|
|
|
|
 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to this Fourth of July edition of NH Outlook. |
| Preshow #1 Return to index of stories... |
On this edition - come with us and relive The Battle of Bunker Hill. |
| Preshow #2 Return to index of stories... |
We'll take you to a New Hampshire landmark that some say is the true birthplace of American independence. Paul Revere was here in Portsmouth years before his famous boston ride. |
| Preshow #3 Return to index of stories... |
And the right of revolution. It's yours and mine and everyone who lives in the granite state. |
| Intro Re-enactment Return to index of stories... |
But first, The fourth of July is a time to reflect on America's past and its fight for independence. Everyone has their own way of connecting with our country's history - some do it though reading - others by visiting historical sites like this one here at Fort Constitution. There are also those who bring history to life in a very real way. Several years ago in Durham, we found some of those people - they were doctors, lawyers, auto mechanics, grocery store clerks. The one thing they all had in common was a passion for renacting the battles of the American Revolution. |
| Re-enactment Return to index of stories... |
On June 17, in Durham, companies of British soldiers walked head-on into well armed and fortified American colonists. Other than the location, this is what it would have looked and sounded like 226 years ago, at the Battle of Bunker Hill. "The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the most important battles of the American Revolution." Following their retreat from Lexington in April of 1775, the British, occupied the strategic seaport of Boston. There, they planned to fortify their seige by establishing a stronghold on Bunker Hill. Actually, it ended up on nearby Breed's Hill. "Our spies got the word that the British were planning to retake Charlestown and our offices, unorganized militia mostly, organized and decided to beat them to the punch. On the night of June 16, they went up there with about 800 men and made a redoubt and the next morning when the British awoke they found a redoubt all built and ready for cannon." "I'm from Ossipee, nh and my son has been in this a couple of times. This is my Father's Day treat, to come here and watch them. I get a lot of history and knowledge out of this." "We enjoy the time era. My husband and I have always enjoyed it and the kids are studying it in school so they can experience it first hand and go back and tell everyone what's going on." The British, under the leadership of General Howe, advanced on the hill with 2,500 soldiers and artillery. "It was a prolonged battled, fought in three waves. The Americans were fighting some of the best British soldiers. The first attack was from the beach. John Stark from NH was there." "Stark let them have it and it turned into a bloody battle for the British. They were dropped like flies." During the second attack, the British encountered colonial militia in the woods and behind rail fences. "Washington said that if you put the militia behind anything, they will fight. This was a great example of that." The first two British charges were ineffective. The colonists suffered few casualities. "Finally on the third attempt, they took it. The Americans run out of powder and ammunition." "The seige army didn't have many supplies. The British were getting gun powder from England and they ended up taking the day. It was a hollow victory however because they experienced so many casualties" Of the 2,500 British troops, more than 1,000 suffered casualties. The American number was 440. "It was scary, I would have been the one running into the woods. They just kept on walking into each other. The cause must have been great to sacrifice yourself like they did." "We hear in school that this was about 'taxation without representation', but would you have been bayonetted over taxes. I believe it was more about the political differences of the two countries. They had grown apart and the Americans had really become Americans. The British didn't understand that." On this hot, summer day, an hour from the actual battle site, hundreds have enjoyed and appreciated an important part of our history. It's what brings them back year after year. "There comes a time when the reenactors are taken back. It's like being in a time machine, that's what we all look forward to. It's like a chapter out of history." |
| Intro Fort Constitution Return to index of stories... |
Fort Constitution - some say - is the real birthplace of American Independence. A couple of years back, we had a chance to speak with Dan McIssaac who often gives tours here. He began by telling us about Paul Revere. |
| Fort walk Return to index of stories... |
