THE FIGHTING 69TH

 
 

July 1, 1862
Malvern Hill, southeast of Richmond VA

“Faugh a Ballagh!” (Clear the Way!) the Irishmen of the 69th Regiment cried as they charged downhill into the teeth of the enemy assault.

The previous days had seen a lot of fighting across the Virginia Peninsula, as the Union Army attempted to reach Richmond and force an early end to the war. Alas, General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia held their own, pushing them back to the banks of the James River. Malvern Hill - a small rise southeast of the Confederate capital, became their last stronghold during the campaign; should they lose it, the entire army would be at risk of folding entirely.

Throughout the day, the Union had held their own against numerous Confederate attacks. But as the sun started to set over the horizon, the rebels still refused to quit the field and began weakening the Union lines. A pivotal moment was upon them all: should their lines break at any point, it could spell ruin for the Union.

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The 69th NY Regiment was formed as a volunteer militia during the 1850’s in Manhattan by young Irish immigrants who had just arrived in the United States. Some fled the famine, some came in search of opportunity, while others were freedom fighters on the run from the United Kingdom, but they all had one thing in common: their heritage.

When the Civil War kicked off in 1861, the 69th NY Regiment was called upon, and the Irishmen answered: they mustered into service and marched out of New York City for Washington DC to join the Union’s newly formed Army of the Potomac.

Their first action came at the First Battle of Bull Run (Virginia). While the battle was a decisive loss for the Union - one of many in the early years of the Civil War - the 69th was one of the few regiments which held their composure during the fight, even stepping up to cover the rear of the Union army as they retreated in defeat. The 69th did not emerge unscathed, however, suffering over 150 casualties, including their commanding officer - Colonel Michael Corcoran - who was wounded on the field of battle and subsequently captured by the Confederates.

Thus, following Bull Run, command of the 69th fell to Thomas Francis Meagher.

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Meagher (pronounced “Mar”) had already become somewhat of a celebrity among the Irish in America, having been a leader of the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848; an effort to win Ireland’s independence from the United Kingdom. When that effort failed, he was arrested by the British, and found guilty of treason.

 

General Thomas Francis Meagher during the Civil War.

 

Before being handed his sentence, he was given the chance to make a statement before the court; an opportunity most typically used to swear allegiance and plead for mercy. However, Meagher went with:

“My Lord, this is our first offense, but not our last. If you will be easy with us this once, we promise on our word as gentlemen to try better next time.”

With that, he was sentenced to exile for life on a remote island in the south Pacific ocean.

But Meagher would escape from exile a couple years later, making his way to New York City to begin anew. Here, he volunteered to join the ranks of the 69th with his fellow Irishmen, eventually rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel and 2nd in command of the regiment before they marched south at the onset of the Civil War.

Colonel Meagher went to work following Bull Run, petitioning the US to reflag his regiment as part of the US Army (rather than the NY state militia) and expand it into a full “Irish Brigade.”

His commanders agreed, and Irishmen from across New York and New England volunteered in droves to join him and the 69th. In total, their ranks increased to over 3,000. Once mustered, the US Army promoted Meagher to Brigadier General, making his command of the Irish Brigade official.

The Irish Brigade also adopted their new unit colors: A green banner with gold trim, featuring a golden harp above which sat a white cloud shooting golden lightning. In Old Gaelic, the words “Who Never Retreated from the Clash of Spears” was printed across the bottom. The flag was designed by Meagher himself, and sewn with green silk by Irish-American ladies in New York. Fun fact: the current flag of the Republic of Ireland (who achieved their independence in 1921, long after he passed) was also designed by Meagher.

Original 69th Regimental Colors, 1861.
Currently on display with the NY State Military Museum.

One other notable aspect that separated the Irish Brigade from the rest of the Union Army was their choice of weapon: Meagher insisted from the beginning that the 69th be armed with the Model 1842 Smoothbore Musket; a firearm seen by most as obsolete in 1861, as newer rifled muskets (such as the Springfield M1861 Rifle, the most popular during the Civil War) offered longer range and superior accuracy.

 

Model 1842 Smoothbore Musket

 

But Meagher did not see his men fighting from a distance, and preferred the smoothbore because it fired a “buck-and-ball” shot; a charge holding both a .69 caliber musket ball and a few smaller balls, creating a shotgun-like spread at closer ranges with just one pull of the trigger.

This illustrates how the Irish intended to fight: at the forefront, and up close and personal.

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The Irish Brigade rejoined the Army of the Potomac for the Peninsula Campaign in southeastern Virginia, seeing heavy action during the Seven Days Battles during the last days of June 1862.

Thus brought them to the northeastern slope of Malvern Hill on the 1st of July: After days of fighting and falling back, the Union found themselves with their backs to the James River as the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia continued to attack. They dug in their defenses, placing Meagher’s Irish Brigade along their critical left flank; exactly where the rebels would make their push on to take the hill and trap the entirety of the Union Army on July 1st. Their situation appeared desperate indeed.

“When anything absurd, forlorn, or desperate was to be attempted, the Irish Brigade was called upon.”

-George Alfred Townsend

As the sun set that day, after the Union regiments had spent hours holding off Confederate assaults, the lines began to give way as they ran low on ammunition. General Lee’s officers seized the opportunity: At sunset, they deployed one of their most feared units into the fight: the 9th Louisiana Regiment, nicknamed the “Tiger Rifles” or “Louisiana Tigers,” who began their move out of the treeline and up the hill at fast pace.

But while their ammunition was running low and exhaustion was setting in, the Irish refused to quit the line, and instead advanced it down the hillside into the teeth of the incoming rebels. From General Meagher himself:

“Coming in contact with the enemy, the Sixty-ninth poured in an oblique fire upon them with a rapid precision and an incessant vigor which had the effect of almost instantly staggering and silencing for some moments a fire which seemed to be almost overwhelming.”

-General Thomas Francis Meagher, the Fighting 69th

 

Map of the Battle of Malvern Hill; the Irish Brigade’s position is represented by the blue lines in the upper left, furthest northwest side of the hill. Their final charge into the Confederate advance pushed them all the way to the tree line in the far upper left of the map.

 

After an hour of fierce fighting, which brought the two forces face-to-face with hand-to-hand combat, the Irish prevailed: the Confederates were forced back into the woodlands, putting an end to the battle and securing the safety of the Army of the Potomac, and likely the northern war effort itself.

From a soldier in the lines to the right and rear of the Irish Brigade who witnessed the fight:

“The Irish Brigade took position well to the left and front, and opened on the enemy with a most gallant charge and ringing cheer and yell, driving them back with loss and in great disorder…For over an hour the Irish Brigade was engaged in supporting our line on the left, in a severe struggle with a superior force of the enemy, when they finally drove them back to the cover of the woods with great loss. In their last charge they came in close and bloody conflict with the enemy and brought off many prisoners.

Whenever the Irish Brigade was called upon, their coming brought renewed courage and confidence to the jaded troops. ‘Here comes the Irish Brigade!’ ‘Don’t you see the green Flags!’ ‘Three cheers for the Irish Brigade!’ was heard on all sides, and the cheers that filled the air followed them into the post of danger and death, where they were sure to turn the tide of battle in favor of the Union and victory. Their renown will live forever in the pages of American history. Song and story will ever recite their sacrifices on the altar of freedom for their adopted country.”

-Lieutenant Daniel George Macnamara, 9th Massachusetts Regiment

Having witnessed this fight first-hand alongside his generals, and having seen their green flags on the fields of battle throughout the previous seven days, General Robert E. Lee is quoted as saying: “there’s that ‘Fighting 69th.’” The nickname stuck, and the regiment still bears it to this very day as a badge of honor.

The Battle of Malvern Hill marks where the Irish Brigade cemented their reputation as one of the best in either Army. In the years that followed, they would become a centerpiece of the Union Army, fighting gallantly for the Sunken Road at Antietam, on Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg, and in the wheatfield at Gettysburg. They were also at the Siege of Petersburg, and finally the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse where they witnessed the war’s end as General Lee surrendered his army to General Grant.

 

“Do Your Duty, Boys!” by artist & fellow veteran Colonel Donna Neary, depicting General Meagher rallying the 69th at Fredericksburg.

 

While most of the Irish Brigade disbanded at the war’s close, the 69th Regiment continued onward, fighting in WWI, WWII, Iraq and Afghanistan. Their headquarters remains in Manhattan and they march every year in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade alongside their Irish Wolfhound mascots and flying their emerald green flag. Although no longer a purely Irish regiment, they continue to honor both their heritage and our great nation with their service and sacrifice.

This year, in honor of their history, we’re releasing a new Irish-inspired lager in their name: rich, toasty and full of biscuit flavor with a clean finish, this beer is designed for celebration.

 
 

With that, this Saint Patrick’s Day we raise our glasses and give a toast to the Fighting 69th. Faugh a Ballagh!

Lady of the Lake

 

“Lady of the Lake” pulling up to her dock at The Weirs, 1870’s.

 

It was a cool spring morning in 1848 when William Walker, Jr., rode into Lake Village (today, the Lakeport neighborhood of Laconia) to meet with Benjamin J. Cole, one of the lakes region’s community leaders and head of the Cole Manufacturing Company.

He had a bold idea to present: build the largest, fastest steamboat Lake Winnipesaukee - or any other inland waterway - had ever seen, and design her solely for commercial travel.

Walker’s plan was viewed by many as audacious because, to date, very few steamboats had been built primarily for passengers, especially in a region as lightly traveled as New Hampshire’s northern frontier. Lake Winnipesaukee had also not hosted a commercial steamer of consequence for several years. In fact, the remains of the previous one - the Belknap - still clung from the rocks where she wrecked; a reminder that - despite its beauty - Winnipesaukee’s waters could also be treacherous. However, the largest hurdle in his way was this: there really wasn’t any such thing as “tourism” in New Hampshire at the time.

But after hearing William’s plan, Benjamin Cole signed on immediately.

Thus, on June 24, 1848, they incorporated the “Winnipesaukee Steamboat Company” of Lake Village, NH.

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William Walker, Jr., was an ambitious man who led an ambitious life.

Born in 1810, his father was the owner and operator of the Eagle Coffee House, now the famous Eagle Hotel building, directly across from the State House. The Eagle served as a major hub in New Hampshire, with a post office, stables, rooms for travelers and - of course - the coffee shop.

 

Eagle Coffee House, downtown Concord.

 

It was here where William began his first work as a coachman and express rider, making regular trips to bring both passengers and parcels beyond Concord to the northern countryside of New Hampshire and Vermont.

In just a few short years, William was able to start his own company: the Walker & Company Express, where he started out with only himself and just one of the Abbot-Downing Company’s soon-to-be-famous “Concord Coaches,” serving the main stage route between Concord and Nashua.

 

An Abbot-Downing Concord Stagecoach in NH.

 

His hard work would pay off: just a few years later, he expanded the operation to include multiple carriers and regular routes extending all the way to Canada; the first company to do so. Within a decade, his company had become wildly successful, making him and his partners some of the wealthiest in Concord.

But change was on the horizon.

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In 1835, the first railroad tracks heading north out of Boston were completed, terminating in Lowell.

By 1838, the Nashua & Lowell Railroad extended that line to Nashua’s Main Street, bringing rail travel to the Granite State for the first time.

In 1842, the Concord Railroad continued the line further northward, completing the connection between Boston and New Hampshire’s 3 largest cities: Nashua, Manchester and Concord.

At the same time, there were railroads beginning to build routes out to the Monadnock region, as well as up the seacoast to Exeter, Portsmouth and Maine.

Then, in 1844, the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad was formed, with the ambitious goal to bring the rails beyond Concord to the north country of New Hampshire, Vermont and Canada beyond. The first rails heading out of Concord towards Lake Winnipesaukee were laid in 1846.

 

Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad Engine #1, named the “Granite State,” shown at The Weirs.

 

With the emergence of the railroads, William - now experienced in the express business - knew it meant the inevitable decline of the stagecoach express…but in that he also saw an opportunity: far more travelers would be able to enjoy the beauty of his home state by rail rather than by coach.

It was clear to him that a new era in the northern frontier of New Hampshire was about to begin: If steam locomotives were about to conquer the land across NH, bringing people by the thousands to the Granite State, a mighty steam ship would be needed to conquer New Hampshire’s grandest lake.

Soon after, William sold his share in the express to his partners and, on that cool spring day in 1848, he rode out from Concord for the small settlement of Lake Village to meet with one of the region’s pioneering entrepreneurs: Benjamin J. Cole.

Fun fact: the Walker & Company Express would eventually grow to form what ultimately became the famous American Express Company (which, although no longer active in the stage & parcel business, maintains the name to this day).

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Benjamin Cole was born in 1814, the son of an iron smelter in Franconia, and youngest of his 6 siblings. From the time of his birth he was - as the history books put it - “delicate” and often ill (history is unsure of or does not document what affliction he suffered from), which kept him from being able to work as a laborer as he grew older.

So instead, he focused on his education: Benjamin became one of the brightest minds in the region by the time he was in his early twenties. In 1836, he would take over his fathers iron foundry, which had since moved from Franconia to Lake Village, renaming it the “Cole Manufacturing Company.” He then secured a lease on the falls at Lake Village for added mechanical power, allowing him to expand operations to a full cast iron factory, producing everything from stoves, tools, plows and a spread of other complex parts and machinery. Cole Manufacturing quickly became a household name, whose products would be used across the nation in just a few short years.

Yet, despite all the successes, Cole Manufacturing’s biggest challenge in those early years was the lack of logistics support in the Lakes Region: without improved roadways, accessible waterways, or rails, Benjamin had inbound iron ore and outbound finished products transported overland by horse-drawn wagons and coaches; several teams made their way to and from Lake Village weekly bound for the cities to the south.

 

The Cole Manufacturing Company, late 1800’s.

 

So Benjamin was elated when the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad announced their plans to run track through the Lakes Region: A railroad meant his company no longer needed to rely on the limitations of horses and wagons. Adding to his delight, the railroad had already planned to build their regional station in nearby Meredith Bridge (now downtown Laconia) with maintenance shops and engine house in Lake Village.

His logistics challenges were about to be solved for good.

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As William arrived in Lake Village that spring day in 1848, the Cole Manufacturing Company was in full motion as the running waters from the thaw powered the factory's machinery to full strength. The rails had not yet arrived, but the station was nearing completion.

They didn’t yet know one another well, but William believed Benjamin was the man to partner with if his vision of a steamboat on Lake Winnipesaukee was to be: he had a reputation for imagining things that had not yet been, and the know-how to see them into reality.

William got his meeting, and it was short: Benjamin already saw the potential in the railroad’s expansion to the Lakes Region and beyond. But the idea of a new steamship, capable of reaching every corner of Lake Winnipesaukee could serve as an extension of the railroad and connect every town across the region.

And Benjamin knew the perfect spot to build the pier and station for this new steamboat: along the beaches where Lake Winnipesaukee feeds into Long Bay (today Paugus Bay); at a place the locals called The Weirs.

