PREVIOUS WARS IN WHICH THE NEGRO FIGURED.
SHOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD--CRISPUS ATTTUCKS--SLAVE LEADS SONS OF
FREEDOM--THE BOSTON MASSACRE--ANNIVERSARY KEPT FOR YEARS--WILLIAM NELL,
HISTORIAN--3,000 NEGROES IN WASHINGTON'S FORCES--A STIRRING
HISTORY--NEGRO WOMAN SOLDIER--BORDER INDIAN WARS--NEGRO HEROES
Our American school histories teach us that the "shot which was heard
around the world",--the opening gun of the Revolutionary war, was fired
at Lexington in 1775. The phrase embodies a precious sentiment; time has
molded many leaders, the inspiration for almost a century and a half of
the patriotic youth of our land. This is as it should be. All honor and
all praise to the deathless heroes of that time and occasion.
But why has not history been more just; at least, more explicit? Why not
say that the shot which started the Revolution--that first great
movement for human liberty and the emancipation of nations--was fired
five years earlier; was fired not by, but at, a Negro, Crispus Attucks?
The leader of the citizens in that event of March 5, 1770, known as the
Boston Massacre, he was the first man upon whom the British soldiers
fired and the first to fall; the pioneer martyr for American
independence.
It is perhaps fitting; a manifestation of the inscrutable ways of
Providence, that the first life given in behalf of a nation about to
throw off a yoke of bondage, was that of a representative of a race;
despised, oppressed and enslaved.
Botta the historian, in speaking of the scenes of the 5th of March says:
"The people were greatly exasperated. The multitude ran towards
King street, crying, 'Let us drive out these ribalds; they have no
business here.' The rioters rushed furiously towards the Custom
House; they approached the sentinel, crying 'Kill him, kill him!'
They assaulted him with snowballs, pieces of ice, and whatever they
could lay their hands upon.
"The guard were then called, and in marching to the Custom House,
they encountered a band of the populace, led by a mulatto named
Attucks, who brandished their clubs and pelted them with snowballs.
The maledictions, the imprecations, the execrations of the
multitude, were horrible. In the midst of a torrent of invective
from every quarter, the military were challenged to fire. The
populace advanced to the points of their bayonets.
"The soldiers appeared like statues; the cries, the howlings, the
menaces, the violent din of bells still sounding the alarm,
increased the confusion and the horrors of these moments; at length
the mulatto Attucks and twelve of his companions, pressing forward,
environed the soldiers and striking their muskets with their clubs,
cried to the multitude: 'Be not afraid, they dare not fire; why do
you hesitate, why do you not kill them, why not crush them at
once?'
"The mulatto lifted his arms against Captain Preston, and having
turned one of the muskets, he seized the bayonet with his left
hand, as if he intended to execute his threat At this moment,
confused cries were heard: 'The wretches dare not fire!' Firing
succeeds. Attucks is slain. Other discharges follow. Three were
killed, five severely wounded and several others slightly."
Attucks was killed by Montgomery, one of Captain Preston's soldiers. He
had been foremost in resisting and was first slain. As proof of a front
engagement, he received two balls, one in each breast. The white men
killed with Attucks were Samuel Maverick, Samuel Gray and Jonas
Caldwell.
John Adams, afterwards President of the United States, was counsel for
the soldiers in the investigation which followed. He admitted that
Attucks appeared to have been the hero of the occasion and the leader of
the people. Attucks and Caldwell, not being residents of Boston, were
buried from Faneuil Hall, the cradle of liberty. The citizens generally
participated in the solemnities.
If the outrages against the American colonists had not been so flagrant,
and so well imbedded as indisputable records of our history; if the
action of the military authorities had not been so arbitrary, the
uprising of Attucks and his followers might be looked upon as a common,
reprehensible riot and the participants as a band of misguided
incendiaries. Subsequent reverence for the occasion, disproves any such
view. Judge Dawes, a prominent jurist of the time, as well as a
brilliant exponent of the people, alluding in 1775 to the event, said:
"The provocation of that night must be numbered among the
master-springs which gave the first motion to a vast machinery--a
noble and comprehensive system of national independence."
Ramsey's History of the American Revolution, says:
"The anniversary of the 5th of March was observed with great
solemnity; eloquent orators were successively employed to preserve
the remembrance of it fresh in the mind. On these occasions the
blessings of liberty, the horrors of slavery, and the danger of a
standing army, were presented to the public view. These annual
orations administered fuel to the fire of liberty and kept it
burning with an irresistible flame."
The 5th of March continued to be celebrated for the above reasons until
the anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence was
substituted in its place; and its orators were expected to honor the
feelings and principles of the former as having given birth to the
latter. On the 5th of March 1776, Washington repaired to the
intrenchments. "Remember" said he, "It is the 5th of March, and avenge
the death of your brethren."
