Copyright 1926, by
Henry K. Devereux

To my father, John Henry Devereux I would dedicate this little volume—a man whose loving-kindness so true; whose godliness, faith, and devotion—strengthened by firmness always fair—has ever been an inspiration

Contents

Preface[15]
Archibald M. Willard, a brief sketch[21]
The Fifer—Hugh Mosher[39]
The Drummer Boy—Henry Kelsey Devereux[47]
An early account by J. F. Ryder[61]
The Preliminary Sketches and Replicas[71]

Illustrations

The Spirit of ’76[Frontispiece]
Reproduced from the original painting now
hanging in the Town Hall at Marblehead,
Massachusetts. This reproduction is accurate
as to details, and reproduces the original colors
as closely as possible. Some years ago, on account
of the demand for reproductions of this
painting and the danger of damage to the
valuable original, by a vote of the town of
Marblehead, action was taken that no further
reproductions from the original should be permitted;
hence, many of the reproductions now
available are not reproductions of the original
painting but of one or other of the later replicas.
These replicas differ in many respects from the
original, both as to details and coloring.
Archibald M. Willard[23]
“Yankee Doodle”[29]
Willard’s original conception for the humorous
painting submitted to J. F. Ryder, as reproduced
by Willard in 1898 and presented to The Reverend
William E. Barton, in whose possession
it still remains.
Hugh Mosher[41]
Henry Kelsey Devereux[49]
The Reverend Samuel Willard[63]
The Final Preliminary Crayon StudySketch[73]
Showing one of the stages in the final evolution
of the finished painting. Believed to be the
only study sketch now in existence. Presented
by Willard to Doctor Barton and still in his possession.

Preface

Nearly fifty years have passed since Archibald M. Willard painted “The Spirit of ’76.” Mr. Willard has passed, and so have all who were intimately connected with its creation, except myself. Probably no painting, the creation of an American artist, has received such wide and continuous interest and attention as this patriotic painting. Many times during the last quarter of a century, I have been urged to record my recollections of Willard and my association with this historical painting. Many times I have been asked for information which did not come under my personal observation. As the years pass, this demand for information has become more insistent and more urgent. This little volume has been prepared partly to meet this demand, but more especially to accede to the oft-repeated requests of my family and friends.

These requests for information have not always been confined to my own experiences. Therefore, the more fully to meet the wishes of my family and friends, to my own personal recollections I have added a brief sketch of the artist, of Hugh Mosher the fifer, and Mr. Ryder’s own account of the conception and purpose of the artist, written many years ago and now difficult to find. I have also added a few words regarding the extant original sketches and the Replica of 1912.

H. K. D.