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The Winnipesaukee Steamboat Company, now composed of a handful of other leaders from the Lakes Region, held its first meeting in September 1848 to finalize their plan.

 

View of Lake Village in the years after the railroad reached the Lakes Region. “Lady of the Lake” can be seen in the upper left steaming north across Long Bay.

 

They would build the ship at Lake Village, and partner with the railroad to build a station and dock at The Weirs. From there, the ship would make regular trips across the lake to Center Harbor and Wolfeboro.

William Walker volunteered to take the lead on the ship's overall design, and the board agreed. Although he had very little experience in maritime transport (to his credit he had spent a season working on a small steamboat that ran between Haverhill and Newburyport years before), he was the one with the most experience in logistics and driving, well… anything. Plus, after all, the entire project was his idea to begin with.

Leveraging what we all know today as true “yankee ingenuity,” he went to work immediately, returning to Lake Village just month later with a scale model to present to his partners:

The ship would be 121 feet long, and 25 feet wide at the beam, with the ability to carry 400 passengers. This would give her the largest capacity for a steamboat at that time, surpassing the ocean-going SS Great Britain’s 350 passengers.

 

The SS Great Britain, 1845.

 

Lumber for her hull would be cut from oak and pine trees around Lake Winnipesaukee. To power her, she received brand new high-pressure steam boilers and engines, specially built by the Isaac & Seth Adams Company in Boston. This was considered novel for the time, as most steamers had used repurposed low-pressure steam engines from saw mills or old locomotives. So she would not only be one of the largest ships of the day, but one of the fastest as well.

Finally, William wanted to begin construction immediately, and have the new ship launched by summer.

It was a bold design, and would be a massive undertaking to build…but Benjamin believed in going big or going home: although some of their partners were wary of taking on such a large endeavor, he and William convinced them to approve the design as presented.

Thus, construction commenced on the shores of Lake Village in January 1849.

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As the ship began to take shape, the topic of what to call her was raised.

While we’re unsure how the Winnipesaukee Steamboat Company went about deciding who would give her a name, the “History of Wolfeboro NH” does specify who made the final call: A young woman named Hannah Huldah Hoag, the daughter of a preacher in Wolfeboro and close friend of famous poet John Greenleaf Whittier (by all accounts of the time she was a brilliant woman and talented poet herself). She would be the one to ultimately give the new ship its name.

Hannah chose “Lady of the Lake,” after the immortal character Ellen Douglas from the 1810 epic poem by Sir Walter Scott that shares the same name.

Ellen is introduced in Scott’s story on Loch Katrine, rowing her boat with her golden-painted paddle up to the shores where she saves the story’s wounded protagonist. Throughout the story, she embodies beauty and grace, independence, resourcefulness and romance; all aspects William and Benjamin believed their new vessel would represent in this new era on Lake Winnipesaukee.

 

First edition of Sir Walter Scott’s epic “Lady of the Lake,” 1810.

 

In the late spring of 1849, after her hull was complete and freshly painted bright white with gold trim, the name “Lady of the Lake” was emblazoned onto her sides.

The final touch was her figurehead: standing 5’ tall it was carved from a single trunk of white pine and painted the same bright white and gold as the “Lady’s” hull, representing the strong and courageous Ellen Douglas - with golden paddle in hand - head raised confidently with her eyes focused on the horizon. Once mounted to her bow, “Lady of the Lake” was complete.

 

Closeup of the bow of the “Lady,” showing her carved figurehead.

 

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On May 16, 1849, the “Lady” was launched in front of a crowd of thousands of spectators. A local newspaper published the following account of the event:

“For some time the men worked away at their screws under the bows, while some pulled upon a rope, till at length she started from her resting place and rode like a gallant sea bird, out upon the water. There were about a hundred persons aboard when she left the stocks, among whom were the Lake Village Brass Band, who immediately dedicated her with the tune of ‘A life on the ocean wave, A home on the raging deep.’”

William Walker, the man who first dreamed of this ship and main driver in bringing her to life, was named her first Captain. In the ensuing weeks, he would oversee the testing of her new engines and sea trials out on the waters of Long Bay. She passed with flying colors, and the first tickets were put on sale soon after; they sold out immediately.

On June 13, 1849, the first passengers boarded the “Lady” at Lake Village and, with a sounding of her steam whistle in front of crowds along the shore, she embarked on her maiden voyage for The Weirs, Center Harbor and Wolfeboro.

The new era on Lake Winnipesaukee - one that continues to this day - had officially begun.

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The “Lady of the Lake” was a success from the start.

People from across New England and beyond made the trip to the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee to take in the beauty of the new vessel and surrounding countryside. In fact, so many came to New Hampshire that the railroad took an immediate interest in the “Lady,” since she was driving most of their passenger traffic north.

Advertisement for trips to Wolfeboro, Bear Island & Center Harbor via the “Lady,” under the command of “Captain Walker,” referring to William. This was a promotion to travel to and around Lake Winnipesaukee, and back to Concord, in one day; could literally be the first “day trip” to the lakes, which prior to the railroad and the “Lady” was unheard of.

The Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad and the Winnipesaukee Steamboat Company started advertising together within the first year of her operation. A year after that, the railroad went ahead and bought the entire company. William Walker and Benjamin Cole remained actively involved in her operation; William would continue on as her Captain for 15 years.

 

“Lady of the Lake” docked at The Weirs with the original railroad station and Lakeside Avenue in the foreground. For any gen-z readers: you’re seeing double because this was printed for a stereoscope.

 

In the ensuing years, the success of the “Lady” inspired the construction and operation of several other steamboats on Lake Winnipesaukee, but none could match her speed, capacity or, to be frank, her superior style. As competing vessels came and went over the years, the “Lady” continued her reign over these waters for decades.

That was until 1872.

The Boston & Maine Railroad, which had begun running competing routes to Lake Winnipesaukee and even operated their own steamboats over the years in an attempt to contend with the “Lady,” eventually commissioned the construction of what would become the largest, fastest steamboat in the lake’s history: the “Mount Washington.”

When she was launched from Alton Bay that summer, the “Mount Washington” was over 50 feet longer than the “Lady,” and with a massive high-pressure steam engine putting out over 450 horsepower, she was faster as well.

 

The original “Mount Washington” pulling up to The Weirs from the same perspective of the “Lady” photo shown at the top of this story. The two photos are taken decades apart.

 

But this didn’t mark the end of the “Lady,” not by a long shot. The two steamboats worked side by side for many years, blowing their whistles to one another as they passed on their daily routes across the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Decades more would pass before the decision was made to retire the aging “Lady.” Her final passenger voyage was on the evening of September 14, 1893, as she made her last leg from Wolfeboro back to Weirs Beach. On the 19th, one last sentimental cruise was made from The Weirs out to The Broads (the most open part of the lake) where local leaders and crewmates from years past held a celebration of her service.

 
 

She was then brought back to Lake Village, where she was first built, to be decommissioned.

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The following year, the “Lady” was towed to a point near Lockes Island where she was ceremoniously “buried” beneath the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee.

She still lives there to this day, her hull in near-perfect condition roughly 40 feet beneath the waves, protected from the elements by the lake she served for so many years.

Her figurehead was removed beforehand, and today is maintained by NH Historical Society, who has it on display at their museum in downtown Concord. She is still painted bright white with gold trim, still firmly gripping her golden paddle, and still looking defiantly toward the horizon.

“Lady of the Lake” figurehead on display at the NH Historical Society in Concord. Reminder: she is 5 feet tall and carved from a single trunk of NH white pine. The sculptor’s name has unfortunately been lost to history. Full details here from the NH Historical Society.

Benjamin continued running the Cole Manufacturing Company, as well as other ventures across the lakes region. He was instrumental in the building of many of the roadways and bridges around Lake Winnipesaukee, and was elected to the NH House of Representatives before eventually serving on the Governor’s Executive Council. He passed in 1899 after a long life serving the Lakes Region.

 

Benjamin J. Cole and William Walker, Jr.

 

After retiring from his post as the “Lady’s” Captain, William Walker had built such a reputation that he continued to be called by the title for the remainder of his life, becoming known around the state as “Captain Walker.” He continued to serve on the board of the railroad and steamboat company, opened a merchant business in Concord with his brother Gustavus, and went on to be a founding member of the Concord National Bank.

In 1881, he and his wife celebrated the Golden Anniversary of their marriage in downtown Concord; an event recorded as one of the city’s biggest parties that year. He died one year later on November 22, 1882, and was buried in his family plot at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord.

 
 

Today, the legacy of the “Lady of the Lake” continues to be carried onward by the “MS Mount Washington,” who now has over 150 years in service. She operates the same routes the “Lady” began in 1849 (and thensome), passing by her resting place every day during the season.

Our many thanks go out to the “Mount” and her crew for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful piece of Lake Winnipesaukee’s history. Cheers.

 
 

LFG 2023

 

Using this image for the header cause, why not? lmao

 

It’s no secret that the past 3 years have been a challenge for our industry: uncertainty, shortages, increases in costs across the board, etc. We know you’ve seen a lot of the same in your daily lives. While Able Ebenezer has not been immune to these challenges, I am proud to say we are holding our own and staying in the fight.

With that, I wanted to give everyone a quick recap of this past year, and lay out our strategy for 2023, with a “call to action” covering how you - our loyal customers - can support the effort.

2022: HOLDING THE LINE

A year ago, it became clear that the cost increases we endured over the previous 2 years were not going to be temporary, and we needed to take steps to remain sustainable. At that time, the cost of everything from grain, hops, cans, case boxes, CO2, natural gas, electricity and more - along with the cost to ship them all to Merrimack - had gone up over double-digits in terms of percentage, and it was not looking like that trend would ease in 2022.

Thus, we executed our first price increase in the history of Able (going on 8 years at the time), adding a dollar to the cost of pints at the bar, from $5 to $6 (we still eat the tax), and increased our wholesale case pricing ~10%. This helped keep our margins relatively healthy, as we embarked on a year with the focus of “holding what we’ve got:” maintain our current Distro territory and Taproom traffic, and be prepared to adjust should uncertainty appear once again.

Uncertainty did reappear: CO2 prices increased twice, with deliveries becoming sporadic as the supply began to run short (it’s still short; shout out to Matheson for keeping us going though). Fuel for our Distro vehicles - which we run daily - obviously increased, and energy costs for the brewery spiked once again at the end of summer.

Getting on my soapbox for a minute: To top it off (or add insult to injury), the regulatory environment in NH shifted over the summer, with new legislation officially forcing our home delivery service - Distro Direct, later BringtheBeers.com - to cease operations. This one likely hurt the most as home delivery, something we created out of the shutdowns in March 2020 to stay in the game, kept our team together and Able going during that volatile time.

But, as we learned in the military, you focus on what you can control and channel all of your effort towards staying in the fight, regardless of the challenges. After all, we didn’t cry and tap out when the shutdowns came, and we weren’t going to do so when we received that call from the state.

Take the L, pick yourself back up, and drive on.

And that’s what we did: we finished 2022 having held *most* of what we had at the start of the year. Uncertainty still lingers, but we held together.

The question going into the end of the 2022 became what the focus in 2023 would be, given everything that had happened during the year. Would we stay the course and hold what we had? Should we dial back in an attempt to reduce costs, or increase prices again to make our margins healthy again and hope the market will bear it?

We’re not pursuing any of the above; instead, we’re expanding our operations in 2023.

2023: LFG

“Given the same amount of intelligence, timidity will do a thousand times more damage than audacity.”

-General Carl Von Clausewitz

Right before the New Year, we received a call from Hannaford; they wanted us to expand our distribution to their stores…by a lot.

Some background: We started with Hannaford at the end of 2018, serving just 6 stores in the towns around Merrimack. A year later, our sales performance encouraged them to expand our presence to 10 stores (big shout out to y’all!). We’ve served those 10 stores consistently since then, throughout the recent years of uncertainty. In 2023, however, they wanted us to take on 17 new stores (!!) across the state, with the goal of pushing into the remaining 9 at some point in the next year.

Boom. Go Time.

Note: I really want to take a moment to thank both Hannaford and Whole Foods (who we’ve been doing business with since 2015) for being the only grocery chains willing to work with small, local, self-distributing breweries like Able. It really means the world to us, especially since we’re only maintaining 2 out of hundreds of SKUs on their shelves, and they could easily simplify by just having the large distributors fill those slots.

Our Distro Team adjusted their rhythm to enable us to get hands on all of these stores, while also continuing to service our current partners in the market, and started making the first deliveries this past week. In the coming weeks, as shelf plans are finalized, our core brands “Burn the Ships” and “Victory nor Defeat” will have a locked-in presence at 27 of the 36 Hannaford stores in NH, spanning from West Lebanon to Portsmouth, Nashua to Meredith.

This expansion is what triggered our shift from “holding what we’ve got” in 2022 to “let’s f*cking go” in 2023.

As stated up front, the challenges of recent years have impacted all brewers, and the hospitality industry in general. Many reacted similarly as well, by increasing their prices. They are also adjusting in a manner we didn’t anticipate: reducing the number of SKUs they send out to the market and placing focus back on core brands instead of maintaining a wide variety. This is a solid way to simplify an operation on many fronts, as well as streamline & reduce overall costs, since maintaining a variety of new and rotating products typically comes with higher costs. What this shift has caused in the market is less SKUs available to fill shelves and draft lines, both of which have expanded significantly over the past decade to keep up with the boom of craft beer. Now, with less products available to stock, those shelves and lines are at risk of being underserved, hence the call from Hannaford to expand.

Able has been unique in that we’ve never really leaned on a wide variety of brands to keep y’all interested. Instead, while we always have fun occasionally developing new beers and rotating through our old favorites, our operation has always been focused on our core brands: “Burn the Ships” and “Victory nor Defeat;” the most solid, consistent, proven and loved of our beers.

This presents an opportunity for Able: we can expand the presence of our core brands by simply occupying vacant space across the state, without the need to dial back the rhythm of our rotating & experimental brands. This in turn increases “Burn The Ships” and “Victory Nor Defeat” production, simplifying and streamlining our overall raw materials, which in turn reduces costs.

So, we decided we don’t need to increase our prices again at this time; by simply increasing the raw material purchases, production and sell-through rate of our core brands, we should be able to keep our margins healthy enough for Able to be both sustainable and grow.

Thus, our 2023 strategy is centered around the following mission:

Increase the presence of “Burn The Ships” & “Victory Nor Defeat” across our expanded Area of Operations in order to secure Able’s place as a solid, reliable and true state-wide brand.

 

Our expanded Area of Operations.
This is a big adjustment for us, having been mostly focused on the Merrimack River Valley in year’s past. Keep in mind: A lot of folks who don’t live around Merrimack may have never had the opportunity to try an Able beer, so we’re not really a state-wide brand. We have the chance to change that in 2023.

 

I say “simply” but it really isn’t simple; meeting this goal will take a lot of hard work and dedication. Production and Distro have already begun spinning up to set conditions for the ongoing expansion, and the effort will continue well into the year. We’re likely going to need to upgrade our vehicles in the near term, and potentially (hopefully) expand our team. We’re also going to need to manage our costs and raw material supplies even more so than we had in recent years to ensure the party doesn’t stop.

