The Battle of Bunkers-Hill

Hugh Henry Brackenridge

The Battle of Bunkers-Hill

HUGH HENRY BRACKENRIDGE

(1748-1816)

The battle of Bunker's Hill was an event which stirred whatever dramatic activity there was in America at the time of the Revolution. Therefore, a play written on the subject should not be omitted from a collection supposed to be representative of the different periods in American history and in American thought. The reader has an interesting comparison to make in Hugh Henry Brackenridge's play, which the title-page declares is "A dramatic piece of five acts, in heroic measure, by a gentleman of Maryland," and a later piece entitled "Bunker Hill, or the Death of General Warren," written by John Daly Burk (1776-1808), who came to America because of certain political disturbances, and published his drama with a Dedication to Aaron Burr (1797), the year it was given in New York for the first time.1 It will be found that the former play is conceived in a better spirit, and is more significant because of the fact that it was written so soon after the actual event.

It is natural that Hugh Henry Brackenridge should have been inspired by the Revolution, and should have been prompted by the loyal spirit of the patriots of the time. For he was the stuff from which patriots are made, having, in his early life, been reared in Pennsylvania, even though he first saw the light near Campbletown, Scotland, in 1748. His father (who moved to America in 1753) was a poor farmer, and Hugh received his schooling under precarious conditions, as many boys of that time did. We are given pictures of him, trudging thirty miles in all kinds of weather, in order to borrow books and newspapers, and we are told that, being quick in the learning of languages, he made arrangements with a man, who knew mathematics, to trade accomplishments in order that he himself might become better skilled in the science of calculation.

At the age of fifteen, he was so well equipped that he was engaged to teach school in Maryland, at Gunpowder Falls, some of his pupils being so much larger and older than he that, at one time, he had to take a brand from the fire, and strike one of them, in order to gain ascendency over him.

At eighteen, pocketing whatever money he had saved, he went to President Witherspoon, of the College of New Jersey, arranging with that divine to teach classes in order that he might afford to remain and study. While there, among his classmates may be counted James Madison, future president of the United States, Philip Freneau, the poet, and others of later note. Aaron Burr was a Junior at the time of Brackenridge's graduation, as was William Bradford. Though he was on intimate terms with Madison, he was much more the friend of Freneau, the two writing together "The Rising Glory of America." Should one take the complete piece, which was read by Brackenridge at Commencement, and mark therein that part of the poem composed by Freneau, and included later in Freneau's published works, one might very readily understand that Brackenridge was less the poet, even though in some ways he may have been more versatile as a writer.

This piece, "The Rising Glory of America,"2 is representative of a type of drama which was fostered and encouraged by the colleges of the time. We find Francis Hopkinson, in the College of Philadelphia, writing various dialogues, like his "Exercise: Containing a Dialogue [by the Rev. Dr. Smith] and Ode, sacred to the memory of his late gracious Majesty George II. Performed at the public commencement in the College of Philadelphia, May, 1761." Yet Hopkinson was one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence!

What says Abbé Robin, viewing Harvard in 1781:

Their pupils often act tragedies, the subject of which is generally taken from their national events, such as the battle of Bunker's Hill, the burning of Charlestown, the death of General Montgomery, the capture of Burgoyne, the treason of Arnold, and the Fall of British Tyranny. You will easily conclude that in such a new nation as this, these pieces must fall infinitely short of that perfection to which our European literary productions of this kind are wrought up; but, still, they have a greater effect upon the mind than the best of ours would have among them, because those manners and customs are delineated, which are peculiar to themselves, and the events are such as interest them above all others. The drama is here reduced to its true and Ancient origin.

Nathaniel Evans also wrote dialogues, performed at the public Commencements in Philadelphia, like the one on May 17, 1763. We have already noted that "The Prince of Parthia" was written as a college play. "The Military Glory of Great Britain" was also prepared as an entertainment by the graduates of the College of New Jersey, held in Nassau-Hall, September 29, 1762, with the authorship unknown. It was a type of play which tempted many men, who later tried their hand at more important dramatic work.

Another interesting title of the time ran as follows:

An/Exercise,/containing/a Dialogue and Ode/On the Accession of His present gracious Majesty,/George III./Performed at the public Commencement in the College of/Philadelphia, May 18th, 1762./Philadelphia:/Printed by W. Dunlap, in Market-Street, M,DCC,LXII./

In order to understand the spirit which prompted both Brackenridge and Freneau, one needs must turn to an account of the latter's life, and learn therefrom certain facts concerning the early college spirit of Brackenridge, which was ignored by his son in the only authentic record of his life we have.

