314 History of Hingham. 



killed at Morrisania ; Jack , a negro, killed also in New- 

 York ; James Bates, and James Hayward, who both died at West 

 Point ; Solomon Loring ; and John Daniels. 



During this year (1777) the disastrous battle at the Brandywine 

 was fought. It was the 11th September, a hot, windy day, the 

 air filled with dust to which clouds of smoke were soon added, 

 when the American Army under Washington made its stand 

 against Howe, with the hope of a victory which might save the 

 capital. The mistakes of General Sullivan, the losses of Wayne, 

 the skill of Green in checking the enemy, the heavy losses of the 

 patriots and the final retreat to Germantown, are matters of his- 

 tory. Among the troops engaged in this unfortunate affair was 

 Colonel Crane's famous regiment of artillery from Massachu- 

 setts, one of whose companies was commanded by David Briant, a 

 brave officer, who received a mortal wound and died the next da v. 

 Upon the fall of Captain Briant the command devolved upon 

 Lieut. Joseph Andrews, of Hingham, who, although wounded, 

 continued to serve his guns with great courage for an hour longer, 

 when he, too, was mortally wounded by a cannon-ball, and died on 

 November 22d following, after great suffering, aged twenty years. 

 More than forty years afterwards Lafayette, who was himself 

 wounded at the same time, spoke of Lieutenant Andrews's per- 

 sistent bravery. Besides Lieutenant Andrews there were from 

 Hingham in this company, Caleb Bates, a sergeant, also killed in 

 the battle ; Levi Bicknell. wounded : Nathaniel Stoddard, Samuel 

 Bicknell, Elijah Gardner, Thomas Gushing, and William Sprague, 

 who were in the engagement, and Bcla Leavitt, Luther Lincoln, 

 and Caleb Lincoln, then with the Northern Army. 



Following Brandywine and the later repulse at Germantown 

 came the terrible winter at Valley Forge, with its sufferings and 

 privations. In the bitter experiences of that encampment many 

 of the Continental soldiers from Hingham participated. The his- 

 tory of the Massachusetts regiments is their history, and wher- 

 ever the names of the Jacksons, Greaton, Wiggiesworth, Rufus 

 Putnam, Crane, Alden, Bayley, Marshall, Bigelow, and Patterson 

 appear leading their commands in victory, caring for them in 

 privation, cheering them in defeat, there will be found filling 

 their ranks, carrying out their orders, and standing with them in 

 the heat of battle, the sturdy citizens of Hingham who enlisted 

 " for the war." A number of the Continental soldiers in the lists 

 given were subsequently promoted and held commissions in the 

 service : their names and rank will appear hereafter. 



In 1778 the Committee of Safety were Thomas Burr, Jacob 

 Leavitt, Abel Hersey, Enoch Whiton, and Peter Hobart. 



The constant fear of a return of the English to Boston, and the 

 necessity of providing against pillaging and foraging incursions 

 into the country along the coast, required the exercise of unceas- 

 ing vigilance on the part of the State and local authorities. How 