In the introduction to a book entitled "The Colored Patriots of the
American Revolution" by William C. Nell, a Negro historian, Harriet
Beecher Stowe said in 1855:
"The colored race have been generally considered by their enemies,
and sometimes even by their friends, as deficient in energy and
courage. Their virtues have been supposed to be principally
negative ones." Speaking of the incidents in Mr. Nell's collection
she says: "They will redeem the character of the race from this
misconception and show how much injustice there may often be in a
generally accepted idea". Continuing, she says:
"In considering the services of the colored patriots of the
Revolution, we are to reflect upon them as far more magnanimous,
because rendered to a nation which did not acknowledge them as
citizens and equals, and in whose interests and prosperity they had
less at stake. It was not for their own land they fought, not even
for a land which had adopted them, but for a land which had
enslaved them, and whose laws, even in freedom, oftener oppressed
than protected. Bravery, under such circumstances, has a peculiar
beauty and merit.
"And their white brothers--may remember that generosity,
disinterested courage and bravery, are of no particular race and
complexion, and that the image of the Heavenly Father may be
reflected alike by all. Each record of worth in this oppressed and
despised people should be pondered, for it is by many such that the
cruel and unjust public sentiment, which has so long proscribed
them, may be reversed, and full opportunities given them to take
rank among the nations of the earth."
Estimates from competent sources state that not less than 3,000 Negro
soldiers did service in the American army during the Revolution. Rhode
Island first made her slaves free men and then called on them to fight.
A black regiment was raised there, of which Colonel Christopher Green
was made commander. Connecticut furnished a black battalion under
command of Colonel David Humphrey.
Prior to the Revolution, two Virginia Negroes, Israel Titus and Samuel
Jenkins, had fought under Braddock and Washington in the French and
Indian war.
It has been said that one of the men killed when Major Pitcairn
commanding the British advance on Concord and Lexington, April 19, 1775,
ordered his troops to fire on the Americans, was a Negro bearing arms.
Peter Salem a Negro did service during the Revolution, and is said to
have killed this same Major Pitcairn, at the battle of Bunker Hill. In
some old engravings of the battle, Salem is pictured as occupying a
prominent position. These pictures were carried on some of the currency
of the Monumental bank of Charlestown, Massachusetts and the Freeman's
bank of Boston. Other black men fought at Bunker Hill, of whom we have
the names of Salem Poor, Titus Coburn, Alexander Ames, Barzillai Lew and
Gato Howe. After the war these men were pensioned.
Prince, a Negro soldier, was Colonel Barton's chief assistant in
capturing the British officer, Major General Prescott at Newport, R.I.
Primus Babcock received an honorable discharge from the army signed by
General Washington. Lambo Latham and Jordan Freeman fell with Ledyard at
the storming of Fort Griswold. Freeman is said to have killed Major
Montgomery, a British officer who was leading an attack on Americans in
a previous fight. History does not record whether or not this was the
same or a related Montgomery to the one who killed Crispus Attucks at
Boston.
Hamet, one of General Washington's Negroes, was drawing a pension as a
revolutionary soldier as late as 1839, Oliver Cromwell served six years
and nine months in Col. Israel Shreve's regiment of New Jersey troops
under Washington's immediate command. Charles Bowles became an American
soldier at the age of sixteen years and served to the end of the
Revolution. Seymour Burr and Jeremy Jonah were Negro soldiers in a
Connecticut regiment.
A Negro whose name is not known obtained the countersign by which Mad
Anthony Wayne was enabled to take Stony Point, and guided and helped him
to do so.
Jack Grove was a Negro steward on board an American vessel which the
British captured. He figured out that the vessel could be retaken if
sufficient courage were shown. He insisted and at length prevailed upon
his captain to make the attempt, which was successful.
There was in Massachusetts during those Revolutionary days one company
of Negro men bearing a special designation, "The Bucks." It was a
notable body of men. At the close of the war its fame and services were
recognized by John Hancock presenting to it a beautiful banner.
The European struggle recently ended furnished a remarkable example of
female heroism and devotion to country in the case of the Russian woman
who enlisted as a common soldier in the army of the Czar, served with
distinction and finally organized an effective unit of female soldiers
known as the "Battalion of Death." More resourceful and no less
remarkable and heroic, is the case of Deborah Gannet, a Negro woman
soldier of the Revolution, which may be summed up in the following
resolution passed by the General Court of Massachusetts during the
session of 1791:--
"XXIII--Whereas, it appears to this court that the said Deborah
Gannett enlisted, under the name of Robert Shurtliff, in Capt
Webb's company, in the Fourth Massachusetts regiment, on May 20,
1782, and did actually perform the duties of a soldier, in the late
army of the United States to the 23rd day of October, 1783, for
which she has received no compensation; and, whereas, it further
appears that the said Deborah exhibited an extraordinary instance
of female heroism by discharging the duties of a faithful, gallant
soldier, and at the same time preserving the virtue and chastity of
her sex unsuspected and unblemished, and was discharged from the
service with a fair and honorable character, therefore,
"Resolved, that the Treasurer of this Commonwealth be, and he
hereby is, directed to issue his note to the said Deborah for the
sum of thirty-four pounds, bearing interest from October 23, 1783."
