Transcription

Swett, in his "Sketches of Bunker Hill Battle," alludes to the presence of a colored man in that fight. He says: - "Major Pitcairn caused the first effusion of blood at Lexington. In that battle, his horse was shot under him, while he was separated from his troops. With presence of mind, he feigned himself slain; his pistols were taken from his holsters, and he was left for dead, when seized the opportunity, and escaped. He appeared at Bunker Hill, and, says the historian, 'Among those who mounted the works was the gallant Major Pitcairn, who exultingly cried out, "The day is ours! when a black solider named SALEM shot through, and he fell. His agonized son received him in his ams, and tenderly bore him to the boats.' A contribution was made in the army for the colored solider, and he was presented to Washington as having performed this feat."*

Besides SALEM, there were quite a number of colored soldiers at Bunker Hill. Among them, TITUS COBURN, ALEXANDER AMES, and BARZILAI LEW, all of Andover; and also CATO Howe, of Plymouth,- each of whom received a pension. Lew was a fifer. His daughter, Mrs. Dalton, now lives within a few rods of the battle field.

SEYMOUR BURR was a slave in Connecticut, to a brother of Col. Aaron Burr, from whom he derived his name. Though treated with much favor by his master, his heart

• In some engraving of the battle, this colored solider occupies a prominent position; but in more recent editions, his figure is non est inventus. A significant, but inglorious omission. On some bills, however, of the Monumental Bank, Charleston, and Freeman's Bank, Boston, his presence is manifest.