If you have never heard of Samuel Whittemore you are most likely not alone or have never been to an Appleseed marksmanship clinic. It is unfortunate that his name isn't taught and lauded in schools and across the country.
See Sam was veteran. He originally came over from England as a dragoon in His Majesty's service. He fought often and survived the French and Indian War not an easy feat. He had a collection of war trophies such as a French Officers saber and dueling pistols that whenever anyone enquired about how got them he would reply " the owner no longer had need of them" Sam was a bad a$$, an 18 century operator who had seen the worst of guerrilla war this continent could dish out. On April the 19th, 1775 Sam was the ripe old age of 78 .....an amazing oldster in the 18th century. He was shook out of sleep by a column of 800 redcoats marching through the middle of town of Menotomy off to disarm the citizens of Concord. Being alarmed he did nothing until a reinforcement column came through later on in the morning. Sam knew something bad was a foot and soon reports of fighting made their way back to the town. He had a decision to make was it to be King and Country or Friends and Neighbors ? Why should he even care he had more than done his service and what could an old man do? This was not how Samuel Whittemore was..so he grabbed his dueling pistols and Saber and Musket and using his skill found the perfect spot on the road where the Redcoats would be marching back to Boston. Many of the town's militia tried to talk him out of it as the column inevitably came they pleaded for him to to retreat to a more secure spot but Sam knew what he wanted and they left him there by himself. As soon as the column got within range of his musket he began to fire and kill redcoats. He was so accurate that a British officer ordered a group of Grenadiers (beefeaters big ugly burly dudes) to charge and put a stop to the "group" of men doing this from the stone wall. As the soldiers got closer they saw it was only an old man. Sam undeterred pulled his pistols killing another one and wounding a second. He had no time left to reload so that trusty Saber came out as he battled men 1/4 of his age skillfully to their surprise. It didn't take long for the group to overwhelm him as one redcoat cracked his skull with a musket butt to back of the head as another shot him in jaw. They had their revenge as they stabbed the old warrior 13 times with their 16 inch bayonets as the neighbors watched in horror. The helpless towns people could do nothing but retrieve the body but had to wait until the column had passed and the fighting stopped. They bounded over the wall to find old Sam in a pool of his blood alive...trying to reload his musket ! They quickly got a door and gently placed him on it dragged to him to nearest doctor. We all know what 18th century medicine was like ..the Doctor knew there was nothing he could do for him and it was in the hands of the Almighty which the doctor knew he would be meeting soon. He suggested they make him as comfortable as possible and wait for him to pass. Sam did die...but not until18 years later !
As you watch the Super Bowl this weekend or do whatever think of Sam and the long line of those people who you know nothing about or history doesn't mention or record. They did it for us. John Adams wrote this quote as he rode up and down Battle Road that day seeing the sacrifice that was freely given:
"Posterity! you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."
May we all use our freedom to it's fullest for that is what they wished us do so we wouldn't have to stand on the Green.
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