The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-06-08

works upon the HILL after another interval thinking
imposslble that the could be duh of hearing
he went down the shore again. and finding all secure
he recalled the guard their hands needed even
than their The moments may have passed rs
Idy yet they must have lett space for thoughts and then
those earnest patriots knowing full well to what
vice the light OF day would introduce them coad not but
call before their minds their homes their and chill
dren and striking the balance between their
and their public rights, resolve that they must fight The
resolve must have been deeply formed for 1t cherish
ed and acted upon through day horrors which they
could not have anticipated. The midnight work went
and those budebed moments secured the results OF long
years OF liberty and prosperity to a nation.
There was scene TOR the imagination 70 picture
Even the space occupied by the rivers bed was
wider than the distance between those midnight labrers
and their en-mes Five med vessels then hpated In the
ST. and the Boston shore guarded by belt Of SEN
tnels The Glasgow frga,e, with twenty guns and one
hundred and thirty men, lay on the line the present
Cragies Point Bridge. and commanded the neck Of land
by which the peninsula OF Charestown united to Cam
bridge the Somerset, with SIXTY eight guns, and i've
hundred and twenty men, lying near the draw OF the
presen' Charlestown Bridge, commanded Charestorn
Square and its dwelling houses the Lively, with twe y
guns and one hundred and thirty men, lying of the
sent navy yard could throw its shot directly upon III
Point defended the ascent between the lssdns places Of
the British and Breeds Hill and the Cerberus Of thirty
six guns maintained continual fire during the action
These vessels were most advantageouy situated for the
purposes OF the enemy and seemed almost impossible
that the sentres could have been wakefu at their posts
and have overheard suspected the operations OF the
hill Either dizziness in them, wonderful caution end
unbroken harmony among the provincias must have Sc
as S o
trcnching d commenced last place TO the grey
OF early morning. On that moment, when the sun sent
forth the first herads OF his coming seems to have been
suspended the interests Of nations Then tho mo-
ment for to nsinuate her mild influences before
brutal passions had been kndlsd ut the roar Of cannon
and the flow of blood Iftrue patriotism wise policy
the love which Christian people, Of the lineage,
influence the parties in the approaching struggle,
how much agony and wo and fruitless wretchednsss,
might have been averted Even then was not too late
for justice to have ensured peace. Even then vessel
her way to the mother country bearing yet
tner earnest petition from her injured coonsts for
dress oil grievances but the which trans
hitting her Ruthless message already crowded with
hostile fleet coming hither with the instruments OF
death and on the very day Of the battle and upon the
before achievements Of foreign troops had entered
the harbor.
The blood shed at Concord and Lexington, with the
eng list OF outrsges might have been forgiven
by our fathers They had not been the they
acted only the deensivei they struck blow only to
ward oil blow. There is evidence that the heights
Of Chaestown occupied other purpose than
that OF Defence TO conne the enemy within their narrow
the country. When the morning displayed to the a.
