Benjamin Cutter, William R. Cutter, History of the town of Arlington, Massachusetts, ormerly the second precinct in Cambridge, or District of Menotomy, afterward the town of West Cambridge. 1635-1879 with a genealogical register of the inhabitants of the precinct.

[100] And in all his warlike operations and the various events of his engagements, it has been manifest, that God, for our help, hath taught his hands to war, and his fingers to fight; and given him prudence to retreat with safety, when circumstances require it. * * *

But I cannot in silence pass over the Capture of the haughty and threatening Burgoyne, and his whole Army, who were captives through this State, which he expected soon to trample under his feet. Nor our escape out of the snare laid for us by the abandoned Arnold, by giving up a most important post, when upon the point of execution. * * * Nor can we omit the glorious successes under God, of the brave General Greene in the Carolinas and Georgia, which were overrun by the enemy, and in a great measure plundered and destroyed, and now call for our pity and help. But what now particularly calls for our religious praise to God, our helper, is the Capture of Cornwallis, and his whole army of 10,000 men [at Yorktown, Oct. 19, 1781]. Americans are above trampling on those whom God has cast down. This British officer, though dignified by many pompous titles, by his cruelties has degraded himself below a savage, and even the beasts that perish.

Before I close, I must damp this joyful occasion with a tear to the memory of our brave officers and soldiers, who have fallen in this glorious struggle for Liberty. Most of them unknown to us. But the names and bravery of a Warren, a Gardner, a Francis, and of late a Scammel, who gallantly died in our cause, will never be forgotten by us; and we trust they are now happy, where wars forever cease.

note.—Heath's Memoirs contain many references to the several events named in this sermon. Warren—was the general officer killed at Bunker Hill.—See Frothingham's Siege of Boston, 151, &c. Gardner—was Colonel Thomas Gardner, of Cambridge (of the Parish now Brighton), mortally wounded at Bunker Hill, June 17, died July 3, 1775.—See Paige's Cambridge, 418-21, 557, &c. Francis—was Colonel Ebenezer Francis, killed at Hubbardton, July 7, 1777; a native of Medford, and well known to Mr. Cooke's parishioners; for sketch, see Brooks's Hist. Medford, 194-6. Scammel—was mortally wounded and taken before Yorktown, and died Oct. 6, 1781. Lee, Memoirs of the War, says, ‘This was the severest blow experienced by the allied army throughout the siege; not an officer in our army surpassed in personal worth and professional ability this experienced soldier.’ Scammel was a native of Massachusetts.¹

1783

The following is copied from the inscription on his family monument in the Precinct burying-ground: