A series of articles by the Reading Antiquarian Society
Ceremony to honor Revolutionary War history will include a stop by “Lafayette” at the site of Skinner’s Hotel, marking his 1825 visit and the town’s ties to the iconic battle
Reading, MA — Not quite two months after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775. The British have been surrounded by colonial forces. The Continental Army is growing stronger and more organized. Fortifications are being built. But the land on Charlestown Neck has not been fortified. Though confined to Boston, the British troops have the advantage of being able to be resupplied from Boston Harbor, which they control. Two hills on Charlestown Neck, Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill, would give either side an advantage with the placement of cannons. The British planned to take Charlestown Neck in order to advance their troops to confront the colonists in Cambridge. The plan was set for June 18. But the plans were leaked, and the colonists moved their forces to the Neck on June 16 and began building redoubts on Breed’s Hill. Breed’s Hill, though not as tall as Bunker Hill, was closer to the end of the Neck. They spent the entire day building their fortifications, and when the British arrived on the shoreline, the colonists held the high ground.
The British charged up the hill toward the colonists. In an effort to conserve powder, Col. William Prescott is said to have cautioned the troops not to fire “until you see the whites of their eyes”. The British attacked and were repulsed twice, but on the third charge, they forced the outnumbered colonists to retreat. General Joseph Warren was killed in the battle.
Though the British were victorious, they lost many more soldiers than the colonists. But they continued to hold Breed’s Hill until March of 1776.
Were soldiers from Reading at the battle? We know of at least one – Lieutenant Joseph Boutell. It can be difficult to determine exactly who was there. The Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War lists the service of many men from Reading, but does not often recount the actual engagements of those men. But pension applications can help fill out the details.
In 1818, a pension law was passed which provided lifetime pensions to veterans “who had served at least nine months in the Continental Army” … and were “in reduced circumstances” and “in need of assistance…” Joseph Boutell, who was born in Reading and lived in Amherst, NH at the time, applied for a pension. He stated that his house had burned, and that he can’t work because his father lives with him and has a dislocated hip and needs attention day and night. His application describes his service. He was 18 when he served in Capt. Thomas Eaton’s Company on April 19 and was at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In January 1776, he enlisted again, and his service included duty in Cambridge, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He was at the Battle of Trenton “taking the Hessians” and had served for a total of eight months. He was granted a pension. After his father died in 1820, Joseph moved back to Reading and lived to be 84 years old. He received $8 a month until his death in 1840. He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
On June 17, 1825, fifty years after the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Marquis de Lafayette laid the cornerstone to build a monument to that battle on Breed’s Hill. An address was given by Daniel Webster. Four days later, on June 21, Lafayette traveled by carriage north from Boston on his way to New Hampshire. He stopped in Reading at Skinner’s Hotel, which is now located where the Latham and Latham building stands today. He was greeted by townspeople. This Saturday, June 21, 2025, that trip will be reenacted. Lafayette will come up Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage and stop for a short ceremony at the same location. He is scheduled to arrive at 9:00 AM. It is your chance to salute a man who was instrumental in helping win the American Revolution.