THE SONS OF LIBERTY, YOU KNOW, IN THE PUBS, WOULD TALK ABOUT GETTING POWDER AND SHOT. AND THE FORT WAS THE MOST LIKELY PLACE. SO THEY TALKED IT UP AND TALKED IT UP, AND OF COURSE, THERE WERE SPIES THERE THAT WOULD RUN DOWN TO THE GOVERNOR. AND THE GOVERNOR, IN TURN, ASKED BOSTON TO SEND SOMEONE UP. SO THEY WERE GOING TO SEND A REGIMENT OF SOLDIERS UP, KNOWING THAT THE PATRIOTS, OR THE SONS OF LIBERTY, WOULD COME AND CAPTURE THE FORT. BUT HE GOT WORD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEND THE REGIMENT UP, PAUL REVERE, SO HE GALLOPED UP HERE, THE 50 MILES, AND TOLD THEM, "IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, DO IT NOW, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING. IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, A REGIMENT COMING." SO THEY. THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 14, THEY ALL LANDED ON THESE SHORES OVER HERE, AND THEY MASHED IN FRONT OF THE GATE, 400 OF THEM. AND THEY CAME FROM ALL THE LITTLE SMALL TOWNS AROUND HERE. AND THEY SAID, "HEY, WE WANT TO GET INSIDE." AND COCHRANE, WHO WAS THE LOCAL CAPTAIN, WHO ALSO LIVED AMONG THE PEOPLE, SAYS, "I CAN'T DO THAT; IT BELONGS TO THE KING." AND THEY SAID, "IF YOU DON'T WE'LL BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF." AND HE SAYS, "THAT IS A VERY MAGIC WORD," HE SAID. "JUST A MOMENT, I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING." SO HE FIRED A CANNON OVER THEIR HEAD AS A SIGN OF RESISTANCE. SO ANYWAY, THEY WERE BLOODLESS. SO THEY CAME IN AND STOLE 98 BARRELS OF POWDER, AND TURNED AROUND AND RAN OUT. AND THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, THIS GUY NAMED SULLIVAN, WHO WAS A LEADER ALSO, CAME BACK AND GOT SOME SMALL CANNON AND SMALL SHOT. BUT THE POWDER WAS TAKEN UPRIVER AND HIDDEN IN THE SMALL TOWNS IN HAYSTACKS AND BARNS, AND EVEN UNDER A PULPIT IN A CHURCH UP THERE. NOW, THIS POWDER WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL FOR THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MILITIA AT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WAS USED, THE POWDER OUT OF THIS FORT. SO IT WAS PUT TO GOOD USE JUST LIKE THEY MEANT IT TO BE. |
| Intro Right of Rev Return to index of stories... |
Acts of revolution played themselves out all over the colonies until the British were defeated. The adoption of the declaration of independence on July 4, 1776 signaled among other things, the right to revolution. That is a right we in New Hampshire have to this day. Chip Neal first examined this constitutional guarantee more than a decade ago. He has updated the story for us and found that things haven't really changed all that much. |
| Right of Revolution Return to index of stories... |
Chip - Let me tell you the early colonists were not very happy with old King George the Third - the king of Great Britain back in 1776. Let me just read you a few of the things that they accuse him of in the declaration of independence: "He has obstructed the administration of justice", "He has imposed taxes on us without our consent", "He has erected a multitude of new offices and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance". Why does that sound familiar even today? And - "he has plundered our seas, ravaged our coast, burned our towns and destroyed the lives of our people." So what did they do? They revolted! That's what the 4th of July is; it's about a celebration of revolution. Now, when those colonists got around to writing the federal constitution, do you think that they included the right of revolution in that constitution? No, of course not. But, New Hampshire did include the right to revolution in our state constitution. We're not the only state to do that but our version is really the strongest and clearest version - thanks to the chief author of our state constitution, John Pickering, who was a Portsmouth lawyer who lived right here on this spot John's house burned down back in 1802, but I'm sure he would have enjoyed strolling through here and browsing through the shops. Anyway, John and the other founding fathers included the right of revolution in Article 10 of our New Hampshire state constitution Let me read that article right now: "Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family or class of men. Therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestedly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may and of right, aught, to reform the old or establish a new government. The doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind." Why is that right of revolution still in our state constitution hundreds of years later? Has anyone ever tried to use it? Does anyone know it's there? Does anyone even know we have a state constitution? 00:50:31 - MOS Question: Do you know that we have a New Hampshire state constitution? Response: No I didn't know that. Q: Did you know we had a right of revolution written in the state constitution? R: I didn't know it was actually written up but it's good to know that it's there. R: I think some people maybe wish they knew about it. R: I think we should make some changes. R: I don't think I'm in a great hurry to overthrow the state government, despite the fact that they need shaking up. Chip OC That was 12 years ago, but things have not changed all that much. MOS 00:50:53 - David Brock - Chief Justice NH Supreme Court Brock: I think the underlying principle in article ten, is that government exists for the common benefit. And that resort to reformation, or as you used the term, revolution, is appropriate only when existing government fails utterly. 