The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-07-18

our happiness and all our glory depend on
our union. (Cheees.) That monument
itself, 10 all that is commendable IN ITS sen
,lmenl and character, depends upon union.
] (Cheers.)
do not know that il would fail # the
States we're rent asuuder BY faction or VIC
lence. | do not know that the beavine
earth would move ii from its base, and that
il would actually .otior 10 lis fall, II dis
nemberment should be the affection OF our
land and | cannot say that it would min
gle ia fragments with those OF broken
Constitution. Bul in the happening o! such
events, who is there that could dare TO look
Up tot! Who is there that from beneath
such gu overwhelming load of modification
and shame could approach TO behold II =
Who is there that would not expect his
eyebals 10 be scared by the intensity OF IFS
silent reprool! (Great applause.) For
nv part, | say, that if it be a misfortune,
designed BY Providence for me TO i've TO
see such time, will look al il no more
will avert my eyes from II forever !
.appiause)
Il is not as mere military encounter Of
hostile armies that the battle OF Bunker
| Hill finds its principal claims for CONNIE
mora,ion and mportance--ye!, as mere
battle, there are circumstances attending
( il OF an extraordinary character, and giving
10 it a peculiar distinction. IL was fought
upon this eminence, IN the neighborhood
OF youder city, in the presence OF more
I spectators than there were coEnba!anis III
the fighl-rnen, md women, and children,
drawn from their homes. filling the towers
Of the churches, covering the roofs OF pub
lie dwellings,, aud all their residences, look
/ ing on for the result Of contest of the con,
sequences Of which they had the deepest
conviction.
4 The 10th or June, under bright sun,
I those fields exhibited nothing but verdure
and culture there was indeed note OF
awful preparation in Boston, but here, all
was peace; and the fields then rich with
the promise of the early harvest, told OF
nothing but tranquility. Tho morning OF
the 18th saw every thing changed. 10
The night, redoubs had been thrown up by
few hardy men under the direction OF
Prescott. At the dawn OF the morning,
being perceived by the enemy, cannonade
was opened upon them from the floating
batteries on the water, and the land on the
other side Of Charles river. ! suppose II
would be difficult in military point otview,
10 ascribe any Just motive to either party
for that conflict. Ii probably was not We
~ important for the provincial army t
hem in the British in Boston, by force
lille nearer, when that could probably have
been done by force little further IN the
rear. On the other hand il IS quite evi
dent that il the British officers had nothing
else in view but TO dislodge tho occupants
of Bunker Hill, the British commanded the
waters, the Mystic on the one side, and
the Charles river Oh the other; and as those
two rivers approached each other; It was
perfectly competent 10 cut of all commu,
nica,ion, and reduce Prescott, 10 famine IN
o;ghs and forty hours. E1s that was not
the day for such sor, OF calculation on
either side. The truth is, both parties
we're ready, and anxious, and determined 10
4 try tie strength Of thoir arms. The pride
I of the British would not submit that re
doubt Of the rebels, as they were called
should be here, and stand in their very face
and defy them 10 their teeth. Without
calculating the cost, or caring for II, thei'
object was TO destroy the redoubi al once
and create awe By the power OF the Roya
Army, and take revenge, as well as attaiE
security. On the other side, Prescott aut
his ealian, followers being fully persuaded
that the time was near when the existing
controversy must break out into open hos
,iiiues, they thrs,ed for the contest,
They wished TO try it, and TO try i, NOW
and .ha. is the secre, which placed Pres
cott there with his troops. Cheers J.
| will no, attempt 10 describe what ha
been so often described better than ca
! do il. The cannonading from the water
, the assaults from the land-lhe coolnes
= with which the provincial arGy, if it migt
be so called, met the charge Of the enemy
. the valor with which they rcpulsed 1t, th
;. second attack, the second repulsc, the burr
lnr of Charles,own, and finally the closin
n scene of the slow retreat OF the Militia
: New England over the Neck, shall NJ
- a,,emp, TO describe bu. in its conseque
|, ees the battle of Bunker Hill STAN
= amongst the most important that ever too
Il place between rival States. Ii was the hr
n great contest IN the Revolutionary wa
! and in my judgment. It was not only =
= first blow struck in the war, but 1t was I
e. blow that determined the issue OF that &C
re test. (Cheers.)
A certainly did not put an erd to the vi
IN hui II put tho country IN state OF open h
n. uli,y it put the controversy between tn
~. to the arbitration of the sword. and ma
,se one thing certain that, after Warren te
No after the troops of the New England Sta
-. had been ableto meet and repulse the atti
a Of the British regulars, It was certain
nts peace would never be established besw'
= The two countries, except on the basis oil
of acknowledgment Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
on. When that sun went down, the indep
nj. dence of these States was certain. (Chee