86
��Windham^ N. H.
��WINDHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE.*
By Hon. LEONARD A. MORRISON, Author of " History of Morrison Fam- ily," "History of Windham," and "Rambles in Europe."
The Revolution was here. The while they did not court danger, still crisis was now upon them. The col- they shrank not from it when the onies had passed successfully through trial came. They knew their strength, the French and Indian War, and the and were not afraid to use it. They waves of that long and stubborn con- were ever true in the hour of peace test had hardly lulled themselves to and quiet ; they were steady and true rest before the ominous mutterings in the storm and tempest, of another tempest were distinctly A company of minute men was heard. Every breeze which swept formed, and when swift couriers ar- the Atlantic brought to the ears of rived in town bringing the news of Americans the approaching danger, the Lexington alarm and shouting at The hour was at hand which was to every house, " The Regulars are corn- prove the mettle of the people, and ing ! The Regulars are coming !" the which would show the stern grit of "minute men" rallied as men flock our citizens. to a feast. Capt. Joseph Clyde
The provincial records, state rec- was plowing in the field ; he left his
ords, traditions and records of the plow-share in the mould, headed his
town, bear ample testimony to the company, and marched rapidly to
faithfulness, fidelity, courage, endur- Cambridge and joined the American
ance, and constancy of the people of forces there. The good housewives,
Windham during the long and trying the mothers, sisters, and sweethearts
ordeal. There is no evidence to of the men, cooked a large amount of
show that her sons were appalled at provisions, and despatched them im-
the magnitude of the contest, that mediately on the backs of horses for
they grieved over the sacrifices de- the soldiers.
manded, or that its dangers caused The following men enlisted imme- their hearts to be moved with unman- diately after the "alarm:" James ly fear. They weighed the issues in Caldwell, Samuel Caldwell, John the intellectual balances of their Caldwell, Nathaniel Barrows, minds, and were prepared to meet May 2.5, 1775, Lieut. John Dins- the dangers which their conclusion moor was sent a delesate to the involved. And tiiey did not look County Congress, upon war with the alarm of those not The Committee of Safety were, — enured to the use of arms. They George Davidson, Peter Merrill, Rob- were soldiers by their mode of life in ert Hemphill, Samuel Morison, Jo- the new settlement, and had had seph Smitli, Jolni Dinsmoor, James great military experience in previous Gilmore, Nehemiah Hadley, and Will- wars, and were accustomed to the iam Campbell.
use of arms. They were men of June 17, 1775, the Battle of Bunker
nerve, hardihood, and skill, and Hill was fought, the cannonading
- Precodiug articles relating to this town were printed in the Gramitk Monthly in 1884.
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