Samuel Whittemore Marker, Arlington

Former British dragoon officer Samuel Whittemore was not one to stand by when his former military assailed his town and neighbors, even at 80 years of age. With a loaded musket, a brace of pistols, and his saber, he engaged the Regulars near this spot. He killed one man with his musket and shot two more with his pistols. Saber drawn, he was shot in the face and bayoneted thirteen times. Left for dead, he survived his wounds and lived nearly two decades more.

Whittemore’s actions were consistent with the bravery of many of those fighting in Menotomy that day. Even when confronted by certain death, militia and minutemen took their lives into their own hands to get one shot at the Regulars. Their bravery did not escape the notice of Lord Percy, who begrudgingly wrote, “Nor are several of their men void of a spirit of enthusiasm, as we experienced yesterday, for many of them concealed themselves in houses, & advanced within 10 yds. to fire at me & other officers, tho’ they were morally certain of being put to death themselves in an instant.”

Galvin, 221