The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1818-05-06


rounds, have no doubi but that we should
Nave killed or wounded the greater part o
their army, and compelled the remainder ie
have laid down their arms for IL was with
the greatest difficulty tina, they were brought
particularly to the officers, that il would have
been impossible to have resisted il, but for 6
short time longer. ~ ~f
l did not see man quit his pos, during
the action, and do not believe . single soldier
who was broueht into the field, flsd, on,iI The
whole army was obliged - retreat, ior wan
Of powder and ball.
- The total loss of she British was sbou,
twelve hundred upwards of five hund. cd
killed and between six and seven hund, ed
wounded. The Welch fusiIecrs suffered
most severely; they came into action five
hundred strong, and all aere killed or wound
ed but elgh,y,hfee.
will mention an extraordinary circum.
stance TO show how far the Temporary repa,s-
tion of man may ifect the minds Of all clas.
ses of society.
General Putnem had entered our army a,
the commencement OF ftberevolutionary war,
with such an universal popularity as cau
scarcely now be conceived. even by those
who then felt the whole force of il, and no
one can at this time offer any satisfactory
reasons why he was held in such high cstIma.
lion. ata..N ~ 5t.s ~.
In the battle of Bunker Hill be took post
on she dccHpify towards Chariesforn Neck,
where saw him on horseback as we passed
on to Bteed's Hill, eith Col. Gerrish by his
side. heard the gallan. Col. Prescon (who
commanded in the redoubt) obser erve, aitef the
war, al the table OF his EzeeHency James Bow-
dom, then Governor OF this Coo monwesitL,
"ihat he sen, three messengers during the
battle to Gen. Pafnam ,equcsling him to
GONE forward aud take the command, there
being no general officer present. and ,hc rela.
tive ,ank Of the Colonel no, having been set
tied !; bu, that he received no answer, and his
whole coDduct was such. both during the &C :
tion and the retreat, that he ought 10 have
been shot," He re nained at OF near the top
Of Bunker H,Il untllShc setrest, with Col.
Gcryish by his side | saw thu IN together
when we sctrea,ed. Ike not only commune d
at that distance himself during he whole Of
the action, but bad iorce with him nearly as
large as that engaged. No reinforcement Of
Ine0 or smtnunitiod was sen, 10 our assis-
the retreat Of those who bad expended their
last shot in The face of the enemy, be re-.
treated in company WITH Col. Gcrrish, and
his whole force, ~itnoo, discharging single
wus ket I; uut what Is ssll more astonishing,
Col 0errish was arrestrd fs covadics, tried,
caahieycd and naivermily ereetatsa & while
not word was said aealosI the conduct of
Gen. Pufmon whose re- ordinary honaiarify
alone saved hiirs ~, obiy ftom t,ial, but even
from censgre. Cot. Gerrish com nandeJ. a
regiment, and should nave been at its head. :.
Hisrcgiment was not Ia action, although or.
dered---hul as he was in the si nation Of adju-
tapt general, why was he mot dnecied bS
Human 90 Join 1t, orithc regiment sent into
sc,' ON tptler The sepioc thcer S,esent with it,
When Gen.s fAtnams ephemerai and un,
accoun able popularity subsided Or faded a.
way, and the niads of The people were releas-
ed f,om the shackies Ok ssusinsive trance,
the ciFcum s.ances reDating ~ Bunker HiIi
were pses,ed and faiksd OF inv very different
tghf, and the selection Of the unlortunate Coz.
Geryssh as 'eaae. goat considefsd s. nays-
exh6catle ,epens. ;l,)f
: lhsve nnprjya,e feelings 90 rss,iiy by,mak
ing ,hisrs;a,e ,aentln relation 10 Gen. Pusnar,
as nescr had any intercourse with him, and
was only inthe army whesc he was presents
Tor a few months bu,, at this late period,
conceive il a duty TO give a fair and i'm partial
account of one of tho most important battles
during the war Of independence, and all the
:ircu instances conaee,ed with it, so far as
lad the ,neans of being correctly infore,ed.
Itiss dotysl owe to pos,cri,y, aod tho
.hsrac,er of those sIrave officers who bore
share in the hardships of tho revolution.
Nothing like discipline had entered our
ltmy a,.that -sme. ~ Gems Hard, theo CON-
nauder in chief, remaiaed az ais. qaorsersia
Cambridge, and apparently took no ipseress or
iarf 10 the Transactions Of the day.,
No general officer, cxcep, Putscrs, appear
ID in sight, ppr did any officer. assume. the
undertake TO form the troops, OF
rive any orders, in the course Of the action,
hst 1 heard, except Col. Stark, who ditvcted
ais regiment, to reserve their hee on the &c.
scat of Tho enc my. uniil they advanced agsis,
Every pistoon officer was eng az cd in dis
harging his own muskst, a0d lea his mco 70
irs ss tincy pleased, bur nevet without sure
i'm At some palticulsr object, which IVES
:. n, = Je esrurfiv, than anv r,odc xvhto., ~o,fl