONEL SMALL

Among the officers of the British army, who came to America during the revolutionary war, and took an active part against the independence of the country, was Colonel Small. But although an enemy, no one was more esteemed by the Americans. His generosity and kindness to his prisoners were almost proverbial; and his constant exertion was to mitigate, as far as possible, the inevitable sufferings and horrors of war.

At the battle of Bunker Hill, he turned aside the bayonet which was directed at the breast of the expiring Warren, and was himself most probably indebted for life to the generosity of an old acquaintance. "Take good aim," said Poutnam to his troops, "kill as many as you can, but spare Small;" and the sturdy republican actually turned aside many rifles, that were aimed at his friend.

BENEVOLENCE OF COLONEL WM. WASHINGTON

During the revolution, when the consequences of a suspended commerce and a depreciated currency were severely felt by every member of the American community, and want stared those in the face who had always before been accustomed to affluence, the celebrated continental officer, Col. William Washington, heard that the writer of "Common Sense" was in distress in Philadelphia.

It was this work which did so much towards opening the eyes of the Americans to the encroachments of England, and bringing about the revolution. Washington immediately said to a friend, "I cannot bear the idea that the man who by his writings has so highly benefited his country, should feel the want of bread while I have the power to relieve him;" and without a sentence more on the subject, remitted by his first conveyance a bill for a hundred guineas.

PATRIOTISM OF BENJAMIN WEST

Mr. West met with munificent patronage in England, but "he always retained a strong and unyielding affection for his native land." The countenance which the king nobly bestowed upon this highly gifted American, could not fail to excite envy among his courtiers. A malicious individual, knowing his partiality for the land of his birth, resolved to make him give some unguarded proof of it which would be unpleasant to his majesty, incensed as he then was against the American colonies. With an air of much satisfaction, he one day informed the king that the Americans had lately met with a most disastrous defeat; and turning to Mr. West, he exultingly asked, "How do you like these tidings, sir?" Mr. West, bowing low to his majesty, answered, "I am a loyal and grateful subject to my king, but I can never rejoice at any misfortune which befalls my native land." "A noble reply," said his sovereign; "and I assure you, Mr. West, no man will ever fall in my estimation, because he loves his country." Mr. West retained his love of America to the day of his death; and he refused immense sums for some of his most magnificent pictures, which he painted as affectionate gifts to the public institutions of his native state.

THE RUNAWAYS BECOME CAPTORS

At the battle of Guilford, two battalions of North Carolina militia were very advantageously posted behind a rail fence. General Greene rode up to them before the action, and told them that if they would only remain firm, and deliver two fires with deliberate aim, he would give them permission to retire from the fight. They promised to do so, in cheerful accents. In a short time, however, they saw the whiskered Hessians and the stout guards advancing at a rapid pace. One volley would have checked them. They did not wait to deliver it; but turning round, went off in full and disorderly retreat.

As a punishment for their shameful conduct they were placed under continental officers and ordered into regular service for eighteen months. Here they were drilled and disciplined. They became aware of their united power, and panted for an opportunity of engaging the enemy. They at last obtained it, and the runaways of Guilford were the heroes of Eutaw. In this last action, of the three hundred that entered it, one hundred and ninety were left dead or wounded on the field.

THE BRITISH AFRAID OF A LOG OF WOOD

A considerable British force were made prisoners, at a place called Rugely's, in Carolina, during the revolution, by Colonel William Washington, in a novel manner. They occupied a large house, which was completely musket proof, and in which they might have made a perfect defence against Washington's cavalry. This officer, however, mounted a pine log upon a pair of wagon wheels, manned his wooden battery with the usual complement of men, lighted the match beside it, and planted it in full view, but at some distance from the house. He now summoned the English to surrender, and pointing to his field-piece, threatened them with the consequences of refusal.

His threat was effectual. They marched out and gave up their arms, without firing a shot, and obtained a nearer and mortifying view of the strength of the American artillery.

AN EXAMPLE OF FORTITUDE

In an expedition from Charleston against the British, Lieutenant Moon, of the partisan troops, was dangerously wounded, and it became necessary to amputate a limb, which was much shattered. He had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and the operation was performed by British surgeons.

When it was finished, the lady in whose house he was, remarked, when they were alone, "I am happy that you have suffered so little pain. I was constantly in the other room and did not hear a groan." "My kind friend," he answered, "I felt not the least agony; but I would not have breathed a sigh in the presence of British officers, to have secured a long and fortunate existence."

DECEPTION OF TARLETON

Colonel Tarleton went to the house of an American, during the revolution, and passed himself off to his host and family as Colonel Washington of the continental army.

The American was proud of having so distinguished an officer in his house, and paid him every attention which the most unbounded hospitality could dictate, at the same time informing him, confidentially, as he thought, of the plans of himself and neighbors, to rise in arms against the British. Tarleton played the part which he had assumed to admiration, and finally induced his host to become his guide to a place in the neighborhood. On their arrival, Tarleton's soldiers appeared in full view, and the unsuspecting American, for the first time discovering his mistake, was made a prisoner, and conveyed to Camden.

Here he was frequently forced to ride in a cart to the gallows, to witness the execution of his countrymen and friends, and was each time told to make his preparations for death, as his time would certainly come next.

"Let it come as soon as it may," he used to reply on such occasions, "I am ready and willing to die in the cause of my country. But remember, I have many friends in General Marion's brigade, and my death will occasion a severe retaliation."

Owing to his firmness, his known virtue, or his threats, his life was preserved, but he was for a long time cruelly kept in chains. The scars of these he carried to his grave; and in showing them, as he sometimes did, to his young friends, he used to tell them, "that if the good of their country required it, they should suffer imprisonment and death in her cause."

COLONEL OWEN ROBERTS

Colonel Owen Roberts, of the American army, fell mortally wounded in the battle of Stono, during the revolution. His son was in the same action, and hearing his father's situation, hastened to find him. The expiring soldier observing the anguish of his son, addressed him with the greatest composure, "I rejoice, my boy, once again to see and embrace you. Take this sword, which has never yet been tarnished by dishonor, and let it not be idle, while the liberty of your country requires it."

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