Further, and most important, we’re also going to need YOU.

CALL TO ACTION

In military terms, “asymmetric warfare” is a fight where the competing sides vary significantly in terms of size, capability, technology, etc. This forces the “weaker” opponent to adopt new and creative strategies in an attempt to nullify some of the advantages held by the larger, stronger, more capable force. This is seen often in fights for revolution, where an oppressed people rise up against and take on a superior force. We all know of the successful ones, while no one really remembers those which failed.

Throughout the American Revolution, the Patriots relied heavily on the local population for support. Resistance fighters in Axis occupied territory during WW2 - like the Maquis in France or Detached Separatists of Poland - were as dependent, if not moreso, on the people. So too were Guerilla fighters in the Caribbean, the revolutionaries of Central and South America, and the various insurgencies in the Middle East.

“Guerrilla war is a kind of war waged by the few but dependent on the support of the many.”

-Captain B.H. Liddell Hart

For almost 9 years now, Able Ebenezer has continued to operate as a fully independent, self-distributing brewery, in an industry where such an operation shouldn’t have lasted this long without tapping out. We go toe-to-toe with the larger brewers and their very robust & capable distributors daily, facing all manner of challenges from that level of competition…and we are still here.

We are the few (there’s still only 7 of us); but the only reason we still remain in the fight after all these years is due to the support from YOU the many.

And now, we want to employ a creative strategy to support our fight in this challenging market by asking for your support yet again: as we venture forward into 2023, we will need your help reaching our goals by increasing the flow of “Burn the Ships” and “Victory nor Defeat” across NH.

Here are some easy ways you can support the effort:

  • Starting with the obvious: Grab a 4-pack from one of our partnered stores, or a pint from one of our partnered restaurants. After all, without them, Able would cease to exist, and they need our collective support now as much as we do.

  • Come visit us at the brewery! We have an awesome community of regulars and are always having a good time.

  • Ask for Able at your favorite restaurant. If they don’t have us available, ask “why not?”

  • If you’re at a restaurant or store that doesn’t yet work with us, let them know that, since we self-distribute and are on the road daily, they can contact us directly (distro@ableebenezer.com) to learn about our offerings and get delivery within a matter days, if not same-day.

  • If you’re strolling through your local Hannaford or Whole Foods and see our 4-packs tucked back from the front of the shelf, give us a hand by pulling them forward (you’d be surprised how big of an impact shelf facings make; below is an example of what we shoot for).

 
 

  • If you happen to grab a 4-pack, it’s a huge help to pull cans behind it on the shelf forward so those behind you can find them easily (this courtesy applies to all beer brands out there, not just Able, and is greatly appreciated by all of us).

  • Happen to see our shelf empty, or another brand in our slot? Ask an employee if there’s any back stock, or give us a heads up and we’ll make that location a priority on our next route.

  • Even something as simple as emailing our Distro Team a photo of how our shelves look at any of our partnered stores (distro@ableebenezer.com) is a big help to the effort (helps us to allocate our time efficiently; in the military we call it “economy of force”).

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our progress as we move forward, and give everyone a heads up if there’s any areas where we’re slacking & need to channel our efforts.

Back in 2020, you all rallied behind us when everything came to a halt, and that support made that trying year a big win. We hope you’ll rally with us again as we take on 2023.

“But my favorite aspect to think back on from this year has been our community; all of you. You made Able Direct a source of positivity in a very negative time, and it was contagious. You not only believed in us, tried Direct for the first time, and helped spread the word - you went out of your way to add to the positive vibes…Just know that everything you all have contributed to the cause has not gone unnoticed, and is appreciated more than words can convey."

-me in March 2021, reflecting on the 1 year anniversary of the shutdowns.

With your support and positive vibes, Able Ebenezer will continue to be the independent brewery you’ve come to love. In return, we’re committed to putting in the work required to continue delivering consistent, quality beers for your enjoyment. Together, we can make 2023 one of the best years in Able’s history, and a “win” for our entire community.

With that, let’s get after it. See you at the bar! Cheers.

-Carl

VETERAN'S BLEND

 
 

Gonna say this up front: Helicopter pilots are some of the coolest dudes in the military.

I always respected & admired those guys; being able to operate freely without the limitations of terrain, serve as the guardian angel to everyone on the ground, and come to their rescue at a moment’s notice. They spend years learning and honing their skillset, and then many more years after in the service; most make a career of it. Once airborne, they operate autonomously, and with that comes to the freedom to move as they see fit, but also the responsibility to be at the right place the moment they’re needed. The result is confident, motivated bad-asses who give zero f*cks, taking on all challenges to help their battle buddies on the ground, while wearing cool shades in the process (we can’t wear aviators with our helmets…I know, lame).

When I deployed overseas, we actually painted our radio frequency in big, bold print onto the roofs of our trucks so if choppers were operating in our area, they could connect and offer support. As a lowly cavalryman, I’ll say it was awesome being out in-sector on patrol, all by our lonesome, and suddenly hearing them come over the net to join the party and provide cover ahead. Most of the time, I never got the meet the pilots who supported us; just their voice over the net until they signed off and made for the horizon.

So it was pretty baller when, in 2018, the commander of the newly formed Blackhawk company with the NH National Guard approached us, asking if they could use Able Ebenezer’s logo as their unit insignia and flight patch. Turns out he and a few of the pilots had become regulars at the brewery; our brand and stories resonated with them, and they wanted their new unit to carry the banner as well. “We wanted something that really emphasized the ‘Live Free or Die’ spirit of NH and it’s soldiers, and this feels like it,” their commander wrote to me that spring. We were obviously stoked.

Side note: chopper pilots are even cooler because I now know they get to pick their own unit name & logo.

They dubbed the new unit “Able Company.”

——————————

Later that year, we had the opportunity to visit the unit and tour their facility. Not going to lie, seeing the Able logo painted on the side of their Blackhawks brought a little tear to my eye (doesn’t happen often; usually just when “Rudy” is on TV).

 
 

In the years since, we’ve become good friends and supporters of one another. We still occasionally hang at the bar, where we partake in a soldier’s favorite pastime: sharing stories over beers.

A couple years later, Able Company deployed overseas for a year. Prior to their departure, they asked if they could take an Able flag with them (like the one hanging in our bar at the time) to post up at their HQ and use as a guidon. We took down the original and handed it over before saying our goodbyes.

 

Able Flag outside Able Company’s HQ overseas, and yet another reason pilots are cool: Tiki torches.

 

They made it back home a little over a year ago, just in time for Veteran’s Day, and the release of our first batch of Veteran’s Blend NEIPA. In honor of those guys, and in celebration of their safe return home, we placed their unit insignia on the label; a brand made specifically for them, and one which has meant a great deal to both of our teams.

 
 

Able Company had a surprise for us as well: they returned our flag (pretty sun-faded but that’s cool), along with a plaque - signed by the guys - showing all the places the flag had flown with them.

Needless to say, we had a lot of fun that night (some might say too much but whatever); a lot of beers and a lot of stories.

Next Friday (Vet’s Day, 11/11) will mark 1 year since that night, and the second release of Able Company’s Veteran’s Blend NEIPA. This year’s iteration once again uses the hop blend from Yakima Valley, whose proceeds go to support veteran non-profits; rich in fruity flavor and aroma, and smooth from start to finish. Looking forward to sharing it with our battle buddies once again at the release. To mark the occasion, we’ve also ordered fresh, custom glassware printed with the Able Company insignia to give away on Veteran’s Day.

The Able flag has since been returned to its spot overlooking the Able tap room, with the plaque hung alongside. Directly underneath, we placed our respective unit patches side-by-side on the patch board (Mike and I were 1st Armored Division, “Old Ironsides”).

Next Friday, we’ll all be at the bar beneath these tokens of our partnership/friendship, raising our glasses to one another’s service; I’ll be the guy in the Stetson, Mike will be wearing his red socks, and the Able Co guys are the good looking ones who (as stated at the top) look like the coolest guys in the room.

We hope you’ll join us and, especially for you fellow veterans, bring some good stories to share. Cheers!

-Carl

one year later

It’s now been a year since we were forced to close our doors.

When I woke up this morning, Facebook reminded me of this post I made late at night during that first week, when we cleared out the bar and were in the midst of finding a way to save everyone’s jobs, and the company itself.

 
Screenshot_20210319-120623.png
 

I remember taking this photo just before midnight; I had gotten up to piss and walking back to my seat - as we’ve all done so many times over the years - I was hit with emotion at the sight of our bar, completely empty. I felt alone, lost, helpless. But it’s in those moments we need to face our fears head on, and go on the attack. What I wrote that night was meant to keep me in the fight as much as it was for anyone else.

I remember not knowing what to do, and running the numbers on how long we might be able to keep going before having to make sacrifices. I also remember throwing the numbers aside, and deciding that failure - at any level - was not an option.

I’ve done a lot of reflecting this week - looking back at all the challenges our team faced to make it here - and being reminded of this post made me want to share some of it with you, since you all are a big part of it all. Re-reading what I wrote to you all back in May, this statement still accurately sums up my feelings today:

“I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of a team of people who rally, rather than run, in the face of a crisis.”

We had every reason to fold a year ago; to give up, go home, and wait for help to come. But this team didn’t; everyone showed up the next day, ready to help build whatever was needed to keep Able going.

It was tough because, in reality, we had no idea what to do. In figuring out how to survive, we realized we had to find a way to repurpose everyone’s job functions & skill sets:

For a company with only 8 employees (at the time), we have a very diverse operation here at Able: brewers, packaging, bar staff, sales and distribution; we do it all in-house. We lost the functionality of our bar and most of our sales/distro network overnight as restaurants & bars were forced to close. In theory, from a business perspective, the first move to make would be cutting the staff of both to reduce costs and hope to survive the next “three weeks” until things go back to “normal.”

The problem with that approach is it’s not a solution; it’s a bandage. Eventually, we would have to reduce brewing staff because we wouldn’t be brewing as much without an active sales effort. After enough time, we would cease to be a brewery.

So, instead, we went on the offensive. We accepted, up front, that there would be no “going back to normal.” To think otherwise was just fooling ourselves.

"Given the same amount of intelligence, timidity will do a thousand times more damage than audacity."
-General Carl von Clausewitz

As I mentioned above, we have a very diverse operation with a lot of moving parts. While this can complicate how to find and implement a solution, it also grants our operation independence: we have our own canning line, delivery vehicles, drivers & salespeople; we maintain our own inventory on-site, have complete control over our production rhythm, and have systems & processes in place to manage & sync everything. We had 6 years of experience building this independence, and this independence would be what would keep us together.

As most of you know, we decided the best way to pivot the company would be bringing beers directly to customer’s doors; a service we named Able Direct. In retrospect, it was the obvious strategy: we were already delivering beer in bulk to restaurants & retailers daily; all we had to do was adjust our order punching & invoicing system, add ecommerce to the website, then reconfigure loadouts in the vehicles for the smaller quantities. Putting it together was a big team effort, and looking back, we had fun doing it. I remember the last thing I did before launching the site, within days of being shut down, was add the Bruins/Patriots “fog horn” sound file to our new Dispatch desk computer so it would play every time a new order came in.

Then, suddenly, it took off.

I’m not exaggerating: within days we delivered over 100 orders to people’s doors. Within a month, we were well over 1000. The “fog horn” started to become a bit much, but we embraced it (it still plays in the Distro office, btw). By the end of March, we were struggling to keep up with the demand. Our drivers were here 7-days/week from morning until the last window closed at 6pm. Our Bar Staff became dispatchers, supporting the workload of our drivers by organizing routes, packing cases & maintaining the website. Note: looking back, having dispatchers was critical; delivering 4-packs to homes eats into our overall margin, and they ensured the efficiency of our work.

It’s crazy to say, but April & May 2020 are the two best sales months in Able’s history, no joke. None of our employees were laid off, no one took a pay cut, and we didn’t (and still don’t) qualify for any of the grant money issued by the govt. At the end of May, our team donated $2500 to the restaurant industry’s employee relief fund. What a stellar fucking team effort.

So yes, I’m stupid proud of this team. Nicole, Dan, Chris, Brendan, Mandy, Jim & Mike are absolute rockstars.

And this team is still going: We’re still delivering beer to your doors every day. We’ve created 2 new jobs, upgraded our ordering website (to bringthebeers.com!), invested in software to automate routing & ETA notifications (which allowed our bar staff to retire from Dispatch & reopen the bar), expanded our delivery radius, and - most importantly - we’re still having fun.

But my favorite aspect to think back on from this year has been our community; all of you. You made Able Direct a source of positivity in a very negative time, and it was contagious. You not only believed in us, tried Direct for the first time, and helped spread the word - you went out of your way to add to the positive vibes:

Corey & Trinley volunteered to be the first to test out our online ordering (and thank goodness, cause it needed help). Chef Paul brought us lunch, just about daily, from his commercial kitchen. Jordan hooked us up with free radio ads for 3 weeks to help promote Direct. Dalton & Derek kept making us fried chicken sandwiches in the loading dock at the end of long days. Eric bought cases of beer out of the tap room, then drove around giving out beer & bbq to small businesses in town. Alli ordered beer to her friends houses via Direct, and - when we ran out of friends to send beer to - ordered a case delivered to her local police department (not gonna say which, but yes they accepted it). A local business had ordered cases for a “goodbye party” on the day they had to lay everyone off, then ordered again weeks later to celebrate their ability to bring everyone back (cried a happy tear when that one came in).

There’s honestly too many of these stories to tell; I wish I could fit them all here. Just know that everything you all have contributed to the cause has not gone unnoticed, and is appreciated more than words can convey.

A year ago, we - once again - burned our ships & ventured forward into the unknown, knowing we possessed the determination to make it to the other side with a ‘W’.

Thank you for joining us on the journey; we would not have made it without you, and couldn’t ask for better teammates. Cheers to you, and to the year ahead.

Man Of Talent - Milk Stout

“The common man is not concerned about the passage of time, the man of talent is driven by it.” - Arthur Schopenhauer

Time is an interesting thing; we always feel as though we don’t have enough of it. Sometimes, our days seem to drag on; and yet, at the end of the year, we look back and say how quickly they have all gone by. This past year, 2020, in particular, seemed to have been the longest year ever, yet somehow, it also went by in an instant.

 Time is a crucial factor in brewing. To craft any beer, it takes time and patience; however, depending on the variety of the beer you're crafting, you need to allot yourself more or less time. For example, lagers, in comparison to ales, need several weeks to be conditioned before they are ready for consumption. It takes time and patience to boil the wort and then to ferment the beer until it’s done. When developing new recipes, you often spend time brewing small batches and waiting weeks for them to be done just to try the final sample and say, “not good enough.” 

