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"

[Riley]

That's a terrific page, BTW.

[geopyg]

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.).

[SOLTC]

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.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 7/04/2006. Thanks Oakleaf.

[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?'

[LongWayHome]

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....

[sauropod]

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

I’m still going “Wow!”

[SunkenCiv]

My screen got all blurry.

[GregB]

he might be Irish?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Rev. War HERO ping!

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

[Old Sarge]

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.

[SueRae]

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

[Rebelbase]

“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.

[itssme]

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

[afraidfortherepublic]

Done!