American Hero: Samuel Whittemore (80 Years Old!) Takes on the Redcoats on April 18, 1775

Bob Hartwell.com ^ | Unknown | Bob Harwell

[Oakleaf]

As darkness began to set in, colonials began to attack the front of the column. There were a few cavalry units made up of older, experienced men who rode to within shot of the front of the column, dismounted and fired with great accuracy, then mounting and riding away only to reappear elsewhere. Now and then, the Regulars would fire cannon scattering the Militia who would quickly materialize again as the British column approached Menotomy. At Jason Russel’s house, British soldiers invaded the house killing eleven Americans, including Russel who was later found bayoneted at the foot of the stairs. The floor was carpeted in blood. The British captured Americans and killed them as prisoners in Russell’s orchard. There would be no peace at the end of this Day (the Russel House, 1740, shown at right, is located on Jason Street near Massachusetts Avenue and Route 60 in Arlington.).

Again, the Brtitish, having not forgotten the atrocity at Concord, lost control of themselves and began a rampage through the Town killing any defenseless people who got in the way and burning the houses. They stole anything they could as they defied their officers’ orders. Meanwhile, the colonials harassed the Regulars as before always conspiring to set an ambush somewhere. Samuel Whittemore, aged seventy-eight, set up his own ambush behind a stone wall in Menetomy and waited for the British column. He fired five shots before a British detachment was sent to his position. They shot him in the face and bayoneted him thirteen times, leaving him in a pool of blood. Found alive, he was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford who held no hope. Whittemore died eighteen years later at the age of ninety-six. monument in Arlington, Massachusetts reads:

Near this spot, Samuel Whittemore, then 80 years old, killed three British soldiers, April 19, 1775. He was shot, bayoneted, beaten and left for dead, but recovered and lived to be 98 years of age.

Actions during the British return to Boston during the Battle of Lexington and Concord: The story is that British soldiers returning from the Battles of Lexington and Concord were spotted by Samuel Whittemore(1694-1786?) in Menotomy (modern Arlington). He loaded his musket, and took aim at the approaching soldiers from behind a nearby stone wall. He fired, killing one of the British troops. He then drew his dueling pistols and killed another soldier with his pistols. Having no time left to reload before the soldiers advanced to him, he drew a sword and advanced toward the British, attacking them with his sword. He was shot, bayoneted, and beaten by the infuriated troop of British soldiers.

Villagers came to remove his body after the British left. They were amazed to find him still alive. They removed him from the field, and he lived to recover from his wounds. He lived until he was 91 years of age, and was regarded by the locals as a hero of the revolution. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Whittemore"

[denydenydeny]

And at the other extreme, the future president Andrew Jackson was wounded (at Yorktown?) when he was 14 years old.

I remember a couple of years ago when the movie The Patriot came out, and the film depicted 12 and 13 year olds fighting in the Revolution, and how horrified the usual suspects were at that.

[ohhhh]

[Whittemore died eighteen years later at the age of ninety-six.]

He must have been ninety eight when he died. He was a soldier and a patriot that helped America become a great Christian nation, before the communist/atheist left began corrupting the nation from the inside in the halls of arrogant politicians.

[mountainlyons]

Good men that believed in God made this country!. If the liberals of today were in charge of the Revolution they probably would not have succeeded. If they had we would be speaking German today because Hitler would have destroyed this country.

[68skylark]

The page you linked to is wonderful -- thanks.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Had there been liberals there would have been no Revolution. Happy birthday, America!

[kjo]

There were liberals in those days, they were called Tories.

[68skylark]

If the liberals of today were in charge of the Revolution they probably would not have succeeded.

I think it's not true that Americans were united back in the imaginary "good old days." There was a lot more dissent and disagreement (and even armed opposition) to U.S. military operations in those days than we have today.

[SwinneySwitch]

One Tough Grampa!