In life, we often find the same thing happening. It is commonplace to view time simply as an abundant resource that you can grind through to achieve an end goal. We might dedicate a substantial amount of time working on something only to get to the end and not feel satisfied; as though that time was wasted. However, if the time spent on a particular task was fulfilling in the moment, how could that be considered a waste? Realizing that our time is precious serves as motivation to make sure we spend it on things that we value.  For me, I find the work I do to be gratifying and I find fulfillment in spending time with the people working alongside me.

Outside of work, I find that the best way to spend my time is to simply be in the company of close friends and family. Nothing beats an afternoon with old friends- laughing, conversating, and obviously enjoying a few beers together. That’s what I love about beer; it's communal. I mean, no one ever asks if you want to go grab a glass of water after work, right? Beer is meant to be shared. That’s why I enjoy making it so much; because I get to see the final product poured into a glass and shared amongst friends, which makes all the time spent making it worth it.

This beer has been a labor of love for me. I started over a year ago and would brew a sample batch in between other new recipes we were working on whenever I had a free day. I’ve enjoyed many of the recipes along the way; but, it wasn’t until this final batch that I truly felt proud of it. I’m excited to share it with my friends and family and to see it enjoyed amongst others. So think about the time you have every day and, no matter how trivial, spend it doing what makes you happy. Cheers!

 - Jim

Cheers to 6 Years

 
My first bar shift - June 14, 2014.

My first bar shift - June 14, 2014.

 

What a ride it’s been: Today marks 6 years since our grand opening. This weekend usually hosts our biggest party of the year, but 2020’s anniversary is quiet here at the brewery. 

It’s important to acknowledge milestones, but I believe it’s equally important not to let them define you. Yes, it’s been 6 years - and I’m proud of that fact, we all are - but recent weeks have felt more like starting over. Right now, we’re focused on what’s ahead, not what is past.

“One's victories in battle cannot be repeated--they take their form in response to inexhaustibly changing circumstances.” -Sun Tzu

With that, rather than reflect on the past, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on what’s happening at Able, and what you can expect to see from us in the near-term:

TAP ROOM: Renovations to the tap room are nearing completion, with everything on pace to be done by early July. Bigger space, better flow, more seating, air conditioning, new flooring, expanded outdoor seating, and thensome...all built around the original 27’ White Pine bar (which now has charging outlets). We were also able to work in a new glass washer for the Bar Team (you are so welcome, Nicole). You’re going to love the new space; if you happen to drop in for beer to-go, we’ll gladly show you around. We’ll announce a date for grand re-opening in the coming weeks

DISTRO: The Distro Team is still embracing the hustle, and is still on the road everyday (including rn). We’re beyond stoked to have our partnered restaurants beginning to reopen; we def missed them (be sure to get out there and give them your support). We started producing limited quantities of kegs just for them.

Direct (our new home delivery service @ ableebenezer.com/order) is here to stay. In fact, we’re working now on expanding & improving the service. A big shout out to all of you Direct customers who took the time last week to complete Nicole’s survey; your feedback has been a huge help.

Soon, you will see same-day orders stretch into the evenings, delivery windows narrow from hours to minutes, and the delivery radius begin to expand. You will soon be able to choose when you want beer delivered, and receive up-to-the-minute text notifications on your driver’s route status & estimated arrival time, no joke.

-Accident on the DW Highway has traffic backed up? No worries, you’ll see a text with adjusted ETA.

-Chris driving like a mad lad up the Everett TP? No prob, you’ll get a heads up that he’s ahead of schedule.

-You’re the next stop & Dan is 15 minutes out? You’ll see a notification letting you know it’s time to pull out your ID & put pants on (optional).

We didn’t know what this service would become at the onset...honestly, the first iteration of it was intended to be a life raft, nothing more. 3 months later, we’ve delivered nearly 1800 individual orders across southern NH (for perspective: our Distro Team ran just over 2500 total orders to retailers & restaurants in 2019). We’ve already created new jobs with Direct, specifically the Dispatch role (the “managers of the chaos” that proper route planning & execution is, currently being filled by our Bar Team), and anticipate the Distro Team will continue to expand as we move forward.

The Brewhouse team is beginning to get caught up, and is now able to invest more time into R&D. Ingenuity #7 is finally done and in the tanks now; release date to be announced soon. Going forward, we’re committing to actively pursuing fun ideas & expanding our variety of offerings (again, per your feedback), while also maintaining the core brands we all have come to love & expect: Burn the Ships & Victory nor Defeat (never forget where you came from).

Finally - and we’re wicked excited about this project - we’re committing to a new collaboration series with fellow local producers (first up: Ancient Fire collab. Stay tuned, more to follow...).

Beyond all that, the Able team is staying strong, safe & motivated. It’s a slow Sunday today; Brendan’s here covering Dispatch, Mike’s covering down on the road to give Dan & Chris a day off, and I’m knocking out maintenance ahead of tomorrow’s canning run. At day’s end, we’ll crack open a Burn the Ships and give a quick cheers to 6 years.

Thank you all for an incredible 6 years; it has been the time of my life, and - as much as I like to believe there’s nothing I can’t do on my own - we could not have done any of it without you.

Now get out there & enjoy this beautiful Sunday! Cheers.

-Carl

Final brew day in the garage. January, 2014.

Final brew day in the garage. January, 2014.

On Reopening

 
 

Although the state is allowing portions of our local hospitality industry to resume on-premise ops beginning Monday, May 18th, we at Able Ebenezer are opting to keep our bar closed. Don’t fret tho: We’ll still be offering beer to-go @ the brewery, as well as Direct beer delivery via our Distro Team (ableebenezer.com/order).

Instead, we’re taking this time to renovate the bar; a project we had slated for earlier this Spring, but had to delay amidst the shutdown. We’ll monitor the state’s phases as we progress, and announce a reopening date once we’re ready. In the meantime, we’ll continue driving on with our current rhythm: brewing, canning & bringing the beers.

——————————

A little personal reflection: I want you to know our team here is forever grateful for your continued support - whether it began at our Grand Opening several years ago, or with your first Direct order mere weeks ago. It’s no secret this has been a challenging time for our entire industry, and you have kept us in the fight throughout.

Upon first hearing of the shutdown the afternoon of March 16th, I had no idea where we would be by the end of that month, let alone in May. The bar here was packed that night, filled with regulars wondering if it would be the last time. Several were in tears (which I, admittedly, don’t handle the best).

After sharing a beer and thanking everyone for their support, I drove home to pack a bag, then right back to the brewery. I lived here for the next 4 days.

Mentally, it’s tough not to focus on the imminent dangers ahead; when your mind keeps running the math on how long you might be able to keep paying yourself, your teammates, your bills, or your own rent. You imagine the tough conversations you’re likely going to have to endure, and all the things you’ll have to give up, and the very real possibility that you may have to sell off your dream - one piece at a time - to pay back your debtors. Furthermore, I knew my teammates were processing similar concerns in their own minds. It’s then you begin to triage everything, picking what can be dropped in the moment to delay facing those dangers. Note: Mike & I cancelled two things up front: 1) the production schedule, and 2) our paychecks.

But to survive, you have to shut those things out; refuse to accept them as possible, and force yourself to focus only on what you can control to influence the outcomes.

When challenges come at us, we have two choices; but my time in the Army taught me to really only see one. Thus, I refused to entertain defeat as an outcome. I didn’t have all the answers - not even close - but I would not quit until I did; there was no limit to what I was willing to endure to keep Able going. “Keep your heads up; we'll make it through to the other side, regardless of who or what gets in the way” I wrote to our team that evening.

Another note: I still don’t have all the answers - not even close - so we’re still getting after it everyday. Complacency & comfort are enemies in this ongoing fight.

In 48 hours, we had the beginnings of our Direct delivery service in place. Within just a couple weeks, we had processed hundreds of orders, created new jobs for our bar staff (as Distro Dispatchers; a role they’re maintaining today and likely beyond), and are back in full production. Some have called us “lucky",” but luck had nothing to do with it: this is the product of teamwork & effort.

I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of a team of people who rally, rather than run, in the face of a crisis. In short: we were built for this, and fully intend on making it to the other side; we’ll see you there, beer in hand.

 
 

The final piece - and most important - has been you, our customers. Without you, our team would be incomplete, and the battle surely lost. We’ll never forget it, and look forward to the day when we can pull our stools up to the bar once again, and reflect on this time together over a beer.

Until that day comes, keep your heads up and stay strong, safe & motivated. Cheers.

-Carl

Battle of Chelsea Creek: Glory, not the Prey

Boston had been under siege for a month by the end of May, 1775, following the failed British march on Lexington & Concord in April. Those battles brought thousands of militiamen from across New England, who quickly blocked off the major land access points to the city.

Only one area around the city had yet to be secured by the Patriots: Noddle’s Island & Hog Island (today these islands are connected to the mainland, and make up most of East Boston). These islands are home to several loyalist farms and thus, an abundance of supplies in the form of harvests and livestock. Although not occupied by the British, Noddle’s & Hog Island serve as a much needed resource for General Gage’s men occupying Boston.

But the Patriot militias are even more in need of supplies, so the Massachusetts Committee of Safety (council of rebels - including John Adams, John Hancock & Joseph Warren - overseeing the war effort in MA) issues orders to raid and clear the islands of its goods.

“Resolved, as their opinion, that all the live stock be taken from Noddle's Island and Hog Island, and from that part of Chelsea near the sea coast, and be driven back; and that the execution of this business be committed to the selectmen of the towns of Medford, Malden, Chelsea, and Lynn, and that they be supplied with such a number of men, as they shall need, from the regiments now at Medford.”
-Meeting minutes from the MA Committee of Safety, May 14, 1775

The “regiments now at Medford” are none other than the men from the Granite State.

Over a thousand from New Hampshire are already within the Patriot ranks, with more arriving each day. Their headquarters is on the south side of Winter Hill (in what today is Somerville MA), with Colonels John Stark of Manchester & James Reid of Fitzwilliam in command of the two regiments. After receiving their orders, Colonel Stark volunteers to lead the operation, and selects 300 men from his ranks to join him.

Just after midnight on May 27th, they set off on their march East towards Chelsea.

 
British map from late 1775 showing the immediate Boston area at that point the siege, Noddle’s & Hog Islands immediately to the right/east of Boston & Charlestown. Chelsea Creek lies between the islands & Chelsea.Note how the geography o…

British map from late 1775 showing the immediate Boston area at that point the siege, Noddle’s & Hog Islands immediately to the right/east of Boston & Charlestown. Chelsea Creek lies between the islands & Chelsea.

Note how the geography of the greater Boston area has changed significantly in the years since 1775, when the waterways around the city consisted of a maze of islands & narrow peninsulas, which the British Navy actively patrolled to limit Patriot movements throughout the siege.

 

Stark put a great deal of thought into the timing of his march, ensuring the operation coincided with both low illumination (complete darkness from a waning moon phase) and low tide. Because of this, when Stark’s men reach the shore of Chelsea near the convergence of Belle Isle Creek & Chelsea Creek, they are able to easily evade British boat patrols around the islands and wade across the water to Hog Island. They begin quietly ferrying livestock across the creek to the mainland, then over to Noddle’s Island to do the same.

The operation takes hours, going until late morning, but it’s a complete success: the Patriots now possess hundreds of new horses, cattle & sheep for their young army. With the sun now high in the sky, they know it’s time to begin moving the regiment back to Winter Hill. But Stark, not wanting to leave any supplies behind for the British to obtain, orders his men to begin setting fire to the remaining hay stacks and barns. When the rising smoke becomes visible in Boston, Vice Admiral Samuel Graves - General Gage’s naval commander in the waters around the city - orders his navy to surround the islands & land hundreds of marines on Noddle’s to combat the rebels.

By midday, the New Hampshiremen are decisively engaged with the British on Noddle’s Island, while also enduring cannonfire from the ships around the islands. This is the Granite Stater’s first taste of real combat against British Regulars, and a tough one at that. But Stark’s men - although scattered in small teams about the islands - are able to hold off the 400+ redcoats, most using the low marshland beside the creek separating Noddle’s & Hog Island as cover, forcing the British ranks back to the inland of the island.

With the sun now setting, the British commanders on the ground opt to cut their losses, considering the damage done and the day lost.

“Before we got from Noddle’s Island to Hog Island we was fired upon by a Schooner. But we crossed the river and about fifteen of us squatted down in a ditch on the marsh and stood our ground. And there came a company of Regulars on the marsh on the other side of the river and the Schooner, and we had a hot fire until the Regulars retreated. But notwithstanding the bullets flew very thick yet there was not a man of us killed. Surely God has a favor towards us. Thanks be unto him that so little hurt was done when the balls sung like bees round our heads.”
-Private Amos Farnsworth, from his Diary

The Schooner Amos refers to is the HMS Diana - a 120 ton, 18-gun warship commanded by Lieutenant Thomas Graves - Admiral Graves’ nephew.

The Diana isn’t the largest or most formidable ship in the Boston fleet, but she is one of the fastest and most capable for her size. In fact, she was built at the Boston shipyards in 1774, then acquired by the British shortly after and fitted for combat; Admiral Graves personally selecting her for his fleet:

“I have taken it upon me to purchase the Diana schooner of 120 tons, about eight months old, so exceedingly well built that she is allowed to be the best vessel of the kind that has yet been in the King’s Service.”
-Vice Admiral Samuel Graves, in a letter dated January 8th, 1775

Because of her speed and maneuverability, combined with her firepower, the Diana is instructed to cut off the Patriot’s escape route back across to Chelsea by navigating north of Noddle’s Island and into Chelsea Creek with the high tide. Here, they become engaged with the rebels, such as Amos Farnsworth.

But as the battle wears on and British Marines are forced back on land, the wind and tide also turns in favor of the Patriots: the crew of Diana finds themselves without the conditions needed to navigate back east towards the Mystic River and out into Boston Harbor. She signals for assistance from the main fleet, who dispatch two ships & a dozen barges up the Mystic to help tow the Diana out of Chelsea Creek before low tide.

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This is where the story should have likely ended: the Battle of Chelsea Creek is only the 2nd major engagement of the war (Lexington & Concord serving as the first), and the Patriots had won the day decisively. They’d succeeded in their mission, making it back to the mainland with a bounty of supplies, while also holding off a combined force of British Regulars, all with minimal casualties. It’s now been over 18 hours since they first stepped off towards Chelsea, and the only task that remains is an easy march back to Winter Hill.

But the story doesn’t end there.

--------------------

The New Hampshiremen see an opportunity to chalk up yet another win for the day. They assume fighting positions along the shoreline and engage the struggling Diana and her would-be rescuers. As night sets in, Colonel Stark sends a rider back to Cambridge requesting reinforcements & additional ammunition to keep up the fight.

At their Headquarters in Cambridge, the Patriot commanders are elated at Stark’s report: not only had the mission been carried out successfully, but the regiment had been decisively engaged with the enemy and came out the victors. Without hesitation, reinforcements led by General Israel Putnam rushes out of Cambridge into the night towards Chelsea Creek.

