H'Art Attack -The Homeland's Revolutionary Artists

Two Dollar Bill

2011-11-27T16:13:00.001-08:00

This is John Trumbull's painting the Declaration of Independence. It is housed in the Capitol rotunda and 12'x18' large.

The painting shows the drafting of the document and not the signing. There are 47 people in the original and all are likenesses that were taken from live people.

You may have seen this version on the two dollar bill. This version crops out seven figures, including George Washington.

Join the Revolution

2011-11-21T04:50:00.001-08:00

This flier was created to recruit troops to the Revolutionary cause in the colonies. I actually really like the design. Historically, it is important because it shows the "use of reason" v. faith. The troops' pay and living conditions are explained in the fine print at the bottom in a persuasive way.

Psyop for the Revolution

2011-11-21T04:39:00.001-08:00

This pamphlet was distributed at the front lines of the stand off between the Union Army at Prospect Hill and the British Army at Bunker Hill. The British Army had enlisted a number of Hessian soldiers. These soldiers were treated badly, exploited and degraded by the British officers. The flier compares the living conditions of the two groups and encourages dissent and defection of the subgroup of the British Army. It's one of the first examples of a psyop, using the divide and conquer strategy.

Thomas Paine Thinks About Revolution

2011-11-19T08:43:00.001-08:00

Now some thoughts from Thomas Paine......

"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot."

"These are the times that try men's souls."

"Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting
it."

"To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not."

"It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending, and whether we defeat the enemy in one battle, or by degrees, the consequences will be the same."

Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_paine_4.html#ixzz1eAdf9Sy2

Paul Revere Master Silversmith

2011-11-16T15:19:00.001-08:00

Paul Revere is best known for his patriotism and his midnight ride. However, he was also a silversmith and engraver. His silver and copper works are sophisticated and elegant. His engravings were usually political and revolutionary.

This famous portrait of Paul Revere was painted by John Singleton Copley in 1768. It currently is a part of the Museum of Fine Arts Collection in Boston. It is oil on canvas and shows him with a silver teapot in hand.

The Worcester Art Museum has some of his silver works, created between 1775 and 1810.

Revere Silver, photo Daderot, April 28, 2010

This lively statue of Paul Revere was created by sculptor Dee Clements. It is located in Heritage Park in Cerritos California.

"Arch-Manager, Chief Incendiary, Master of Puppets"

2011-10-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

“Every dip of his pen stung like a horned snake.” Governor Bernard - Top Crown Official

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." Sam Adams

The Old Man - Sam Adams was often called The Old Man. He was renowned for his self-control and serious nature. He was considered a radical of his day. At times he was isolated from fellow Revolutionaries for it. He avoided glamor throughout his life and lived very simply. He made no apologies.
He was also directly responsible for laying certain groundwork for the Revolution. He was concerned with raising popular understanding and linking Massachusetts with other movements in the colonies. He accomplished his goals through many conversations, publishing letters under different pen names on different relevant issues in others papers and printing Revolutionary papers.

The Boston Gazette, Adams's chief newspaper, had grown to over 2,000 circulation. And in 1770 a new radical paper, the Massachusetts Spy, was founded and soon sold about 3,500 copies of each issue. These circulations were immense in colonial times. Before the crisis, the four papers in Boston had an average circulation of about 600 each.

Sam Adams is the revolutionist without peer in American history. His command of the revolutionary art and of its associated skills of propaganda, organization and strategy has never been equaled on this continent. Like all great revolutionists, Sam Adams belongs to the people. His glory and his triumph came with the glory and triumph of the people. His fame will shine brightly once again in the admiration and affection of the people when they rule this land once more.

Harry Frankel

Sam Adams was most despised by his former countrymen. In his native England, The whole revolution was often named “the Adams conspiracy.” Sam Adams was called “the first politician in the world” without a peer in the work of “forwarding a Rebellion." in England. “The whole Continent,” said one Tory, “is ensnared by that Machiavel of Chaos.”