[Pharmboy]

James Monroe was a brave 17 year old who, along with General Washington's cousin, was ordered to charge a Hessian artillery position at Trenton and wounded. They took out the Hessian position, BTW.

[Riley]

I think it's not true that Americans were united back in the imaginary "good old days." There was a lot more dissent and disagreement (and even armed opposition) to U.S. military operations in those days than we have today.

That's very true. The Battle of King's Mountain was largely fought between pro-independence and Loyalist colonists. Several of my greatx5 uncles were there.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

And at the other extreme, the future president Andrew Jackson was wounded (at Yorktown?) when he was 14 years old William Clinton evaded the inconvience of military service by reneging on an agreement to join ROTC and vilified his own country's armed forces while "studying" abroad.

[68skylark]

The Battle of King's Mountain was largely fought between pro-independence and Loyalist colonists. Several of my greatx5 uncles were there.

Yeah, throughout the American south loyalist militias were constantly clashing with pro-independence forces -- there was a lot of bitter and bloody fighting, not to mention all the atrocities against civilians by both sides. History is often not a pretty picture.

[Gritty]

[El Gato]

Whitemore was 96, 18 + 78 = 96. He was indeed a patriot. But he was only one of the Old Men of Menetomy, thought too old for the militia, who showed the British that they were not so old after all. (They, like George Washington, were veterans of the French and Indian War, and many skirmishes with the Indians.)

Notice too, that even though they were part of no organized militia unit, they were armed.

[Chi-townChief]

Didn't see any mention of the legendary Solomon Brown.

[El Gato]

Sources seem to differ about Mr. Whitemore's age at the time. He may not have known exactly how old he was, but more likely records are nonexistent.

[The Great RJ]

Today is a day to take pride in our heritage. My distant grandfathers fought in both the American Revolution and the Civil War and another distant relative was Adm. Dewey, hero of the Spanish American War. My more recent relatives came from Europe to homestead on the prairie and my own father was born in a sod house. I thank God for this great nation and the sacrifices of my ancestors who helped make it.

[GAB-1955]

Jackson, then 13 and living in South Carolina, was captured with his brother in the desperate fighting in the backcountry in 1780. A British dragoon ordered Jackson to shine his boots. Jackson declined, saying he was a prisoner of war. The dragoon then brought his saber down upon Jackson's head. He turned, thus resulting in a wound and a scar for life; his brother Russel was demanded the same service. He received a blow which resulted in his death several months later.

Damn all Tories now and forever.

[Reily]

I don't remember ever reading that Jackson was at Yorktown?
There was a story that Jackson was slashed on the arm with a saber because he refused to shine the boots of a Redcoat officer. Jackson used the story in his political campaigns. A lot of historians doubt its authenticity, and view it as campaign rhetoric.

The movie 'The Patriot' was a very good movie BUT extremely poor history. The character played by Mel Gibson was a combination of 4 Revolutionary War southern heroes: Daniel Morgan, Thomas Sumter, Francis Marion & Andrew Pickens. (Primarily Daniel Morgan & Francis Marion!) Thats why I found the movie simultaneously annoying and entertaining. Morgan, Marion etc. have essentially been forgotten ! The battle at then end of the 'Patriot' movie was a bad telling of Morgan's brilliant victory at the "Battle of the Cowpens".One of the most decisive & complete victories of the war.
I also found the Tarleton character Tavington to be irritating. Tarleton was a "hard war type"but he wasn't a member of the Waffen SS. That church burning was straight copy of a SS atrocity in France. We have REAL HEROS in our history why can't their story be told ! Also history is a drama no Hollywood writer can improve on !
Aside:
I have never understood Mel Gibson's apparent dislike of the British. He overplays their medieval nastiness in Braveheart (Remember in the Middle Ages life was cheap, brutal nasty & short and only a little less by the barest of margins if you were a 'good guy'!) Also in Chicken Run he makes them buffoons !
I wonder if this is his Aussie upbringing!