There is not lacking evidence that Negroes distinguished themselves in
the struggles of the pioneer settlers against the Indians. This was
particularly true of the early history of Kentucky. The following
incidents are recorded in Thompson's "Young People's History of
Kentucky:"
"Ben Stockton was a slave in the family of Major George Stockton of
Fleming county. He was a regular Negro, and though a slave, was
devoted to his master. He hated an Indian and loved to moralize
over a dead one; getting into a towering rage and swearing
magnificently when a horse was stolen; handled his rifle well,
though somewhat foppishly, and hopped, danced and showed his teeth
when a prospect offered to chase 'the yaller varmints'. His master
had confidence in his resolution and prudence, while he was a great
favorite with all the hunters, and added much to their fun on dull
expeditions. On one occasion, when a party of white men in pursuit
of Indians who had stolen their horses called at Stockton's station
for reinforcements, Ben, among others, volunteered. They overtook
the savages at Kirk's Springs in Lewis county, and dismounted to
fight; but as they advanced, they could see only eight or ten, who
disappeared over the mountain. Pressing on, they discovered on
descending the mountain such indications as convinced them that the
few they had seen were but decoys to lead them into an ambuscade at
the base, and a retreat was ordered. Ben was told of it by a man
near him; but he was so intent on getting a shot that he did not
hear, and the order was repeated in a louder tone, whereupon he
turned upon his monitor a reproving look, grimaced and gesticulated
ludicrously, and motioned to the man to be silent. He then set off
rapidly down the mountain. His white comrade, unwilling to leave
him, ran after him, and reached his side just as he leveled his gun
at a big Indian standing tiptoe on a log and peering into the thick
woods. At the crack of Ben's rifle the savage bounded into the air
and fell. The others set up a fierce yell, and, as the fearless
Negro said, 'skipped from tree to tree like grasshoppers.' He
bawled out: 'Take dat to 'member Ben--de black white man!' and the
two beat a hasty retreat.
"In the family of Capt. James Estill, who established a station
about fifteen miles south of Boonesborough, was a Negro slave,
Monk, who was intelligent, bold as a lion, and as faithful to his
pioneer friends as though he were a free white settler defending
his own rights. About daylight, March 20, 1782, when all the men of
the fort except four were absent on an Indian trail, a body of the
savages came upon Miss Jennie Glass, who was outside, but near the
station, milking--Monk being with her. They killed and scalped Miss
Glass and captured Monk. When questioned as to the force inside the
walls, the shrewd and self-possessed Negro represented it as much
greater than it was and told of preparations for defense. The
Indians were deceived, and after killing the cattle, they
retreated across the river. When the battle of Little Mountain
opened two days later, Monk, who was still a prisoner with the
Indians cried out: 'Don't give way, Mas' Jim! There's only about
twenty-five redskins and you can whip 'em!' This was valuable and
encouraging information to the whites. When the Indians began to
advance on Lieutenant Miller, when he was sent to prevent a flank
movement and guard the horse-holders, Monk called also to him to
hold his ground and the white men would win. Instead of being
instantly killed as was to be apprehended, even though the savages
might not understand his English, he made his escape before the
fight closed and got back to his friends. On their return to the
station, twenty-five miles, without sufficient horses for the
wounded, he carried on his back, most of the way, James Berry,
whose thigh was broken. He had learned to make gunpowder, and
obtaining saltpetre from Peyton's Cave, in Madison county, he
frequently furnished this indispensable article to Estill's Station
and Boonesborough. He has been described as being five feet five
inches high and weighing two hundred pounds. He was a respected
member of the Baptist church, when whites and blacks worshipped
together. He was held in high esteem by the settlers and his young
master, Wallace Estill, gave him his freedom and clothed and fed
him as long as he lived thereafter--till about 1835.
"A year or two after the close of the Revolutionary war, a Mr.
Woods was living near Crab Orchard, Kentucky, with his wife, one
daughter (said to be ten years old), and a lame Negro man. Early
one morning, her husband being away, Mrs. Woods when a short
distance from the house, discovered seven or eight Indians in
ambush. She ran back into the house, so closely pursued that before
she could fasten the door one of the savages forced his way in. The
Negro instantly seized him. In the scuffle the Indian threw him,
falling on top. The Negro held him in a strong grasp and called to
the girl to take an axe which was in the room and kill him. This
she did by two well-aimed blows; and the Negro then asked Mrs.
Woods to let in another that he with the axe might dispatch him as
he came and so, one by one, kill them all. By this time, however,
some men from the station nearby, having discovered that the house
was attacked, had come up and opened fire on the savages, by which
one was killed and the others put to flight."