From
the early settlement of Epsom, the McClary
family was without a doubt the most influential
family not only in Epsom, but in the entire
Suncook Valley region. Of this family was
Maj. Andrew, and his story is perhaps best
told from the "McClary Family"
by Horace P. McClary written in 1896. The
excerpts of the text and story follows:
Major
Andrew McClary of Revolutionary fame, was
the second son of the emigrant Andrew McClary,
who came from Ulster to this country in
1726. Like all others he was the twofold
product of his inheritance and environment.
We find him at an early age acting as a
scout and later, an officer in Roger's famous
company of New Hampshire Rangers, and finally,
as he gained experience and caution, the
chosen and trusted leader in all local expeditions
against the Indians. In intervals of peace
he cleared large tracts of land, engaged
in mercantile pursuits, erected a factory,
and seems to have been good all round businessman.
While he possessed in full measure the true
Scotch-Irish thrift, and needed plenty of
elbow room, which he was able to obtain
and hold, he could not be classed with the
Presbyterian congregation who where described
by their pastor as a people "who not
only kept the ten commandments but everything
else they could lay their hands on,"
for tradition says he was 'open handed and
generous and much given to hospitality."
It
is more than possible that the inn-keeper's
comments on a Scotch-Irish settlement that
"they were a people who would praise
good whiskey and drink it, and damn bad
whiskey and drink that with equal relish"
may have included the major, for it cannot
be denied that he was somewhat given to
conviviality - thus we find record of his
visiting Portsmouth, and while in an argumentative
state of mind entering into discussion with
six British officers, who, not being pleased
with his sentiments, undertake to eject
him from the room with the result of themselves
being thrown through the window by this
doughty patriot. As an officer he was the
idol of his troops-hail fellow well met,
and yet no soldier ever refused him implicit
obedience, a man who could hold his troops
to posts of danger and if necessary, sacrifice
their lives, but whose kind heart would
give him no rest until every wounded soldier
of his command was cared for and personally
looked after.
A
true history of all his adventures would
be as thrilling as a Cooper's tale, but
if he kept any record of his work, which
is improbable, it was burned with his house
and other effects, while he was fighting
at Bunker Hill. A few of his comrades in
arms, upon whose hearts he had deeply engraved
his own character, outlived the war and
have placed on record these deep and lasting
impressions - a few notices of the press
and a short page of history make up all
we can know of his life work.
At
the close of the French and Indian war in
1760, he seems to have turned his attentions
more fully to his business transactions,
and to have taken an active interest in
church and town affairs. We find him serving
continuously as selectman from 1764 to 1769,
a member of the legislature during several
sessions, apparently influential in all
the walks of life, but especially interested
and prominent in all matters pertaining
to militia.
At
the beginning of the Revolutionary War he
was at Epsom, cultivating his large and
productive farm and pushing his various
business enterprises with energy. On April
20, 1775, while he was plowing the parade
ground which was located on his farm, a
messenger came giving news of the battle
of Lexington, and within twenty-four hours
he was at Medford, 70 miles away, ready
to take his part in the impending conflict.
Cogswell's
History of Northwood gives an account of
this forced march in language as follows:
"McClary was plowing in the well known
muster field when he heard the blowing of
the horn and was roused by that tocsin to
arms. Like Cincinnatus, he left the plow
in the furrow, and hastily armed himself
and dashed off to Deerfield accompanied
by a few daring spirits.
At
the Parade patriots were waiting for him
and on they go to Nottingham. A company
of some 80 heroes - such as none but Sparta
ever gave the world - were here assembled
by 1 o'clock from Nottingham, Deerfield,
Chichester, Epsom and Northwood. They leave
the square about 4 o'clock the same day
and travelling all night reach Medford early
next morning."
This
company, of which McClary was the chosen
leader, included many who became distinguished
officers of the Revolutionary Army. Among
them Capt. Cilley, afterwards General Cilley,
Capt. Dearborn, afterwards Colonel, Member
of Congress, and in 1812 Commander in Chief
of the American Army. Bartlett, Butler,
Morrill, Gray, Sanborn, McGaffey, Hilton
and Michael McClary, all of whom were soon
after commissioned as Captains, and others
equally brave and efficient, who gallantly
fought their country's battles or found
a soldier's grave. They held the post of
honor at the battle of Bunker Hill, and
its members were always afterwards to be
found where dangers were thickest and responsibility
greatest.
Upon
the arrival of the New Hampshire troops
at Medford they were divided into two regiments,
the larger of which chose Stark for Captain
and McClary for Major.
On
April 23rd, we find McClary addressing a
long letter to the Provincial Congress in
which he states the fact that the New Hampshire
troops number about 2,000 "brave and
hearty, resolute men, full of vigor and
blood, from the interior parts of the province,
which labor under a great disadvantage for
not being under proper regulations for want
of field officers, etc."
For
the next seven weeks he was active in the
organization and discipline of his men.
On June 16th Col. Stark's regiment, then
quartered at Medford, received the order
to march to Bunker Hill. They formed in
front of a house occupied as an arsenal
and each man drew one gill of powder, 15
balls, and one flint.
About
1 o'clock the regiment started. When they
reached Charlestown Neck they found two
regiments had halted in consequence of heavy
enfilading fire thrown across it by the
frigates and floating batteries anchored
in Charles and Mystic rivers. Major McClary
then went forward and observed to the commanders
"if they did not intend to move on
he wished them to open and let the New Hampshire
regiment pass through," which they
immediately did.
In
the battle this regiment was placed at the
a Western extremity of the American line
and had for their defensive fortification
a winrow of hay and a rail fence, neither
of which offered any obstruction to British
bullets, but not a man flinched and when
the ammunitiion was exhausted and it became
necessary to withdraw, they covered the
retreat with the steadiness of veterans.
