Cousin Ebenezer Fletcher

Just as the sun rose, there was a cry," the enemy are upon us." ~ Ebenezer Fletcher

Cousin Ebenezer Fletcher

The British had been able to occupy Fort Ticonderoga without a single shot being fired. As British forces immediately set out in pursuit of the retreating Americans, one of those fleeing for his life was our cousin Ebenezer Brooks Fletcher (3C5X).

Cousin Ebenezer descends from our immigrant grandfather Ralph Hill (9GGF) of Billerica. Ebenezer's great-grandmother was our aunt Abigail Hill Chamberlain (7A). Ebenezer was born in 1761 in New Ipswich, NH, near the northern border of Masschusetts.

New Ipswich

Ebenezer's father was killed "by the felling of a tree" when he was only two but he lived happily enough with his mother and stepfather in New Ipswich until 1777. That year, even though he was only 16, Ebenezer enlisted as a fifer to serve for three years in the Continental Army.

Ebenezer's story

The American troops retreating from Ticonderoga, with Ebenezer among them, only made it as far as the town of Hubbardton, VT which was less than twenty miles southeast of Fort Ticonderoga. There, the Americans put up a fiece battle but, when Hessian soldiers arrived to reinforce the British, General St. Clair decided to beat another hasty retreat with most of his army intact.

The British did, however, manage to take a number of Americans captive. Among those was Cousin Ebenezer who had also been wounded in the melee. We know all the intimate details of Ebenezer's ordeal because he wrote a book about his adventures. The book, titled The Narrative of Ebenezer Fletcher: A Soldier of the Revolution, was first published in 1813.

The frontpiece of Ebenezer's book:

Ebenezer's narrative begins:

I, Ebenezer Fletcher enlisted into the Continental Army, in Capt. Carr's Companny. . .as a fifer, and joined the army at Ticonderoga, under the command of Gen. St. Clair, in the spring of 1777, at which place I was stationed til the retreat of the Army of the 6th of July following.

Early on the morning of the same day, orders came to strike our tents and swing our packs. We marched some distance before light. By sunrise the enemy had landed from their boats, and pursued us so closely as to fire on our rear. . .Having just recovered from the measles, and not being able to march with the main body, I fell in the rear.

The retreating Americans were followed all that day. The next morning, July 7th, the British attacked at Hubbardton.

The morning after our retreat, orders came very early for the troops to refresh and be ready for marching. Some were eating, some were cooking, and all in a very unfit posture for battle. Just as the sun rose, there was a cry," the enemy are upon us." Looking round I saw the enemy in line of battle.

Taken by surprise, the first inclination of Ebenezer's company was to retreat, but their Captain urged them forward. Using the trees as defense, the men entered the battle.

I made shelter for myself and discharged my piece. Having loaded again and taken aim, my piece missed fire. I brought the same a second time to my face; but before I had time to discharge it, I received a musket ball in the small of my back, and fell with my gun cocked. My uncle, Daniel Foster, standing but little distance from me, I made out to crawl to him and spoke to him. He and another man lifted me and carried me back some distance and laid me down behind a large tree, where was another man crying out most bitterly with a grievous wound. By this time I had bled so freely, I was very weak and faint. I observed the enemy were like to gain the ground. Our men began to retreat and the enemy to advance. Having no friend to afford me any relief, every one taking care of himself, all things looked very shocking to me. . .

It appears that even his uncle had deserted Ebenezer in his time of need.

. . .to remain where I was and fall into the hands of the enemy, especially in the condition I was in, expecting to receive no mercy, it came into my mind to conceal myself from them if possible.

Ebenezer hid himself under a log and lay there while the enemy repeatedly came near the area where he lay hidden, some "so near I could almost touch them." He wasn't discovered until the battle was over.

When they were picking up the dead and wounded among the brush and logs, I heard them coming towards me, and began to be much terrified, lest I should be found. . .I flattered myself that our men would come back after the battle was over and take me off; but to my great surprise, two of the enemy came so nigh, I heard one of them say, "Here is one of the rebels." They soon came to me, and pulled off my shoes, supposing me to be dead. I looked up and spoke, telling them I was their prisoner, and begged to be used well. "Damn you" says one, "you deserve to be used well, don't you? What's such a young rebel as you fighting for?"

One of the men who found Ebenezer was an officer who told his man to give him back his shoes. They took him to the British camp where Ebenezer came upon a number of his fellow soldiers also captured. He was cared for by two doctors. One said to him " My lad, you stood a narrow chance; had the ball gone in or out half its bigness you must have been killed instantly."

Ebenezer wrote that "Some of the enemy were very kind; while others were very spiteful and malicious." Various of the enemy took his posessions until he had nothing left. "An old negro came and took my fife, which I considered as the greatest insult I had received while with the enemy."

When the British army marched back to Ticonderoga, they left the wounded behind at Hubbardton to be cared for. While recuperating, Ebenezer received some friendly attention from two British soldiers.

