Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-06-20
EBENsBURG, JUNE 20, 1855.

.dings. and the dense volumes of smoke which
obscured the summer sun, all formed .re-
mendous spectacle "Sure I am said. Bur-
goyne in one of his letters" Sure II am, moth
i ing ever has or ever can be more drealfuly
| terrible than what was to be seenlor heard at
this time The most incessant discharge of
guns that ever was heard by mortal ears
The American troops, though unused to
war stood undismayed amidst scene where
it was bursting upon them with all It's horrors.
Reserving their fire, as before. until the enc
nv was close at hand, they again poured forth
repeated volleys with the fatal aim Qf sharp
shooters. The British stood the fist shock,
and continued to advance; but the hcessapt
stream Of fire staggered them. Their officers
demonstrated, threatened, and even attempted
to eoad them on with their swords, but The
havoc was too deadly wholeranks were moved
down: many of the officers were either shin
or wounded and among them several of The
staff of Gen Howe The troops again give
way and retreated down the hill.
All this passed under the eyes of thousands
of spectators of both sexes and all ages, wath-
/ ing from afar every turn of the battle in which
i the lives of those most dear to them were at
| hazard The British soldiery in Boston ggked
with astonishment and almost Incredibly at
the resolute and protracted stand of raw tili-
tia. whom they had been taught to desiise,
and at the havoc made among their own vet
eran troops Every convoy of wounded
brought over to the town increased their eon-
sternation > and General Clinton, who had
watched the action from Copp's Hill embark
ing in boat, hurried over as volunteer,
taking with him reinforcements.
A third attack was now determined on,
though some of Howe's officers demonstrated
| declaring it would be DOWNRIGHT butchery
! A different plan was adopted. Instead of ad-
vaucing in front of the redoubt, il was to be
! taken in flank on the left, where the open
/ space between the breastwork and the fortified
fence, presented weak point. It having
been accidentally discovered that the amrnu-
milton of the Americans was nearly eK pended
preparations were made to carry the works at
| the roint of the bayonet; and the soldiery
/ threw off their knapsaeks, and some even their
coats, to be more light for action.
Gen Howe, with the main body, how made
a feint of attacking the fortified ffce; but
while a part of his force was thus engaged
the rest brought some feld-pieces to enfilade
the breastwoik on the left of the redoubt a
raking fire soon drove the Americans out of
this exposed place into the enclosure Much
damage, too. was done in the latter by balls
which entered the sallyport.
The troops were now led on to assail the
works. those who hinchcd were as before goa
ded on by the swords of the officers The
Americans again reserved their freuntil their
assaiants were close at hand, and then made
murderous yolley, by which several officers
were laid low and General Howe himself was
wounded in the foot.
The British soldiery this time likewise re-
served their fire, and rushed on with fixed
bavonets-Clinton and Pigot had reached
the southern and eastern sides of the redonbt,
and it was now assailed on three sides at once
Prescott ordered those who had no Iayonets
to retire to the back part of the redoubt, and
five on the enemy they showed themselves
on the parapet. The first who mounted ex-
claimed in the triumph, 1.-The day is ours p
He was instantly shot down and so were sew
eral others who mounted about the samd time.
The Americans, however, had fred their last
round, their ammunition Was exhausted and
now succeeded desperate and deadly strug-
gle, hand to hand, with bayonets, stones and
stocks of their muskets.
At length. as the British continued TO pour
In, Prescott gave the order to retreat. His
men had to cut their way through two divi-
sions of the enemy who were getting in rear
of the redoubt, and they received a destruc-
tive volley from those who had formed on the
captured works By that volley fell the pat
riot Warren who had distinguished himself
throughout the action. He was among the
last to leave the redoubt and had scarce done
so vixen he was shot through the head with
musket ball and fell dead ON the spot.
While the Americans were tiius slowly
dislodged from the redoubt, Stark, Reed and
Knowlton maintained their ground at the for
tilted fence, which indeed had been nobiy de-
Tended throughout the action. Pomeroy dis
tinguished himself here by his sharp-shooting
until his musket was shattered by ball.
The resistance at this hastily constructed work
was kept up after the troops in the redoubt
had given way and until Colonel Prescott had
left the hill, thus defeating Gen. Howe's de-
sign of cutting off the retreat of the main body.
which would have produced scene of direful
confusion and slaughter. Having effected
their purpose. the brave associates of the fence
abandoned their weak outpost, retiring slowly,
and disputing the ground inch by inch with a
regularity remarkable in troops many of whom
had never before been in action.
The main retreat was across Bunker's Hill,
where Putnam had endeavored to throw up a
breastwork The veteran, sword in hand,
rode to the rear of the retreating troops, re-
gardless of the balls whistling about him.
His only thought was to rally them at the un-
| finished work g Halt make stand here -
cried he, we can check them yet. In Gods
name, form, and give them one shot more
Pomeroy, welding his shattered musket as
| a trunchoon. seconded him in his efforts to
stay the torrent 1t was impossible, howev-
er, to bring the troops to stand. They
continued on down the hill to the Neck, and
across tn Gambridge exposed to raking fire