In June 1775, responding to the urgent call for aid from George Washington's besieged forces in Boston, Massachusetts, the Continental Congress took decisive action, ordering the formation of two companies of Virginia riflemen. Recognizing the importance of capable leadership, Washington handpicked Hugh Stephenson and Daniel Morgan to command these vital units. Stephenson set about raising his company in the Shepherdstown area, while Morgan undertook the same task in Winchester.
However, amidst the urgency of preparation, a spirited rivalry emerged between Stephenson and Morgan, each vying for the honor of leading the way to Boston. This rivalry intensified as both commanders raced to complete their companies. Within a concise span, both units were fully recruited and trained, their members filled with a genuine eagerness to join the fray.
Agreeing to combine their forces for the march to Boston, Stephenson and Morgan set a rendezvous point at Frederick, Maryland. Yet, tensions flared when Morgan, driven by a competitive spirit, set out a day earlier than planned, determined to reach Boston ahead of his counterpart. Stephenson's company, numbering 98 strong, embarked on July 17, relentlessly pursuing their rivals with a tenacity that saw them covering 30 to 36 miles per day.
Despite their remarkable efforts, Stephenson's riflemen were unable to overtake Morgan's company. After an arduous journey spanning 600 miles over 24 days, Stephenson's men finally reached Cambridge, Massachusetts, where they were assigned to the defense of Roxbury. To their chagrin, they discovered that Morgan had arrived five days prior, claiming the honor of being first.
So now we come to the possibility that one of these Virginia riflemen companies may have come through Wilbraham. The prospect of this is indeed intriguing. The rivalry between Stephenson and Morgan, each striving to lead their contingent to Cambridge, could plausibly have led one of the companies to veer off the Connecticut Path towards the Bay Road (Old Bay Path) after departing Hartford, Connecticut. This alternate route, traversing Springfield, Wilbraham, and so on before reaching Cambridge, offers a compelling clue. The discovery of over a hundred various sizes of period 50-caliber musket balls, with some of the spent balls being riffled, distinctive to riflemen from outside New England, scattered along a small area near the Bay Road—now Mountain Road in Wilbraham—suggests a potential encampment or rest stop, marking a poignant episode in their demanding journey.
A rare sight in New England, the rifle enjoyed far greater popularity in the untamed backcountry of the southern colonies, owing largely to the skilled gunsmiths of Pennsylvania and Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. While the majority of Continental regiments and militia units relied on smoothbore muskets, the frontier settlers arrived armed with cutting-edge eighteenth-century firearms technology.
Unlike smoothbore firelocks, which were simpler to load and could accommodate a socket bayonet, the American long rifle boasted a specialized barrel. Craftsmen meticulously carved spiral "lands and grooves" into the barrel during production. When fired from such a rifle, a tightly fitting load comprising a round lead ball and a greased patch engaged with the rifling, causing the projectile to emerge spinning from the muzzle. This imparted greater stability to the bullet during flight, enabling it to maintain accuracy over longer distances.
This fascinating historical anecdote! In 1775, after assuming his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington embarked on his journey to Cambridge. Departing from Philadelphia on June 23rd, he undertook a pivotal trek along the Bay Road. His path led him through Wilbraham on June 30th en route to Cambridge, where he would take command of the Continental Army.
Reflecting on this journey sparks curiosity about the movements of other significant parties during that time. It's intriguing to consider whether these two Virginia riflemen companies or the two other Maryland riflemen companies that followed shortly after, also traversed the Bay Road. Among the three routes to Boston, the Upper Bay Road stood out as the most frequented, owing to its distance from the shore, resulting in fewer and shorter river crossings. Moreover, its reputation for hosting the finest taverns likely added to its appeal, solidifying its status as the preferred route for travelers of the era.
However, it remains uncertain whether it was indeed one of the riflemen companies from these southern colonies that made the march that passed through Wilbraham. Further investigation is warranted to substantiate the hypothesis linking Wilbraham to the Beeline March of 1775. Additional historical research and archaeological examination may shed light on the route taken by these intrepid patriots, adding depth and clarity to their remarkable journey to Cambridge. We will certainly keep you all posted on our findings.
Comments