The Liberty Pole

2011-10-31T05:24:00.000-07:00

Samuel A. Drake (1879) and Duane H. Hurd (1890) in their histories of Middlesex County note:

"... the patriotic men of the village had erected a liberty-pole and had flung their ensign to the breeze" and "the minutemen and militia companies took position on the hill in front of the church, around the liberty pole on which the pine tree flag was raised".

Figure 16. Liberty Pole, New York, 1770. Pen and ink drawing of P.E. Du Simitière Papers, Acc. #396f. vol.2. Courtesy of Library Company of Philadelphia.

A Liberty Pole is a single flagstaff erected during Revolutions as an organizing tool. During the Revolution in the eighteenth century in the United States, Liberty Poles were put up by the Patriots and taken down by the Loyalists or British soldiers. This process would repeat. The most famous was located in New York and taken down countless times over a ten year period. The ten year period was 1766 (repeal of the Stamp Act) to 1776 (the Occupation). The Liberty Boys of New York defended this symbol. When someone wanted to call a town meeting, to discuss the occupation or British policy, an ensign, usually a red cap, or flag would be raised on the pole. It was a gathering place for the people.

Below is the Honorable Seth Sprague’s (grandson of Nathaniel Chandler of Duxbury) account of Duxbury’s Liberty Pole, local history rocks.

“Previous to the war, there were Liberty poles raised in every town in the State. We had a very high one in Duxbury; it stood near, where The Gershom Bradford house now stands. There was a great gathering of people at the raising of it. It was somewhat of a terror to evil doers. If any one was suspected of being a Tory, he was threatened to be histed up on the Liberty Pole.”

A barrel of tar, and bag of feathers was often kept nearby and sometimes hung from the pole. This served as a reminder of the fate of John Malcomb, a Boston customs official who was tarred and feathered in 1774.

Liberty Poles would also serve to hold effigies of tax collectors. In this way the Patriots intimidated all colonists from holding this position. In one case there was resistance from the tax collector. He resigned. His house was burned anyway. After that there were no more tax collectors to be found among the Colonists.

The Sons of Liberty

2011-10-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

Working for the revolutionary cause, The Sons of Liberty, are often thought to be organized with central leadership. It is more likely that the words were simply something to organize around. The Sons of Liberty, existed in every colony and were decentralized. Groups formed alliances and acted in concert at times.

One of their acts was to force stamp tax collectors to resign. Here's a flier from 1765.

The first widely known acts of the Sons took place on August 14, 1765, when an effigy of Andrew Oliver (who was to be commissioned Distributor of Stamps for Massachusetts) was found hanging in a tree on Newbury street, along with a large boot with a devil climbing out of it. The boot was a play on the name of the Earl of Bute and the whole display was intended to establish an evil connection between Oliver and the Stamp Act. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sons.htm

I Saw Red

2011-10-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Somerville has a rich art culture. You can't turn around without seeing it. When I was taking shots for the blog, I couldn't help but see this gorgeous splash of red on the hill.
I got the chance to talk with the artist herself, Georgia Dare Kennedy, It turns out she recently moved to the community. She definitely landed in the right spot, and we're lucky to have her. She graciously let me use her images. I think her own words best explain the piece.

Living in Nes, LA, I began to define myself both along and against New Orleans’ charming status, earned by its self-professed slow-paced, relaxed sense of time and duty. There, work and play have a seductive, comingled relationship. Does work enable play, or vice versa?An object that my father always carries, and my grandfather before him: a soft, worn, red work bandana, is a flag or symbol of work that has personal connection, a lineage of work. The bandana functions as cloth to wipe sweat from the brow, wipe the nose, wipe off greasy hands from mechanical tinkering, keep sun out of the eyes, cover mouth and nose from grass or sawdust. It is an iconic symbol of work.The New Orleans attitude–work included– is one of lightness. The visual form that best conjures lightness is a parachute. In elementary gym class, a nylon parachute was an object of group play, with all children’s hands on the edge and the whole group moving the cloth together into a dome or a shield. Parachute also conjures rescue, escape and heroism.My hexagonal Work Parachute is sewn of 144 red work bandanas, approximately 23 feet across. Bandanas are seconds from the plant where my father works. Images were taken in Prospect Park, Somerville, MA.

Work Parachute

Thanks Georgia!

