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American Hero: Samuel Whittemore (80 Years Old!) Takes on the Redcoats on April 18, 1775
Bob Hartwell.com ^ | Unknown | Bob Harwell

Posted on 07/04/2006 6:16:02 AM PDT by Oakleaf

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To: Oakleaf

That's a terrific page, BTW.


21 posted on 07/04/2006 12:13:15 PM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: Reily

I just finished reading the (older) book "Voices of 1776" by Richard Wheeler. Its mainly reprinting letters and news articles from the time of the war with a few paragraphs here and their to fill in the details and chronology. Very good book and gave me a better idea of what was going on compared to my elementary school education.

A report from American Colonel Samuel Webb, July 11, 1779 discusses some recent British attacks in Connecticut:

"On Tuesday ..they went over to East Haven and burnt all the buildings next the shore..." the British then went to Fairfield and "sent a flag to the inhabitants" that if they swear their allegiance to the King they would be spared. They said no. "The British went immediately to plundering, and at seven o'clock set fire to the town, which now remains a heap of rubbish. This village was large and as beautiful as any in this state..."

"...A child of three years old was taken from the arms of its mother and thrown into the flames, and the mother, to stop her shrieks, knocked down with a musket. A man who was an old countryman, was rolled in a sheet, bound fast, soaked with rum and set fire to....this...excursion.. has been marked with more savage cruelty than before known."

I believe that some Americans returned the favor in a latter battle, but that another battle ended with "honor" after the Americans had promised to kill all the Brits in the fort. Instead the Americans after taking the fort gave the Brits "quarter". Often after a battle the opposing commanders had dinner together after the "laying down of arms". In general it was a much more "gentlemanly" war than what I think of war as being. Citizens taking picnics on the hills so they could watch the battle. Not wanting to shoot at a British officer's funeral (even though all the other officers were present, etc.).


22 posted on 07/04/2006 12:22:54 PM PDT by geopyg ("I would rather have a clean gov't than one where -quote- 1st Amend. rights are respected." J.McCain)
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To: Reily

Andrew Jackson lost most of his family to the British.
However, he paid them back - at New Orleans.

I agree The Patriot was a really disappointing movie.
Cowpens was a really important battle and deserved a better telling.

Hollywood can't make a really great movie today. The screenwriters have no education and no imagination. If they looked to early American history, they would find real stories and real heroes.

I just finished Patriotic Fire by Winston Groom, the author of Forrest Gump. Great book about the Battle of New Orleans.

I'm now on Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose.
More dramatic than any Hollywood spy thriller.


23 posted on 07/05/2006 11:33:32 AM PDT by SOLTC
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; ...
Note: this topic is from 7/04/2006. Thanks Oakleaf.
Juliaaa on Flickr
[snip] After the British column had fought its way clear, the town's people and minuteman started to search for their wounded compatriots. Several had seen Sam Whittemore's "last stand" and approached to remove his body. To everyone's astonishment Sam was not only still alive, but conscious and still full of fight. Laying there, he was trying to load his musket!

Using a door as a makeshift stretcher, Sam was carried to Cooper Tavern, which was being used as a emergency hospital. Doctor Nathaniel Tufts of Medford attended to Sam. He cut off his bloody clothes, and exposed the gaping bayonet wounds. Sam's face was horribly injured. Doctor Tufts knew the injuries were fatal, stating it wouldn't do any good to even dress the wounds. Sam's family and friends insisted and Dr. Tufts did the best he could. He tried to make the old man as comfortable as possible. After his wounds were attended to Sam was carried to his home, to die surrounded by his family. To everyone's utter amazement Captain Sam Whittemore lived! He recovered and remained active for the next eighteen years. He was terribly scarred, but always was proud of what he had done for his adopted country. He is quoted as having stated that he would take the same chances again.

You can question the old soldier's tactical judgment, making the stand in the manner he did, but you can never question his bravery. He also proved you are never too old! Sam died on February 3rd, 1793, age 98 and is buried in the town's cemetery. [/snip] -- Revolutionary War Archives
Wow, makes me ask myself, 'what have you done today?'

24 posted on 01/26/2015 1:50:34 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Oakleaf

I’ve been in the Russel house in Arlington MA. What blew my mind is that the bullet holes from the fight with the British are still visible in the walls. I was allowed to walk right up to the bullet holes & put my finger in them. Gave me the chills....


25 posted on 01/26/2015 2:02:51 AM PST by LongWayHome
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To: SunkenCiv

A friend of mine recommended that I look up what Whittemore had done.

I’m still going “Wow!”


26 posted on 01/26/2015 4:43:13 AM PST by sauropod (Fat Bottomed Girl: "What difference, at this point, does it make?")
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To: sauropod

My screen got all blurry.


27 posted on 01/26/2015 5:28:49 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Reily

he might be Irish?


28 posted on 01/26/2015 5:29:00 AM PST by GregB (Holding my breath till Quinn and Rose come back!!!)
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To: Pharmboy; sauropod; Doctor Raoul; indcons; Chani; thefactor; blam; aculeus; ELS; mainepatsfan; ...

Rev. War HERO ping!

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Rev. War, Geol Washington; Founding Father ping list.


29 posted on 01/26/2015 5:41:10 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Reily
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.

Also done in 2008 in Wasilla, AK.

30 posted on 01/26/2015 6:02:05 AM PST by Old Sarge (Its the Sixties all over again, but with crappy music...)
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To: SunkenCiv

Amazing..Samuel Whittemore. I’ve not heard of him until now...but I won’t forget him. Thanks for this post.


31 posted on 01/26/2015 11:41:55 AM PST by SueRae (It isn't over. In God We Trust.)
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To: Reily

“Tarleton was a “hard war type”but he wasn’t a member of the Waffen SS.”

Tarleton was despised by southerners for long after the war.

In my former town of Greensboro, site of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, there are many roads named after battle participants both American and British.

In all the county for 200 years after no road was named for Tarleton until some Yankee developer created a battle themed subdivision in the 1980’s.


32 posted on 01/26/2015 1:48:22 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: afraidfortherepublic

If I’m not already on the Rev. War George Washington Founding Father ping list, please add me to that ping list.


33 posted on 01/28/2015 9:29:23 AM PST by itssme
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To: itssme

Done!


34 posted on 01/28/2015 9:38:58 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
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