Side note: Dr. Joseph Warren - Chairman of the MA Committee of Safety, famous Son of Liberty from Boston’s North End, and soon-to-be hero of Bunker Hill fame - was present at the Cambridge Headquarters when the rider arrived. Upon hearing Stark’s report, he volunteered to join Putnam’s men on their march: Dr. Warren did not want to miss the chance to witness what he believed to be history in the making, but was unable to join the fight. What he witnessed that evening at Chelsea Creek motivated him to take the field again - this time as a Private within the ranks - at Bunker Hill a month later, where he would be killed in action while fighting honorably.

It’s now late in the evening, and Putnam’s reinforcements join Stark’s men along the north shore of Chelsea Creek, exchanging fire through the darkness with the British on the water. After hours of attempting to tow the Diana back to deeper waters while under constant fire from the Patriots, the tide finally recedes beyond her waterline: her keel runs aground, settling into the sands just off the shore of Chelsea. Lieutenant Graves orders abandon ship.

The British have a difficult go at it, but are able to use the darkness to transfer her crew over to the HMS Britannia - one of the vessels dispatched to help the Diana. Once aboard, the British tow themselves back to safety in the deeper waters of Boston Harbor, leaving the Schooner Diana behind.

It’s now the early morning hours on the 28th. The musket & cannon fire finally silences, replaced with a loud cheer as the Patriots swarm abroad the abandoned vessel, now listing heavily on one side as the tide continues to recede. They go to work stripping her of any valuables: her 18 guns, powder, shot & supplies and thensome, then load bales of hay to set the Diana ablaze #burntheships.

But before sparking the flame, they have one more trophy to take from the Diana: Her 76’ tall, New England grown, White Pine mast. Yes, these mad lads - now over 24 hours on mission - took the time to cut off HMS Diana’s mast and carry it with them all the way back to Winter Hill.

Not sure there’s any better way to give a nod to the fighters of NH’s Pine Tree Riot.

Months later, her mast would be carried up Prospect Hill - the highest point around Boston, and thus, the most visible to the British held up in the city. There, by order of General Washington himself, the mast was planted to fly the first American Flag. Today, the spot atop Prospect Hill is marked by the "Prospect Hill Monument;” a 4-story structure of stone from which a flag still flies. The City of Somerville continues to raise a new flag every year at their annual Flag Raising Ceremony; 2020’s being the 244th year.

“Orders given from the General for scouting parties to fire at all times whenever they have the opportunity. The same day raised the mast that came out of the schooner that was burnt at Chelsea, for to hoist our new flag upon, in the fort upon Prospect Hill, seventy-six feet high.”
-Lieutenant Paul Lunt, from his Diary
August 1, 1775

 
Monument atop Prospect Hill in Somerville, MA, overlooking the city of Boston. This marks the location where the mast of HMS Diana was erected to fly America’s first flag. It is open to the public, and - since it is still the highest point in the ar…

Monument atop Prospect Hill in Somerville, MA, overlooking the city of Boston. This marks the location where the mast of HMS Diana was erected to fly America’s first flag. It is open to the public, and - since it is still the highest point in the areas surrounding Boston - provides fantastic views of the greater Boston area.

 

The British Regulars in Boston would have to look at the Diana’s mast every day until they evacuated the city months later in March, 1776; a daily reminder of their embarrassing defeat at the hands of Stark’s NH Regiment.

Thus, we raise our glasses in honor of the brave men of New Hampshire who saw an opportunity and seized it in the boldest of fashions early in our Revolution; they were truly in the fight for the Glory, not the Prey. Hell of a way to set the tone, boys. Cheers.

As always, we give our thanks to the experts at the New Hampshire Historical Society for all their help & expertise in this ongoing effort to share the stories of the NH Regiments. Consider supporting their work here. Cheers! #livefreeordie

Battle of Trenton: Glory, not the Prey

 
“Battle of Trenton” by Charles McBarron, depicting the Patriots storming the streets of the town with fixed bayonets.

“Battle of Trenton” by Charles McBarron, depicting the Patriots storming the streets of the town with fixed bayonets.

 

By December, 1776, the war for independence was not going well for the Patriots.

The year had started with a win, as the New England militias under command of General George Washington forced the British to evacuate Boston in March. Yet, the remainder of the year would host a series of defeats for Washington & his army: they would suffer a great defeat at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, and subsequently forced to abandon New York City on lower Manhattan Island soon after. From there, they would lose decisively at Pells Point, White Plains, then Fort Washington - the last Patriot position in New York. What remained of their army would flee across the Hudson River to Fort Lee in New Jersey, which would also fall soon after. Finally, Washington receives word that his 2nd in command - General Charles Lee - is captured by the British.

Thus, as December sets in, the Patriots are retreating across New Jersey, then over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, with General Lord Cornwallis’ army in pursuit. The Continental Congress, fearful for their lives, abandons Philadelphia.

Thankfully, harsh winter weather soon sets in, putting a halt to both Patriot & British operations. But while British begin to establish their winter encampments, General Washington & his officers know they must attempt something as their situation is bleak: The army is weak, underfed, and under supplied. Many of their men have deserted, believing the cause to be lost. Further, most of those who remain are due to have their enlistments expire on January 1st. If they settle in for winter, their army would likely fade away before the Spring thaw, and with it, the cause for independence itself.

“I think the game is pretty near up.”
-General George Washington, in a letter to his brother John
December 18, 1776

On December 22nd, Washington calls a meeting with his generals to determine what action - if any - they can muster to save the cause. One officer called to attend the meeting - even though he does not hold a brigade command like Washington’s fellow generals - is Colonel John Stark of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. He offers only one contribution to the discussion:

“Your men have too long been accustomed to place their dependence for safety on shovels and pickaxes. If you ever mean to establish the independence of these united states, you must teach them to place their dependence upon their arms and their courage.”
-Colonel John Stark

Stark’s words resonate with Washington and his staff, who then began work on a bold counter-offensive. Two days later, Washington calls upon Stark once again:

“We have agreed upon the plan: we are to march tomorrow on Trenton, and you are to command the advance guard.”
General Washington to Colonel Stark
December 24, 1776

Thus, at nightfall on Christmas Day, 1776, in the midst of pounding wind, sleet & snow, the Patriots load themselves into boats along the Delaware River and are ferried across to New Jersey at McKonkey’s Ferry; some 9 miles north of Trenton. Their plan is to surround the town before daybreak and deliver a surprise attack.

———————————

Meanwhile, in Trenton, a combined force of Hessian soldiers and British Cavalry commanded by Colonel Johann Rall are well-established in their warm, dry winter quarters. Rall - an experienced officer and combatant - is so far unimpressed by the colonial rebels, having faced & defeated them handily in the previous months. While he’s received a few vague reports from loyalist spies that the rebels might be planning an attack, Rall scoffs at the notion, whether true or not: “Then let them come,” he tells his messengers. “We will go at them with the bayonet.”

And he has good reason to be cocky: Rall and his Hessians were at Brooklyn, White Plains and Fort Washington, often leading the British attack. Before being called to the colonies, they were veterans of wars in Bavaria, Austria, Russia, Scotland, and in the 7 Years War against France. The Hessians had successfully quelled rebellions and conquered nations many times over. Thus, they are some of the most seasoned, professional soldiers the world can muster…and they know it.

And in their minds, this war is at its end.

——————————

Several miles to the north, Washington’s army is fighting through the blizzard to begin their march. The weather is so bad that 3000 of Washington’s men - who are supposed to cross the Delaware River south of Trenton & secure the rear of the town - are unable to make it across. The 2400 who do cross the Delaware suffer tremendously in the cold, two of whom succumb to the elements and perish during the march. One New England soldier wrote of that harsh night in his journal:

“During the whole night it alternately hailed, rained, snowed, and blew tremendously. I recollect very well that at one time, when we halted on the road, I sat down on the stump of a tree and was so benumbed with cold that I wanted to go to sleep; had I been passed unnoticed I should have frozen to death without knowing it. We then began to march again, just in the old slow way, until the dawn of day, about half-past seven in the morning.”
-Private John Greenwood

The operation is now hours behind schedule, and thus Washington considers abandoning the attack several times throughout the night. But he finds resolve in his men, all who continue onward - albeit slowly - toward Trenton; John Stark & his New Hampshiremen at the front.

The sun has already risen by the time the Patriots arrive on the outskirts of the town. They’ve lost the element of surprise, have less than half the men they intended, and those who survived the brutal river crossing & march are soaked & chilled to the bone, many finding their rifles & powder too wet to fire.

It is in this moment that John Stark orders fixed bayonets, and leads his charging men down 2nd Street into the town of Trenton.

“John Stark had a reputation as a fighter. He was devoted to the revolutionary cause and wrote often to his wife that he was determined to “live free or die,” a phrase his state later made its motto. Stark had trained his New Hampshiremen to use the bayonet, and he led them through the fields along the River Road. The Hessians were astonished to see the despised American rebels running toward them through the storm with fixed bayonets.”
-David Hackett Fischer, “Washington’s Crossing”

Major James Wilkenson of the 1st Pennsylvania Rifles - who were formed with the brigade directly behind Stark’s New Hampshire Regiment during the assault - wrote about this moment in his memoir of the battle:

“We soon marched, Colonel Stark in command of the advance guard, with orders to clear their muskets as best they could as they moved. It was now broad day, and the storm beat violently in our faces. The attack on the left was immediately answered by Colonel Stark in our front, who forced the enemy’s picket and pressed it into town, our column close at his men’s heels. The enemy made a momentary show of resistance by a wild and undirected fire from the windows of their quarters, which they abandoned as he advanced...While I render justice to the services of [other fellow officers], I must not withhold due praise to the dauntless Stark, who dealt death wherever he found resistance, and broke down all opposition before him.”
-Major James Wilkinson, 1st PA Rifles

The fight was over in an hour: By mid-morning, the Hessians were forced out of the streets and into the orchard field just east of the town. It was here they would find themselves surrounded, surrendering to General John Sullivan (of Somersworth NH), who assumed the rear of the town upon hearing 3000 of their men were unable to cross. Washington’s army would find a bounty of arms & supplies, as well as take over 800 prisoners, all with only a handful of casualties. In one daring assault, the Patriots had defeated some of the most renowned soldiers seen at that point in history.

The Battle of Trenton became an instant turning point in the war, saving the cause itself. Having previously been an army constantly on the defensive, or on the run, this served as their first successful offensive operation. The Patriots had finally proven they could hold their own against some of the best, most fierce soldiers in the world. Days later, as enlistments were expiring, many opted to remain with the army, reinvigorated by their victory over the Hessians. Furthermore, as news of the victory spread across the colonies, new enlistments rose dramatically. John Stark personally appealed to his men, convincing all to stay with him in the fight rather than return home to the Granite State. On January 3rd, 1777, they would go on the offensive yet again at Princeton, winning gloriously once more in the cold ice & snow.

Thus, without the daring & courage of Colonel John Stark & his New Hampshiremen, the victory at Trenton may never have been, and the cause for independence would have certainly been lost.

Note: We want to give a big shout-out once again to the team at the NH Historical Society for all of their help & expertise in this effort to share the stories of the NH Regiments. If you’re interested in NH’s history, they’re worth a visit. Please consider supporting their work here: https://www.nhhistory.org/Join/Donate/Ways-To-Give. Cheers!

Andrew McClary: Glory, not the Prey

 
John Trumbull’s “Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill.” Major Andrew McClary of Epsom is depicted on the left, directly beneath the Flag of New England, raising his musket to protect the dying General Warren.

John Trumbull’s “Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill.” Major Andrew McClary of Epsom is depicted on the left, directly beneath the Flag of New England, raising his musket to protect the dying General Warren.

 

Andrew McClary was already plowing his field when first light hit on the morning of April 20th, 1775, as the alarm horn was sounded from Epsom town center. Without a second thought, he dropped his work, grabbed what belongings he could from his home, then rounded up fellow men from town and hit the road.

“Like the Roman Cincinnatus, he left the plow in the furrow, hastily armed himself, and dashed off to Deerfield accompanied by a few daring spirits.”
-Elliot Cogswell, History of Nottingham, Deerfield & Northwood NH

By 1 o’clock that afternoon, McClary stood at the front of just over 80 men gathered from the neighboring towns of Northwood & Deerfield, leading them south for Massachusetts with great haste. By nightfall, they arrived in Andover where they stopped for supper. Instead of staying in town until morning, they continued onward and marched all night.

By sunrise on the 21st - less than 48 hours after the British marched on Lexington & Concord - McClary reported to the Patriot headquarters in Cambridge, having led his men 70 miles in under 24 hours. No joke.

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Andrew McClary was a badass.

In 1730, he became the first of his family to be born in the New World, the son of immigrants from Ulster, Ireland. They settled in Epsom, NH, where Andrew would be raised, spending much of his youth climbing Fort Mountain & exploring the surrounding NH countryside. He became an avid outdoorsman, tracker & hunter, then, as a teenager, joined the local militia to serve as a scout. He was also the local champion in boxing & wrestling; he would go undefeated in both.

And one can see why: The man stood over 6 and a half feet tall, and was built like an ox. One local described him as “straight as an arrow, finely proportioned, symmetrical of form, every muscle well formed, rough and ready, jovial, generous, with a stentorial voice, blue eyes, florid complexion. Such a man would be picked out of a thousand as born to command.”

Andrew also excelled as a soldier in the militia. So much in fact that he was selected to join the famous “Roger’s Rangers,” fighting alongside the likes of John Stark & John Goffe throughout the French & Indian War (1754-1763), rising to the rank of Captain.

He was a favorite officer, nearly six and one-half feet in height, with a Herculean form, a voice like Stentor and strength of Ajax, never equaled 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.
-Warren Tripp, “The McClary’s of Epsom”

Following the war’s end in 1763, Andrew returned to Epsom, where he took charge of the family farm & tavern he had built with his father in his youth. Over the next several years, he would become a successful entrepreneur & leader within the community. His ventures grew to the point where he volunteered his tavern to become the town meeting place (since it was the largest building in town), and the adjacent land the local militia’s muster field (which he maintained himself).

Of he and his neighbors, it was said, “they were a people who would praise good whiskey and drink it; and damn bad whiskey, yet drink it with equal relish.” One tale from his past tells of a bar fight at a Portsmouth tavern, where Andrew overwhelmed six uniformed British officers who attempted to tackle him after a spirited debate over several drinks, throwing each -one after the other - through a window and out onto Court Street.

In December of 1774, he was again in Portsmouth - this time alongside future war heroes John Langdon & John Sullivan - leading the raid on Fort William & Mary to seize all of its arms & supplies (which would be used to combat the British at Boston a few months later).

Now, at the close of April 1775, he is gathered among more than a thousand spontaneously mustered NH citizens along the southern slope of Winter Hill, overlooking the besieged city of Boston. Their first order of business is to organize into something resembling a military regiment, and thus hold a vote to elect their officers. John Stark of Manchester - the well-known, outspoken hero of Roger’s Rangers fame - is chosen as their commander.

Second in command goes to Andrew McClary.

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June 17th, 1775 brings the Battle of Bunker Hill, and McClary’s finest - and final - action.

