"If souring is scarce and dear, then the sergeants to provide wine only, that the sum of £1 18s. be not exceeded." After some other advice as to how the expenses may be kept to a more economical standard, the report concludes: "If the members of the company were a little industrious, and would communicate to such as they are connected with, who may be likely to join us, how trifling the expense is like to be now, to what it was formerly, we should soon have as sufficient number as desired." It is gratifying to note that the effect of these measures was such that the company grew rapidly in numbers, and before three years had gone by nearly all of the officers of the Boston militia, and many other persons, had joined it. The various measures by which it was saved from dissolution and once more brought into a prosperous condition were chiefly due to the unwearied efforts of Major-General John Winslow, of Plymouth, who had been elected commander the same year in which he was enrolled as a member a rare honor, conferred only on persons of high military rank distinguished for public services. General Winslow was the great-grandson of the first governor of Plymouth colony, and at this time one of the most distinguished military leaders in America. Among the important commands conferred on him was that of the Boston company, which served in the Cuban expedition of 1740; he also fought in the French and Indian war, and was at one time commander-in-chief of the northern forces, while as special commissioner from his colony he had assisted in settling territorial claims, adjusting boundaries, etc., and in many other ways had been of service to the colony. He was a warm friend of the artillery company, freely spending money and time in its service, and endeavoring in every possible way to preserve its prestige and augment its power.

The first "misunderstanding" between the company and his majesty's troops arose on a field-day in 1768. Several British regiments were quartered in Boston, but, according to custom, the men proceeded to the Common and performed their usual field-day evolutions, when, as it became evident the exercises would not be finished before the time for the roll-call of the British troops, the commanding officer sent orders to Lieutenant William Heath (then acting-commander) to allow no firing on returning the colors. The lieutenant, thinking it his duty to obey his superior officer in his majesty's service, marched the company to Faneuil Hall, and into the armory in silence; but the men, highly incensed at what they regarded an infringement of their privileges, bitterly upbraided their commander for obeying the order. It is reported of Orderly-Sergeant Hopestill that after reaching his home, he gave vent to his feelings by firing his musket three times from the top of his house, and many years

after refused to vote for Heath-then major-general-as governor, because of his "cowardly action" in this instance. Major-General Heath was elected commander in 1770, and, besides holding many important positions in the state, took an active part in all the actions in and about Boston preceding the Revolution, as well as in the war itself. He was one of the first five major-generals appointed in 1775, and was the last surviving major-general of the Revolutionary army.

At the company's annual meeting in June, 1774, the anniversary sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. John Lathrop of Boston. The occasion is noteworthy in history, not because the sermon itself was earnest and patriotic but because there was a body of British troops stationed outside the church, while a sentry stood " on guard" on the pulpit stairs to intimidate the good doctor, lest he should be guilty of "seditious or rebellious utterances." Dr. Lathrop afterward said he had preached republicanism with a British sentry, armed, on the pulpit stairs, to watch his words. This was the last anniversary celebrated before the Revolution-the last annual meeting held for twelve years-and with it closes the second period of the company's existence.

Its patriotic members, however, were conspicuous actors in the events. that ushered in the great struggle, many of whom rose to be officers of high standing before it had ended, and few, indeed, assembled at its close. Though no anniversary was held in 1775, the April field-day was observed by a majority of its members, who, on reaching Boston Common, which had always been their drill-ground, were refused admittance, it being then occupied by British troops. Captain Bell, the commander, marched his men to Copp's hill, where they went through with their regular exercises. The captain, soon after, was brought before the authorities, and asked why he had taken his men to the hill. He replied that the hill was their own property, and that no one had a right to forbid them the use of their own ground for their own legal purposes. On being asked what he would have done had a party of British troops been in possession of the place and had forbidden his entrance, he answered: "I would have charged bayonets and forced my way, as surely as I would force my way into my dwelling-house if taken possession of by a gang of thieves."

When the war for independence began, a few members of the company remained firm in their loyalty to the crown, but by far the greater number were active in striving to maintain the rights of the colonists. They did this in many ways: Colonel Josiah Waters marched on foot behind Ebenezer Dorr, as he rode his ancient steed over Boston Neck to warn the neighboring towns of the approach of the British, at the time of the raid,

on Concord; Captain Joseph Eaton hauled down the first British flag lowered during the Revolution, and was one of the unknown "Indians that assisted at the great " tea party "; Henry Knox, the Boston bookseller, raised a regiment of artillery for the patriot army, brought fifty-five guns from the Canadian frontier forts to Boston in mid-winter, and during the war became noted not alone for his brilliant qualities as an officer, but as "Washington's friend," and Secretary of War in the first cabinet; MajorGeneral Benjamin Lincoln was active in organizing and training the continental troops, and afterward conspicuous at White Plains, Saratoga, Savannah, etc. These are only examples of what was done by members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.

To certain members of this body the continental army was indebted, at the very beginning of the war, for its ordnance. The American forces had no artillery whatever. Boston, entirely in the power of the British soldiery, was effectively guarded. As the patriots were assembling in the neighborhood, and their officers uncertain what course to pursue, it became known that two field-pieces remained in the old gunhouse, at the southern end of the town, and Samuel Gore with two others entered this building one dark night, after carefully removing some boards from the side of it, and dismounted the guns and concealed them, first, as is said, in the capacious wood-box of the neighboring school-house, then in a load of manure, in which they were carted from the town next day, under the very eyes of the unsuspecting guard, and to the American camp, proving of very great assistance to the colonists. These guns were used in many battles, were captured and recaptured several times, but fortunately were in the possession of the Americans when the fighting was over. They had been christened by the patriotic names of "Hancock" and " Adams," and at the close of the war were confided to the care of the artillery company, and were ornamented with the following inscription, the name alone being changed:

"THE HANCOCK. Sacred to Liberty.

