societies; and although they boasted no classic titles and lacked all the imposing ceremonies that are a part of the present organizations, they wielded a wonderful influence, and achieved even grander results than are now possible; for the emergencies of those times were overwhelming, and the resources for meeting them vastly inferior to the miraculous inventions of our day.

One of the most remarkable of these was the club of which Paul Revere was a member. In Revere's own account of the circumstances that led to his famous "midnight ride," he says: "In the fall of 1774 and the winter of 1775 I was one of upwards of thirty, chiefly mechanics, who formed themselves into a committee for the purpose of watching the movements of the British soldiers and gaining every intelligence of the movements of the Tories. These patriots met at the 'Green Dragon Tavern,' and so careful were they that their meetings should be kept secret that each person was sworn on the Bible, every time they assembled, that he would not disclose any of the transactions 'except to Hancock, Adams, Doctor Warren, or one or two more.' In the winter and towards spring, they frequently took turns, two by two, to watch the soldiers, by patroling the streets all night." Theirs was, indeed, that "eternal vigilance which was the price of liberty. On the Saturday night preceding the 19th of April all movements of the British pointed to some imminent and serious action, and at a hasty conference with Doctor Warren, Revere agreed to convey a message to Hancock and Adams, who were at the parsonage of the Rev. Jonas Clark, in Lexington. What followed needs only brief recapitulation. The signal of "two lanterns" in the steeple of the Old North Church if the British went out by water, and one if by land, was flashed to the waiting messenger, who swung into his saddle and made the most daring and momentous ride recorded in our history.

The most notable of early patriotic societies is that of the Cincinnati, which was organized by the officers of the Revolutionary Army, at their cantonment on the Hudson, May 13, 1783. After a war of eight years' duration, by which they had achieved the independence of the Colonies, they were

about to disband and separate to their several homes. It was a solemn and soul-stirring occasion, fraught with memories of the perils and privations through which they had struggled, full of intense feelings of comradeship and loyalty to each other, and especially imbued with admiration and affection for their great commander-Washington. Him they likened to the ancient Roman dictator, Cincinnatus; who, called by the Senate to the service of his country, left the peaceful pursuits of a farmer's life and not only rescued the Roman army from destruction, but declining all offers of riches and honor, retired to his seclusion, after having held the dictatorship but fourteen days.

Washington had already been styled the "Cincinnatus of the West," but his dislike of anything approaching hero-worship doubtless led the originators of the society to give it the name of Cincinnatus, rather than that of their own idolized leader. In recognition of the devoted and generous assistance of France, membership was tendered to the French officers who had so faithfully and gallantly served throughout the war. The office of President General was first filled by Washington, who was waited upon by Generals Heath and Knox and Baron Steuben with a copy of the institution, and requested to "honor the society by placing his name at the head of it."

The medal of the order was designed by Major L' Enfant (who afterwards planned the city of Washington), and was worn suspended from a deep-blue ribbon edged with white; being emblematic of the union of France and America.

Soon after the formation of the society, a bitter warfare was waged against it by many men of prominence in civil life, who declared that it was a military order, whose honors were hereditary; that Frenchmen were eligible to membership, and that "the Eagle and blue ribbon of the Cincinnati were daily to be seen in the proudest of Courts, where, with the exception of the 'Golden Fleece,' no subject had ever before been permitted. to wear the decorations of a foreign State."

No one in this day, however, believes that the founders of this order were guilty of any sinister designs against the peace or dignity of the new Republic; but were simply anxious to establish for themselves and their descendants a fraternal so

ciety which should foster the principles for which they had fought for eight long years.

Perhaps the most important achievement of this society was the migration of a number of its most valued members to the northwest territory in 1788 and 1789. Generals Rufus Putnam and Benjamin Tupper organized what was called "The Ohio Company," and with Colonels Sproat and Stacey, Major Oliver and Captains Cushing, Goodale, King, Stone, Bradford, White and Haskell, founded, at Marietta, the first white settlement in Ohio.

In 1789, General Arthur St. Clair and Colonel Sargent gave the name of their society to the three log cabins at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers (then called Losantiville), and there enthroned the "Queen of the West”—a monument in honor of the Cincinnati which will probably last as long as the memory of all its members. Here, as an old-time chronicler recites, "on the ground which they have cultivated and made independent, it flourishes mightily-the young and vine-crowned Cincinnati."