The
part that Major McClary took in the battle
of Bunker Hill is a matter of history. Much
has been written concerning his gallantry
and efficiency from which the following
may perhaps be regarded as appropriate to
make up part of a family sketch.
General
Dearborn, who was in this battle captain
of a company in the Major's regiment writes
the account of his death: "From the
ships of war, and a large battery on Copp's
Hill, a heavy cannonade was kept up upon
our line and redoubt from the commencement
to the close of the action and during the
retreat, but with little effect except killing
the brave Major Andrew McClary, of Col.
Stark's regiment, soon after we retreated
from Bunker Hill. He was among the first
officers of the army, possessing a sound
judgement, of undaunted bravery, enterprising,
ardent and sealous both as a patriot and
a soldier. His loss was severely felt by
his compatriots in arms, while his country
was deprived of the services of one of her
most promising and distinguished champions
of liberty. After leaving the field of battle,
I met him and drank some spirit and water
with him. He was animated and sanguine in
the result of the conflict for independence,
from the glorious display of valor which
had distinguished his countrymen on that
memorable day. He soon observed that the
British troops on Bunker Hill were in motion,
and said he would go and reconnoiter them
to see whether they were coming out over
the Neck; at the same time he directed me
to march my company down the road towards
Charlestown. We were then at Tuft's House
near Ploughed Hill. I immediately made a
forward movement to the position he directed
me to take, and halted, while he proceeded
to the old pound which stood on the site
now occupied as a tavern house, not far
from the entrance to the Neck. After having
satisfied himself that the enemy did not
intend to leave the strong position on the
heights, he was returning towards me, and
when within twelve of fifteen rods of where
I stood with my company, a random shot from
one of the frigates lying near where the
center of Cragie's Bridge now is, passed
through his body, and put to flight one
of the most heroic souls that ever animated
man. He leaped two or three feet from the
ground, pitched forward, and fell dead upon
his face. I had him carried to Medford,
where he was interred with all the respect
and honors we could exhibit to the manes
of a great and good man."
At
the dedication of the Bunker Hill monument,
the orator of the day in mentioning the
important part taken in the battle by Major
McClary, closes in words as follows:
"Thus
fell Major McClary, the highest American
officer killed at the battler, the handsomest
man in the army, and the favorite of the
New Hampshire troops. His dust still slumbers
where it was lain by his sorrowing companions
in Medford, un-honored by any adequate memorial
to tell where lies one of the heroes who
ushered in the Revolution with such auspicious
omens. His death spreads a gloom not only
over the hearts of his men, but all through
the Suncook Valley. His sun went down at
noon on the day that ushered in our Nation's
birth."
The
New Hampshire Gazette in its issue of July
1775, contains the following:
"The
Major evinced great intrepidity and presence
of mind in the action. His noble soul glowed
with ardor and love of his country, and
like the Roman Cincinnatus who left his
plow, commanded the army, and conquered
his opponents, so the Major, upon the first
intelligence of hostilities, left his farm
and went, as a volunteer to assist his suffering
brethren where he was soon called to a command
which he executed to his eternal honor,
and has thereby acquired the reputation
of a brave and distinguished patriot. May
his name be held in respect by all lovers
of liberty to the end of time, while the
names of the sons of tyranny are despised
and disgraced, and nothing left of them
but the badges of their perfidy and infamy.
May the widow be respected for his sake,
and may his children inherit his spirit,
but not meet with his fall."
The
History of the Battle of Bunker Hill, published
in 1826, contains the following:
"The
hardy yeomanry of New Hampshire beneath
whose strokes the lofty forests and their
savage inhabitants had been leveled with
the dust, who had been used to little control
but what God of nature imposed, were moved
with much indignation at approaching tyranny.
They flocked as volunteers to the neighborhood
and chose Col. Stark, Maj. McClary and Lieut.
Wyman their leaders. Their colonel was worthy
to command this formidable band; he had
been a distinguished Captiain of Provincial
Rangers, received into the service of the
Crown - was at Quebec under General Wolf,
and enjoyed half pay as a British officer
-an offering he made, with other sacrifices,
for the good of his country. Their major
was also a favorite officer, nearly 6 1/2
feet in height, with a Herculean form, in
perfect proportions, a voice like Stentor
and strength of Ajax; ever unequalled in
athletic exercises and unsubdued in single
combat, whole bodies of men had been overcome
by him, and he seemed totally unconscious
that he was not equally unconquerable at
the cannon's mouth. His mind and character
were of the same grand and energetic cast
with his person; and though deficient in
the advantages of finished education, he
had been a member of the state legislature,
and his mercantile concerns were extensive
….. During the tremendous fire of musketry
and the roar of cannon, McClary's gigantic
voice was distinctly heard animating and
encouraging the men as though he would inspire
every ball that sped with his own fire and
energy…… McClary, as attentive to the
wants of his men as desperate in fighting
them, galloped to Medford and returned with
dressings for the wounded. He ordered Captain
Dearborn to advance towards the Neck with
his company, while he crossed over to reconnoitre
the enemy. He was returning with Lieut.
Col. Robinson and others, and observed that
the shot commissioned to kill him was not
yet cast, when a cannon ball from the Glasglow
tore him in pieces. No smaller weapon seemed
worthy to destroy the gigantic hero."
Many
years after the battle General Dearborn
who had lived in his immediate vicinity
and had known him intimately, whose large
experience as a civilian and a soldier qualified
him to judge correctly, made this comment
on the Major's military agility, compared
with his contemporary officers:
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