Less than a couple months into the Siege of Boston, the Patriots are looking to tighten their lines around the city by building fortifications at Bunker & Breed’s Hills just outside Charlestown during the night of June 16th. On the morning of June 17th, the British wake up to the sight of rebels digging these defensive positions directly across the river from Boston’s North End; too close for comfort. General Howe wastes no time, launching a full attack by land & sea to remove the Patriots from the Charlestown peninsula. The New Englander’s respond in kind, ordering reinforcements to Charlestown to support the badly outnumbered Patriots.

The New Hampshire Regiments are some of the first to arrive at the Charlestown Neck - a narrow land bridge connecting Charlestown peninsula to the mainland - but they aren’t the first: Massachusetts Regiments under Colonel Samuel Gerrish are halted in the road leading to Charlestown. Why? Because upon first seeing the thousands of British troops landing on the shores & several warships bombarding the Patriots from the Charles River, Gerrish & his officers are refusing to take the field. In response, Andrew McClary pushes his way to the front, demanding they move out of the way if they do not intend to fight.

“The fire of the gunboats and warships had turned the Neck into a terrifying war zone...it was hardly a surprise that a crowd of fearful soldiers was now blocking the approach to the Neck. In his deep and booming voice, Major McClary demanded that the officers and their men immediately step aside so Colonel Stark & his regiment could march to Bunker Hill.”
-Nathaniel Philbrick, “Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution”

Note: Colonel Gerrish was court-martialed by General Washington following the battle, charged with cowardice. He was found guilty & discharged from the Continental Army.

Once through the neck, they followed Colonel Stark & Major McClary through the cannonade to the base of Bunker Hill, assuming the critical flank position along the rail fence to the Mystic River on the Patriot’s left. It was here the British would endure their greatest losses during the first two assaults, with McClary proving himself a superior combat leader once again:

“During this tremendous fire of musketry and 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.”
-Samuel Swett, “History of Bunker Hill Battle”

 
Map depicting unit positions during the Battle of Bunker Hill. Note how vastly different the terrain and ancillary waterways are by comparison to today, and thus how critical the Charlestown Neck was to the fight.

Map depicting unit positions during the Battle of Bunker Hill. Note how vastly different the terrain and ancillary waterways are by comparison to today, and thus how critical the Charlestown Neck was to the fight.

 

When British reinforcements arrived later in the afternoon, General Clinton redirected them away from the Patriot flanks & towards the defenses atop Breed’s Hill for their third, and only successful, assault. While the regiments from NH held the field to cover the retreat of their fellow New Englander’s from Connecticut & Massachusetts, it was McClary who was the last man to leave the field, covering the NH men’s retreat back to the Neck.

One of his childhood friends and fellow officers wrote of this moment, when they reached the Charlestown Neck immediately following the battle. Note: I include his full account because it’s told far better than I could ever reiterate:

“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 very little effect, except that of killing the brave Major Andrew McClary of Col. Stark's regiment soon after we retired from Bunker Hill. He was among the first officers of the army - Possessing a sound judgment, of undaunted bravery, enterprising, ardent and zealous, both as a patriot and 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 appeared in motion, and said he would go and reconnoitre them, to see whether they were coming out over the neck...After he had satisfied himself that the enemy did not intend to leave their strong posts on the heights, he was returning towards me, and when within twelve or fifteen rods of where I stood, with my company, a random cannon shot, from one of the frigates lying near where the centre of Craigie's bridge now is, passed directly through his body and put to flight one of the most heroic souls that ever animated man. 

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. He was my bosom friend; we had grown up together on terms of the greatest intimacy, and I loved him as a brother.”
-Captain Henry Dearborn of Epping

He was buried somewhere in the Medford/Somerville area, alongside dozens of fellow men from NH who fell during the battle. While his burial site has been lost to history & no monuments have been erected to commemorate him, the memory & benefit of his heroic efforts remains.

“Thus fell Major McClary, the highest American officer killed at the battle, the handsomest man in the army and the favorite of New Hampshire troops. His dust still slumbers where it was laid by his sorrowing companions in Medford, unhonored 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.”
-Daniel Webster, at the Dedication of the Bunker Hill Monument

 
NH Historical Marker in Epsom remembering the service of Major Andrew McClary.

NH Historical Marker in Epsom remembering the service of Major Andrew McClary.

 

With that, we raise our glasses in honor & remembrance of Major Andrew McClary and his pursuit of the glory, not the prey. Cheers.

''With all the bravery of Stark, he possessed greater mental endowment; with the natural ability of Sullivan, he combined the magic power to incite his men to noble deeds; with the popularity of General Poor, he was more cool and discreet. In fact, he combined more completely than any of his associates the elements that tend to make a popular and successful commander, and had his life been spared he would doubtless have ranked among the most able and noted officers of the Revolution."
-Henry Dearborn, decades later after serving as a US Army General, Congressman & US Secretary of War

GLORY, NOT THE PREY

 
Regimental flag of the 2nd NH Regiment, courtesy of the New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord NH.

Regimental flag of the 2nd NH Regiment, courtesy of the New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord NH.

 

“In victory, the hero seeks the glory, not the prey.”
-Sir Philip Sidney, 16th Century

One of the oldest American battle flags in known existence is that of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, formed in 1775 at the onset of the Revolution. Today, it is preserved as part of the vast collection at the NH Historical Society in Concord. Upon it reads the regimental motto selected by soldiers of New Hampshire: “The Glory, Not the Prey.”

Sir Philip Sidney’s words resonated with the soldiers of NH: Heroes fight for what they believe in - for what is right - and care not about the spoils of war. Once the war had officially begun on April 19, 1775, they, by the thousands, voluntarily left home to support the cause of liberty.

Within 48 hours of the British march on Lexington & Concord, and subsequent commencement of the Siege of Boston, more than 800 men from NH arrived in Cambridge to take their place in the lines. Within a month, that number swelled to greater than 2,500.

Their first major engagement would come at the Battle of Chelsea Creek, where New Hampshire regiments under John Stark of Manchester would successfully board & overtake the British warship HMS Diana. After removing all of her cannon and powder (which would be used to hold the lines at Bunker Hill a month later), as well as removing her tall White Pine mast, they set the Diana ablaze #burntheships. By order of General Washington, her mast would be erected atop Prospect Hill in Somerville - the highest point around Boston - from which the first American flag would be flown.

 
Monument atop Prospect Hill overlooking the city of Boston, marking the location where the mast of HMS Diana was placed to fly the first American Flag.

Monument atop Prospect Hill overlooking the city of Boston, marking the location where the mast of HMS Diana was placed to fly the first American Flag.

 

At the Battle of Bunker Hill, it was the regiments from NH who saved the day and, likely, the war effort itself: upon reaching the field, Colonel Stark, along with Granite Staters led by Colonel James Reed of Fitzwilliam, disobeyed their orders and instead rallied to secure the left flank at the base of Bunker Hill - a weakness in the lines fellow officers had failed to account for.

 
John Trumbull’s “Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill.” Major Andrew McClary of Epsom is depicted to the left directly beneath the Flag of NE, raising his musket to protect the dying General Warren. McClary left his plow in his fie…

John Trumbull’s “Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill.” Major Andrew McClary of Epsom is depicted to the left directly beneath the Flag of NE, raising his musket to protect the dying General Warren. McClary left his plow in his field on the morning of April 20th upon hearing of the British march on Concord MA, and was in Cambridge by the 21st to join the fight. He was the last man on the battlefield at Bunker Hill, and died covering the retreat. He was buried with full honors in Medford, MA, alongside fellow soldiers who perished in the battle.

 

The British would attempt two full assaults on this flank, failing at both as they endured heavy losses. When British reinforcements arrived, General Clinton redirected his forces towards the redoubt - a defensive fortification - atop Breed’s Hill for their third, and only successful, assault. As the New Englanders retreated back to Cambridge, it was the NH regiments who covered the rear; they were the last to leave the field. Although technically a defeat for the Patriots, the heavy toll on the British during their first 2 assaults on the NH lines made the battle a strategic & motivational victory for the Americans. Further, the battle proved Americans could hold their own against the best army in the world on the open field.

"A few more such victories would shortly put an end to British dominion in America.”
-General Henry Clinton, in correspondence to Britain shortly after the battle

Months later, when the Patriots occupied the heights of Dorchester to the south of Boston, General Howe - then commander of British forces in America - opted to evacuate the city rather than suffer a repeat of Bunker Hill by attempting to remove them.

 
Granite marker at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown commemorating the action of the New Hampshire Regiments.

Granite marker at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown commemorating the action of the New Hampshire Regiments.

 

On November 29th of 1776, the Continental Army was dealt a major blow when regiments from Connecticut announced they would only remain within the lines surrounding Boston until the 6th of December, opting instead to spend the winter at home. 

“The Connecticut Troops will not be prevailed upon to stay, and such a dirty mercenary spirit pervades the whole that I should not be at all surprised at any disaster that may happen.”
-General George Washington, in a letter to Colonel Joseph Reed

Once again, New Hampshire answered the call: By December 2nd, 31 new companies of riflemen - totalling over 2,500 volunteers - were raised from across NH to take their place. They reported to Colonel Stark at Winter Hill soon after, and fortified the northern siege positions before they were abandoned. This brought the total of Granite Staters in the Continental Army to over 5,000; more than any other state. These men remained at their posts throughout the harsh winter of 1775-1776, until the British evacuated Boston in March.

“The Connecticut troops have gone home; yet the militia from New Hampshire have come in to take their places. Upon this occasion, we have discovered a new zeal that does them the highest honor. New Hampshire behaves nobly.”
-General Nathaniel Greene of Rhode Island, December 18, 1775

In the closing days of 1776, NH soldiers made the famous crossing of the Delaware River alongside General Washington, then led the surprise attack on British & Hessian forces at Trenton. Colonels Stark & Enoch Poor - of Exeter - led the vanguard of NH soldiers into the town’s streets in the initial assault, overtaking Hessian defensive positions with fixed bayonets, as much of their powder had become wet in the winter storm and thus, was unusable.

 
“The Battle of Trenton” by H. Charles McBarron Jr., depicting the Patriots storming the streets of the town.

“The Battle of Trenton” by H. Charles McBarron Jr., depicting the Patriots storming the streets of the town.

 

When other regiments tasked with securing the rear of the town failed to cross the river, deeming it “impossible,” New Hampshire General John Sullivan of Somersworth adjusted: after leading his men across the river, he assumed their position and halted the enemy’s retreat. It would be Sullivan who would personally accept the surrender from Colonel Johann Rall as the Hessians attempted to flee from the town; the first decisive American victory of the war, and a total one at that: The British would suffer over 100 wounded or killed - as well as over 800 captured by Sullivan’s men - compared to less than 10 casualties endured by the Patriots.

The New Hampshire Regiments were the heroes of the Battles of Bennington & Saratoga; the events which turned the tide of the war in favor of the Patriots. In the summer of 1777, the 1st, 2nd & 3rd New Hampshire Regiments - along with the new 1st NH Brigade, raised by John Stark himself - met Burgoyne’s army in western Vermont to repel the British “Saratoga Campaign,” the plan by which they intended to end the war. Stark would become known as the “Hero of Bennington,” having personally led his men - with saber in hand - to overwhelm British & Hessian forces in fortified positions atop the high ground. Note: our very own Ebenezer Mudgett - leader of Weare’s Pine Tree Riot in 1772 - served here as a private within Stark’s ranks.

"There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"
-General John Stark, moments before their attack

 
“The Battle of Bennington” by Frederick Coffey Yohn, depicting General John Stark leading NH Regiments into the enemy’s defenses. One of the cannon captured here by the Patriots made it back to NH: The “Molly Stark Cannon” was gifted by Stark to the…

“The Battle of Bennington” by Frederick Coffey Yohn, depicting General John Stark leading NH Regiments into the enemy’s defenses. One of the cannon captured here by the Patriots made it back to NH: The “Molly Stark Cannon” was gifted by Stark to the New Boston Field Artillery Company, who still maintain & display it to this day, firing it 3 times every year on the 4th of July.

 

In response to the Patriot victory in battle, men by the hundreds volunteered to join the Patriot cause for independence; a movement that until this moment had been in doubt by many American colonists. Further, the victory at Bennington convinced France to align with these United States, becoming the first foreign nation to recognize our independence; an effort to which Benjamin Franklin had committed months without success.

Soon after, the British would find themselves surrounded at Saratoga. When Burgoyne finally surrendered to the Patriots, it was NH militia’s Colonel Jonathan Chase of Cornish who would accept it on the field of battle.

At Yorktown - the final stand for the British in America - New Hampshire soldiers were again present & engaged at the decisive moment: The men raised by Alexander Scammell of Durham fought alongside Alexander Hamilton during the bold night attack that history remembers as the “Storming of the Redoubts.” Once taken, General Cornwallis surrendered his army to the Patriots, effectively ending British military operations in America and thus, the war itself.

 
“The Storming of Redoubt No. 10” by Eugene Lami. It was here that Alexander Hamilton led a regiment of light infantry comprised mostly of NH soldiers raised by Colonel Alexander Scammell of Durham. Scammell - one of Gen. Washington’s favorite young …

“The Storming of Redoubt No. 10” by Eugene Lami. It was here that Alexander Hamilton led a regiment of light infantry comprised mostly of NH soldiers raised by Colonel Alexander Scammell of Durham. Scammell - one of Gen. Washington’s favorite young officers - was mortally wounded at Yorktown; the highest ranking officer to perish during the engagement.

 

Once victorious at the war’s end, the soldiers of New Hampshire returned home, resuming the simple lives they had left to join the cause.

There are many stories to tell of the Revolutionary War heroes from New Hampshire; stories we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months. What’s clear is whenever the war effort was at its most dire - and defeat at its most imminent - the men of NH repeatedly stepped up as the heroes our country needed to achieve victory.

The most famous among them - John Stark - declined to take his share of the fame and fortune inherent to war heroes. He instead resigned his commission and returned to work on his family farm in Manchester’s north end. He never held political office, has no monuments dedicated to him in our nation’s capital, and no denomination of currency bears his likeness.

“Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.”
-John Stark’s toast to the veterans of Bennington, 1809

 
Monument at John Stark’s burial site on his family farm - today Stark Park - along the Merrimack River in Manchester.

Monument at John Stark’s burial site on his family farm - today Stark Park - along the Merrimack River in Manchester.

 

The spirit & memory of the New Hampshire regiments - and the words of Sir Philip Sidney which inspired them - resonates deeply with all of us here at Able; the work we put in everyday isn’t driven by the prospect of awards, riches, or to be touted as better than another. Rather, our motivation is the pursuit of what we believe in; of what we love.

With that, in honor of the brave volunteers from New Hampshire who left home to fight for our independence - most of whom will never have their names enshrined in history - we introduce Glory, not the Prey. We believe you’ll love it as much as we do.

Cheers.

Note: We want to give a big shout-out to the team at the NH Historical Society for all of their help & expertise in this effort; looking forward to our continued work together. If you’re interested in NH’s history, they’re worth a visit. Consider supporting their work here: https://www.nhhistory.org/Join/Donate/Ways-To-Give





Assault on Fort Wagner

 
 

Bar story: Tonight, in 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Regiment led Union forces across the narrow beaches of Morris Island in the main assault on Fort Wagner; the key defensive position protecting the harbor of Confederate-held Charleston, SC.

