FOUNDERS OF FORT NO. 4, CHARLESTOWN, NH
From:	Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth

SUBJECT: Fort 4 during the American Revolution
SOURCE: History of Charlestown, NH - The Old No. 4 by Rev. H. H. Saunderson, 1876

(note: this report comes just before the Official Correspondence of Gen. J.
StarK)

Chapter VII p.107
Charlestown, from its situation, became, in the war of
the Revolution, a post of no inconsiderable importance.
It was made by the State, a depository of Military Stores
of which Lieut Colonel Samuel Hunt was the custodian and
Elijah Grout, Jr. distributing commissary.  Here, com-
panies from New-Hampshire on their march to Canada, or
to Ticonderoga, or Crown Point, received their supplies
of ammunition, and were furnished with necessary equip-
ments.  It was also appointed to be the place of rende-
vous for the army of General John Stark on its way to
Bennington and was also in the war-path of other New
Hampshire forces which did important service at Saratoga
and Stillwater and in bringing about the ultimate
surrender of Burgoyne.  It was at one time expected that
Burgoyne would march upon the place or send an expedi-
tion against it, as threats were thrown out by him to
that effect: but he had probably no such intention, and
only menaced it for the purpose of covering up the real
designs which he had in view.

Charlestown quite early in the Revolutionary struggle
became also a recruiting station for the army. In Jan-
uary 1776 after the unsuccessful attack of General
Arnold upon Quebec, Captain Abel Walker raised a company
with which he immediately marched to re-enforce General
Thomas, upon whom the command of the army had devolved.
The repulse of Arnold took place on the 3lst of December
1775; and such was the promptness with which Captain
Walker raised his men and accomplished his march, that he
arrived before Quebec on the 25th of the following
February.  There were twelve in the company, all from
Charlestown, with the exception of Henry Silbsy who was
from Acworth. In the July following, another company
was raised at Charlestown under Captain Samuel Wetherbe
of which Jonathan Hubbard, also of Charlestown was en-
sign.  This was Company No. 5 in Colonel Isaac Wyman's
regiment, and was raised for the defense of Portsmouth
and its harbor.  What was subsequently termed the
First New-Hampshire Regiment was organized the 7th of
April 1777.  This Regiment was under the command of
Colonel Joseph Cilley of Nottingham and Lieut. Colonel
George Reed of Londenderry.  Isaac Farwell was Captain
of Company No. 1 of this Regiment and Jonathan Willard
also of Charlestown was his ensign.  Peleg Williams
of Charlestown was First Lieutenant of Company No. 2
and Simon Sartwell held the same office in Company No. 7
In the following year Simon Sartwell was promoted
to be a Captain and Jonathan Willard to be a lieutenant.
The latter was moreover made Quarter-master in 1780.
William Holden was captain of a company in Colonel
Timothy Bedell's regiment which was raised for frontier
duty or Continental service as occasion might require,
early in 1778 and which was discharged in March in the
same year. 

p.108
A regiment under Colonel Moses Nichols was raised for the
defense of West Point in 1780, in which Peleg Page of
Charlestown was Captain of Company No. 1.  

In the summer of 1777 not only a large proportion of the
citizens of Charlestown were engaged in the military
service of the country, but the same was true of many
other towns in the County of Cheshire.  When an order
came from General (John) Stark dated Brumley (Bromley,
VT - now Peru) Aug. 6, 1777 to Colonel Hunt of Charles-
town "To mount the cannon at No. 4 immediately, and get
all the cannon from Walpole brought up to No. 4, and
fix them on carriages," Colonel Hunt wrote to the
Council of Safety at Exeter, the next day, "That so many
of the inhabitants of this county are now abroad in the
service that it is extremely difficult to hire workmen
nor do I know where it is possible to procure iron; nor
can timber that is seasoned and proper for that busi-
ness be handily got," consequently the mounting of the
cannon was postponed.

p.109
At this time there was a company of volunteers from
Charlestown with Stark under the command of Captain Abel
Walker which was embraced in Colonel Hobart's regiment
which, we have reason to believe did good service in the
Battle of Bennington which followed a few days after.
Burgoyne's movements had excited intense interest in all
the towns along the Connecticut River.  After the evacu-
tion of Ticonderoga by our army, most of the militia
from New-Hampshire who had gone forward to assist in the
defense of that fortress, on finding that they could
render no service towards the object, immediately re-
turned to No. 4 where a copy of the General's express
had preceded them; directing that the militia should be
sent to Bennington towards which the main army had re-
treated and where it was proposed that a stand should be
made.  After becoming acquainted with the contents of
the express, the officers of the militia met in a body
to consult in relation to what they would do in respect
to complying with its direction.  But, on consultation
they all, finally, concluded to return home and wait
until they should receive further orders from the
General Court.  Not one company of militia, therefore
from the State went forward at this time, to join the
Continental army.