This is one of the four cannon which constituted the whole train of Field Artillery possessed by the British Colonies of North America at the commencement of the war, on the 19th of April, 1775. This cannon, and its fellow, belonged to a number of citizens of Boston; were used in many engagements during the war. The other two, the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, were taken by the enemy.

By order of the United States, in Congress assembled, May 19th, 1788."

The field-piece called " Adams" was split at target practice under CapBain G. Wells. The governor and council afterward gave both pieces to he Bunker Hill Monument Association, to be placed in the monument.

It would be impossible, in a brief sketch of the history of this ancient organization, to mention all its members who distinguished themselves in the Revolution, or in the eight other wars in which they have borne part. In the greater struggle two colonels, one major, and three captains of the continental army were ex-commanders of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, while several of its privates became officers in the same army during the war, and one, whose conscience would not suffer him to swerve from his allegiance to King George, distinguished himself by founding the professorship of law at Harvard. After peace was established, the greatest apathy in regard to military affairs seemed to oppress the citizens of Boston. The fortifications on Fort Hill fell into decay, the militia apparently was non-existent, and the faintest indication of military spirit was not to be found. Indeed, at the general election in 1786, the governor was escorted by the Roxbury Artillery under Major Spooner, the Centinel of that day complaining that it was impossible to raise in Boston even so small a body of militia as twenty-five to attend the governor, adding that there was not one commissioned officer or soldier who would turn out. Many sarcastic references to the unchivalric character of the Boston militia appeared in this newspaper, and in the issue of 5th July there was published what purported to be a letter from Roxbury, detailing plans for the formation of a new militia company by " the ladies."

But the cloud suddenly disappeared. Men saw the necessity of military organizations, and in the autumn of that year several bands of militia. either began their existence or were reorganized, the military spirit of emulation then aroused bringing about results that have affected even our own day. The cause of this awakening was the coming together again of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery.

Major William Bell, the last commander the company had chosen in 1774, summoned the surviving officers and members to Boston Common, the officers bearing their espontoons, with hangers slung at their belts and carrying fusees on their shoulders, the men with their firelocks, snapsacks, well-filled cartouch boxes, and each with "a worm and priming wire fit for his gun"; and once more were heard the well-known commands: “Poise firelocks; cock firelocks; take aim; fire!" etc., once more the marchings and countermarchings were regularly performed. It did not seem a mere holiday parade. The men were not clad in "natty" uniforms, their accoutrements did not gleam with the brilliancy of newness, nor were their evolutions graceful. The fatigues of long and weary marches, the suffer

*

* The system of tactics prepared by Baron de Steuben, adopted by congress March 23, 1779, was certainly used by the company at this time, though statements to the contrary have been made.

ings of hunger and thirst, exposure to heat, cold, storms, had hardened their frames and stiffened their hands. The terrible winter at Valley Forge had been endured by some of them with a fortitude equaled only by their bravery in fighting an army as well drilled and well equipped as the world then could show. In themselves they were an epitome of what the whole country had undergone, and their pitiful number told its own story; for, of the one hundred and fifty "ancients" who had gone forth from Faneuil Hall to marshal their companies and offer their services to the great commander at the beginning of the war, but fifteen assembled to take part in the parade on that September day. Yet even this was encouraging and showed that company's career had not ended. The Centinel of 6th September, 1786, gives the following account of this affair:

"On Monday last, for the first time since the commencement of the late revolution, the ancient and honourable artillery company, commanded by Major Bell, paraded at the State House in this town, and, preceded by a band of musick, marched into the common, where they performed a number of military exercises-after which they marched to Faneuil-Hall, discharged a volley of small arms, and finished the day much to their honour, and the credit of the town. It was gratifying to the real friends of this country, to see our aged citizens, some of whom were near 70 years of age, equipped in the accoutrements of soldiers, and setting an example to the younger part of the community, that should their country require their aid in the field, they might be found ready disciplined, and fit for immediate service."

Major Bell, who had the honor of holding the office of commander for a longer period than it was ever held by any one else, was a typical Puritan, a deacon of the Brattle Street church, regarding his military and relig ious duties as equally solemn and momentous. Jealous of the privileges of his command, he resented the least infringement of its rights, adhered strictly to the earliest forms and ceremonies of the organization, and maintained in it a discipline of the severest and most rigid kind. Just before his retirement from office, he presented the company with the two espontoons that have been borne, ever since, by the two highest officers as the peculiar insignia of their rank, in place of the pikes and half-pikes in use up to that time. The major and his diminutive corps were called upon to take the lead in organizing military bands for the defense of Boston during what is known as Shays's insurrection, in October, 1786. The organization was quite effective, and no doubt was entertained as to what would have been the result had these bands been called to active service. But the insurrection was so quickly suppressed by the measures adopted by government that the assistance of the militia was not required.

The company began the third period of its existence-that which has lasted up to the present time--by admitting as a member, and at once