Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-27
attic of Bunker Hill---onginal Letter.


Friday last, June II, was the anniversary of the
| Battle of Bunker Hill. The scene has been often
described, but fresh details of it will ever be OF
interest. and more especially such contemporary
1 s a ements as give view Of The times. We there
fore copy from the Bost Post, he o lowing letter,
written by Mr.. Winthrop to John Adams, giving
a narrative 0f the events of the day on which the
battle was fought. Previous to its publication in
| the Post, this letter had never been printed.
.'21 June 1775 Dear Sir: Ireceiyed yourfaYor
of May % by Messrs. Halls l was much concern
ed that had it not in my power to treat those
young gentlemen with as much respect as their
| characters and YOUR recommendation entitle them
to. When your letter was delivered me, which
was but few days ago, We were all IN The utmost
hurry, packing up the library aud apparatus for
Il removal distance IN the country tor safely,
in consequence of an order of the provincial con-
gress. which was sent us that dny-so that The
young gentleman could only ia Ike transient view
of things as they laytin confusion. 1t was then
| universally expected that there would be an ac-
ton in day or two, which happened accordingly.
The night following, "a body OF our men were sent
| to throw up entrenc hmeht on hill IN charles
town. As soon as the daylight appeared they were
discovered and fired upon from the men OF war,
and battery on Copp's Hill. That day, 18th inst,
exhibited most shocking spectacle. About .,
afternoon, large body of regulars were carried
over to Charleston, and at d IN the afternoon the
man of wars boats set fire to the town in diiftr-
| ent places, which in few hours was burnt 10 the
ground. When ii was all i'll flames they attacked
our eutrenchment, which was very imperfect, be-
| lIS Only the wOTh Oh lew Suoib uouiSs ousbhSy
were vigorously opposed, and a hot engagement
| ensued, which lasted above an hour in which
numbers fell.
When our soldiers had fired away almost all
their cartridges, and the regulars were entering the
entertainment with their bayonets charged, an in
cesSant fire of artillery kept on them on all sides
from the men Of war and the floating batteries, our
people retreated and left them in possession oil
| the hill. This advantage they probably purchased
dear, though what theif loss was, we may never
know exactly. IT'S affirmed their dead were seen
lying in heaps on the ground. Our loss was con-
siderable; but being now above twenty miles from
| the scene of action, cannot give you any par
tcular information about it.. We lost some very
good officers, but none is moe universally lament
ed than our friend DR.. Warren, who had been APP
pointed a major general but a day or two before.
own was sorry whenI heard of this appointment,
because Thought man SO much better quail
fed to act in other capacities than most are, ought
not to be exposed in this way, unless in case OF
necessity. But his zeal hurried him on, and he
was killed in the entertainment soon alter he gol
there.
| We are now nvoled in all the horrors OF war,
and are every moment expecting 10 hear OF anoth-
er action. Is it not necessary, sir, that our army
should be effectualy supported, IN order TO bring
this cruel war to aspeedy and fortunate issue,
especially as there is no immediate prospect OF war
| in any other part of America, and vigorous sup
port here may probably prevent its spreading to the
other colonies.
am surprised TO find you have so little intelli-
gence from hence. l thought there had been
| constant intercourse kept up betv cen the provin
cial and continental congresses. mentioned this
| hint of yours to DR.. Warren the evening before
that fatal day; he promised that he would write
and put his friends on writing. But, alns!---
My respectful compiimentsto all friends, paricu-
LARRY to Col. Hancock and DR.. Franklin. wrote
% the doctor soon after heard of his arrival, but
know not whether he has received my letter. l
want much to write TO some friends in England,
hut there is no conveyance this way If Dr..
franklin should be able, with safety, TO keep up
his correspondence with England, perhaps he
might be willing 10 send my letters with his If
could know this oull send them by way OF
| Philadelphia. But own am in great doubt
whether it will be prudent or practicable.
God Almighty bless your counsels, and render
them effectual for tie preservation OF America.
Your faithful friend and humble servant.
| June %. Since writing the above, have re
ceived two accounts from different hands of the
loss on each side. | send them as i had them.
have been also told that the Regulars acknow ledge
42S killed. ra
Boston almost deserted by the inhabitants
Charlestown burnt down-Cambridge, Medford,
,alem, Danvers and MaIblehead almost deserted.
IT'S impossible at your distance TO conceive OF
| the ciStreSs."
This BATTLE as the Post remarks, brought matters
10 a crisis. After the conflict of Lexington and
| Concord, reconciliation with the mother country
continued in some quarters TO be urged-ont TINS
event-the burning of Charleston and the severity
of the engagement-settled the question that there
| should be open war; And when the sun OF the
day of Bunker Hill went down, there was no
longer ground for any other basis oil settlement
than that of independence Baltimore Patriot.
! COLLATION. IN A Soar BJILER.-Messrs. Boyd &
Streeter manufacturers of soap in Norwich, Conn,
recently gave a collation. TO their friends in one Of
u