From Freneau we understand, for example, that, as early as June 24, 1769, a certain number of students banded themselves into an undergraduate fraternity, called the American Whig Society, the chief members of that association being Madison, Brackenridge, Bradford, and Freneau himself. There is a manuscript book in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, originally owned by Bradford, and containing some of their later poetical tirades. It is called "Satires against the Whigs," and is composed of ten pastorals by Brackenridge and a number of satires by Freneau. It is strange that the intimacy between Brackenridge and Freneau did not lead to their rooming together while at College, Brackenridge giving way to James Madison. But we do know that the two were very intimately associated in early literary work, and, in the manuscript book just mentioned, there is contained the fragment of a novel written alternately by the two, and called "Father Bombo's Pilgrimage to Mecca in Arabia."

Then followed "The Rising Glory of America," which, when Brackenridge graduated, September 25, 1771, was announced on the program of events – afternoon division – as being entirely by himself. This must have been an oversight, inasmuch as Freneau had more than a mere hand in the execution of the piece, and inasmuch as we possess Brackenridge's own confession "that on his part it was a task of labour, while the verse of his associate flowed spontaneously."

The college life of the time was not devoted entirely to literary creativeness or to political discussions. There is published an address by President Witherspoon to the inhabitants of Jamaica (1772), in which he outlined the course of study to which the students were subjected. It indicates, very excellently, the classical training that Brackenridge, Freneau, and Madison had to undergo. In fact, we find, on Commencement Day, Freneau debating on "Does Ancient Poetry excel the Modern?" and throwing all his energy in favour of the affirmative argument. And Brackenridge, selected to deliver the Salutatory, rendered it in Latin, "De societate hominum." (See Pennsylvania Chronicle; John Maclean's "History of the College of New Jersey," i, 312; Madison's correspondence while a student; also Philip Vickers Fithian's Journal and Letters: 1764-1774. Student at Princeton College: 1770-1772. Tutor at Nomini Hall in Virginia: 1773-1774. Ed. … by J. R. Williams. Princeton, 1900.) The Princeton historian points to this class of 1771 as being so patriotic that a unanimous vote was taken to appear at graduation in nothing but things of American manufacture.3

This much we do know regarding the early life of Brackenridge: that he was always pressed for money, that it was his indefatigableness and thirst for knowledge which carried him through the schools of the time, and through college.

His son even confesses that his father was obliged, on one occasion, to write an address which one of the students had to deliver, and to receive in payment therefor a new suit of clothes!

It was after his graduation that Brackenridge tutored in the College for a while, meantime taking up a course in theology. After this, he accepted a position as teacher in a school on the eastern shore of Maryland, because the "Academy" offered him a most flattering salary, and he could not reject it, however much he may have been interested in his college work. No sooner was he established there than he wrote to his friend, Freneau, inviting him to take the second position in the Maryland Seminary. This position was accepted by Freneau, who wrote to James Madison on November 22, 1772, mentioning therein that Brackenridge was at the head of Sommerset Academy, to which he himself had come on October 18th of that year, and where he was teaching the young idea and pursuing at the same time his theological studies.

As illustration of how much Freneau was at heart in tune with the work, we note that he says, "We have about thirty students in this Academy who prey upon me like leeches."

According to Brackenridge's son, whose Memoir of his father is published in the 1846 edition of "Modern Chivalry," there must, however, have been in this part of Maryland a polished social atmosphere, which gave ample opportunity for the wit, the scholarship, and the conversational and social powers of Brackenridge to develop.

For the students of Sommerset Academy, Brackenridge wrote his play, "The Battle of Bunkers-Hill,"4 and though there is no record of this piece having been actually presented, it is generally agreed that the Principal wrote his drama as an exercise for the pupils to perform. It was published anonymously, the fashion of the day which has led to many disputes, – for example, as to the authorship claims of John Leacock and Mrs. Mercy Warren. Royall Tyler was likewise diffident about letting his name appear on the title-page of "The Contrast."

When published in 1776, Brackenridge's piece was dedicated to Richard Stockton, and its tone and temper are thoroughly indicative of the spirit that must have dominated all his writings while at College.