But among all the troubles I met with, I received particular favors from two of the British. This conduct appeared to me very remarkable; why or wherefore it should be I knew not; but He who hath the hearts of all men in his hands, gave me favor in their sight. They would often visit me, and asked me if I wanted anything to eat or drink. If I did, I had it. . .The difference in mankind never struck me more sensibly than while a prisoner. Some would do everything in their power to make me comfortable and cheerful; while others abused me with the vilest of language; telling me that the prisoners would all be hanged; that they would drive all the damned rebels into the sea. . .

As Ebenezer lay recuperating, his thoughts turned to plans for escape. Since most of his fellow prisoners were well enough to be taken to Ticonderoga, the camp he was in was only loosely guarded. On the day he was told that he, too, was going to be moved, Ebenezer decided it was time to act. He gathered as many provisions as he could, including bread, wine and a jack-knife. He also stole a pair of shoes from a fellow soldier who had died the day before.

It being dark, I went out undiscovered, and steered into the woods. After going a little way, I turned into the road and made a halt. Now was the trying scene! The night being very dark, everything before me appeared gloomy and discouraging; my wound was far from being healed; my strength much reduced by the the loss of blood, pain and poor living; thus situated, to travel alone, I knew not where, having no knowledge of the way. . .Reflecting upon these things, my resolution began to flag, and I thought it most prudent to return and take my fate. I turned about and went back a few rods, when the following words struck me as if whispered in my ear: Put not your hands to the plough and look back. I immediately turned about again, fully resolved to pursue my journey through the woods; but before morning, had I been possessed of millions of gold, I would freely have given the whole to have been once more with the enemy.

Still, Ebenezer pushed on, sometimes having to crawl through the mud in the darkness to find his way. He had a scare when a dog, which he thought was a wild animal, approached him. It luckily turned out that the dog was a friendly pooch and the two of them traveled on together. Only a half hour after encountering the dog, Ebenezer discovered that a real wild animal was actually near.

I was alarmed with the most horrible howling. . .Judge what my feelings were, when I found these beasts of prey were pursuing me, and expected every minute to be devoured by them. But in the midst of this trouble, to my infinite joy, I discovered fires but a little way before me, which, from several circumstances, I was sure were not built by Indians; I therefore at once concluded they were fires of some scouting party of Americans, and I made great haste to get to them, lest I should be overtaken by the wolves, which were now but a little behind.

The fires, however, were not of friends but of the enemy, leaving Ebenezer with a decision. Should he go back into the woods to surely be eaten by wolves or into the enemy camp which would probably land him as a prisoner in Canada? He decided to make his way stealthily around the enemy camp.

After travelling a little way, I came to the foot of a high mountain; to go round it I thought would carry me too much out of my course; I resolved therefore to ascend it; with much difficulty I arrived at the top, then took a tack to the right; travelling that course some time I found I was bewildered and lost, and which way to go to find the road again I knew not, having neither moon nor stars to direct me; so I wandered about in this wilderness till almost day, when I became so fatigued and worried, that I was obliged to lay down again. I now repented of my ever leaving the enemy. Here I was lost in the woods, with but very little provision, my wounds extremely painful, and little or no prospect of ever seeing human beings again.

Ebenezer slept. When he woke, he heard cannon shots and drums. He determined that his cause was lost and that he should go back and give himself up to the enemy.

I found, however, that I could scarcely stand; for having laid down when I was very sweaty, I had taken cold, and was so stiff and sore, that I could hardly move. I now had recourse to my little bottle of wine, which relieved me very much, and then began to march towards the drums, which still continued beating.

As he made his way, Ebenezer heard another sound, the crowing of a cock. He changed direction and came upon a house where he found a man who lived there.

I asked him how far it was to the British encampments? He answered about fifty rods. "Do you want to go to them?" says he. I never was more at a stand what reply to make. As none of the enemy appeared about the house, I thought if I could persuade this man to befriend me, I possibly might avoid them; but if he should prove to be a tory, and know from whence I came, he would certainly betray me.

Seeing Ebenezer's uncertainty, the man bade him come into the house. Ebenezer told him his true story. The man smiled and said "You have been rightly directed, for had you gone to either of my neighbors, you undoubtedly would have been carried to the enemy again; you have now found a friend, who will if possible protect you."

The man, whose name was Moulton, told Ebenezer that all the townspeople had been forced to take the oath of allegiance to the king, but many held out hope for the rebels. Moulton and his wife fed Ebenezer and gave him a place to stay but all three worried about consequences if the "fugitive" should be discovered. Their concern turned out to be justified when some Torys arrived at the Moulton's house. Fearful, Mrs. Moulton 'fessed up about their wayward visitor but she then pleaded so earnestly for them to let him return home that they relented. Ebenezer would surely not be so lucky the next time and it was decided among the three of them that it was time for him to go.

