Despite popular modern misconceptions, Massachusetts
minute men were not poorly armed and equipped.
Instead it appears most towns, including the Merrimack Valley region of
Essex County, took appropriate steps to ensure its minute companies were well
supplied for war. In Bradford, the
residents voted to ensure its minute men were uniformly armed with bayonets and
cartridge boxes. “Voted, That the Selectmen provide bayonets and cartouch
boxes for the Minute-Men on the town cost, to be returned to the town after
they are dismissed from the service.”[1] Later that year, three Bradford men were reimbursed
for fitting bayonets to guns and making scabbards and belting for the town’s
minute company. “Voted, To Phineas
Carlton, for 22 Bayonets fitted with Scabbards and Belts, 8l. 5s. 0d. Voted, To Phineas Carlton, for Scowering the
old Bayonets, and fitting with Belts, 4l. 4s. 0d. For 2 Scabbards and Belts,
0l. 3s. 0d. Wm. Greenough, for fitting
one Bayonet and one belt, 0l. 2s. 8d.”[2]
Andover
placed a heavy emphasis in arming its two minute companies with bayonets. “Voted, that the enlisted soldiers be
furnished with bayonets at the expense of the town. Voted, that a committee be
chosen to collect the bayonets now in the hands of individuals in this Town and
provide such a number of new ones as will be sufficient to supply the minute
men. Voted, that the Committee chosen at the last meeting to procure bayonets
collect as many as they can of those belonging to the Province by next
Wednesday, two o'clock, P. M., that they procure one hundred more to be made as
soon as possible and supply those firelocks that are effective which belong to
the minute men with good bayonets as soon as may be.”[3] Likewise, Methuen resolved to provide
bayonets “which should be brought to Capt. John Davis and after the service was
over said Davis is to return said bayonets unto the Selectmen of said town.”[4] The town also voted to provide guns for all
minute men unable to supply their own, blankets and cartridges.[5] Amesbury voted that its minute men would be
responsible for their own arms and equipment.
“Voted that said Minnit men shall upon their own cost be well equiped
with arms and aminition according to law fit for a march.”[6] Boxford merely issued a vague resolution that
its minutemen be “arm, equip, and hold themselves in readiness to march in any
emergency in defence of the Province.”[7]
Captain James Brickett’s Company from Haverhill appears
to have taken the greatest measures to ensure its men were properly equipped
and dressed for war. As discussed
earlier, Brickett’s Company was originally formed as an artillery unit. When its members were unable to procure an
artillery piece, it reorganized itself as an “independent corps”.[8] On the eve of the American Revolution,
Brickett’s Company was essentially operating as a minute company. On March 21, 1775, the company voted “that we
Dress in a Uniform consisting of a Blue Coat, turned up with Buff, and yellow
plain Buttons, the Coat cut half way the thigh; and the Pockets a Slope. Voted,
Also, that we have Buff, or Nankeen Waistcoat & Breeches, and White
Stockings with half Boots or Gaiters. Also that the Hats be cocked alike. And
that each one have a bright gun, Bayonet, & Steel Ramrod. Voted that the
Company be equipd in this Uniform by the first Monday in May.”[9] The unit also agreed that “each member shall
be supply'd with one Pound of Powder and Twenty Balls; to be reviewed twice a
year; upon the Days of a chusing.”[10]
A strong emphasis was placed on drilling and training for
war by all the towns in the Merrimack Valley.
Following the recommendations of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, Andover
ordered its minute companies to drill once a week. Amesbury resolved that its minute men would
engage in “exercising four hours in an fortnight.”[11] Two weeks later, the town modified its order
and instructed its minute men to “[exercise] four hours in a week.”[12] The residents of Boxford voted on March 14,
1775 “that the minute-men shall train one half day in a week, for four weeks
after this week is ended.”[13] Methuen simply ordered its minute company be
“drawn out or exposed to train.”[14]
Haverhill initially voted that its minute men “be duly disciplined
in Squads three half days in a Week, three hours in each half day.”[15] On March 14, 1775, the town also voted to
raise thirty dollars “to procure a military instructor to instruct the Militia
in the Art Military.”[16] One week later, it was voted that the
minute-men should train one whole day per week, instead of three half days as
previously voted. Furthermore, the
minute men were to be trained by a “Mr George Marsden, whom we have hired.”[17]
In a
document prepared by Sergeant Michael Whittier, the names of the minute men belonging
to Captain Sawyer’s Company Haverhill Minute Company and the number of days each
soldier attended military drills for the months of March and April is described:
A Role of the Miuit Men in Capt James Sawyer's Company
& the Number of days Each man Trained according to the Voat of the Town of
Haverhill in March and Apirel 1775.
