American Army of Two
Encyclopedia
The American Army of Two is the name commonly given to Rebecca and Abigail Bates, daughters of Scituate, Massachusetts
lighthouse keeper Simeon Bates.
In September, 1814, Bates was away from the Old Scituate Light
station with most of his family when the British
landed a warship, the LaHogue, near the harbor with the intent of sending a raiding party
into the town. Soon the ship launched two long boats filled with soldiers. Rebecca and Abigail, left alone with their mother at the station, realized that there was no time to warn citizens of the impending attack. Seizing a fife
and drum
that had been left behind at the station, they began to play. The soldiers, assuming that the sound signaled the approach of the town militia
, retreated hastily.
The sisters lived to be quite old, and Rebecca took to selling affidavit
s for ten cents apiece in later years, always swearing the story to be true.
Scituate, Massachusetts
Scituate is a seacoast town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on the South Shore, midway between Boston and Plymouth. The population was 18,133 at the 2010 census....
lighthouse keeper Simeon Bates.
In September, 1814, Bates was away from the Old Scituate Light
Old Scituate Light
Old Scituate Light also known simply as Scituate Light is an historic lighthouse located on Cedar Point in Scituate, Massachusetts.*1810, May: The Federal Government appropriated $4,000 for a lighthouse to be built at the entrance of Scituate Harbor....
station with most of his family when the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
landed a warship, the LaHogue, near the harbor with the intent of sending a raiding party
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
into the town. Soon the ship launched two long boats filled with soldiers. Rebecca and Abigail, left alone with their mother at the station, realized that there was no time to warn citizens of the impending attack. Seizing a fife
Fife (musical instrument)
A fife is a small, high-pitched, transverse flute that is similar to the piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore. The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in military and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer...
and drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
that had been left behind at the station, they began to play. The soldiers, assuming that the sound signaled the approach of the town militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, retreated hastily.
The sisters lived to be quite old, and Rebecca took to selling affidavit
Affidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
s for ten cents apiece in later years, always swearing the story to be true.