,
too, may gaze upon its enduring magnificence. It commemorates the
deeds, not of any particular soldier, but all who stood true to the
principles of equal rights and free government on that memorable "17th
of June."

"No name adorns the shaft; but ages hence, though our
alphabets may become as obscure as those which cover the
monuments, of Nineveh and Babylon, its uninscribed surface
(on which monarchs might be proud to engrave their titles)
will perpetuate the memory of the 17th of June. It is the
monument of the day, of the event, of the battle of Bunker
Hill; of all the brave men who shared its perils,--alike of
Prescott and Putnam and Warren, the chiefs of the day, and
the colored man, Salem, who is reported to have shot the
gallant Pitcairn, as he mounted the parapet. Cold as the
clods on which it rests, still as the silent heavens to
which it soars, it is yet vocal, eloquent, in their
undivided praise."[581]

The other Negro soldier who won for himself rare fame and
distinguished consideration in the action at Bunker Hill was Salem
Poor. Delighted with his noble bearing, his superior officers could
not refrain from calling the attention of the civil authorities to the
facts that came under their personal observation. The petition that
set forth his worth as a brave soldier is still preserved in the
manuscript archives of Massachusetts:--

"_To the Honorable General Court of the Massachusetts Bay_.

"The subscribers beg leave to report to your Honorable House
(which we do in justice to the character of so brave a man),
that, under our own observation, we declare that a negro man
called Salem Poor, of Col. Frye's regiment, Capt. Ames'
company, in the late battle at Charlestown, behaved like an
experienced officer, as well as an excellent soldier. To set
forth particulars of his conduct would be tedious. We would
only beg leave to say, in the person of this said negro
centres a brave and gallant soldier. The reward due to so
great and distinguished a character, we submit to the
Congress.

JONA. BREWER, Col. | ELIPHALET BODWELL, Sgt.
THOMAS NIXON, Lt.-Col. | JOSIAH FOSTER, Lieut.
WM. PRESCOTT, Col. | EBENR. VARNUM, 2d Lieut.
EPHm. COREY, Lieut. | WM. HUDSON BALLARD, Cpt.
JOSEPH BAKER, Lieut. |