oDishcd invaders the character of the last nights labor
and showed them the workmen still employed, with un
dismayed hearts and untred hands, not even then
too late for Gage and his officers at least their
hired subordinstes did not should have honoIed though
they have feared the patriot band shoul have
respected the spirit which controlled them and should
have counted the cost Of the bloody issue But not
moment, not one word perhaps not one thought was
spent upon intercession or warning
The instant that the first beams light marked distinct
ly the outlines OF the Americans and Of their ntrench
ed nearest Openeda hot fire upon hem at the same time
arousng the eepers ia Boston, forth spectators
floating batteries, and the battery Corps Hill
combined TO pour forth their vo.leys ring ding
the works, though completed in state of such
orwaness that the missiles OF det ucon II bar mlsss
aud the intrenchers continued to strengthen their posi-
ton The enemy in Boston could scarcely credit their
eyesight. Prescott the hero OF the day. with whom it's
proudest fame should rest undaunted, a,dent. and
iul OF heroic energy He planned and directed ne
COurBged mounted
bald head uncovered and his commanding frame, he WIS
a noble personfcston of q patriot Some Of the
inc cautiously ven,ured front of the works. when
one oihrm was instantly killed by shot This
first victim buried the ditch, and his companions
were iesrfuly warned of the fatalities which the day
would bring yet nearer to them
When the orders had been issued at Cambridge, the
night before to those who had thus complied with them
refreshments and rentorcements had been promised in
the morning Thus Of the light have thought
10 relief at liberty to depart. Some few. when
the frs, victim fell left the hill and did Those
who remained we're exhausted With their TOLL and without
food or water and the morning was already intensely hot
The officers sympathiziDg with their situation, and
suerngs requested Prescott to send to Cambridge for
relief He summoned council of war; but resoute
against the pc ttion, saying that the enemy would
venture attack, and they did venture would be de-
fea,ed that the men who al raised the works were best
able defend them and deserved the honor of the vcto
ry that they had already learned to despse the FIRE Of
tne enemy. Th@ vehemence Of Prescott infused new spirit
into the and they resolved 10 stand the dread sue
Prescott ordered guard to the ferry to prevent landing
there He was seen by Gage, who was accommodating
Cops and who inquired oil Counsellor willard,
BY his aide "Who is that officer commandngr' willard
recog missed his broherinaw and named Colonel Pres
colt. "will he fghtf' asked Gage. The answer was
Eyes sir, depend upon it, to the last drop Of blood in
him; but cannot answer for his men," Yet Prescott
could for his men, and that amounted the
thing.
Tie measures Of the enemy were undoubtedly delayed
by sheer and SURPRISE finding that the in
trepdty provincials anticipated them In an
terprise upon which they had deliberately decided. In
the council of war called by Gage, all were unanimous
that tho enemy must be dislodged, but there diff
IF IN antN
jrct. The majority agreed with General Clinton and
Grant in advising that the British troops should be
the protection of the ships and floating batteries should
land Charlesown and thus hold the provncials and
Gsrs overru,sd the advice and determined upon land
and making attack in front OF the works. fearing
that his troops landed at the Neck, would be runously
surrounded by the ntrenchers and the whole army at
Cambridge.
Mean while General Ward, though repeatedly solici
ted by General Putnam who had been at the ground by
night early in the morning. and by messengers sent
from Prescott heststed about weakening the strength Of
the main army ny sending to the Heights
fear that they might divide their orces and while
gaging with tho intrenchers effect landing at some
other spot, and proceed to Wstertown Cambridge,
where the scany stores Of the provncials were dePo-
sited.
By nine O'Clock the preparations in Boston, heard and
by the hill info med him Of the determine
ton OF the British attack He therefore gave up his first
opinion they would not dare to resist him and
cd himself aud his men with the promise OF certain and
glorious victory He sent Major Brooksto General Ward
to the necessity Of his being reinforced Brooks,
being obliged TO proceed foot as Captain 0ridey
would risk OF his artillery horses to pass the
Neck which swept by the Glasgow frgae, arrived
about ten o'clock Mt headquarters where the Committee
of Safety then in session. Brookss urgency, Sc
conded by the olcitaons OF Richard Devens member
of the Committee and n citizen Of Charlestown, induced
General ard Colonies Reed and Stark then
at Medford, should reinforce Prescott with the New
Hampshire troops The companies at Chelsea then
recalled and the order reached Medord at eleven o'clock
The a speedily az possible provided with am
munition. though much time was consumed IN the prepa
ration. Each man received two hin,s. q gill Of powder
and fifteen balls Tney were without cartridge boxes
and used powderhorns and pouches, or their pockets
substitutes and in making their cartridges their were
obliged 10 beat and shape their balls according to the dit
ferent csibre OF their guns
Dr. Joseph Warren one Of the most distinguished and
self OF the many patriots OF the time, had not
yet taken the commission which granted TO him on
he I4h Of June He had twice maintained the o.
liberty tho very teeth OF British officers the annual
COMMUNICATION Of the 9th Of March When The Of
Ii had him WnternpsI h q hs