Some Tunes in the Park

Thanks Labor Movement

I just like this shot, and it has red.

Neighborhood Sentiment

I attended such a nice picnic here in the park. I met a lot of neighbors and found out the open space is used for guitar lessons too. It turns out I'm not the only one that really likes the history.

This is a far more detailed view of the hill from a neighbor Steve Mulder.
He writes books which can help us sort out online media.
That's very helpful for us English Majors.
.

The Citadel

2011-10-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

Prospect Hill was ravaged by a form of mountain top removal, when it was decided that we needed to fill in some land for development.

It's the legacy of the Heptorean Women's Club, and the Prospect Hill Improvement Society that restored it to its original height.

Today, it's the perfect spot for a picnic, but life was no picnic for the Revolutionaries stationed here throughout the winter. They must have really believed in their cause. I'm sure the winters were as cold then as they are today. I'm sure theses folks didn't have plumbing up here. I wonder where they got their rations. They were 100% committed to defending Boston against the tyranny of economic injustice and militant occupation. Not only did they win the physical battle, but they won the ideological battle. The Stamp Act and the outlandishly high taxes on tea were repealed.

Here you see the earthworks.

Many Thanks to Somerville Public Works for allowing us inside :)

Here's closeups of the signage.

In a later post, I'll explore our Commonwealth's motto.

This spot was an internment camp for British prisoners of war.

That really brings home that the Revolution was won with arms. It was bloody.

I guess power conceded nothing without a demand

A Rare Look Inside The Citadel

The Somerville Gateway Mural

2011-10-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

Painter and muralist Be Sargent, created The Somerville Gateway Mural.
It's located at 59 Union Square. She says the mural process takes at least a year for her. She spent 6 months researching the history of Prospect Hill in Somerville. She decided on the theme as a response to a request that the mural be patriotic.
What could be more patriotic than the rising of the country's first flag by General George Washington on January 1, 1776?

“In a lot of history books it said that the flag was raised in Cambridge, but, really, it was in Somerville. Somerville was a blue-collar town and didn’t have the prestige or money to push for the rights to its own history. I thought it was important to do that,” Be Sargent

Residents say it's a reflection of our past and a tribute to the Second Amendment.

To see more of Sargent's work, check out her site.

http://www.besargent.com/index.html

Dedicated to Love

2011-10-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

"If you would be loved, love and be lovable". Ben Franklin

In historical Prospect Park, there is a bench I like a lot.

It reminds me of my Grandmother.
She used to live just down the street.
She "walked the track" as a Railroad Supervisor at a time when most women didn't deal with money.
It was unusual for a woman to have a bank account, never mind a job, especially as a supervisor of men.
She was the heart of my family.

She taught me the word "precocious" at a young age.

All About Benjamin

2011-10-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

I
I knew Ben Franklin was a founding father, a member of the Sons of Liberty and a believer in freedom. I didn't know he was also an artist.

Many historians now accept that Ben Franklin in fact published cartoons and letters in newspapers under the name An American Guesser.

I've been guessing about the rattlesnake image, which has recently popped up in my vision. I like the symbol and the simple message. I know it has something to do with Libertarians and something to do with Republicans, but I don't know what.

Since this blog is about history, not current events, here's an older version from South Carolina minutemen.

I traced back the original cultural references and found this letter from An American Guesser. It was published in the Pennsylvania Journal on December 27, 1775.

I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, "Don't tread on me." As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America; and as I have nothing to do with public affairs, and as my time is perfectly my own, in order to divert an idle hour, I sat down to guess what could have been intended by this uncommon device – I took care, however, to consult on this occasion a person who is acquainted with heraldry, from whom I learned, that it is a rule among the learned of that science "That the worthy properties of the animal, in the crest-born, shall be considered," and, "That the base ones cannot have been intended;" he likewise informed me that the ancients considered the serpent as an emblem of wisdom, and in a certain attitude of endless duration – both which circumstances I suppose may have been had in view. Having gained this intelligence, and recollecting that countries are sometimes represented by animals peculiar to them, it occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore have been chosen, on that account, to represent her.
But then "the worldly properties" of a Snake I judged would be hard to point out. This rather raised than suppressed my curiosity, and having frequently seen the Rattle-Snake, I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, not only from other animals, but from those of the same genus or class of animals, endeavoring to fix some meaning to each, not wholly inconsistent with common sense.
I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.
Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies. This may be understood to intimate that those things which are destructive to our enemies, may be to us not only harmless, but absolutely necessary to our existence. I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. Perhaps it might be only fancy, but, I conceited the painter had shown a half formed additional rattle, which, I suppose, may have been intended to represent the province of Canada.
'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.
The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age, "her tongue also is blue and forked as the lightning, and her abode is among impenetrable rocks."