The year 1776 marks Brackenridge's severance from teaching work. He soon after went to Philadelphia with his small fortune of one thousand pounds, and continued his efforts to make a livelihood by editing the United States Magazine, which afforded him an opportunity of airing his patriotic views, and gave him the added pleasure of inviting his associate, Freneau, to become one of the leading contributors. The following year, even though he had never been ordained in the Church, Brackenridge, nevertheless, a licensed divine, enlisted as Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, and there are extant a number of vigorous political sermons which it was his wont to deliver to the soldiers – the same fiery eloquence seen in his "Eulogium on the Brave Men who fell in the Contest with Great Britain," delivered in 1778.

Some time elapsed while he travelled hither and thither with a bible in his saddle-bags, according to description, and then Brackenridge took up the study of law, inasmuch as his very advanced views on religious questions would not allow him to subscribe to all the tenets of his Presbyterian faith. This drew down upon him the inimical strictures of the pulpit, but marked him as a man of intellectual bravery and certain moral daring.

Having completed his law reading in Annapolis, under Samuel Chase, afterwards Supreme Court Judge, he crossed the Alleghanies, in 1781, and established himself in Pittsburgh, where he rapidly grew in reputation, through his personal magnetism and his undoubted talents as a lawyer. He was strictly in favour of the Federal Constitution, and those who wish to fathom his full political importance should not only study his record as Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Pennsylvania, when he was appointed by Governor McKean, but, more significant still, the part he took in the Whiskey Insurrection, which brought him in touch with Albert Gallatin. In accord with the temper of the times, he was a man of party politics, although he never allowed his prejudices to interfere with his duties on the bench. As a Judge, his term of office ran from 1800 to the day of his death, June 25, 1816.

Mr. Brackenridge, besides being the author of the dialogue and play mentioned, likewise wrote several other dramas, among them being a tragedy, "The Death of General Montgomery at the Siege of Quebec" (1777), and a number of Odes and Elegies. The historical student will find much material relating to Brackenridge's political manoeuvres, in his book on the Western Insurrection; but probably as an author he is more justly famous for his series of stories and sketches published under the title, "Modern Chivalry" (1792), and representing a certain type of prose writing distinctive of American letters of the time of Clay and Crawford. These impressions were later added to. It is a type to be compared with the literary work done in the Southern States by J. J. Hooper, Judge Longstreet, and Judge Baldwin in ante-bellum days.

Among Brackenridge's other works may be mentioned:

An account of Pittsburgh in 1786. (Pittsburgh Gazette, July 29, 1786. Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh: Monthly Bulletin, 1902, v., 257-262, 288-290, 332-335.)

The Adventures of Captain Farrago. Philadelphia, 1856.

The Adventures of Major O'Regan. Philadelphia, 1856.

Gazette Publications. Carlisle, 1806.

Incidents of the Insurrection in the western parts of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1795.

Law Miscellanies. Philadelphia, 1814.

Narrative of the late Expedition against the Indians. 1798.

An Occasional Paper by Democritus, entitled "The Standard of Liberty." 1802.

Political Miscellany. 1793.

There are many plays extant dealing specifically with events connected with the Revolution and the War of 1812. For a discussion of same, see an article by A. E. Lancaster, "Historical American Plays," Chautauquan, 31:359-364, 1900; also see the present editor's "The American Dramatist," Chapter III. Note the following plays particularly:

C. E. Grice. "The Battle of New Orleans; or, Glory, Love and Loyalty." An Historical and National Drama. 1816.

W. Ioor. "The Battle of the Eutaw Springs, and Evacuation of Charleston; or, the Glorious 14th of December, 1782." A National Drama. Played in Charleston, 1817.

S. B. H. Judah. "A Tale of Lexington." A National Comedy, founded on the opening of the Revolution. 1823.

Sir,

I take the Freedom to Inscribe with YOUR Name, the following short Performance in Honour of some brave Men, who have fallen in the Cause of Liberty.

It was at first drawn up for an Exercise in Oratory, to a number of young Gentlemen in a southern Academy, but being now Published, may serve the same Purpose, in other American Seminaries.

The many Civilities, received from YOUR Family, at an earlier Period of my Life, while a Student at New-Jersey College, demand the warmest Gratitude; and I do continually, with the most sincere Pleasure, recollect and acknowledge them.

It is my fervent wish, that the Ruler of the Universe may Crown with Success, the Cause of Freedom, and speedily relieve our bleeding Country in whose Service YOU have distinguishedly exerted YOUR eminent Abilities, by assisting HER Deliberations in the grand Council of the Empire.

Sir,I am,With great Respect,Your much obliged,and most humble Servant,The Author.

