New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-06-19
Bunker Hill Celebration,
l7th of June, l843.


The storm Of Yesterday ceased during the night,
but the sun rose amid fogs and scattered clouds.
giving its light watery appearance, and por
tending rain during the day, the wind being still
Northeast, and the air damp and chilly at an
eariy hour the sound Of martial music rose from
the numerous companies collected in Boston dur
inc the preceding three days, and the clustering
OF military and citizens toward the magnificent
Common commenced at seven O'Clock, and con-
tinued till nearly TO- at which hour there must
have been 100000 persons within the enclosure.
At the same time the streets through which the
procession were to pass were lined with eager ex-
pectants--the balconies and windows glowing
with waiting faces Already Bunker HILL and
the approaches to it from Boston were thronged by
thousands. The Military were generally under
arms by o'clock, and in position on the Common
before g. The New England Society OF New
York. some 400 strong, formed in Summer-streel
near College Green, and marched into the Com
mon about 9.
It was past 10 o'clock before the procession be-
gan to move from the densely thronged Common,
and nearly IL when the the Lancer Guards OF
Boston, forming its advance, reached the superb
olacis on the Northeast of the Monument, which
had been chosen as the central point OF the
Celebration-the officers stand being on the out
er side of the oblong square facing the Monu-
ment. At this time, salute was fired from the
NAVY Yard and the bells of Boston and Charles
town rung out stirring peal On the North
East steps Of the Monument Square, facing the
Officers stand, and the glacs, seats had been re-
served for fifteen hundred ladies' price 70 cents
each,) and early occupied in good part The
Monument Square itself, elevated some ten fcet'
computed to give standing room to o0,Ooo per-
sons, was nearly filled before the procession made
its appearance, while mass OF human beings
lined each end OF the glacis previously cleared by
the Norfolk and New Bedford Guards Hon.
DANIEL WEBSTER, Orator Of the Day, though as
signed place in the carriages, came IN by him.
self nearly an hour before the Procession ana was
welcomed with repeated cheers.
Precisely at half past IL, the head OF the regu,
: Tar Procession reached the ground. then c'ouoeo
bv the cannon. smoke from the Navy Yard. The
Military halted outside the area, formed II
double lines, facing inward, to let the Civic pro
cession pass through and into the square ahead.
nt to e-olvoi, the houd OF the CIVIC Fro
cesson passed into the oblong square between tho
Officers stand and the Monument, the Brigade
Band in front, followed by the Executive Com
mittee in carriage, escorting the President and
suite in coach drawn by four superb bays
~ b, inf n
area, and, aighting, took his place on the stand
where Mr. Webster had been for some time soli
tary and alone Mcssrs. Spencer, Porter, WICK
life and Legare, as they came on the stund' greer
ed Mr.. W. very cordially, and were introduced
the gentlemen in attendance as officers of the day
Committees, &c.
But the deepest manifestation Of enthusiasm
was reserved for the appearance of the survlvin!
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION, who arrived in TIA
succeeding carriages and, alighting IN the centr
OF the square, tottered with feeble steps TO thel
places on the platform. They were one hundred
and eight in number, twelve of whom had silare'
in the peris and glorics of the bloody struggle OF
this very ground sixty-eight years ago; three Q
them had fought also at Lexington, where tn
first blood was shed in the Revolutionary contes.
two months before the more determined strife OF
Bunker HILL Phinebas johnson, now 81 year
old, was in both these conflicts, and was repuet
the Oldest man present; but we are assured tina
Mr. MAYNARD, father OF Hon. John Maynard
NJ c. from this State, now 80 years old, and atSt
sharcr in the Bunker Hill struggle, was prcsen
we know that he reached Boston the night he
fore in good health and spirits, on purpose TO bs
there. Earnest, profound, reiterated were tht
bursts of cheering from the immense concourse q:
these treasured relies OF glorious day toied VI
to their seats on the staging. Eighteen years age
when the corner. stone of the Monument was laiS
by La Fayctte In the presence of sixty thousan,
treemen, far-larger and stronger band of then
were present, 10 rejoice over the commentator
OF their heroic struggle half century before
Eighteen years hence, who can hope that ever
one of them will DC left 70 tell the thrilling story
of these three eras in their and their country:
evcntful history
The Freemasons, whohad done much toward thc
erection of the Monument, (having given tn,
ground, on which they had previously erected I
small monument to Gen. Warren, their Granl
Master, who fell in the battle,) were out IN con
siderable force, an d made an imposing appear
ance They were greatly outnnmbercd, how
ever, by the Odd Fellows, who mu st have mus
tered nearly one thousand. The Sons of New.
England from New York, escorted by our superb
Light Guards, were warmly cheered as they ar
rived in the centre The Hibernians, in four d'i:
ferent societies, wearing the Gree n of Their be,
loved native Islc were in great force, and made
an admirable appearance.
1t was half past ! O'Clock when the Bunker