When the militia left for their homes, Charlestown and
the other towns similarly situated had no protection
whatsoever.  Meantime, the British General in the ex-
posed situation of the frontiers, embraced the opportu-
nity to playupon the feelings of the people, by ex-
citing their fears in every way that lay in his power.
He artfully caused rumors to be spread for the purpose
of concealing his real intentions; that he was about
to make a descent on some point on the Connecticut River
but, designedly, that he might create wider alarm, left
the place undesignated on which his veangeance might
ultimately fall.  Many of the towns on the river, there-
fore, had their fears excited and none more than Charles-
town on account of its position as lying in the war-path
of the forces of New Hampshire, and on the old military
road.

We shall better understand the excitement of the people
by reference to despatches and letters written at the
time.

"Letters giving warning of the advance of the British
troops.
From Joel Mathews to General Bailey.
"Sir: - I have this moment received intelligence from
Otter Creek of the motion of the Enemy, viz. That yester-
day they were at Rutland and this day they will be at
White's, nine miles this side, with an intent to march
to No. 4; also another Detachment to march to Cohos.
This intelligence comes by way of Windsor to me.  I have
ordered to raise the militia in these parts.  We have
sent to Colonel Marsh, who likely will also send to you.
I still wait your orders tho' I shall march what men
I can raise to oppose the Enemy.   In haste I am sir
Your Humble Servant, Joel Mathews."

General Bailey
Hartford, July 19th, 1777
Letter from Beza (Bezaleel) Woodward, Esq.
"To the Committees, Military Officers and good people
in the State of New-Hampshire.
Post called on me this moment with the Letter from the
above (Mr. Mathews) is a copy.  As you regard the safety
of this Frontier for God's sake come forward without
delay.  The bearers Messrs. Wood and Longfellow are sent
Express for that purpose.  Please forward them with
despatch.         (signed) Bez. Woodward, Clk.

p.110
Committee for Safety for Hanover.
Hanover, Midnight, Saturday night, July 19, 1777
"Assembly at Exeter are earnestly requested to send for-
ward arms and ammunition for the People of this County
as well as men.  Capt. Storrs returned home this day."
                  (signed) Beza Woodward, Clk."
footnote:  Captain Aaron Storrs, who had been sent to
Exeter by Lieut. Colonel Elisha Payne of Lebanon, to
request a supply of two hundred stands of arms.

A similar letter by Major Francis Smith of Lebanon was
despatched to the Committee of Safety of New-Hampshire
July 20th, 1777 imploring immediate assistance in arms
and ammunition, etc., and Lieut. Jonathan Freeman of
Hanover was despatched, as agent, to the General Assem-
bly at Exeter to make representation of their case.

Colonel John Hurd, July 21st, 1777 wrote from Haverhill
to Honorable Meshech Weare:

"Sir: - We were alarmed yesterday by News from No. 4
that the regular army (British army) were upon their
march towards the Connecticut River (note: Fort 4 was
situated on the banks of the Connecticut River)  But
this afternoon we have seen a copy of another Letter from
Stafford, a Township lying West of Thetford, opposite
Lime, requesting immediate assistance to them, for that
one-half of the people of that Town were gone off to the
Regulars.  This seems to be an alarming circumstance, as
we apprehend these people who have been known to be 
Tories, some time past, and have held correspondence
with the Regular Army and know their designs of marching
towards this River.  So that we now may most certainly
expect a visit from them, if our people do not muster
strong enough to repel them, which we hope will be the
case; for by Reports we have, the whole country seems to
be highly exasperated since the unfortunate and unex-
pected  Loss of Ty(conderoga) and its dependencies.
The people in this Quarter are most of the, we trust,
spirited to exert themselves all in their power, but are
much in want of good fire arms.  If there's any fire
arms belonging to the State to be spared, a proportion-
able part ought to be sent this way for the use of Colon-
el Marcy's Regiment; what comes to Cohos may be intrust-
ed to Colonel Johnston and Major Hale on whose care you
may depend to distribute them and take such security
from each man as the Committee of Safety shall direct.
                Sir Your humble servant, J. Hurd.
To the Hon. Meschech Weare."

p.111
Letter from Colonel Jacob Bailey, relting to the same
matter:
"Lyme, July 21st, 1777
Gentlemen, Sundry Expresses have arrived from Windsor
informing of the Enemy pressing towards No. 4 and Coos;
and this day we find that about thirty men have desert-
ed from Strafford and Thetford to the enemy, which
obliges to move at least twenty families and at least
four hundred cattle and sheep across the river at Lyme;
neither can we secure what is left at Strafford without
help, unless the Militia now raised to march to Otter
Creek, which if they do will operate with them, which
will make us secure: - otherwise five hundred men will
not be able to guard this River, - beg you will take
the matter under your consideration and act therein as
you think proper.  I am, Gentlemn, your very Hunble
Servant, Jacob Bailey."