After being told the course I must take, I began my journey in the night, which was dark and cloudy, through the woods. I had not travelled more than two hours, before I got lost. . .I began to think of going back. My wound began to be very painful, and I was so sore, I could scarcely go. While I was seeking for the road again, there came up a thunder shower, and rained fast. I crawled into an old forsaken hovel, which was near, and lay till the shower was over. . .

At midnight, Ebenezer began his journey once more. He was startled by two large wild animals which followed him as he walked through the wilderness. In spite of his fright, he plodded along and the animals eventually left. Finally, at daylight, Ebenezer came upon a house he recognized, that of Colonel James Mead who had been at Ticonderoga with him at the time of the British attack.

By the time Ebenezer reached Colonel Mead's house in Rutland, VT, he had traveled 20 miles from Hubbardton but he was still 100 miles from his home in New Ipswich:

(1) Fort Ticonderoga, NY (2) Hubbardton, VT (3) Rutland, VT (4) New Ipswich, NH

I was not a little rejoiced to see his house, as I knew he would be a friend to me; but my joy was of short continuance, for as soon as I looked into the door, I saw marks of the enemy; every thing belonging to the house being carried off or destroyed. I thought it not prudent to go into the house lest some of the enemy might be within; so I passed on as fast as possible...

. . .When I viewed the depredations the enemy had made on the inhabitants, and many of whom had fled; not knowing how far I must travel to find friends, and my wound being very troublesome, I reflected long, whether to tarry and be made prisoner, or push forward through a dreary wilderness; death seemed to threaten me on all sides: however, I collected resolution sufficient to make to the east; I conceived myself exposed by my uniform and bloody clothes; to prevent a discovery by any who should be an enemy, I took oft my shirt and put it over my coat, by which my uniform was covered; in this line I marched; it being the orders of the British for all tories, who came to join them, to appear in this dress, considered myself protected.

Though Ebenezer was still in Vermont, 100 miles from his home in New Ipswich, he must have known the area. When he saw a man driving cattle, Ebenezer asked him if he knew the way to the house of Josiah Priest. Getting directions he traveled on but was then stopped by two men who wanted to know his business. Ebenezer said he would tell them at Josiah Priest's house, so the three of them traveled on to the house. When they arrived, Priest was surprised to see Ebenezer, having been told by Ebenezer's father that his son had been slain at Hubbardton. Ebenezer recounted his story in front of the two men.

I said many severe things against the tories, and fixed my countenance sternly on those fellows, who had pretended to lord it over me and stop me on the way. They bore all without saying a word, but looked as surly as bulls. I soon found these tory gentry had premeditated carrying me back, and were seeking help to prosecute their design. My friend Priest loaded his gun, and said he would give them a grist, if they dared come after me: but failing of getting any persons to join them, I was not molested.

Ebenezer stayed at Priest's house for about ten days. He was then informed by other townspeople that a man from Burgoyne's army had arrived with a party of Natives. Priest's neighbors advised Ebenezer to "escape, escape, for your life: Indians will be upon you before tomorrow night."

Ebenezer traveled on to the town of Ludlow, about 15 miles from Rutland, where all the Patriots had fled. Suffering from the cold and his still painful wound, he decided to go back to Priest's. This turned out to be a lucky move. He found that the report of the Natives had been a lie. Ebenezer stayed at his friend Priest's house for six weeks while his wound healed completely.

Note: Ebenezer's helpmeet Josiah Priest of Vermont later moved to Unadilla, NY where he contracted pneumonia and died after "rescuing some people who had broken through the ice."

When he was back to health, Ebenezer was able to borrow a horse and make his way home to New Ipswich. The total distance he traveled to get home was about 122 miles.

Ebenezer's adventures, however, were not quite over.

Not long afterwards, an officer from the army hearing of my return ordered me to be arrested and returned to the main body of the American army, although my wound was scarcely healed. In a few weeks, I joined my corps, then stationed in Pennsylvania; having yet two years to serve my country in the tented field.

Ebenezer did serve out his remaining two years. After an expedition against the Natives in New York, his company returned to New England

We received the gladly obeyed orders to return to New England, where we remained the ensuing autumn. Nothing more of importance, to me or the reader, occurred, until the three long years rolled away, except when in Pennsylvania, I had the honor of being acquainted with Gen. Washington and Gen. Lafayette, and then I received my discharge.

And now, kind reader, wishing that you may forever remain ignorant of the real sufferings of the veteran soldier, from hunger and cold, from sickness and captivity, I bid you a cordial adieu.

Ebenezer Fletcher received his discharge from the Continental Army on March 20, 1780.

Epilogue: Although the Americans were technically defeated at Ticonderoga and Hubbardton, Ebenezer's company had actually done exactly what a rear guard is supposed to do. They gave St. Clair's main army an opportunity to fight another day. The battle at Hubbardton is considered, along with the Battle of Bennington, crucial to the pivotal surrender of British General Burgoyne three months later.