An American Guesser

Benjamin Franklin's woodcut from May 9, 1754.

Newspaper Serial and Government Publications Division,
Library of Congress.

The head is New England ;).

The woodcut was eventually adapted and used as the banner of the Massachusetts Spy. A newspaper by Thomas Bolton during the Revolutionary period.

It's safe to say the man's on the money.

The Boston Massacre

2011-10-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

A letter from Sam Adams on the events of March 5.

[Boston Gazette, January 7, 1771]

To the PRINTERS.

I Have taken occasion to mention the unhappy persons, who lost
their lives on the fatal fifth of March And I think it must appear
to every candid reader, that they were totally unconnected with
each other; and that it cannot be even suspected, that either, or
to be sure, more than one of them had any ill intention in coming
abroad on that evening; much less, that they were combin'd
together to do any sort of mischief: Nay, it is even to be
doubted, whether they ever had any knowledge of each other. I will
further observe, that there was not the shadow of evidence to
prove, that any other persons, excepting the Soldiers, had form'd a
design to commit disorders at that or any other time: Unless credit
is to be given in a court of law, to the hearsay of an hearsay; the
story which one man told another at sea, and months after the facts
were committed: Evidence which was in vain objected to by the council
for the crown; but to the honor of one of the prisoners council was
by him interrupted and stopped. This worthy gentleman declared in
open court that it was not legal, and that it ought not to have the
least weight in the minds of the jurors; upon which it was ruled,
that the witness should proceed no further, and he was dismiss'd.

I come now to consider the tragical scene, as it was acted in
King-street; in doing which, I shall confine myself chiefly, to
the evidence as it was given in court: If I vary from the truth,
let Philanthrop, or any one else correct me; it is far from my
design: And I am willing to appeal for facts, to the book which
Philanthrop has told us of; provided always, that the facts are
there stated with impartiality and truth: This I think it
necessary to premise, because I find it advertiz'd, that the book
is to be publish'd, not by the direction, but with the permission
of the court: A distinction, which appears to me to be of some
importance.

