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


opposite side Of the mouth Of the Charles which, in its
narrewes spsn about three hundred yards across
the peninsula OF Boston. similarly envi
roned ly the waters OF the and united to the main
land at Roxbury by narrow neck. The communication
between Boston ard Chsrestown was then maintained by
ferry sopDg emirence in Boston at the int W her
il approaches nearest to CharestowD, IL called Copps
Hill, and used a burial place. Tricky studded
with graves then, there planted tn, battery
whence came the missiles tor the burning Of Charles
town. Br, eds Hill thus the part OF the peninsula which
nearest TO Boston being less than mile north
OF Copps Hill Bunk Hill lies few rods north of
line drawn westward from Breeds Hill The relative
features Of the SUBMITS the highest points Of which
hundred and thirty rods apart have not been
yet essentially changed Bunker's Hill the superior Gle
walton of hch has the fame from the
dred and eve feet Breeds HILL which bears the
ment though has been robbed of its fame, rises to the
height of about sixty feet North and eastward OF
the submits the land slopes, with occasional irregu.
larties down to the site shore point of land bear
ing from Breeds Hl and extending toward the bay,
is called Mortons Point was the Of the e
crown with an elevation called Morton's Hill This
little summit, which about thiryve feet in height
and the place where the first detachment OF the
my sRdsd and formed the attack has been nearly
moved. Between Breeds Hill and Morton's Hill much Of
the ground soughy and occupied by several brick
kilns Breeds Hill then chiefly used by householders
Charesto for pasturage and ntersected by
fences Toward Mortons Point some patches OF ground
the day battle covered with tall waving grass
ripe for the scyhe while farther back the margin
the Ny the base OF the two principal SUBMITS
fine crops of hay just mown The fences and tall un
grass which were of great advantage to the Anne
in their stationary defences grevous mped
and annoy the British in their
The edifces Of the gathered around the pre-
sent square, and extended along the main to the
neck. Two roads united at the neck, the leading
Winter Hill to Medord, the other to Cambridge the
later being low and marshy and exposed to missiles from
Boston, and from shipping in the river.
heorder which Prescott received designated Bunker
Hill the position be taken and in the Of the
battle ards prepared by the Congress
it is said that Breeds Hill was fortified by mistake Here
undoubtedly must gin to make allowances for that
confusion which marked Of tS eventfu
and phi in hoato u,th
which ell the concerted and executed.
The ercibe occupation Of the heights of Charletown
forestang concerted plan OF the enemy then con
in Boston. would be in vain for u.s. therefore,
nitr object than this of taking the start of the
With the scanty ammunition and artillery Of the Ameri
and the few measured hours OF operation in which
they might expect TO work undiscovered, fortifcaon
of Bunksr H so far from Boston, would scarcely have
Effected their purpose rs would not have prevented the
landing Of British from hoats and the occupation by
them of Breeds Ill., If this latter summit had been lett
wholly undeiended For all purposes Of restraining and
annoying the enemy in Boston, Breeds Hill offered supe
ror advantages The Americans have referred
their wor ks in this town specimen Of the manner in
which they laid their plans Dorchester Heights upon
the other side at the sight OF which, when day broke the
enemy thought 1t wise take their ships would be ra-
Their selected by us for such specimen.
The detachment from Cambridge, on the night of the
Is of June when it had reached this side of the neck
for time undecided to the position to be taken
The moments however. too precious for deibera-
tion though many were spent upon IT, II only after
repeated and urgent from the ngneer that
ger delay would nuy oil their lsbors. that the works
commenced upon Breeds HILL when the clocks had
announced the midnight hour The highest part Of the
summit selected, and hither the simple ntrenc hing
tools gathered on the spur Of the moment were speedily
| cerried
The consisted If redouht and breast.
work. formed Of the earth heaped by the spade
The redoub Of which the monument now occupies the
centre, eight rods square the southern side,
ming parallel with the main street. constructed with
one projecting and two entering angles On line with
the eastern sde which faced the present
the work. extending from the nearly four
hundred feet upon the brow aud down the slope
hill towards tho Mystic the sally port opened upon the
interval between the redoubt and the breastwork This
interval that the space between the beginning of the
work and the the redoubt
by blind but the sally port the outlet the northern
fac. OF the redoub was not protected either within
outside Probably the inteaton to hsve extended the
breastwork down the whole length OF the HILL had time
permitted but, instead of wondering the incomplete
ness Of the works, we rather impressed with
at the results which brought about in four
hours ofoil Colonel Grdlev planned the works. which
exhibited an equal measure OF military science and Of
Yankee ingenuity. No vestise OF the redouet now re
Mains having been entirely ohliteratcd in the process
OF lay the fourdaicn Of the monument small por
ton OF the breaswork is distinctly visible causing
slg protuhcrsnce in the soil which has been
pIoughed The intrenohments which lying
rods west the monument remains Of the ertI
cations made by the British army which was in pos
session OF he ground for nine months after the battle
Their fortications uron both SUBMITS, which
occupied severed weeks In their construction have
often been careisssly token by su,, fetal observers
for the American works raised In four hours OF
darkness Coming generations will regret, as many OF
the the DH'tle
dsngurci and MARI by the sale of all but small por.
ton OF the HILL Tor house lots. STILL the natural features
the p ninsula such that they b. obitea-
I'd TO an extent which will aeny to visitor conuep
ton of the fearful scene which has made the ground r.
nous The erection of til. Begic mound the field OF
Waterloo, causng the removal OF Iidge Of earth, has
done as much jary there III. sale Of house lots here
Thou .he hands which spaded the buiwsrks Of earth
upon Breeds Hill on the night Of Friday June 10 h,
used to daily toll and brought TO their onted ght
task The ufpching courage and deter min aon II
still work Of dreadful anxiety Besides the battery
on Copp's H there another in Gloss proximity to
harleso 10 the road from Cambridge, erected
Bartons Point, the foot Of Leverett street, Boston II
was bright starlight night Of midsummer, when the
long hours Of day almost deny interval to the dark
ness ard expect each moment after twilight 10 the
TO behold the grey ofmorniDg in the east Probably
had the distance Bos the been rod
less the midnight lsborers veud have been disco cred
Cooper in his admirable tale Of Lionel Lincoln, which is
remarkably faithful to history In most OF details, has
the sounds of the work as audible at least
occa ona cred enterprise
20 the guard Copps Hill Itmay have been so, but
proof OF II appears guard stationed the Charles
own shore to Boston, anticipate any
of the enemy. Prescott himself went there in company
with late Governor Brooks, then major In Bridges