Days Days
James Sawyer Capt 5 Samuel gips Mitchel -
Timothy Johnson Lieut 5 Joshua
Emory 6
Nathaniel Eaton Lieut 5 Jerimiah
Stickney 5
Mitchel Whiticher Sargt 6 Joseph
Webster 5
Moses Heselton Sargt 5 Isaiah
Eaton 5
Wm Rolf Sargt 5 Ebenezer Grifen 4
Charles Davis Sargt 5 Samuel Emerson 5
Enook Eaton Coprel 4 John
Silver -
Chas Sarjant Coprel 3 Seth Wymon 4
John Bery Coprel 6 Daniel Lord 5
Ruben Sargent 3 Nathan Peabody 5
Asa Currcr 5 James Whiticker 4
Thomus Tiylor 5 Samuel Sanders 3
Daniel Colby 3 Henerey Springer 1
John Dow 6
Ebenezer Webster -
John Eaton 4 Johnathan Dusten 4
Joseph Emorson 5 Daniel Grifen 3
Simon Picck 4 Moses Emorson Juner 4
Lewis George 5 John gipson 3
'Wm Davis 2 Nathan Ayre 4
Mossc Emorson 5 James Townsand 4
Job gage 4 Stophen
Runcls 4
Peter Emorson 3 John Tiylor 3
Samuel George - James Wilson -
John Cheney 1 Daniel Remock 3
Nathaniel Cahaney - Stephen Jackson 3
Samuel Ealy 2 Joshua Moors 1
Wm Sawyer 4 Philip Bagley 4
James Smiley 5 Humpree Nicola 4
Joel Harrimcn 5 Dudley Dusten 3
James Snow 5 Johnthan Lowger 4
Mark Emorson - John Sanders 4
Atteset,
Mitchel Wittier Serjant
On April 13, 1775, Captain Sawyer and forty six of his
men travelled west to Andover to hold a joint drill with Captain Thomas Poor
and his men. According to Sawyer’s
subsequent report, the purpose of the event “[was to meet] at Andover for
Exsise "[18]
Meanwhile, an “Independent Corps” commanded by Captain
Brickett of Haverhill passed their own resolutions regarding preparations for war. “That we will meet together (on the first and
third Mondays of September, October and November following, and on the first
and third Mondays of the six Summer months annually till the Company shall
agree - to dissolve the same) for the exercise of Arms and Evolutions, And that
the role shall be called two hours before Sunset, and the Company shall be
dismissed at Sun set N. B. If it be fowl weather tho Day appointed, the Company
shall meet the next fair Day.”[19] Shortly thereafter, the men voted to adopt “the
exercise as ordered by His Majesty in the year 1764.” [20] Two months later, Brickett’s “independent
corps” voted “that we hire Mr George Marsdin for 4 days at 12s a day, &
that he be paid out of the fines.”[21]
[1]
Resolution of the Town of Bradford, January 20, 1775.
[2]
Resolution of the Town of Bradford, September 21, 1775.
[3]
Resolution of the Town of Andover, February, 1775.
[4]
Resolution of the Town of Methuen, January 1775.
[5] Ibid.
[6]
Resolution of the Town of Amesbury, March 20, 1775.
[7]
Resolution of the Town of Boxford, January 5, 1775.
[8] Minutes
of Captain James Brickett’s Company, November 12, 1774. 19th Century sources refer to this
unit as a “light infantry” company.
[9] Minutes
of Captain James Brickett’s Company, March 21, 1775.
[10] Ibid.
[11]
Resolution of the Town of Amesbury, March 20, 1775.
[12]
Resolution of the Town of Amesbury, April 7, 1775.
[13]
Resolution of the Town of Boxford, March 14, 1775.
[14]
Resolution of the Town of Methuen, January, 1775.
[15]
Resolution of the Town of Haverhill, January 30, 1775.
[16]
Resolution of the Town of Haverhill, March 14, 1775.
[17]
Resolution of the Town of Haverhill, March 21, 1775. A secondary source suggests Mr. Marsden was a
British deserter who ultimately rose through the ranks to serve as an adjutant
with Colonel Scamman’s Regiment.
[18] Return
of Captain James Sawyer’s Company, April 13, 1775.
[19]
Resolution of Captain James Brickett;s Company, September 5, 1774.
[20]
Resolution of Captain James Brickett’s Company, November 21, 1774.
[21]
Resolution of Captain James Brickett’s Company, February, 1775.
No comments:
Post a Comment