76 FACTS RELATING TO GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



GEN. JOSEPH B. VARNUM. 



Joseph Bradley Varnum was a prominent character in 

 this neighborhood during the Revolutionary period and 

 many following years. At the date of this letter, partisan 

 politics ran high in this State, but General Varnum lived to 

 fill some of the most responsible and honorable positions in 

 the Commonwealth, He had been Speaker of the House of 

 Representatives at Washington and for one term a United 

 States Senator. He was born at Dracut, on January 29, 

 1749-5O) and died on September ii, 1821. Notwithstanding 

 the opposition to him from certain citizens of Groton, he was 

 commissioned as Brigadier-General by Governor Strong, and 

 some years later as Major-General. When he died in 1821 

 he had filled the long term of over forty-five years of active 

 and continued service in the history of military affairs in 

 the Commonwealth. 



Groton Aug. 7. 1798 

 May it please your Excellency — 



The present crisis in our publick affairs gives to political events, 

 even of a local nature, a degree of importance which they do not 

 commonly possess. By the late resignation of General Woods, who 

 commanded this brigade for upwards of ten years, the office of 

 Brigadier became vacant. — Pursuant to division orders which had 

 been issued for that purpose, the field officers of the brigade, nine in 

 number, assembled yesterday in Westford for the choice of General 

 Wood's successor. It has long been known, and that, even from 

 Col. J. B. Varnum's own declaration that he has anxiously desired 

 this appointment and has continued in the command of his regiment 

 many years more than is customary in order to stand a candidate for 

 it — . But Col. Varnum's known political sentiments not agreeing 

 with those of a majority of the electors, and at this particular junc- 

 tion, being considered as dangerous in a man high in military office, 

 he has not been elected, — there being but three votes in his favour 

 and his own vote being solitary for another person. Nevertheless, 

 though there were five other voters, they did not make a majority for 

 any person. Four of them were for Col. Benj'. Sawin — and his own 

 vote would have determined the election in his favour — But he had 



