ARE YOU TO OLD TO FIGHT----WE HAVE NOT BEGUN TO FIGHT

[Chaplain Thomas Gilbert Cole]

Subject: ARE YOU TO OLD TO FIGHT???


--- On Mon, 11/16/09, Chaplain Thomas G. Cole wrote:

American Hero: Samuel Whittemore (80 Years Old!) Takes on the Redcoats on April 18, 1775
Bob Hartwell.com ^ | Unknown | Bob Harwell

Posted on Tuesday, July 04, 2006 9:16:02 AM by 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


THE PENNSYLVANIA CITIZENS MILITIA(BUCKTAILS), THE BLACK REGIMENT, THE NEW BLACK REGIMENT; ETC.
Monday, November 16, 2009 12:35 PM
From:
"Chaplain Thomas G. Cole"

To:
"BLAISE DORNISH"



Mr. Samuel Whittemore was an 80-year old farmer in Massachusetts at the start of the revolutionary war. When he saw that British reinforcements were about to march by his property he loaded his musket, loaded his pistols, and grabbed his sword to go fight! He ambushed the "Redcoats" and was able to kill 3 of them all by himself. As Samuel was reloading his weapons the British soldiers managed to shoot him in the face with their .69 caliber musket, then as Samuel tried to fight them off with his sword they bayoneted him 13 times then beat him up and left him for dead. When Samuel was found in a pool of blood not only was he still alive, but he was still trying to load his musket so he could continue fighting! Samuel was quickly taken to the local doctor who said there was no hope for him to live. Not only did Samuel live, he survived another 18 years dying at the age of 98. Samuel Whittemore is the oldest known hero of the revolutionary war.


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