PROLOGUE

By a Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

Sherwin, Aide-de-camp to General HoweSoldiers, &c

ACT I

Scene I. Camp at Cambridge Enter Warren, Putnam, and GardinerWarrenWhy thus, brave Putnam, shall we still encampInactive here; and with this gentle flood,By Cambridge murmuring, mix briny tears?Salt tears of grief by many a parent shed,For sons detain'd, and tender innocentsIn yon fair City, famishing for bread;For not fond mothers or their weeping babes —Can move the hard heart of relentless Gage.Perfidious man! Who pledg'd his oath so late,And word of honour to those patriotsYet in his power, that yielding him their arms,They should receive permission to depart,And join once more their valiant countrymen;But now detains as hostages these men,In low damp dungeons, and in gaols chain'd downWhile grief and famine on their vitals prey.Say, noble Putnam, shall we hear of this,And let our idle swords rust in the sheath,While slaves of Royal Power impeach our worthAs vain, and call our patience cowardice?PutnamNot less, bold Warren, have I felt the pangsOf woe severe in this calamity:And could I with my life redeem the times,The richest blood that circles round my heart,Should hastily be shed. But what availsThe genuine flame and vigour of the soul,When nature's self, and all the strength of art,Opposes every effort in our power?These sons of slavery dare not advance,And meet in equal fight our hostile arms.For yet they well remember Lexington,And what they suffer'd on that rueful day,When wantoning in savage rage, they march'dOnward to Concord, in a firm array,Mock music playing, and the ample flagOf tyranny display'd; but with dire lossAnd infamy drove back, they gain'd the town,And under cover of their ships of war,Retir'd, confounded and dismay'd. No moreIn mirthful mood to combat us, or mixTheir jocund music with the sounds of war.To tempt no more unequal fight with men,Who to oppose dire arbitrary sway,Have grasp'd the sword: and resolute to braveDeath in a thousand dreary shapes, can know,In the warm breast, no sentiment of fear.GardinerThe free born spirit of immortal fireIs stranger to ignoble deeds, and shunsThe name of cowardice. But well thy mind,Sage, and matur'd by long experience, weighsThe perilous attempt, to storm the town,And rescue thence, the suff'ring citizens.For but one pass to that peninsula,On which the city stands, on all sides barr'd.And here what numbers can supply the rage,Of the all devouring, deep mouth'd cannon, plac'd,On many a strong redoubt: while on each side,The ships of war, moor'd, in the winding bay,Can sweep ten thousand from the level beach,"And render all access impregnable."WarrenTrue, valiant Gard'ner, the attempt is vain,To force that entrance to the sea-girt town;Which while we hop'd for peace, and in that view,Kept back our swords, we saw them fortify.But what if haply, with a chosen few,Led through the midnight shades, yon heights were gain'd,And that contiguous hill, whose grassy foot,By Mystic's gentle tide is wash'd. Here rais'd,Strong batt'ries jutting o'er the level sea,With everlasting thunder, shall annoyTheir navy far beneath; and in some lucky hour,When dubious darkness on the land is spread,A chosen band may pierce their sep'rate fleet,And in swift boats, across the narrow tide,Pour like a flame, on their unguarded ranks,And wither them: As when an angel smoteThe Assyrian camp. The proud Sennacherib,With impious rage, against the hill of God,Blasphem'd. Low humbl'd, when the dawning light,Saw all his host dead men: So yet I trust,The God of battles will avouch our cause,And those proud champions of despotic power,Who turn our fasting to their mirth, and mockOur prayers, naming us the Saints, shall yet,Repay with blood, the tears and agonies,Of tender mothers, and their infant babes,Shut up in Boston.PutnamHeaven, smile on us then,And favour this attempt. Now from our troops,Seven hundred gallant men, and skill'd in arms,With speed select, choice spirits of the war.By you led on, brave Gard'ner, to the heights,Ere yet the morn with dawning light breaks forth,Intrench on Bunkers-Hill; and when the dayFirst o'er the hill top rises, we shall joinUnited arms, against the assailing foe,Should they attempt to cross the narrow tide,In deep battalion to regain the hill.GardinerThe thought is perilous, and many men,In this bold enterprise, must strew the ground.But since we combat in the cause of God,I draw my sword, nor shall the sheath againReceive the shining blade, till on the heightsOf Charles-town, and Bunker's pleasant Hill,It drinks the blood of many a warrior slain.

