Fratered acding to the set of "oagnes in the year 1834 by James Herring in the clarks office of the Thetract JOHN BROOKS. GOVERNOR BROOKS was one of the most favorable specimens of a truly useful character. He united the gentleman, the soldier, the civil magistrate, and the citizen, in a most perfect harmony of all the qualities which give respectability to public and private life. He was born in the village of Medford, near Boston, in the year 1752. His family had been established in this place from the earliest settlement of the country, employed, from one generation to another, in the cultivation of the soil. The father of Governor BROOKS was a respectable farmer; and he himself passed the early part of his life in the usual occupations of village husbandry. The circumstances of the family prevented his acquiring an academical education; but he attained, in the town school of Medford, sufficient knowledge of the learned languages to enable him to engage to advantage in the study of medicine, -the profession of his choice. While at school in Medford, the celebrated Count Rumford, a native of the neighboring town of Woburn, was his associate and friend; and the intimacy then formed was kept up by correspondence, till the death of that distinguished philosopher and friend of man. Having completed his medical studies, he established himself in the practice of his profession in the adjacent town of Reading, and there he was found at the commencement of the revolutionary war. No part of the community engaged with greater ardor in the cause of the country than the members of the medical profession; a circumstance, no doubt, to be ascribed in part to the brilliant example and commanding influence of Dr. Joseph Warren, the martyr of Bunker Hill. A company of minute-men was raised in the town of Reading, and young BROOKS, a stranger, just established in the town, and but twenty-three years of age, was chosen its commander. He was indefatigable in drilling and disciplining the men, and prepared himself for this duty by carefully observing the military trainings of the British soldiery, in Boston. The alarm of the approach of the British, on the nineteenth of April, was given in advance along the tract of country through which they were to pass. Colonel Paul Revere passed through Medford for this purpose, on his way to Concord and Lexington, on the night of the eighteenth, knocking at every door, and rousing the inhabitants. In Reading the alarm was received from Medford; and Captain BROOKS' company was 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 intrenchment, and, in company with Colonel Prescott, reconnoitred 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 despatched 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 eighth 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 LieutenantColonel BROOKS during the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, and till he was promoted to the command of the seventh regiment, with the rank of colonel, on the death of Colonel Alden, in 1779. In the spring of 1777, after the regiment was recruited. LieutenantColonel BROOKS was ordered to march to Albany and join the |