The 54th Massachusetts - renowned as the first regiment comprised of African-American enlisted soldiers - was formed by Governor John Andrew following the Emancipation Proclamation. Recruitment was assisted by famous abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass (two volunteers being his sons) and Ralph Waldo Emerson (who also frequently attended their training in Boston).

Selected to command the unit was Robert Gould Shaw; the son of prominent Boston abolitionists, a veteran of many battles with the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry (including Antietam), and the recipient of 2 Purple Hearts. He accepted the assignment, was promoted to Colonel, then made for Boston to begin organizing and training the new regiment.

Although the Confederacy had recently issued a proclamation stating they would execute any captured African-American soldier - or white officer leading them - far more men came forward to volunteer than required. So many in fact, that the 55th Massachusetts was formed with the surplus. After months of training and with a building hunger to prove themselves in battle against the Confederacy, the 54th Massachusetts - 1,007 enlisted African-Americans and 37 white officers - gathered on the Boston Commons and, with great fanfare & celebration throughout the city, began their March south to join the fight.

Before departing, Shaw wrote to his father, “There is not the least doubt that we will leave the State with as good a regiment as any that has marched."

Upon arrival in South Carolina, Colonel Shaw was disappointed to find his regiment was not slated to join combat units at the front due to questions regarding their readiness & ability. After lobbying his commanders, the 54th was attached to General Quincy Gillmore’s division to assist in occupying James Island - located immediately south of Charleston - on July 8th as part of a larger campaign to take the city. It was here where Shaw’s men saw their first action: Confederate units moved to retake the island, but were successfully repelled by the 54th during the Battle of Grimball’s Landing on July 16th. Although not a major engagement, the men of the 54th had proven themselves in combat, earning a reputation for their effectiveness and composure.

The next day, Union Generals began planning their assault on the Confederate’s main defensive position protecting Charleston Harbor: Fort Wagner.

Fort Wagner was well protected, not just by its man-made defenses, but also by it's surrounding geography. With the Atlantic to the east, harbor to the north, and thick marshland to the west & south, the only ground approach was a narrow strip of sandy beach barely 60-yards wide; enough space to move only one unit at a time. Soldiers advancing on its walls would need to move quickly over a 1000 yards through this narrow stretch while under concentrated artillery and rifle fire.

Colonel Shaw - fresh off his first victory as commander of the 54th - requested his regiment lead the assault. General Gillmore granted his request.

In preparation, Union artillery and naval guns bombarded the fort throughout the day on the 18th of July. At dusk, the barrage ceased, and the 54th Massachusetts began their march forward, Colonel Shaw at the front.

----------

One soldier within the ranks of the 54th that night was a young man named William Harvey Carney.

Born a slave in Virginia in 1840, Carney escaped north to Massachusetts via the Underground Railroad, settling in New Bedford. Upon hearing of the formation of the 54th, he traveled to Boston to volunteer, not wanting to miss the opportunity to return south to fight. During training, Carney quickly emerged as a disciplined soldier and capable leader among his fellow volunteers and thus, was promoted to Sergeant in C Company.

Now standing on the beaches of Morris Island, with Fort Wagner ahead of him, Carney and his fellow soldiers set off and advanced quickly as the sun began to set. Almost immediately, the regiment began to take indirect fires from artillery, and endured continued fire throughout their approach. Although Carney would be hit during advance, and as many others around him fell, he continued forward towards Fort Wagner directly behind Colonel Shaw. The men cleared the narrow beach and neared the fort’s walls when the color guard (the soldier carrying the US flag into battle) took a fatal shot. Carney - charging beside him - quickly grabbed the flag and continued onward towards the wall.

Those of the 54th who made it to the fort began to advance up its sandy walls as reinforcing regiments attempted to make their way across the beach behind them. Shaw and Carney were among the first to make it to the top; Carney planted & waved the flag from atop Wagner’s walls to rally the charging men as Colonel Shaw and the rest of the 54th poured over the walls around him and engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

Yet, they would be the only Union men to enter the fort that night.

Regiments outside were unable to make it over the walls, and the 54th - now on their own - was eventually overwhelmed & pushed back. Colonel Shaw would fall fighting at close quarters atop the parapet; he was 25 years old, and buried in an unmarked mass grave in the sands outside the fort. Carney, severely wounded, ended up at the base of the walls. With his last ounce of strength he struggled to make it back across the beach to his lines, still maintaining a tight grip on the flag until he was finally carried from the field.

A writer from the United States Service Magazine, who witnessed the battle first hand, captured this moment: “As our forces retire, Sergeant Carney, who has kept the colors of his regiment flying upon the parapet of Wagner during the entire conflict, is seen creeping along on one knee, still holding up the flag, and only yielding its sacred trust upon finding an officer of his regiment. As he entered the field-hospital, where his wounded comrades are being brought in, they cheer him and the colors. Though nearly exhausted with the loss of blood, he says, ‘Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground.’”

For his actions and bravery under fire that day, William H. Carney would be awarded the Medal of Honor; the first African-American to do so. The official citation accompanying the award states:

“When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the colors thereon. When the troops fell back he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire in which he was twice severely wounded.”

After nearly a year of recovery, Carney would be honorably discharged from service. He returned to New Bedford where he first took a job maintaining the city’s street lights, then made a career in the mail service. After retiring from 37 years with the postal service, he served in the Massachusetts Department of State office at the State House. William Carney died in December of 1908 at age 68, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford; an image of the Medal of Honor engraved on his headstone.

The performance of Sergeant Carney and the 54th Massachusetts at the Battle of Fort Wagner ended any debate about African-American’s ability to serve alongside their fellow countrymen. The 54th continued fighting throughout the South - as did the many other integrated units which followed - until the war’s end in 1865.

Closing note: Carrying a flag into battle may seem like an unnecessary accessory when we think of warfare today, but they serve as both a coordination tool & motivational symbol; both are key in combat. Regiments during the Civil War would protect their colors at all costs, and use them to rally their fellow soldiers to stay in the fight. In fact, every soldier today carries the flag into combat: while some may think our flag patches are backwards, they aren’t; they’re designed to face the direction a flag would be flowing if they were carried unfurled into battle.

Images:
1) “The Storming of Fort Wagner” by Kurz & Allison, Colonel Shaw & Sergeant Carney portrayed at center.
2) Colonel Robert Gould Shaw shortly after accepting command of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 1863.
3) Sergeant William Carney with the flag, 1864. Note the cane he needs to use to stand for the photo due to his wounds from Fort Wagner.
4) William Carney in 1901, wearing his Medal of Honor.
5) Modern US Army Soldier “carrying” his flag.

Army's B-Day

 
washington NYC.jpg

Bar Story: Today is the US Army's 244th birthday, having been formed on June 14, 1775 in the wake of the Battles of Lexington & Concord, and subsequent Siege of Boston.

Over 22,000 militiamen from across New England arrived outside of Boston in April, 1775, after the British failed to seize a key arms & munitions store in Concord, MA. Another 5,000 militia mobilized in New York once word of the marching British reached the city; those men seized the Battery and it's cannons at the southern tip of Manhattan. War had begun.

In response, the representatives of the 2nd Continental Congress were recalled to Philadelphia deal with the war effort. While they clung to the chance of reconciliation with England in hopes King George would agree to repeal the Coercive Acts (known in the colonies as the "Intolerable Acts"), they also knew the British making a move on the local population in New England was cause to organize a defense force. With thousands of armed militiamen already mobilized with victories under their belt, they had the beginnings of that army already in place.

On June 14th, the Congress agreed to establish & organize the new Continental Army, consisting initially of the soldiers occupying NYC and the hills surrounding Boston, while also raising several regiments of militiamen from PA, MD, DE & VA colonies. All agreed to one-year enlistments.

The next day, the Congress met again to decide who would be named Commander of the new army. While John Hancock of Massachusetts was thought to be the favorite for the role, fellow statesmen Samuel Adams & John Adams nominated Virginia farmer George Washington; a southerner & veteran of the French & Indian War. Since he was from Virginia, it was believed he could help unite the colonies against the British, rather than have New England alone fight the war. In an unanimous vote, Washington was granted command.

Washington accepted the position, stating to the Congress: "I do not think myself equal to the Command I am honored with." In closing, he stated he wished not to profit from his command and thus, refused any pay. Soon after, he mounted up and rode off for Boston, arriving on July 3rd to take command.

Washington would spend the next 8 years (very difficult ones at that) leading the Army before winning his final victory at Yorktown in 1783.

In the decades & centuries since, the US Army has continued to stand as the ultimate defender of these United States & our liberty. From it's modest beginnings as an army of New England farmers, to what is today the world's most powerful fighting force, the Army goes rolling along.

Image: George Washington leads the victorious Continental Army through the streets of New York City in November, 1783.

 

"That's All, Brother"

 

Bar story: Many of you likely know today marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in France, where the Allies successfully landed over 150,000 soldiers to combat the Nazi’s conquest of Europe.

What many don’t know much about are the thousands of men who jumped behind enemy lines prior to the invasion, and the brave pilots who carried them.

As early as 1942, Hitler & his generals were very aware of the potential for an Allied invasion, and knew a successful one could turn the tide of the war in Europe. With that in mind, Hitler ordered the construction of the Atlantic Wall, a 2500+ mile-long connected fortification of walls, batteries, bunkers & thousands of soldiers stretching from Norway to the France-Spain border, which would serve to defend Europe from any attempted landing. Between 1942 & 1944, over a million citizens were drafted to build it. Because of this, the Allied forces needed a way to out-maneuver the wall as part of the invasion.

Enter the Airborne.

The 82nd & 101st Infantry Divisions of the US Army were tasked with this mission: their Parachute Infantry Regiments would be dropped deep into Nazi territory hours before the beach landings at dawn. The plan called for 800 Douglas C-47 Skytrains to carry the roughly 13,000 American paratroopers over the Atlantic Wall - at low altitude - where they would jump into enemy territory just after midnight & disrupt Nazi operations from behind their lines.

The formations of C-47’s were subject to heavy enemy fire upon their approach to the coast, causing many of the drops to be off target. However, despite the chaos, the Airborne invasion was a tactical success, as the Nazi’s were unable to reinforce their defensive positions along the Atlantic Wall as the main Allied invasion of Normandy kicked off at sunrise on June 6th.

The plane leading the formations that night was piloted by Lt. Colonel John Donalson; his C-47 would be the first to enter enemy airspace as part of the D-Day invasion.

Donalson was a pilot with the Alabama National Guard’s 106th Observation Squadron, flying a C-47 he had named “Belle of Birmingham,” after a girl he’d met in his home state’s largest city. Yet, he was to be issued a new C-47 for the D-Day invasion. The new plane was manufactured in Oklahoma City, and delivered to the Army Air Corps at Dallas in the Spring of 1944, then made her voyage across the Atlantic. Once received in England, it was time for Donalson to give her a name. Believing that D-Day would mark the beginning of the end for the Nazi regime, he went with a personal message to Adolf Hitler himself: “That’s All, Brother.”

“That’s All, Brother” took off after 10pm on June 5, 1944 from Greenham Common Air Base in Berkshire, leading the formation of hundreds of C-47’s across the English Channel & along the northern coast of France. 75 years ago this morning - just after 1am - Donalson hit the green light, triggering the jumps of thousands of American paratroopers.

Following the war, the aircraft was decommissioned and sold multiple times before being lost to history. 70 years later, it was found by chance in an aircraft boneyard in Wisconsin; she was slated to be taken apart and refitted into a modern turbo-prop aircraft.

The Commemorative Air Force - a non-profit based in Texas - stepped up and purchased the plane to save it, then sought funding to help with restoration. The goal of their crowdfunding campaign was $75,000; citizens rallied & donated well over $300,000.

Fast-forward to today, “That’s All, Brother” just completed her 2nd voyage across the Atlantic, this time to take part in the 75th anniversary of D-Day; yesterday, she crossed the English Channel once again. Cool piece of American military history.

You can follow "That's All, Brother's" journey here: Commemorative Air Force That's All, Brother. Cheers.

Images:
1) General Eisenhower speaking with Paratroopers from the 506th PIR at Greenham Common before their jumps
2) LTC John Donalson & crew of “That’s All, Brother”
3) Nose of the aircraft taken on June 5th, 1944, in Berkshire immediately prior to the invasion
4) Ongoing restoration of “That’s All, Brother” by the Commemorative Air Force in 2017
5) Today’s crew, after crossing the English Channel & landing in France yesterday

 

Alarm & Muster

 
“The Lexington Minuteman” by sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson (1900)

“The Lexington Minuteman” by sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson (1900)

 

Bar Story: It was on the evening of April 18th, 1775, that Paul Revere climbed into the rowboat he hid days before along the north shore of Boston, and made his way across the harbor under cover of darkness. Behind him, two lights could be seen hanging in the steeple of the Old North Church, alerting the militia in Charlestown ahead of him. They received him on the banks of the Charles River, where he was provided a horse for his ride.

This is a moment years in the making: New England had already built a reputation of civil disobedience against British rule, with Boston becoming the most notorious. After a decade of insubordination, King George declared the colonies in outright rebellion, and ordered General Gage - commander of the British army occupying Boston - to arrest rebel leaders to stand trial for treason, as well as march his army out to the Massachusetts countryside and seize the arms & supplies of local militias.

However, the people of Massachusetts were prepared: their Provincial Government - led by rebels such as Samuel Adams & John Hancock - had spent the fall of 1774 building a system of routes, riders & militiamen designed to “alarm & muster” a large force trained to “turn out for service at a minute's notice.” In the greater Boston area alone, over 16,000 “minutemen” quietly enlisted and began to train.

As the sun set on the 18th of April, Doctor Joseph Warren of Boston - later General Warren of Bunker Hill fame - received word that the British were making their move, gathering the majority of their troops on the Commons to be ferried to Cambridge. He needed to get word out, but Boston was already under martial law, and with darkness setting in, mounted patrols were out & no one would be allowed to enter or leave the city.

At 9pm, he called on silversmith Paul Revere & tanner William Dawes, giving them instructions to ride to Concord - location of both the Provincial Government & militia stores - and trigger the alarm along the way. Revere was to try and go north across the Charles River, while Dawes would attempt to go south across the Boston Neck.

Contrary to popular belief, the lanterns hung in the Old North Church were not intended to alert Revere, but were Revere’s idea to notify the militia across the river of which route the British were taking in order to coordinate their movements, and in case he didn’t make it out of the city. That evening, on the way to his hidden boat, Revere stopped at the Old North Church and instructed Robert Newman - sextant of the church - to hang the lanterns.

And so it was that, just after 10pm, the lanterns were hung as Paul Revere rowed across the river, successfully sneaking past HMS Somerset sitting at anchor, which was providing protection over the British soldiers landing at Cambridge.

