Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-08-14

learn from o soldier of your experience"
Such wore tho noble spirits assembled
on these perilous nights.
Tho British now prepa, cd for general
assault. An easy victory was anticipa.
ted the main thought was, how to make
il most eifectual. The left wing, com.
manded by General Pigot, was to mount
tho hill and force tho rcdoubt, while
General Howe, with the right wing, was
10 push on between the fort and Mystic
River, turn the left flank Of the Ameri.
cans and cut of their retreat.
General Pigot accordingly advanced
up the hill under cover Of fire from
feld.picces and howitzers planted on
small hight near tho landing place on
Moulton's Point. His troops commen.
ced discharge OF musketry while yet
at long distance from the redoubts.
The Americans within the works, ODE.
dicnt TO strict command, retained their
fire until the enemy were within thirty or
forty PAGES, when they opened upon them
with tremendous volley. Being all
marksmen, accustomed to take deliber.
ate aim, the slaughter was immense, and
especially fatal 10 officers. The assail.
ants fell back in some confusion, but,
rallied on by their officers, advanced
within pistol shot. Another volley, more
effective than the first, made them again
recoil. To add to their confusion, they
were CALLED by thanking fire from the
handful Of Provincials posted in Char.
lestown. Shocked at the carnage, and
seeing tho confusion Of his troops, Gen.
J eral PIgot was urged to give the word for
} a retreat.
In the meanwhile General Howe, with
the left wing. advanced along Mystic
, River, toward the fence where Stark,
Reed and Knowlton were stationed,
thinking 10 carry this slight brcastwork
with ease, and so get in the rear Of the
fortress. His artillery proved Of little
avail, being stopped by swampy piece
Of ground, while his columns suffered
, from two er three Geld.pieces with which
, Putnam had fortified the fence. Howe's
; men kept up fire of musketry as they
advanced; but, net taking aim, their
shot passed over the heads of the Amer
leans. The latter had received the same
orders with those in the redoubt, not TO
fire until the enemy should be within
thirty PAGES. Some few ira nsgrcssed the
command. Putnam rode up and swore
he would cut down the next man that
fired contrary to orders.
When the British arrived within the
| stated distance, q sheeted fire opened
| upon them from rifles, muskets, and fowl
| Ing. pieces, all leveled with deadly aim.
The carnage, as in the other instance,
S was horrible. The British were thrown
into confusion and fell back some even
relreated TO the boats.
There was general pause on the part
of the British. The American officers
availed themselves of it TO prepare for
I another attack, which most soon be
S made. Prescott mingled among his
men in the redoubt, who ware all in
high spirits at the severe check they h ad
given the CIRCULARS" He praised them
-. for their s,eadfastness in maintaining
| their post and their good conduct in re.
c serving their FIRE until the word Of COM
T mand, and exhorted them to do the same
in the next attack.
: Putnam rode about Bunker Hill and
D its skirts to rally and bring our reinforce
e ments which had been checked or scat
4 tered in crossing Charlestown Neck by
: the raking fire from the ships and bat
: terics. Before many could be brought
TO the scene Of action, the British had
commenced their second attack. They
e again ascended the hill to storm the re-
d doubt their advance was covered a.
9 before by discharges Of artillery
s Charlestown, which had annoyed then
D on the first attack by Aanking fire
n was in flames by shells thrown from
n Copp's Hill and by marines from th'
y ships. Being built of wood, the place
n was soon wrapped is a general con
u 0agration.
y The thunder Of the artillery from tn
L. batteries and ships, the bursting Of bonn
n shells, the sharp discharges of musketry
l. the shouts and yells Of the combatants
n the crash Of burning buildings, ant
10 the dense volume Of smoke which OBJ
D. scured the summer sun. all formed
f. tremendous spectacle. "Sure am,
a said Burgoyne in one Of his letters
H. "Sure am. nothing ever has or eve
n can be more dreadfully terrible tha
ID what was to be seen or heard at thi
time. The most inc essant discharges
s guns that ever was heard by motta
}" ears"
n The American troops, though unuse
to war, stood undismayed amidst seen
n' where it was bursting upon them wit
m all its horrors. Reserving their fire, @
i'd before, until the enemy was close
IL hand, they again poured forth rePeate
volleys with the fatal aim OF sharE
ed shooters. Tho British stood the fir
Dir shock, and continued to advance; b'
20. tho incessant stream Of fire staggere
. them. Their officers demonstrated
or ,hrea toned, and even attempted TO goa
n. them on with their swords, but the havo
to was too deadly; whole ranks we
lis moved down many Of the officers we
either slain or wounded, and amor
at them several of the staff Of Gener
,lv Howe. The troops again gave way ar