‘ [72] ran into the house, and sought for the cellar; but no cellar entrance was there. They looked for a closet, but there was none. All this time, which was indeed but a moment, the balls were pouring through the back windows, making havoc of the glass. Townsend leaped through the end window, carrying the sash and all with him, and instantly fell dead. Munroe followed, and ran for his life. He passed for a long distance between both parties, many of whom discharged their guns at him. As he passed the last soldier, who stopped to fire, he heard the redcoat exclaim, “Damn the Yankee! he is bullet-proof—let him go!” Mr. Munroe had one ball through his leg, and thirty-two bullet-holes through his clothes and hat. Even the metal buttons of his waistcoat were shot off. He kept his clothes until he was tired of showing them, and died in 1808, aged 72 years.’ This is a vivid description of the action around Russell's house. Newhall further quotes the following advertisement, which relates to this action, and which appeared in the Essex Gazette of June 8, 1775:—
‘Lost, in the battle of Menotomy, by Nathan Putnam, of Captain Hutchinson's Company, who was then badly wounded, a French firelock. marked D. No. 6, with a marking iron, on the breech. Said Putnam carried it to a cross-road near a mill. Whoever has said gun in possession, is desired to return it to Colonel Mansfield of Lynn, or to the selectmen of Danvers, and they shall be rewarded for their trouble.’From a list of funerals in Medford, is the following: ‘1775, April 21, Mr. Henry Putnam—slain at Menotomy by the enemy, in the retreat from Concord on the 19th inst. He was about 70 years.’ ‘April 26, William Polly, a young man, of a wound in Concord Battle.’ Mr. Henry Putnam, according to the Medford records, met his death, April 19, and William Polly died April 25, 1775. These persons having connection here, are named in the Genealogies. It is said that William Polly was shot by the British flank-guard while he was riding on horseback at a distance from the main road in Menotomy. A hand-bill published soon after the battle, with forty coffins and the names of the Americans slain presented upon it, entitled the ‘Bloody Butchery by the British Troops; or the Runaway ’
