Benjamin Rush on Elbridge Gerry

Day 234

 

About Elbridge Gerry
“He was a respectable young merchant, of a liberal education, and considerable knowledge. He was slow in his perceptions and in his manner of doing business, and stammering in his speech, but he know and embraced truth when he saw it. He had no local of state prejudices. Every part of his conduct in 1775, 1776, and 1777 indicated him to be a sensible, upright man, and a genuine friend to republican forms of government.”
Form Benjamin Rush’s Sketches

Well Bye,
®achel™

Sunday June 18, 1775

Day 170

~Abigail Adams to John Adams~

The day after the Battle of Breads and Bunker hill. 

 

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 and leading them on by his own Example. A particuliar 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 and power unto his people Trust in him at all times ye people pour out you 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 o’clock and has not ceased yet and tis now 3 o’clock Sabbath afternoon.
   Tis Expected they will come out over the Neck to night, and a Dreadful Battle must ensue. Almighty God cover the heads of our Country men, and be a shield to our Dear Friends. How mandy have fallen we know not; The constant roar of the cannon is so distressing that we cannot Eat Drink of sleep. May we be supported and sustaind in the dreadful conflict. I shall tarry here till tis thought unsafe by my Friends, and then I have secured myself a retreat at your brothers who has kindly offerd me part of is house, I cannot compose my self to write any further a present. I will add more as I hear further-

Spelling mistakes are not my fault! I just had to get that out there.

Well Bye, 

®achel™

And now ensued one of the greatest scenes of war that can be conceived

Day 169

“And now ensued one of the greatest scenes of war that can be conceived. If we look to the heights, Howe’s corps ascending the hill in the face of entrenchments and in a very disadvantageous ground was much engaged. To the left the enemy pouring in fresh troops  by the thousands over land and in the arm of the sea our ships and floating batteries cannonading them. Straight before us a large and noble town in one great blaze. The church steeples being of timber were great pyramids of fire above the rest. Behind us the church steeples and heights of our own camp, covered with spectators. The hills around the country covered with spectators. The enemy all in anxious suspense. The roar of cannon, mortars and musketry, the crash of churches, ships upon the stocks and whole streets falling together in ruins to fill the air; the storm of the redoubt… filled the eye and the reflection that perhaps defeat was a final loss to the British Empire of America to fill the mind, make the whole a picture a complication of horror and importance beyond anything that ever came to my lot to witness to.”

~General John Burgoyne~At the Battle of Bunker Hill

Well Bye, 

®achel™

Who Thought?

 Day 11


“Some Talked , Some Wrote, and some fought to promote and establish it, but you and Mr, Jefferson thought for us all, I never take a retrospect of the years 1775 and 1776 without associating your opinions and speeches and conversations with all the great political, moral, and intellectual achievements of the congress of those memorable years,”

~Benjamin Rush~
To John Adams

Well Bye,

®achel™