00:51:13 - Frank Mevers - State Activist Mevers: The right of revolution, as far as we know, has never been tested. In the hard sense of the word. It's a right that's there and it's very interesting that they saw fit to write it in place. Maybe putting it in black and white so succinctly, so that everyone could read it, talk about it and think about it, and decide whether they wanted to believe it or not, always puts things in proper perspective. 00:53:28 - Interview Q: I, Robert Bonser, of Nottingham, NH, do herby declare and give notice under the rights given to me under the Right of Revolution, Article 10, part purse of the New Hampshire bill of rights, that I do herby revolt against any and all so called zoning or building ordinances, now being unconstitutionally used by any or all set towns or cities, etc. etc. So we have a revolutionist right here. Oh yeah I'm registered. I pur- I believe I paid for publishing the paper and legal print everything else. No, I'm everything that I'm supposed to be; yet the courts, as usual, don't honor my rights. 00:51:47 - Robert Cushing, Jr - Political Activist Cushing: I look again to the women who walked out of the Dover textile mills in the 1830s in the first strike by women; when John Hail stood up in front of the congress of the United States and called for the abolition of slavery; when they railed against the power of monopolies; they talked about letting Catholics - when John Letti walked into the legislature and took his place as a representative, despite the fact that he was a catholic; those actions all were a part of the right of revolution. And I don't think there's anyone who's taken a conscious political act in this state against the existing power structure over the past two centuries, who hasn't known about the right of revolution; and hasn't been inspired by it and felt that was their license and privilege. 00:52:27 - Interview - Alf Jacobson, State Legislature Q: Why is it still in there do you think? You think people want it there? R: Oh I don't that there'd be any prospect of it ever being taken out. This state would look upon that as an extremely radical move. 00:52:42 - Richard Upton, Lawyer - Author "Revolutionary N.H." R: Hard to imagine it ever happening, but I should think anybody who had down any thinking would want to consider assembling a group of armed people and surrounding the state house while the legislature was in session, and the Governor and the counsel were there, and advising them that you want them all to resign. And you were gonna blockade the state house until they did. And if they didn't, after a while you were gonna come in and get 'em. 00:54:02 Now if by some chance we have inspired you to revolt against the state government, I want you to remember that this is very tricky business; dangerous stuff. I mean, must look at what's going on over in Eastern Europe - people are dying. Governments do not like to be taken over. So before we end this story, I think Richard Upton has some very good advice. Upton: If you start a revolution, you better win. 00:54:30 For NH Outlook I'm Chip Neal |
| Intro Fort walk 2 Return to index of stories... |
There are so many layers of history in New England. And here at Fort Constitution, the walls tell many stories. When we visited with guide Dan MacIsaac, he showed us remnants of the American Revolution. and also something from another era. |
| intro flag etiquette Return to index of stories... |
Are you one of those people who puts up the American flag every Fourth of July? Or do you have it on display year round either at home or at your workplace? We thought this would be a good day to find out about flag etiquette -the ways to display Old Glory AND how to retire a flag once it has become frayed or worn. The American Legion has long since taken on the task of disposing of aged flags. Just last year, Ben French was invited to the American Legion Flag Disposal Ceremony in Keene - where he observed a ceremony and got some tips on Flag etiquette. |
| flag etiquette Return to index of stories... |
Flag comes down from pole at Keene Sentinel, wide shot of older flag SOT: T1; 11:19 we try to change the flag at least twice a year. 11:24 TRACK 1: When the flag at the Keene sentinel becomes faded and tattered- Don Richardson is the man who replaces it. SOT: T1; 11:38 it makes you feel great it fills you with a sense of pride that is just unequalled. 11:42 TRACK 2: Being a newspaper The Sentinel gets a lot of letters to the editor when their Flag needs replacing. SOT: T1; its nothing mean spirited or anything- \12:10 its just people saying its time to change your flag or something like that. 12:17 TRACK 3: Paul Croteau is a Typesetter at The Keene Sentinel. Several times a year in an informal ceremony, He and Richardson who is the Facilities Manager, swap the old Flag with the new. SOT: T1; 14:15 I see the sentinel flag more often than not and I'll remind Don its time to change it I don't hesitate on that. 14:21 OUT SOT: T1;12:21 he's our flag spotter I guess you'd call him. 12:26 T1; 14:26 there's a perfectly good brand new one on one of our county buildings-clear across the street is a flag that's still in pretty good shape at the grange building- it might be ready for a change in a couple of months but right now its in pretty good shape. 