It may be necessary, first to enquire into the situation the
centinel was in, for whose relief the party was said to have
afterwards gone down. By the testimony given in court, by Col.
Marshall, who had spent the evening at a friend's house in dock-
square, it appears that at nine o'clock all was quiet there; and
passing thro' Royal - exchange lane into King street, where the
centry was, he found all as peaceable there; "the street never
clearer," was his expression. It is probable that very soon after
this, the difference arose between the centry and the barber's
boy; for Col. Marshall testified, that some time after, he heard a
distant cry of murder; and it is without doubt the centry struck
the boy, with his gun, - It was then that Colonel Marshall saw a
party turn out from the main-guard, and soon after another party
rush'd thro' Quaker-lane, all arm'd - It is probable, that these
were the Soldiers who, as they ran into Cornhill, abus'd the
people there, as I have before mention'd: Upon the appearance of
these parties, it is said, that the barber's boy, and his fellow-
apprentice, ran either into his Master's or a neighbor's shop. -
Mr. William Parker, one of the prisoner's witnesses declared, that
when he came into King street, which was after the affray began at
Murray's barracks, all was quiet and peaceable: But presently the
barber's boy, with two or three more, came to the centry - they
push'd one another against him (in resentment it is to be suppos'd
for) they said, he had knock'd the boy down - In the trial of
Capt. Preston, the boy himself swore in Court, that the centry had
struck him with his bayonet. Mr. Parker adds, that presently a
number, about fifteen, came thro' Silsby's lane, which leads from
Murray's barracks, with sticks like pieces of pine in their hands
- The most of them small boys, 1 or 2 of them large lubbers, as he
called them - they said, let us go to the main-guard; by which it
does not appear that they interested themselves in the dispute
with the centry, nor does it appear that they molested the main-
guard, if they went up to it - Soon after, five or six more came
up Royal exchange lane, which also leads from Murray's barracks,
with sticks like the others; but neither did the witness say, that
these interfered with the centry - Mr. Parker further said, that
he went up by Mr. Jackson's corner, and met twenty or thirty more
coming out of Cornhill, a good many men among them, some with
sticks and some with walking canes - These opened the matter to
him; and told him there had been a squabble at Murray's barracks,
but that the Soldiers were driven in, and all was over. -  These
different parties met in a cluster, at and near Quaker lane, and
not long after seem'd to disperse; and he soon went off himself,
not leaving above twelve or fifteen in the street: And, just as he
got home, which might not be more than ten minutes, he heard the
bells ring, and the guns discharg'd - No one I believe will
dispute the veracity, either of Col. Marshall or Mr. Parker
Mr Edward Payne, a merchant of note in this town, was also
summoned as a witness for the prisoners, and his testimony will
undoubtedly be rely'd upon, by all who know him or his character.
Mr. Payne came out after Mr. Parker left the street; for he
declared in Court, that at 20 minutes after nine, when the bells
rang, he went out into the street, and was told, as Mr. Parker had
been, that the soldiers had sallied out of their barracks, and had
cut & wounded a number, but were driven in again - He declared
that the centinel was walking by himself, and no body near him -
so that the barber's boy and his three or four comrades, were at
that time gone off - He heard a considerable noise in Cornhill,
and a noise of people coming up Silsby's alley - they were
inhabitants: Fourteen or fifteen, perhaps twenty, passed by him,
some with sticks, others without; as many of the latter as the
former - They cried where are they? It is necessary to connect the
circumstances, as the facts are related: Here therefore I will
remind the reader, that besides the Soldiers that came out of
Murray's barracks, and who now may be suppos'd to have been driven
in, there was also a party that had issued from the main guard,
and another party of Soldiers who came thro' Quaker-lane, all
arm'd with naked cutlasses, &c. who went into Cornhill not long
before, and there insulted every person they met: These were the
men whom the persons mentioned by Mr. Payne, in all probability
refer'd to, when they cried, where are they. -  Certainly no
persons could be tho't blame-worthy, for pursuing a banditti, who
had already put a number of peaceable people in great terror of
their lives, with a design to prevent their doing further mischief:
There is no foundation to suppose, that they had any other design:
Yet these are the persons, who, as some would have it, were the
faulty cause of the slaughter, that afterwards ensued: It was
indeed unfortunate that they happened to take that rout; for Mr.
Payne added, that a lad came up and said, that the centry had
knock'd down a boy, upon which the people turn'd about, and went
directly to the centry: By which, one would think, that they had
no design to attack the centry before: and that they would not
even have spoken to him, had they not been told that he had
injured the boy: Till then, the centry had not been the object of
their attention; and I must insist upon it, that they had then as
good right by the law, to resent the injury done to the boy, as
the party from the main-guard had afterwards, to resent the injury
done, if there was any, to the centry - The prudence in either
case I will not undertake to vindicate - Mr. Payne further said,
he was afraid of what might happen from the peoples surrounding
the centry, and wished they might be taken off - He returned to
his own door, which is nearly on the opposite side of the street,
and there heard the people cry to the centry, fire, damn you, why
don't you fire. - I have just observ'd, that Mr. Payne expressed
his concern at the peoples surrounding the centry: Mr. Henry Knox,
another witness for the prisoners, a young gentleman of a very
good reputation, was probably near the centry while Mr. Payne was
at his own door - He testified in court, that the people were
round the centry, and they said he was going to fire - That he was
waving his gun- That he (Mr. Knox) told him, if he fired he must
die - That in return he damn'd them, and said, that if they
molested him, he would fire - That the boys were damning him and
daring him     to fire - That he heard one say he would go and
knock him down for sweeping (his gun) - that he thought the centry
snapped - He added that he saw nothing thrown at the centry,
altho' he was near him till after the party came down and Mr.
Payne finished his testimony with saying, that he perceived
nothing but the talk that led him to think the Soldiers would fire.

