“The Spirits of the people are very good. The loss of Charlstown affects them no more than a Drop in the Bucket...”

Originally published on TA July 2, 2009

 

                                                                         

Dearest Friend 

Sunday June 18 1775 

The Day; perhaps the decisive Day is come on which the fate of America depends. my bursting Heart must find vent at my pen. I have just heard that our dear Friend Dr. Warren is no more but fell gloriously fighting for his Country-saying better to die honourably in the field than ignominiously hang upon the Gallows. great is our Loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude, by animating the Soldiers & leading them on by his own example -- a particular account of these dreadful, but I hope Glorious Days will be transmitted you, no doubt in the exactest manner.

The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong -- but the God of Israel is he that giveth strength & power unto his people. Trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us. --Charlstown is laid in ashes. The Battle began upon our intrenchments upon Bunkers Hill, a Saturday morning about 3 oclock & has not ceased yet & tis now 3 o'clock Sabbeth afternoon.

Tis expected they will come out over the Neck to night, & a dreadful Battle must ensue Almighty God cover the heads of our Country men, & be a shield to our Dear Friends. how [many ha]ve fallen we know not-the constant roar of the cannon is so [distre]ssing that we can not Eat Drink or Sleep -- may we be supported and sustaind in the dreadful conflict. I shall tarry here till tis thou[ght] unsafe by my Friends, & then I have secured myself a retreat at your Brothers who has kindly offerd me part of his house. I cannot compose myself to write any further at present -- I will add more as I hear further--

Tuesday afternoon --

I have been so much agitated that I have not been able to write since Sabbeth day. When I say that ten thousand reports are passing vague & uncertain as the wind I believe I speak the Truth. I am not able to give you any authentick account of last Saturday, but you will not be destitute of intelligence -- Coll: Palmer has just sent me word that he has an opportunity of conveyance. incorrect as this scrawl will be, it shall go -- I wrote you last Saturday morning. in the afternoon I received your kind favar of the 2 june and that you sent me by Captn. Beals at the same time, --I ardently pray that you may be supported thro the arduous task you have before you. I wish I could contradict the report of the Doctors Death, but it is a lamentable Truth, -- and the tears of multitudes pay tribute to his memory -- Those favorite lines [of] Collin continually sound [in my Ears.]

How sleep the Brave who sink to rest, 
By all their Countrys wishes blest? 
When Spring with dew'ey fingers cold 
Returns to deck their Hallowed mould
She their shall Dress a sweeter Sod 
Than fancys feet has ever trod
By fairy hands their knell is rung
By forms unseen their Dirge is sung 
Their Honour comes a pilgrim grey
To bless the turf that wraps their Clay
And freedom shall a while repair
To dwell a weeping Hermit there --

I rejoice in the prospect of the plenty you inform me of, but cannot say we have the same agreable view here. The Drought is very severe, and things look but poorly.

Mr Rice & Thaxter unkle Quincy Col Quincy Mr Wibert all desire to be rememberd, so do all our family. Nabby will write by the next conveyance --

I must close, as the Deacon w[aits.] I have not pretended to be perticuliar with regard to what I have heard, because I know you will collect better intelligence -- The Spirits of the people are very good. The loss of Charlstown affects them no more than a Drop in the Bucket, --I am

Most sincerely yours


Portia

(original letter- Abigail Adams to John Adams and text of same courtesy of  The Massachusetts Historical Society)

"Don't Fire Until You See The Whites Of Their Eyes"- Don Troiani

Death of General Warren at Bunker Hill- John Trumbull

Hoping that all Athenaeum readers/commenters have a grand, lovely Fourth of July weekend shared with family & friends.

-Maureen Lang

Comments

[Maureen Lang]

All,

A good weekend to watch or re-watch the meticulously filmed (and equally informative & entertaining) John Adams series from HBO:

http://www.hbo.com/films/johnadams/

[Johnny]

Mo,

Are we going to watch some of John Adams series after the bbq? Way better than going over to Studio City for the fireworks imvho.

[Maureen Lang]

Johnny,

Let's take a vote on it when you all are here, but personally I'm tending toward JA. Such a wonderful, appropriate July 4th opening segment on the DVDs to that show.

How does bbq'd salmon steaks, corn on the cob, hot spinach salad, homemade rolls, & some fresh (albeit store-bought) blueberry pie from Dupar's sound for tonight?

No fireworks viewing, just good conversation, I promise.

-M.

[Jane]

John Philip Sousa for the Glorious Fourth:

For decades America's great bandmaster John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) had resisted the lure of the radio when he lifted his taboo, in 1929. Here is the March King talking, and conducting the Sousa Band in his best-known march (the greatest march ever written?), The Stars and Stripes Forever:

(Many who read these blogs will have to ignore the rest of the site but the music is too good to not to pass along.)

The official title is The Military Band,with the subtitle "Salute to the Services" (I believe on LP it was "A Hi-Fi Salute . . ."), which I've always taken to refer to the suite of five marches at the start, which are preceded by "Reveille" and followed by "Taps." Actually, on the CD "Taps" comes at the end of the program; I've taken the liberty of shifting it to where it seems to me to belong: following the five marches (some more official than others) representing the five U.S. military services.

and:

IT'S 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, SO WHY NOT KICK OFF WITH SOME SUITABLY 4TH OF JULY MUSIC? This is, I think, the best military-band march written by someone not named John Philipp Sousa. In fact, it's better than all but the best of the Sousa marches. And I've got two nifty performances to share.

[Jane]

Since it is not clear whether my links are working here is the URL: http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/

[YT]

Maureen Lang,

Ma'am, thanks for postin' this. Learned 'nother facet of American history.

Happy Independence Day.