Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-06-29

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the works, obedicnt to strict COM
mand, retained their fire until the en-
envy were within thirty or forty PAGES,
when they opened upon them with a
tremendous volley. Beng all marks
mon, accustomed 10 take deliberate
aim, the slaughter was immense and
especially fatal TO officers. The as
sailants fell back in some confusion !;
but, rallied on by their officers, ad-
vanced within pistol shot. Another
volley, more effective than the first,
made them again recoil. To add to
their confusion, they were CALLED by
a flanking fire from the handful Of
Proyincials posted in Charleslown-
Shocked at the carnage, and seeing
the confusion of his troops, Gen.
Pigot' was urged to give the word for
a retreat.
Ia the meanwhile Gen. Howe, with
the left wing, advanced along Mystic
River, toward the fence where Stark,
Read and Knowlton were stationed,
thinking to carry this slight breast
work with ease, and so get in the
rear of the fortress. His artillery
proved Of little avail, being stopped
by a swampy piece Of ground, while
his columns suffered from two or
three field pieces with which Put
nam had fortified the fence. Howe's
men kept up fire of musketry as
they advanced but not taking aim,
their shot passed over the heads of
the Americans. The latter had re-
ceived the same orders with those
in the redoubi, not TO fire until the
enemy should be within thirty PAGES.
Some fen trangressed the command
Putnam rode up and swore he would
cut down the next man that fired
contrary TO orders. When the Brit
ish arrived within the stated distance,
a sheeted fire opened upon them
from rifles, muskets and fowllng
pieces, al! leveled with deadly aim.
The carnage, as in the other in
stance, was horrible. The British
were thrown into confusion and fell
back some even retreated 10 the
boats.
There was a general pause on the
part of the British. The American
officers availed themselves of il TO
prepare for another attack, which
must soon be made. Prescott min
gled among his men in the redoubi,
who were all in high spirits at the
severe check they had given the re-
gulars.' He praised them for their
steadlastness in maln,alng their post
ard their good conduct in reserving
their fire until the word of command,
and exhorted them TO do the same in
the next attack.
Putnam rode about Bunker's Hill,
and lis skirts, TO rally and bring on
re-eniorcemenls which had been
checked or scattered in crossing
Charlestown Neck, by the raking fire
from the shins and batteries. Be-
fore many could be brought to the
scene of action, the British had COM
menced their second attack. They
again assembled the hill to storm the
redoubt their advance was covered
as before, by discharges of artillery.
Charlestown, which annoyed them
on their first attack by a fanking fire,
was in flames by shells thrown from
Copp's Hill and by marines from the
ships. Being built Of wood, The
place was soon wrapped into a gen.
eral contlagra,ion. The thunder OF
artillery from batteries and ships, the
bursting of bombshells; the sharp
discharges of musketry the shouts
and yells Of the combatan,s the
crash Of burning buildings, and the
dense volumes OF smoke which oo-
scured the summer sun, all formed
a tremendous spectacle. Sure am,
said Burgoyne in one Of his letters
- Sure | am nothing ever has or
ever can be more dreadlully terrible
than what was TO be seen or heard
at this time. The most incessant
discharge of guns that ever was heard
by mortal ears
The American troops although I'M
used TO war stood undismayed amidst
scene where it was bursting upon
them with all lis horrors. Reserving
their fire, as before, until the enemy
was close at hand, they again poured
forth repeated volleys with the fatal
aim of sharpshooters. The British
stood the first shock, and continued
TO advance; but the lncessant stream
Of fire staggered them. Their Off
GERS demonstrated, threatened, and
oven attempted to goad them on
with their swords, but the havoc was
too deadly; whole ranks were now
ed down; many of the officers were
either slain or wounded, and among
them several of the staff Of Gen.
Howe. The troops again gave way,
and retrea,ed down the hill.
All this passed under the eve Of
thousands of spectators of both sexes
and all ages, watching from afar eve
~ turn Of battle in which the lives
of those most dear to them were al
hazard. The British soldiery in Bos-
ton gazed with astonishment and al.
most incredibly at the resolute and
protracted stand of raw militia, whom
they had been taught to despise, and
at the havoc made among their OWL
veteran troops. Every convoy o
wounded brought over to the town
increased their CONSERVATION anc