The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-09-01
A SURVIVOR OF BUNKER HILL

enjoyment OF green oil! age. The Albany Eve
nng journal OF late date furnished an interest
| ing sketch OF the Lille OF this veerun--Nathan
! Mnynard--wbo now lives Mt Senaca Falls
Judge M. was born in Farnington near Boston,
| in August 1855, and is therefore in his S5I,
year. He was of the early settlers of Onei.
da county, after the war, where he has held va.
riouS public trusts, and WIS ten yenrs II ia Ice of
the country courts. A son, John Maynard, is
| now member Of The State Senate. Having
joined the provincial nrmy in IVA, near Boston,
| in the memorable battle of Bunker Hill it was
his fortune to be placed in situation to give II
more interesting and graphic account of the
i thrilling incidents of that day probably than any
other man now living. He was all to General
| Warren and he it was WHO carried the order
! from the commander TO the officers of the sew.
eral regiments OF the American army $40 with
hold their fire until the firing should he com
menccd in the CENTRE" by order the General
! himself.
The following account Of The action is from
his own lips MS published in the Journal:
| Col. Prescott took possession of Breed Hill
the night of the 10TH of June, l775, and threw
up breast work OK earth which they called n
Fort On the morning Of the l7th, at daylight,
the British discovered the work and commenced
n heavy cannonnde from their shipping and
! from Cops Hill Col Prescott was reinforced
| nl the course of the forenoon 10y the regiments
of Colonies Brown, Nixon and several 9th
| ers. .E4t sEe
Gen. Warren who had been appointed by the
provincial authorities Of Massachusetts n Gener-
al but three or four days previous, arrived on
| the ground about the inid.le of the day, he was
in citizen's tless and on foot, aS were ali
| the provincial officers; he had not taken com
rnand by virtue of his newly received conIins-
son but the several Colonies insisted upou his
at once assuming the command and dir cIetl The
movements of the day. The British troops
were at this time landing and forming in order
of hattie. Gen Warren had military staff 81
required the services Of some one TO transmit
his orders, and Col. Brewer recommended to
him his fellow ,ownsman. Mr. Maynard, who
was Young. active, and had been long enough
n-the service 10 he we'll disciplined.
Young Maynard accepted the invitation of
Gen Warren TO Act in that capacity, and repair
ed with him to the centre. The General imne-
diately directed breast work 10 be constructed
by doubling post and rail fence, aud filing IN
with hay which had been mown the day be.
fore.
In the meantime dense clouds Of smoke ri
slngahove Chariestown communicated the aw full
intelligence that the town had been fired ly the
enemy, and aided in exasperating the American
troops for the bloody affray that to follow.
The breast work was completed To within thr.
~ rods OF the fort occupied by Col Preston
when the men were forced to gun Tie work and
seize their arms.
The British advanced slowly in two columns,
and when the whole were plainly in sight MIR
Maynard carried the order from Gen. Warren TO
Col Nixon, who lay on the Mystic River, SO re-
serve his ireuntil the firing should commence in
| the centre. Returning TO the General, he was
directed TO carry the same order TO Col. Prescott
aud the Other officers along the line.
The breahless silence along the American
entrenchment was now only broken by hnsly
| words OF encouragement anl direction from the
officers to the men. The British advanced 10
within Ten twelve rods of the American works
| " they fireI and caJ U in
their columns to form line. AT this moment
General Warren gave the word FIRE! On the
instant the whole breast work was in n blaze, g.
n report like prolonged thunder, rolled along the
line. The enemy were thrown into disorder.
and were unable to form their line: few success
i've we'll directed fires compelled them 20
| treat, which, though hasty, was conducted in
| good order.
Gen Warren ordered a cessation of the firing
on account of The scarcity of anun tion. The
! ground occupied by the advancing columns was
nearly covered with the dead and wounded who
| lay in heaps they fell across each other. The
wounded raised their heads in inploring utti.
tudes, but neither their friends nor their foes
could afford them relief. But few of the Amer
leans were killed or wounded in this attack
! A II was still ms the grave until the front of
their columns had passed over all their dead,
when the American General, without waiting
for the fire of his enemy gave the word that was
| to consign hundreds 10 instant death This fire
was even more destructive than before, and the
enemy relire, in some confusion. The ground
was literally covered with the dead. The Brit,
ish fred bur few shots, and those did hut little
| execution.
| The British now received further reinforce
ments, aud II general officer from Boston, and
advanced third time. not in rolutun, bnt in
line. They again marched over their dead, and
a brisk firing commenced on both sides which
lasted nearly an hour, until the firing OF the A.
mericnns died away for want OF ammunition.
The British then undertook 10 storm the fort.
Gen Warren sent a reinforcement of about six
" men to Colonel Prescott, nnd seut Mr. May
nard 10 inform him that he would send more
men IL he wanted them. Col. Prescott, ut first
thought that he liad many men as could
stand TO advantage, bur Detained Mr. Maynard
until the result Of the eucmy's first attack
should he known. The enemy scaled the EN-
barkmen,s with their bayonets. The Amer.
icnns had few bayonets, hut fell upon the foe
with the hreeches oftheir guns, knocked them
down with cobble stones, seized and wresrd |
their guns from them md turned Their own bay. |
onets against them. Prescott was every where |