Revere would ride quickly through Charlestown, Somerville, Medford, Arlington and finally into Lexington, where he would arrive right around midnight. At each stop, he cried “the Regulars are coming out!” as minutemen poured into the streets and increasing numbers of riders were dispatched out to further communities. The alarm had been given, and the people mustered.

There were countless other riders, most of whose names have been lost to history, who spread the word across New England and the colonies beyond. Without their planning, determination and effort, the American Revolution would not have been. Riders Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott, William Dawes, Israel Bissel and the many others have thus earned their place in our nation’s history.

In addition to other express riders delivering messages, bells, drums, guns, bonfires, and trumpets were used for rapid communication from town to town, notifying the rebels across Massachusetts to muster their militias. This system was so effective that people in towns 25 miles from Boston were aware of the British army's movements while they were still unloading their boats in Cambridge. In matter of days, the news made it all the way to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

The quickly massing militias caused the British to fail in their mission; they met defeat at the Battle of Concord, and were forced to retreat back to Boston. Following the battle, General Gage offered a pardon to all who would "lay down their arms, and return to the duties of peaceable subjects.” There were no takers.

In the days which followed, militiamen from across New England arrived and surrounded the city, thus beginning a nearly year-long siege. General Washington would arrive & take command later that summer, and the British would finally evacuate Boston in March, 1776.

Fun fact: The Lexington Green hosted the start of the American Revolution for one reason only: it was the site of the Buckman Tavern (still standing), which was a favorite hangout for the Lexington Training Band (militia) after a day of training on the green. So much in fact that the tavern became the rally point for the unit when the alarm was sounded. On the night of April 18th, they mustered at the tavern in the middle of the night, and enjoyed pints of ale as they waited for the British to arrive. They also failed to stop the British advance 🤷‍♂️

Francis Grater

Bar story: I really dig this one, because it hits close to home in more ways than one.

General George Washington first arrived in Cambridge on July 3rd, 1775, to assume command of the various militias surrounding Boston, who were now part of the new Continental Army. Throughout the remainder of that summer, more local units continued to arrive in Cambridge and request assignment within the army & its siege of the city.

One such unit - the Marblehead Regiment - was notably different than the rest: being from a busy port town, their unit was comprised entirely of volunteers who were experienced seamen & sailors. As such, when their commander - Colonel John Glover - met General Washington in Cambridge, he recommended they receive a different assignment: refit merchant vessels into warships & take the fight to the British on the high seas.

It was a bold idea, but Washington loved it. So much so, when the Continental Congress stated they lacked the funding for a navy (even a make-shift one), Washington paid for it himself. Colonel Glover donated his family’s own ship to serve as the first: the “Hannah.” After a quick refit, the men of the Marblehead Regiment took her to sea in September, 1775, and quickly captured their first British ship off Gloucester.

 
“Continental Schooner Hannah” by William Nowland van Powell

“Continental Schooner Hannah” by William Nowland van Powell

 

Glover’s Marblehead Regiment would build out six more ships, serving as the first American naval vessels. History remembers them as “Washington’s Crusiers.” In the months leading up to the British evacuation of Boston in March 1776, the Cruisers heavily disrupted British shipping and naval operations off the shores of Massachusetts, delivering a bounty of supplies to Washington’s new army.

The Cruisers were identified on the seas by a notable flag of the Revolution, selected by Washington & his staff: “one with a white ground, a green pine tree, and the inscription ‘An Appeal to Heaven;’” a nod to both John Locke & the men of NH’s Pine Tree Riot. You may have seen the replica of this very flag we have hung here in our bar.

One of the men serving under Col. Glover aboard the Cruisers was a young Marblehead seaman who has deep ties to our community here in Merrimack: his name was Francis Grater.

Francis (originally Francisco) was born in December, 1752, in Barcelona, Spain. In 1765, he left home aboard the merchant ship “Triton” bound for the New World. This was his first exposure to the high seas, and he would learn a great deal on this voyage from Captain George Wilson. When Francis arrived in America, he found his new home in Marblehead where he took up work as a fisherman. A decade later, as the Revolution heated up following Lexington & Concord, he enlisted in Glover’s new regiment and marched with them to Cambridge.

Francis served as a privateer against the British until he was captured in November 1778 and imprisoned until early 1779. When he finally made his return to Marblehead, Francis married the woman he’d loved since his youth: Jane Wilson, whom he first met on his voyage to the America’s aboard the “Triton.” She was Captain Wilson’s daughter.

After the war, Francis & Jane Grater relocated their family to New Hampshire to build their homestead - a dream of Francis’s when he first left Spain - purchasing a large plot of land just south of Baboosic Lake along the Amherst-Merrimack border. They raised their family here, where Francis made his living farming and logging, while Jane fashioned & sold women’s clothing along the trade route between Merrimack & New Boston. Their eldest son, John, would go on to serve in the War of 1812.

Francis - who had been an immigrant, sailor, fisherman, warrior, entrepreneur, farmer & family man - passed away at his home in 1845 at the age of 94. #america

 
View from within Francis Grater’s land in Merrimack, now known as Grater Woods

View from within Francis Grater’s land in Merrimack, now known as Grater Woods

 

Today, Francis Grater’s former property is owned and preserved by the Merrimack Conservation Commission as Grater Woods. The MCC’s volunteers maintain the ~500-acre property, which is open to the public, and features a wide variety of wildlife, as well as many of the original roads, rock walls and granite foundations put in place by the Grater family 2 centuries ago. It serves as both a great piece of local history, as well as an awesome place to experience the beauty of southern NH’s wilderness.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Cheers. #merrimack

'Frigate B'

 
 

Bar story: It was on this day in 1794 that Congress passed the “Naval Act,” which authorized the building of six frigates; our nation’s first warships.

Joshua Humpreys - a shipbuilder and naval architect from Philadelphia - was selected to design them. The challenge he was presented was much more than designing a few ships; since only six would not rival any of the other established fleets of the world, he had to reimagine what a frigate was in order for them to compete on the high seas. His vision: the largest, heaviest & fastest ships ever built; mighty enough to beat any opponent in battle, yet fast enough to outrun all others when outnumbered. Humphreys’ final designs were the most complex ever attempted to that point in the history of shipbuilding.

President George Washington selected the 6 shipyards where the ships would be built simultaneously. “Frigate B” was to be built at Edmund Hartt’s shipyard in Boston’s north end.

Frigate B would be one of the larger ships at 50-guns, and thus Humphreys’ design called for a complex bill of raw materials. Roughly 60 acres worth of trees were required for her construction: Live Oak - a sturdy, dense hardwood which is difficult to cut and work with - from St. Simon island in Georgia was used for her heavy frame. The keel and hull were built of White Oak from across New England, while her masts were of tall White Pine (of course) from Unity, Maine. From those masts, 36 sails made of flax at the Boston Manufacturing Company were hung, totalling over 42,000 square feet (or roughly one acre).

Her large, 5000+ lb anchors were cast by Nathaniel Cushing of Pembroke, MA. The anchor cable was woven of hemp, measuring 22-inches in diameter and over 700 feet long; it took nearly 300 men to carry the rope from Jeffrey’s wharf at the North Battery down the street to Hartt’s shipyard to be installed on the frigate. The North End’s own Paul Revere would cast the thousands of copper bolts & fasteners for her hull, as well as her 250-lb bell.

This was construction on a scale not yet seen for a frigate.

She was so large & heavy that when the builders attempted to launch her in September of 1797 (an event attended by President John Adams), her hull forced the ways (ramps) into the earth and she came to a stop after sliding only 27 feet. It took a month to rebuild the ways for another attempt.

Finally, on October 21st, 1797, she was successfully launched into Boston Harbor. With a bottle of Madeira wine broken over her hull, she was christened the USS Constitution.

The Constitution would become famous at the onset of the War of 1812: as the US declared war on Britain in June 1812, over 80 Royal Navy vessels were operating in American waters. The US Navy, by comparison, was a much smaller fleet of only 22 ships; the original 6 frigates among them. Yet, with a max expected lifespan of only 10 to 15-years after their completion, they were aging. Thus, the British were heavy favorites on the seas.

After a resupply, the Constitution set out of Boston in August of 1812 with the intent of raiding British merchant ships. She instead came face-to-face with the British frigate HMS Guerriere off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. As they closed, Guerriere was first to break and fire off full broadsides at Constitution. It was during this initial barrage that cannonballs from Guerriere were witnessed “bouncing” off the sides of the Constitution. In this moment, a crew member is said to have cried out “Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!”

Constitution continued to close rapidly as she took fire, maneuvering within 25 yards before opening up her first full broadsides of grape and round shot. This barrage brought down Guerriere’s masts and crippled her; the British surrendering shortly after. Captain Isaac Hull of the Constitution took Guerriere’s crew prisoner, then set fire to what remained of the tattered vessel. #BurntheShips

Word of their decisive victory spread quickly, and the Constitution was given a hero’s welcome upon her return to Boston. Although the loss of Guerriere was insignificant to the British (who maintained a worldwide fleet of over 600 ships at the time), the battle provided a tremendous boost to American morale & patriotism during the war, serving as proof we could hold our own against the world’s best. After the stories of British cannon being unable to penetrate her mighty, New England-built oak hull, the Constitution earned the nickname “Old Ironsides.”

Years later in 1830, when rumors the Navy was planning to scrap her, thousands of Americans from across the country wrote letters urging she be saved. The Navy obliged.

She has undergone many refits in the years since, but the USS Constitution still serves today as the oldest active vessel in the United States Navy, stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.

Fun fact: During WW2, 1st Armored Division (with whom Able brewers Mike & Carl both served with) was nicknamed “Old Ironsides” by General Bruce Magruder in honor of the Constitution.

Image: USS Constitution setting sail at her 200th anniversary in 1997, with destroyer USS Ramage, frigate USS Halyburton and the Blue Angels.

The Nashua Canal

 
Artwork: “Nashua New Hampshire, 1883” from the archives at the Library of Congress

Artwork: “Nashua New Hampshire, 1883” from the archives at the Library of Congress

 

Bar story: It was in the early spring of 1826, as the snow and ice from winter began to thaw, that the waters of the Nashua River were set loose into the town’s newly dug canal, providing the first power to the turbines at Nashua Manufacturing Company’s Mill #1 in downtown.

This was a defining moment for Nashua, as the town would quickly grow to become a centerpiece of New England manufacturing. Downtown alone would go on to lead in the production of textiles, shoes, steam boilers, paper, tools, lumber, furniture and more. Even armor for our nation’s first iron-clad warship - the USS Monitor (which has its own story to tell) - was forged at the Nashua Iron & Steel Company on East Hollis Street. By the 1860’s, six separate rail lines would run through the city, with over 50 trains coming and going each day to bring its goods across the country.

This expansion was not the product of one person’s ingenuity & know-how, but of many.

Daniel Abbot - one of Nashua’s founding fathers - led a group of local entrepreneurs in chartering the would-be Nashua Manufacturing Company in 1823, believing the Nashua River and surrounding community held great potential. They envisioned a canal running from Mine Falls (today, a fantastic city park) into the center of town, where its waters would power a series of manufactories that would serve as the foundation for a new city. Daniel Webster was among the company’s founders, and its largest investor.

They hired James Baldwin - a young, ambitious civil engineer - to construct the canal. After surveying the terrain, he spent the entirety of 1825 with his crew of locals reshaping the earth from Mine Falls to near the Main Street Bridge (which was also first built in 1825 by the Nashua Mfg Co). At completion, the canal was 3-miles long, 60-feet wide, 6-feet deep, and handled a 33-foot change in elevation. The canal’s locks were constructed of solid stone measuring 24-feet high, 10-feet wide and 82-feet long, and set in place by Baldwin’s team.

The canal’s dams & locks, as well as Nashua Manufacturing Co’s first mill buildings, were all designed by famed New England architect - and one of the fathers of American Architecture - Asher Benjamin. He also designed Nashua’s Unitarian Church on Canal Street (still standing), as well as inspired many of the city’s historic Federal style homes in the north end, including Daniel Abbot’s (now the Abbot-Spaulding Museum operated by the Nashua Historical Society; go check it out). His federal building style became a staple in Nashua’s early architecture, including with the first City Hall (1843), designed by Nashua inventor & architect (and student of Asher's), Samuel Shepard.

In the years that followed the opening of the canal, Nashua became a boomtown. Within a decade, the population more than tripled as more factories, shops, homes, schools, churches and infrastructure were built. Nashua quickly evolved into a city of innovative builders, tinkerers, craftsmen and inventors, all who played a vital role in our country’s growth during those early, defining years. Very Able indeed.

“When we see the position Nashua assumed as the mother of new enterprises, we wonder at the results...Any history of Nashua that left the workers (the men & women who work with their hands) out of consideration would not be complete. It was the superior intelligence of the help, rather than their acquired skill, to which we are indebted for the results.”
- Edward Everett Parker, “History of the City of Nashua,” 1897

Hamilton's Command

“Alexander Hamilton in the Uniform of the New York Artillery" by Alonzo Chappel (1828–1887)

“Alexander Hamilton in the Uniform of the New York Artillery" by Alonzo Chappel (1828–1887)

Cool bar story: On this day in 1776, Alexander Hamilton is named Captain of the New York Provincial Company of Artillery in NYC. It is his first military command, and at only 19 years of age, he was a bold choice.

Hamilton was a student at King’s College (now Columbia University) a year earlier when the battles of Lexington & Concord kicked off the American Revolution. In response, he and many fellow students joined the newly formed city militia, the "Hearts of Oak." They drilled before classes each day in the graveyard of St. Paul’s Chapel in lower Manhattan (still standing today) in uniforms they made themselves, which displayed the motto: “Liberty or Death.” In August of 1775, after the British evacuated Boston, Hamilton led this ragtag unit in a raid on the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan and, under fire from the HMS Asia in the upper bay, successfully seized the fortification and its cannons. From then onward, the "Hearts of Oak" held the Battery and operated as a volunteer artillery unit.

As the Revolution heated up in 1776, Hamilton had built a reputation as a intelligent & capable young leader, and thus was selected to raise & organize the new NY Provincial Company of Artillery, of which he was elected by his fellow soldiers to command as Captain on March 14, 1776.

It was in this role that he would go on to make a name for himself across the colonies, commanding his unit with distinction in battle, including at White Plains and Trenton. Many generals in the Continental Army requested Hamilton join their command staffs, but it would be General George Washington who saw the most potential in the young officer, appointing him as his Chief of Staff in 1777; a position Hamilton would hold for the next 4 years.

Longing to resume combat command, Hamilton requested to return to the line units in 1781, which Washington granted despite his preference to retain Hamilton on his staff. He was promoted to Colonel, and took the lead of 3 battalions at the Siege of Yorktown, where he personally led his men under cover of darkness to take the British redoubts defending the city with bayonets at close quarters; a move that forced the British to surrender the city, thus ending the Revolution.

Alexander Hamilton would go on to serve as NY’s representative to the newly formed Congress of the Confederation, and become a central advocate and architect of the United States Constitution. So much Able. #america #craftyourindependence