The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-06-30

The battle OF Bunker Hill was fought on
the 18th day af June, 1875, and II years ago
his day. A short account of that important
conflict, wherewith to refresh the memory, may
not be uninteresting. 1t is from Hildreths
History of the United States
To make the blockade os Boston more com
plete, by order of the Commtte of Safety. Col.
Prescott, with about thousand men, including
company Of artillery with two field pieces,
marched at nightfall to take possession of Bun
ker tlill considerable eminence Just 18th i'm the
peninsula of Charles'o own, and commanding
the great northern road from Boston. BY some
mistake, Prescott passed Bunker Hill and ad-
vanced to Breeds Hill, al the southern end of
the peninsula, and much nearer Boston. Be
fore morning the troops had thrown up con-
siderable redoubt, who, on the morning of the
17,h, opened fire upon them from The Ships in
tn e harbor and the batteries in Boston. Under
the command Of Gridley and Knox, the previn.
cial labored on undisturbed ty the fire. By
noon they had thrown up breastwork extend
ing from the redoubt, down the northern slope
of the hill, toMard the water. Cannon noun.
ted in the redoubt would command ihe harbor,
and might make Boston itself untenable To
avert this threatened danger, three thousand
men, picked corps of the British army, led by
from the wharves in Boston, and landed at the
eastern foot of Breeds Hill. Such was the
want of order in the prnvncal camp, and SO
little was the apprehension of immediate attack
that the same troops who had been working all
night, still occupied the intrcnchnents Gen
eral Putnam was on the field bu, he appears to
have had no troops and no command The
same was the case with General Warren,
whom the attack had drawn from Cambridge
T..
arrived on the ground Just before the action be-
gan, and took up a position the left unfin-
shed breastwork, but some two hundred yards
in the rear, under an imperfect cover, made by
pulling up the rail fences, placing them in pa
rallell lines few feet apart, and filling the in
tervening space with the new-mown hay which
lay scattered on the hill. Olher troops had
been ordered 10 Charlestown; but owing to
9 pme misapprehcnsion, they did not arrive in sea
son 10 take part in the battle. The supply Of
ammunition was very short.
About three in the afternoon of brilliant
summers day, the British troops advanced
towards the redoubt, support ID by a redoubled
fire from the ships and the batteries.-The
neghbnring hills, and the roofs and steeples of
Boston, were crowded with anxious spectators
The assailants pressed forward till within a
hundred yards of the provincials, when they
were suddenly checked by quick and heavy
volleys from the redouht and breastwork, de-
iivered with the unerring aim Of marksmc
Before fire 50 deadly the regulars wavered,
broke, and fell back in disorder to the landing
place. Soon, however, they were rallied by
their officers and again brought up to the
charge. During the first attack some scattering
shot had come from the houses on the British
left. lnfurated DO repulse, Gage gave orders
for setting the village of Charleston on fire -
The wooden buildings burned rapidly, and the
tall spire OF the meet tng-housc was soon wrap
ped in flames. While this conhagtation added
new horrors to the scene, the British line
again moved forward Again the same fatal
fire drove them back in cpnliIS.ion to the land
ing place. General Clinton passed over from
Boston to give his assistance. The troops, bv
great efforts on the part of the officers, were raj
lied and led third time up the hill, and now
| with better success. The powder of the pro-
| vincials began to full, and ~ supply was a, hand
Some British artillery pushed ino the gap be.
tween the breastwork and the rail fence, planted
| their pieces and swept the brrastwnrk from end
to end. The grcnaders assailrd the redput on
three sides at once, and carried il a the point of
the bayonet. Pending the main attack, the
British liz ht infantry advanced upon Stark 5
troops behind the rail fence, but were warmly
cecrivcd, and kept at bay till the red nlbt was
rarried after which the whole body OF the
provinc!als made good their retreat over
tharlestown Neck. under an inccssant fire from
he floating batteries, which did, however, but
little mischief.
The provincials might consider such defca,
as little less than victery. Out Of three tlIous-
and British ta"ops engaged, over one thousand
were killed or weundeL--a loss such as few
battles show.