14:39 TRACK 4: Keeping an eye on the condition of The cities Flags is a duty to Paul. See- Croteau is also Commander at Keene's American Legion Post Four. He served during the Vietnam era. NAT: older flag folded NAT BITE: from ceremony 00:57 commander- we have the honor to present for inspection and final disposal these flags of our country. 01:05 03:05They have reached their present state in a proper service of tribute, memory and love. 3:10 TRACK 6: When Flags are deemed no longer serviceable They are ceremoniously burned. T2; Let these faded flags of our country be retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rights and their places be taken by brand new flags of the same size and kind. And let no grave of our soldier or sailor dead be unhonored or unmarked. NAT: ceremony/ Flags on fire. T2; 12:26 it's a cleansing ceremony, it not only destroys the flags meaningfully but it gives your heart and should a little bit of an uplift I think. 12:37 T2; 10:16 Jennifer Phillips T2; 25:51its not going in a garbage can, in the town dump it's destroyed with honor , dignity. 25:58 OUT T2; 15:32 you always had a pride when you saw old glory there's some feeling you get you can't describe to people***BUTT*** 15:43 we mark graves with it , we fold it from a casket there's too much respect involved. 15:49 15:49 I have two flying from my house one north one south. 15:55 I brought two up today that are worn.15:57OUT STANDUP: The U-S Flag is considered by many to be a living symbol of the United States and since the attacks on 9-11 thousands of people have been displaying their red, white and blue but according to U-S Flag code there is a right way and a wrong way to show your patriotism. SOT: T2; 24:02 its respect for the symbol of our country. That's really what it is. The flag is the one unifying symbol of America. TRACK 8: Joe Caouette is national Chairman of The American Legions National Americanism Commission. He's an expert on Flag etiquette. SOT: 21:19 we see a lot flags being display home outside home son property 21:30 The flag mounted on a house should always have the blue field as you see it now always to the flags own right. 21:38 21:40 if the flags own right is here it would be to the viewers left. 21:50 if you have it this way that's improper. TRACK 9: Coauette says the flag should never touch the ground and should always stand Higher than surrounding flags. If your flag is attached to a car make sure it's secured. Some of the flags retired at post four were found on the side of roads. SOT: T2 People put them on their cars they fly them they fly off the car and they keep driving. TRACK 10: During assemblies should always be displayed to the right of the audience. SOT: T2; 22:59 and the reason for that it goes back to the old days when the right hand was always the weapon hand and the right hand raised without a weapon was a sign of peace. and that's why the flag is always to its own right or to the speakers right. 23:15 TRACK 11: Couette says now is the time of year to pay close attention to the condition of your flag. T2 23:24between flag day and fourth of July many of the flags have been flying through the winter , their becoming defaced , faded and so forth we concerned about a defaced flag a flag that's become unserviceable really. TRACK 12: If the circumstance is respectful- Caouette says flying an older version of Old Glory is okay. SOT: T2; 26:30 The week after sept 11. we were on the road going to an event in CT and someone on the road says look at theta old flag out there that's really an old flag and I said yeah but that flag prob came out of storage its prob someone's grandfathers from ww1 vets flag and it was flying there proudly. I don't see any disrespect in the flying of that flag at that time. TRACK 13: As for that revived love of Flag and country. The veterans we talked to say it's been a long time coming. SOT: T2 31:40 As I reach the twilight of my lifetime that this country will prob be in good hands because theirs a resurgence of the real the values- we gotta live with the values that made us the people that we are- we.a proud nation. Keene Sentinel- new flag waving TAG OUT: In Keene, I'm Ben French for New Hampshire Outlook. |
| tag etiquette Return to index of stories... |
As far as wearing flags goes- the image of one is acceptable but sewing an actual flag on your clothes is against the Flag code. For more information on Flag etiquette you log onto The American Legion website at legion-dot-org. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this fourth of july special edition. Thanks for joining us. For more information on our program, streaming video, links to our guests and interviews and to tell us what's on your mind in our discussion forum, visit our website at nhptv.org. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on our program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts. We want to know what's on your mind. Join our discussion forum and tell us what you're thinking. If you have a story idea or comment on our program, click the feedback button. Or, call us at 800-639-2721. |