Walpole and other towns below Charlestown were equally
excited.  Colonel Benjamin Bellows, who had been in the
army, but had returned home on account of the indis-
position of his father, Colonel Bellows, Sr., wrote on
the l3th of July 1777 to the Committee of Safety:

p.112
"Gentlemen, you no doubt have heard of the disaster we
have met with at the westward; so shall not undertake
to give you the particulars, but to sum it up in short:
We have lost all our Stores and Baggage, with some of
our men, the number I am not able to ascertain.  I shall
represent to you something of the distressed situation
of our Frontiers, especially of persons who are easily
intimidated as well as women ad children, - and it is
my humble opinion if some resolutions are not adopted
and speedily and vigorously carried into Execution the
people's hearts will fail and conclude it is a gone case;
and this part of the country I fear will be deserted and
left without anybody to receive hay or grain, etc.
I submit to superior wisdom, as to the best manner to
prevent those evils we dread, and hope the most strenu-
ous efforts will be made by Government at this most
critical time; and as the inhabitants on the other side
of the River in New York State (now the State of VT).,
would try to keep their ground, if they could answer
as good a purpose, as tho' done to ourselves, as there
must be a Frontier; the people on Otter Creek have many
of them moved off already.  Should think it best to keep
out the Frontier in New-York State (Vermont) if possible.
By the best information I can get, there is not short
of six or seven hundred men above this place on York side
of the River that are destitute for arms; if there could
be any way found  out to supply them it would answer to
a good purpose.  I must further inform you that when we
retreated from Ticonderoga, that many of the Continental
Troops instead of following the army, steared fore their
homes.      I am, Gentlemen, your very humble Servant,
                         Benjamin Bellows
To the Honorable Committee of Safety."

The following letter from the New-Hampshire committee
of safety to the Massachusetts committee, will also be
of interest in this connection:

"In Committee of Safety July 16th 1777
Sir:  The accounts we are continually receiving make it
more than probable that our Northern army have suffered
very much on their retreat and those who escaped are
much scattered.  We have sent officers to No. 4 to stop
all the soldiers on their way home as well of the other
States as our own.  And we understand a considerable
number is collected there.  We have no letter from the
army and know not the route they have taken, and are
greatly at a loss what measures are necessary to be taken
at this important crisis and desire a communication of
your sentiments on the subject.  Our General Assembly
will meet tomorrow and we are sure will readily coincide
with our sister states in adopting the most spirited
exertions to retrieve the losses and save our Country
from the threatened destruction.
P.S.  The inhabitants of our Frontier towns on the
Connecticut River are sending their Committees in the
most pathetic manner, begging to be supplied with fire
arms as half of them are destitute and other parts of
the State not much better stocked.  We must again repeat
our solicitation in the most urgent manner to our sister
State to sell us some of the large quantities of guns
they have lately imported or a considerable part of our
militia must remain unwilling spectators of the War in
which they would gladly assist their Country."

p.113
The answer of the Massachusetts Committee to the fore-
going, was as follows:  "We are sorry it is not in our
power to supply you with the arms you request.  We have
furnished you by Colonel Folsom with five tons of lead
and five thousand flints."

The above letters and despatches have been given for the
purpose of conveying to the reader, the state of public
feeling in the townships, on the Connecticut River and
also in the State, more definitely, as well as more
vividly, than it could possibly be done by any descript-
ion; as they present a true and most lively transcript
of the public mind at the time.  Happily all this
excitement was not without the production of its effect
in a right direction.  Not only the Committee of Safety
and the Assembly of New-Hampshire but the people, also,
especially in the western part of the state, were deeply
moved; and the most prompt and energetic measures were
instituted tomeet the emergencies of the times.  The
Assembly of New-Hampshire which had concluded their 
spring session and gone home, were again by a summons
from the Committee of Safety, brought together.  They
met on the l7th of July and held a session of three days
and three more important days never occurred in the
Legislature of the State.  The whole militia of the State
were formed into two brigades:  the first of which was
placed under the command of Brig. General Whipple and
the 2nd under General John Stark who with one fourth
of his own brigade and one fourth of the brigade of
General Whipple, was ordered to march immediately for
the purpose of checking the progress of the Enemy; and
a messenger ws despatched to Charlestown to Colonel
Samuel Hunt with orders from the Committee of Safety to
provide and store what provisions and other stores he
could for the service of the State which orders were
accompanied with one thousand pounds out of the treasury
of the State to be by him accounted for; and all other
necessary acts were passed for promoting and carrying
into effect the design which they had in view.
See the Official Correspondence of General John Stark.

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