It may not be amiss in this connection to recall some of the personal history and characteristics of these hardy and enterprising pioneers, who opened up to occupation our vast western territory, which was then not only a wilderness, but infested by hostile savages. They were all natives of the old "Bay State," and had been close comrades in the War for Independence. Of their leaders, General Putnam was a private in the French war, and during the Revolution commanded a regiment in Wayne's brigade. He was an accomplished engineer, and constructed the fortifications both at Dorchester Heights and West Point. General Tupper served in the French war when only eighteen years old, and at twenty-eight he was colonel of the Eleventh Massachusetts. He was at the battles of Saratoga and Monmouth, and before the close of the war, had reached the rank of general. Colonel Sproat commanded the Second Massachusetts at Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth. In 1786 he was commissioned surveyor of western lands, and receiving the same appointment from the Ohio Company he led a party to the mouth of the Muskingum and began the

settlement of Marietta. He was six feet four inches in height, and was called by the Indians the "Big Buckeye"-which is thought to be the origin of the title now applied to natives of Ohio.

Colonel Stacey was lieutenant of militia in New Salem, Massachusetts, when the news of the battle of Lexington was received. The captain of his company was a Tory, and refused to obey the orders to march against the British. Stacey pulled his commission from his pocket, tore it in pieces and trampling them under his feet, he took his place in the ranks, saying: "Fellow soldiers, I don't know exactly how it is with the rest of you, but for one I will no longer serve a king who murders my own countrymen!" The company was immediately disbanded and as quickly reorganized. The gallant Stacey being unanimously chosen captain, he marched his small but resolute band to Cambridge. At the dreadful massacre of Cherry Valley, by Tories and Indians, October 11, 1778, Stacey was captured, and after being tied to the stake for torture was released by making the Freemason's sign, which was recognized by Brant, the Mohawk chief.

Major Oliver was born of Irish parents, near Boston, in 1738. When the war began he was lieutenant of a company of minute men, with which he marched to Cambridge in April, 1775. His service lasted throughout the war, and he especially distinguished himself in storming the German intrenchments in the battles with Burgoyne.

Captain Cushing was commissioned lieutenant in the Revolutionary army when only twenty-two, and rose to the rank of brigade-major. In May, 1780, being then twenty-seven, he surprised, at White Plains, and captured a detachment of Tories; being pursued by Colonel Simcoe's mounted rangers, he repulsed several attacks of that officer and reached his post with all his prisoners.

Captain Goodale was born in 1744, and having taken an active part in the organization of the minute men, was one of the first to join the army after the battle of Lexington. Throughout the war he was noted for fearless activity and daring exploits, and once volunteered to perform the hazardous duty of making his way through woods filled with savages

to the enemy's camp. In this he was more than successful, for he returned not only with the desired information, but bringing in six prisoners. General Gates afterwards continued him in this line of duty, in which altogether he captured one hundred and twenty-one prisoners. In a skirmish at King's Bridge, New York, just before the surrender of Burgoyne, he was wounded, taken prisoner and held for two years, suffering all the horrors of prison life. He never fully recovered his health, but this did not prevent him from remaining in service until the close of the war. When he moved to Ohio he transported part of his family and household goods in a wagon drawn by three cows and a bull, which he had taught to work together. These animals were from carefully selected stock and their descendants became highly celebrated in southeastern Ohio, being known as the "Goodale breed." In May, 1793, while at work in a clearing, Captain Goodale was surprised and carried off by the Indians, and his fate for a long time was a mystery. Years afterwards it became known that he had died on the march to Detroit, where the Indians hoped to obtain a large ransom for him. His loss was a severe blow to his family and to the little isolated community of which he was the life and soul; and his memory for many years was kept fresh and green in the hearts of his neighbors and friends.

Captain King served through the war, but soon after his removal to Ohio and before he had sent for his family he was killed by the Indians.

Captain Bradford was in all the battles of the Revolution, from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. With many other light infantry officers he received the gift of a sword from Lafayette, which is still prized by his descendants.

Captain Stone enlisted early in 1776 and was at the siege of Boston and in all the battles preceding the surrender of Burgoyne.

Captain White was lieutenant of a company of minute men at Lexington, and served until September, 1783. He was the leader of the advance guard of the Ohio Company, leaving Salem, Massachusetts, on the 3d of December, 1787. He