Mr. Leigh, and Mr. Frost, both witnesses for the prisoners,
testified, that the barber's boy came up to the people, and
pointing at the centry, said, here 's the son of a b--ch that
knocked me down; upon which one of the witnesses said, the people
cried kill him - Both said, that the centry ran to the custom-
house steps, knocked at the door, but could not get in - neither
of them mention'd any thing thrown at him, nor any attack upon him
- he prim'd and loaded his gun and levelled it; told the people to
stand off, and called to the main-guard; upon which Capt. Preston
and his party came down - Mr. Bulkly, summoned also by the
prisoners, testified that he thought the centry was in danger, by
the number of people about him, and the noise; and mentioned no
other reason for his thinking so - he said that a person told
Capt. Preston, that they were killing the centry - This person was
probably one Thomas Greenwood, a servant in the custom-house; for
he himself declared before the magistrates, that he was in the
custom-house, and went from thence to the main-guard, and told one
of the Soldiers, if they did not go down to the centry, he was
afraid they would hurt him, tho' he had not seen any person insult
him - This man, at the same time depos'd, that he saw two or three
snow balls fall near the steps of the custom-house, but saw no
person throw any stones; tho' he had placed himself in the most
convenient room in the house for observation - Mr. Harrison Gray
mention'd the people round the centry, making use of opprobrious
language, and threatening; but said nothing of their attacking
him, or throwing anything at him - Mr. Hinckley declared, that the
people went to the centry, and at last some of them cried kill
him, but did not see any attempt to hurt him - Mr. Cornwall swore,
that he saw snow balls and 2 or 3 oyster shells thrown at the
centry, but did not think they hit him - he heard several young
gentlemen perswading the people to go off, and believed they all
would have gone off, if the Soldiers had not come down - Mr.
Helyer declared, that he came into King-street, and saw the centry
and twenty or thirty persons - some boys at their diversion - The
centry wav'd his gun in a way that had a tendency to exasperate
the people - Mr. Brewer saw the centry with his bayonet breast
high - a number of boys, twenty or more round him, talking but
doing nothing. Mr. Bailey was standing with the centry on the
custom-house steps - saw 20 or 30 boys of about 14 years old -
they were throwing pieces of ice at him, large and hard enough to
hurt him, but did not know whether they hit him. This must appear
very strange as he was so near him - his standing with him on the
steps, would lead one to think he was an acquaintance of the
centry; which is confirmed by another circumstance, for he said
that when the party came down, one of the Soldiers put his bayonet
to his breast, and the centry told him not to hurt him - Mr.
Simpson swore, that the centry knock'd at the customhouse door -
that a person came to the door and spoke to him, upon which he
turn'd and loaded his gun - There was one witness, and I think but
one, who mention'd pieces of sea-coal thrown at the centry; and
that was Andrew a Negro - A fellow of a lively imagination indeed!
- One, who I believe could tell as good a story even to my lord of
H. and give his lordship as circumstantial an account of "the
unhappy transaction", as some, who have already had the honor of
doing it, & who may think themselves to be Andrew's betters - he
is remarkable for telling romantick stories in the circles of his
acquaintance - And whether his fancy had beguil'd his own
judgment, or whether he had a mind to try his success at painting
upon so serious an occasion, or lastly, whether he was resolv'd to
do his utmost to save the prisoners, I pretend not to say; but he
certainly made some folks believe, that the ashes made of sea-coal
burnt with great savings in the adjacent offices, were like the
cinders thrown out of a blacksmith's shop -Andrew's evidence, if
not his judgment, was greatly rely'd upon; and the more, because
his master, who is in truth an honest man, came into court and
swore to his character; and further said, that Andrew had told
him, that He really believ'd the inhabitants were to blame - It
is, I am apt to think, in general true, that no man knows so
little of the real character of his servant, as the master himself
does: It is well known, that the Negroes of this town have been
familiar with the soldiers; and that some of them have been
tamper'd with to cut their master's throats: I hope Andrew is not
one of these. His character for integrity and even for learning,
for he can both read & write, has been upon this occasion wrought
to so high a pitch, that I am loth even to hint any thing that may
tend to depreciate it; otherwise, I should say, that there are
some, whose kitchens Andrew has frequented, who will not give him
quite so exalted a character, as others, who had not known him,
thought he deserved. - Several others, witnesses for the prisoners
testified to the same purpose; that the people encroach'd upon the
centry; that he loaded his gun and threatned to fire upon them;
and that they in return dared him to fire, and throw'd a few snow
balls. Mr. Hall said, that he presented his gun at the people, and
they threw snow balls and some oyster-shells at him; and they hit
his gun two or three times - Mr. Payne who saw the centry when he
was alone, and until the party came up and fired, "perceived
nothing but the talk, that he thought would have induced him or
any of the Soldiers to fire": Words are not an assault, and could
not warrant him to fire: Mr. Knox and others saw nothing thrown at
him nor any attack made on him: Mr.-----and some others said, they
saw snow balls and other things thrown at him; but it appears very
probable, from the course of the evidence, that if any thing was
thrown at him, it was not till he had loaded his gun, threatened
to fire, & waved it in such a manner as tended to exasperate
people; and as Mr. Knox tho't, had snapped his gun. The first
assault was made by the centry himself, when upon a foolish
provocation in words only, he struck the barber's boy: He renewed
the assault, when he loaded his gun and presented it upon the
people, threatning to fire upon them: In doing this, he put his
Majesty's subjects in terror of their lives, against the law of
the land; and they would have been justified in seizing him at
least - If he had thought himself in danger, instead of threatning
the lives of others, he must first, according to the law of the
land, have retreated if he could, and even from his post: Other
doctrine, I know, has been strongly inculcated of late, by those
who would set up, or tamely yield to, an uncontroulable military
power; but I trust in God, it will never be established here: It
never can, while the people entertain a just idea of the nature of
civil government, and are upon their guard against the daring
encroachments of arbitrary, despotic power. The people were
inclin'd to disperse, and did disperse, in the beginning of this
childish dispute; as appeared by the evidence of Mr. Parker: And
notwithstanding the mutual animosity, if the reader pleases, which
afterwards arose between the centry and them, they would have
finally dispers'd, in the opinion of another witness, if the party
had not come down from the main-guard.