ACT II

Scene I. Boston Enter Gage, Howe, and BurgoyneBurgoyneHow long, brave gen'rals, shall the rebel foe,In vain arrangements, and mock siege, displayTheir haughty insolence? – Shall in this town,So many thousands, of Britannia's troops,With watch incessant, and sore toil oppress'd,Remain besieg'd? A vet'ran army pent,In the inclosure, of so small a space,By a disorder'd herd, untaught, unofficer'd.Let not sweet Heav'n, the envious mouth of fame,With breath malignant, o'er the Atlantic waveBear this to Europe's shores, or tell to France,Or haughty Spain, of Lexington's retreat.Who could have thought it, in the womb of time,That British soldiers, in this latter age,Beat back by peasants, and in flight disgrac'd,Could tamely brook the base discomfiture;Nor sallying out, with spirit reassum'd,Exact due tribute of their victory?Drive back the foe, to Alleghany hills,In woody valleys, or on mountain tops,To mix with wolves and kindred savages.GageThis mighty paradox, will soon dissolve.Hear first, Burgoyne, the valour of these men,Fir'd with the zeal, of fiercest liberty,No fear of death, so terrible to all,Can stop their rage. Grey-headed clergymen,With holy bible, and continual prayer,Bear up their fortitude – and talk of heav'n,And tell them, that sweet soul, who dies in battle,Shall walk, with spirits of the just. These wordsAdd wings to native rage, and hurry themImpetuous to war. Nor yet in armsUnpractised. The day of LexingtonA sad conviction gave our soldiery,That these Americans, were not that herd,And rout ungovern'd, which we painted them.HoweNot strange to your maturer thought, Burgoyne,This matter will appear. A people brave,Who never yet, of luxury, or softDelights, effeminate, and false, have tasted.But, through hate of chains, and slav'ry, suppos'd,Forsake their mountain tops, and rush to arms.Oft have I heard their valour published:Their perseverance, and untamable,Fierce mind, when late they fought with us, and drove,The French encroaching on their settlements,Back to their frozen lakes. Or when with usOn Cape Breton, they stormed Louisburg.With us in Canada, they took Quebec;And at the Havannah, these New-England Men,Led on by Putnam, acted gallantly.I had a brother once, who in that war,With fame commanded them, and when he fell,Not unlamented; for these warriors,So brave themselves, and sensible of merit,Erected him a costly monument;And much it grieves me that I draw my sword,For this late insurrection and revolt,To chastise them. Would to Almighty God,The task unnatural, had been assign'd,Elsewhere. But since by Heaven, determined,Let's on, and wipe the day of Lexington,Thus soil'd, quite from our soldiers' memories.This reinforcement, which with us have fail'd,In many a transport, from Britannia's shores,Will give new vigour to the Royal Arms,And crush rebellion, in its infancy.Let's on, and from this siege, calamitous,Assert our liberty; nay, rather die,Transfix'd in battle, by their bayonets,Than thus remain, the scoff and ridiculeOf gibing wits, and paltry gazetteers,On this, their madding continent, who cry,Where is the British valour: that renownWhich spoke in thunder, to the Gallic shores?That spirit is evaporate, that fire;Which erst distinguish'd them, that flame;And gen'rous energy of soul, which fill'dTheir Henrys, Edwards, thunder-bolts of war;Their Hampdens, Marlboroughs, and the immortal Wolfe,On the Abraham heights, victorious.Britannia's genius, is unfortunate,And flags, say they, when Royal tyrannyDirects her arms. This let us then disprove,In combat speedily, and take from them,The wantonness of this fell pride, and boasting.GageTho' much I dread the issue of the attempt,So full of hazard, and advent'rous spirit;Yet since your judgment, and high skill in arms,From full experience, boldly prompts you on,I give my voice, and when one day hath pass'd,In whose swift hours, may be wrought, highly up,The resolution, of the soldiery,With soothing words, and ample promises,Of rich rewards, in lands and settlements,From the confiscate property throughout,These rebel colonies, at length subdu'd;Then march we forth, beat up their drowsy camp,And with the sun, to this safe capital,Return, rich, with the triumphs of the war.And be our plan, that which brave Haldiman,Ere yet recall'd, advis'd to us. Let first,Brave Howe, and Clinton, on that western point,Land with the transports, and mean time Burgoyne,With the artillery, pour sharp cannonade,Along the neck, and sweep, the beachy plain,Which lies to Roxborough, where yon western stream,Flowing from Cambridge, mixes with the Bay.Thus, these Americans, shall learn to dread,The force of discipline, and skill in arms.