The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-07-26
Bunker Hill,

inst. by an oration from the Hon. EDWARD Ey-
ERETT As might be expected, it was a noble
per.ormance--wortay oftIeday and The occasion.
We make room for the following extracts:
When contemplate the objects around me,
when reflect upon the spot, the scene and the
circumstances of the occasion: when | consider
how mnch of what we witness, and experience
of the prosperity O. our common country is, in
the great connection of cause and effect, due
| to the men and the deed which we commpmnr-
ate this day, cannot but cal to mind The epitaph
offhe architect of St. Paulis at London; If pom
seek t0r a monument look around you. We
have indeed erected monument on the hill be-
inre Us; destined, as we tru4, TO last as long as
| any fabric OF human hand shall endure. No or
dinary violence on the part Of man will shake
/ the solid column. The storms of a thousand
winters will beat upon il in vain; the earthquake
and the lightning alone can lay il low But
1 while this nOble monument, firm as the patriot.
SIN and courage of The men to whom il is conse.
Grated shall mark upon yonder bill the very spot
where they deserved well of their country, be-
hold before us and around ns, wherever we move
and whatever we look upon. monuments not less
expressive To their achievements and their sacri.
hces, their principles and their characters. 1t
Is all the fruits of their connsp!s--the work a.
their hands-the price of their blood. The roof
| that shelters Us, beneath which are compacted
the floating castles, on which you. si, (Com.
DnWns.) and your brave associates have borne
the naval thunders of America to the end OF the
earth. does il not, hung as it is with the banners
OF every nation. and ntre more honored than
| our own, remind us of that tremendous day,
when beneath a summers sun and canopy OF
| smoke and flames from the blazing dwellings, of
Charlestown our fathers stood for thirteen hours.
the shock Of the unequal contest? The fnrmi.
| dable park of artillery tier within tier which we
! passed as we came TO this building, how does
| it not contrast with The six poor field pieces,
| nr the most part mserably served and soon
! abandoned, of the 18th June-the noble ships
| now disInantled, tut ready at the first call Of
duty To clothe themselves anew with the bra.
very and the terrnrs of war: one Of them bear
ing the name of a mighty State dhe Ohio) of
two millions Of souls, in which, when the Dat
tie of Bunker Hill was fought, the smoke OF
white mans cabin had never cured on The breeze;
a ship which has just returned from her cruise
along those golden shores Of the Pacific. which
have lately been added to our great Republican
empire; The very SPOT beneath our feet, where tie
royal army landed on the 18th June IT'S. ]
say, fellow citzeIs, do not these objects each
and all, constitute most expressive monument
to the great men of that day?-The successful
issue of the war is an abiding consequence OF
their courage and forhtude. The purity Of pur-
pose, the elevation Of principle. the passion for
rational freedom. with which they engaged in
the revolution, ald the deep foundations Of all
uur subsequent prosperity;n our growthin peace
and our success in war. 1t is these which have
given US the Union and the Constitution which
have sewed our almost onundless domains With
cities and villages, and swarmng millions, and
st,etcheda bell of rising republics, in the lifetime
of man from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific.
The Importance of the battle of Bunker Hill
rests mainly on IFS consequences. Its influence
on the success of The Revolution lifts it mp from
the level Of vulgar gladatofal contests, and
gives it a place among those few mompntous ap-
peaS to arms. which have influenced the cause
Of liberty and the condition of man for ages.
But even in itself considered. know not what
element of stirring interest is wanted, 10 make
it one of the most extraordinary events in hsto-
ry Need remind you OF the solemn parade on
Cambridge common, at the close of day on the
10th Jnne.-the blessing invoked by the Pre-
sdent Of the University on the vet unannounc-
ed expediion-tIe silent and thoughtful march
of the column under the veteran Prescott,
preceded by sergfants with dark lanterns; the
lines marked ont by GriJlpy. the same who at
Lnusburg at the third trial threw shell into
the citadel, and who drew the only two field
pieces used at the fall oiQuehec npthe Heights
of Abraham; the midnight toll in the trenches;
the cry Of the sentinel, "Al's WE'LL" from tie
British ships moored between Boston and Charles
town. heard by Colonel Prescott and Major
Brooks AS twice in the course Of that short and
anxious night they went down TO he waters
side. The dav dawns and the fire nl the Live.
"" opens on the redoubt. The garrison in
| Boston, the American encampments tine sur
rounding country start at tie sound. AS the
morning advances, every roof sieeple, tree, and
hilltop that commands the scene is alive with
expec alton. At noon, the British troops cross
in twentv-eigfrt harges from the Long Wharf
and the North Battery in Boston, and as they
move, The rays Of meridian summers sun are
reflected from their FURNISHED arms, gay uni.
forms, and sparkling waters.
| Need speak of the landing on this spot, under
cover of the fire of Copps hill, the ships Of war,
and floating batteries; the flower Of the British
army. trrops that had won laurels al Dettingen
and Mindpn, officers trained in all The wars OF
| Europe; of the two hours pause far reinforce.
ment; Of the suspense and exhaustion on The part
Of the Americans, who had now tned from mid
night without repose or relief; Of the welcnme
reinfnrcement-of Stark aud Reed, marching leis-
nrely across the Neck under fire of the batteries
because, in estimation, nne fresh man in battle
| is better than ten who are exhausted; of the re-
turn of Putnam from Cambridge, where lie had
twice gone to hasten the reinforcements; of the
arrival of Warren, the all glorit MS volunteer.
The battle began at O'cIock. You are IA
mll.iar with the table. The advance al the roy
al troops in Two columns, one against the rail
Ience on the river, and the other against the re-
doubt. As they ascend the hill, they pause from
time to time, to give their field pieces an oppnr-
tunity to make an impression on the American
lines; but their gallant defenders counted nm.
moved these fearful pulsations of the battle;
the sharp, short conflict, the retreat, the SECOND
advance, the second mere decisive repulse; the
third terrific assault. wien with new reinforce.
ments. his troops all cont eniraed in one column,
bis artillery brought up between the rail fence
and The breast work, and thus commanding the
interior of the redoubt, under cover of a sheet of
| fire and smoke from three hundred dwellings,.
the redoubtis carried at the paint of the baynnet.
Few of the American guns are furnished with
that weaponj Prescott defends himself with his
sword against bayonet, which passed more
| hav a.