VINDEX.
Jan. i.





 Here's the most famous version by Paul Revere.  It was widely published and distributed.

Here's the original by Henry Pelham.

It is distinguished by the superiority of perspective and also by the skull and crossbones.

Here's another version that was printed in the paper.

2011-09-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

One of the Plaques on the Citadel

The Citadel

First Folks Arrive and Set Up for the Picnic

Open Doors at the Citadel

I snapped this photo at a community picnic. There was a little girl to my right, maybe she was 8. She was tucked into a corner, at the highest point in the rock structure. She was telling a little boy, "Look this is the highest point, if a plane came by we just stand here like this and they couldn't see us." She was using her tiny little arm to point at a plane in the sky, while making herself as small and still as possible. She was holding her breath.

For those who are wondering, the flag is art and the Citadel is art too.

Next post, more on the Citadel and perhaps some historical context....

2011-09-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

Grand Union Flag-Still Flying Proud

Our Country's First Flag

Local legend says that the first flag of our country was raised on January 1, 1776, by George Washington himself. The design of this flag was not sanctioned by the continental congress, but a design that was commonly agreed upon. It took British symbols (the crosses of St. Andrew and St. George) and combined them with the thirteen red and white stripes of the colonies.

The cross of St. Andrew is also known as a saltire cross, its the one that stretches from corner to corner. The cross of St. George is the one that is superimposed on it. This cross is most recognizable as the symbol of Crusaders. One could wonder why the first flag to represent the unified colonies incorporated British symbols. Originally the colonies were fighting for fair treatment under the crown. It wasn't until quite later that a full scale independence movement took shape.

2011-09-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

Community Growing Center

Exploring connections between art, the original struggle against tyranny in the U.S., and our local roots.