American Union Lodge No. 1 - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic ...

immediately put in motion. After proceeding some distance on the morning of the nineteenth, he was ordered, by a superior officer,
to halt; but after a short delay, BROOKS took the responsibility of continuing his march towards Concord. Within a short distance of
that place he came up with the retreating army of the British, by a cross road which traversed the highway from Concord to Boston,
at a point where a bridge and causeway were thrown over a marsh. Captain BROOKS perceived, that on arriving at the causeway the
enemy would have to call in their flank guards. He accordingly took a position partly covered by a barn and stone wall, near the
road, and greatly annoyed the flying column of the British. After they had passed, he joined the other American forces in the pursuit
to Charlestown.
In the organization of the army, which immediately took place, BROOKS was appointed a major in Colonel Bridge's regiment. A
battalion from this regiment formed a part of the detachment under the command of Colonel Prescott, by which the heights of
Charlestown were fortified on the night of the 16th of June, 1775. Although Major BROOKS' own battalion was not ordered upon this
service, he himself obtained General Ward's assent to attach himself to Colonel Prescott's party. He was very active, during the
night, in assisting in the work of entrenchment, and, in company with Colonel Prescott, reconnoitered the enemy. They heard, on
their midnight rounds, by the water's side in Charlestown, the voice of the sentinels on board the British man-of-war, the Somerset,
proclaiming "all's well." As soon as it was made manifest in the morning, from the enemy's movements, that they were preparing to
cross over and attack the redoubt, Major BROOKS was dispatched by Colonel Prescott to Cambridge, to the general-in-chief, to make
known the condition of affairs, and the want of a reinforcement. He wished to take one of the artillery horses, for greater expedition.
This was opposed by Colonel Gridley, who was unwilling to risk the safety of the piece; and Major BROOKS was obliged to perform
his errand on foot, which he did with promptitude and success.
During the residue of the year 1775, Major BROOKS paid great attention to the discipline of his regiment, which was considered as a
model in the army. When the new organization of the troops, at the beginning of the year 1776, took place, he was attached to
Colonel Webb's regiment, of the Connecticut line. With this regiment he was detached to assist in throwing up the works on
Dorchester heights, by which the enemy were compelled to evacuate Boston. After the British retired from Boston, Major BROOKS
marched, with the greater part of Washington's army, to Long Island; and was actively concerned in the service on that station, and
in performing his duty in the skilful retreat which the army was compelled to make.
After the retreat of the army from Long Island, Washington took a position at the White Plains. His advanced guard occupied a hill,
about a mile in front of the main army. Colonel Webb's regiment formed a part of this advanced corps. The whole of the British army
moved against this position. Unable, of course, to maintain the conflict successfully against a force so overwhelming, the Americans,
nevertheless, made a brave and resolute stand. Major BROOKS' gallantry and conduct were conspicuous; and the regiment received
the particular thanks of Washington, in his general orders, not only for its firmness in battle, but for the perfect discipline and good
order evinced in the retreat. It is believed to be no injustice to the other officers of the regiment, to attribute to Major BROOKS a large
share of the credit which it acquired for its exact discipline and soldier-like conduct on this occasion.
This regiment was included in the division of the army which marched through New Jersey, under the command of General Lee, to
reinforce Washington, on the right bank of the Delaware. Major BROOKS bore his part in the hardships and dangers of this winter
campaign, and remained with the regiment till the term had expired for which the men had enlisted.
In the campaign of 1777 Major BROOKS was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and attached to the 8th regiment of
Massachusetts troops, recruited principally by himself. Colonel M. Jackson of this regiment having been severely wounded in 1776,
the command in the field devolved principally upon Lieutenant Colonel BROOKS during the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, and till he
was promoted to the command of the 7th regiment, with the rank of colonel, on the death of Colonel Alden, in 1779.
In the spring of 1777, after the regiment was recruited, Lieutenant Colonel BROOKS was ordered to march to Albany and join the
northern army. On his arrival there, Fort Stanwix on the Mohawk was besieged by a portion of Burgoyne's army, then in the full
career of success. A division of the American army under General Arnold was ordered to the relief of the fort, and BROOKS'
command formed a part of the detachment. The route lay through a wilderness, for almost the whole distance of a hundred miles.
The march was performed with great rapidity; the object was accomplished, the siege raised, and the savage auxiliaries of the
British army dispersed.
This service having been performed, the detachment returned to the main army on the Hudson. Immediately afterwards, General
Gates advanced and stationed himself on Bemis' heights. General Burgoyne crossed the Hudson, and took up a position within two
miles of that of the American army, where he established and fortified his camp. On the ground between the two armies, on the 19th
of September and 7th of October, two of the severest battles of the revolutionary war were fought. On the 19th, Lieutenant-Colonel
BROOKS occupied the extreme left of the American line, and was engaged with the German troops. His regiment was the last to quit
the field, where it remained till near eleven o'clock at night. In the still more important and severely contested action of the 7th of
October, the regiment commanded by BROOKS was particularly conspicuous. He turned the right of the enemy's encampment, and
stormed the redoubt occupied by the Germans. Their commander, Colonel Breyman, was killed, and the works were gallantly
carried. Orders were given by Burgoyne to endeavor to retake them, but the attempt was not made; and Colonel BROOKS and his
regiment remained masters of the ground. In this important action, the influence of which on subsequent events was so decisive, it
is believed that Colonel BROOKS bore a part as distinguished as that of any officer of his rank engaged. He occupies a prominent
position in Colonel Trumbull's picture of the surrender of Burgoyne.
Immediately after this glorious event Lieutenant-Colonel BROOKS was ordered with his regiment to Pennsylvania, to join the army
under Washington. Soon after his arrival, the army took up its winter quarters at Valley Forge. Here Baron Steuben joined the army
as inspector general, and introduced his new system of military manoeuvres. Colonel BROOKS was designated by Washington to
assist the baron in bringing it into general use.
When the British army retreated from Philadelphia, in the spring of 1778, Washington left his encampment at Valley Forge and
marched on its rear. At Monmouth the two armies came in conflict; and Colonel BROOKS, as adjutant-general to General Lee,
performed a very conspicuous part in the events of that important day.
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