Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-07

Edward Evorott's Grafton.
We give below the concluding portion Of Ed
ward Eyeretts Grafton at Dorchester, Massachu-
sets, on the Fourth of July. To that portion Of
our readers who are not familiar with the history
Of the Revolution, we win remark that on Dor
chester Heights the American army, under General
Washington, were encamped in the winter and
spring Of 1915 and from that point prosecuted the
sege of Boston.
OF the great events which influenced the result
of the Revolution, few are more important than
that which took place within our limits. At
Lexington and Concord the great appeal to arms
was irreyocably made As the alarm Of that day
spread through the country the men Of Dorches-
ter fastened to the field they stood side by side
with their countrymen, from every part Of New
England, when the great question Of the capacity
of patriotic militia TO contend with veteran troops
was decided at Bunker Hill. But the occupation
of our Heights produced a distinct strategic re-
suit not inferior In Importance to any other in
the whole war; II was literally rietoria sns clals
noble victory achieved without the eifusion of
blood. esNli No
But there is another circumstance which must
ever clothe the occupation OF Dorchester Heights
with an affecting interest. 1t was the first great
tionary war /; not battle, indeed but the prepa-
ration Of battle on the grandest scale, planned
with such skill, and executed with such vigor, az
Mt once to paralyze the army and navy OF the enc
my, and force him, without striking a blow, to an
gnominious retreat. Washington, az you well
know, 2was chosen to the command Of the army in
Philadelphia on the day the battle Of Bunker Hill
was fought. The siege Of Boston had been already
formed and those noble lines Of circumvalation--
twelve miles in compass, of which some faint re-
mains may still be traccd-had been drawn along
the high grounds Of Charlestown, Cambridge,
Roxbury, and Dorchester
An adventurous expedition against Quebec had
failed partial collisions had taken place wherever
there were royal forces throughout the country ;
but nothing decisive was brought about, and q
feyerish excitement peryaded the continent. Con-
gress was still conducting the war without con-
stitutional exstence and all eyes and hearts wera
turned to the army and to Washington. Men at q
safe distance, and with nothing at stake are prone
to judge severely the conduct of those who are at
the post Of responsibility and danger Washington
himself felt the delicacy and the hazards Of his po-
sition; the Importance of sustaining the expecta-
tons of the country the necessity OF decisive re-
suits. But his army was without discipline or
experience, save few veterans of the seven years
war-without adequate supplies of any kind
composed Of men who had left their homes at a
moments warming and we're impatient to return
weakened by camp diseases and the smallpox
with a stock of powder 80 scanty that stratagem
was resorted to by the commander to conceal the
deficiency even from his officers. 56 @
Thus the summer and the autumn wore away,
and every week increased the public Impotence,
and added to the endorsements of Washington.
His private letters Mt this time are filed With the
most touching remarks on his dfstressfnl condition
In letter to President Reed, of the 18th OF Jan
uary, TITO, he says: The reflection on my situa-
ton, and that of this army, produces many an un-
happy hour, when all around me are wrapped in
sleep. Few people know the predicament we are
in on thousand accounts fewer STILL will believe,
if any disaster happens to these lines, from what
cause it flows. have often thought how much
happier should have been if instead Of accepting
the command under such circumstances, | had
taken my musket on my shoulder and entered the
ranks; or, if could have justified the measure to
posterty and my own conscience, had retired to
the back country and lived in a wigwam."
a AT length, however, the re-enlistment Of the
army was completed; advanced lines were thrown
up--ordnance captured at Ticonderoga had been
transported by Knox with prodigious effort crrss
the country Ammunition had been taken by Man
ly In his prize shps-shells were furnished from
the royal arsenal at New York. It was Washing
toms wish to cross the ice to Boston, to carry the
town by assault, and destroy the royal army. The
ice however, did not make till the middle If Feb
ruary; and then it was decided by a council of
war, that the town could not be assaulted with
success
1t was then resolved to repeat on grander
scale, with full preparation and ample means, the
hasty operation which had brought on the battle
of Bunker Hill Ii was determined first to occupy
the Heights OF Dorchester, and as soon an i'm
pregnable position secured there, to establish
batteries on Nook's Hill and other rising ground
nearest Boston. The feet in the harhor was with
in range of the heights; the town was commanded
from the hills below. The occupation of these
points would Of necessity compel the enemy to
take the risk of a decisive action or to evacuate
the town. VI,
Washington, though preferring the bclder meas
ure, yielded to the decision Of his council, and
threw his whole soul into the work. A plan for a
grand combined movement was matured. The
Heights of Dorchester were TO be occupied on the
night of the 4th Of March, in order that the antic
pated battle might be fought on the anniversary of
the ever memorable 9Th OF March, ITO. As soon
as the conflict was engaged on the Heights, Put
nam was TO cross from Cambridge with a body Of
4 1000 men, and in tive divisions In Boston, and
forcing his way through the town burst open the
Notifications on the Neck and thus admit a,divis-
ion Of the American army from Roxbury. To dis
town was severely bombarded from Somerville,
East Cambridge and Roxbury during the nights Of
the I'd, Sd and 4th Of March.
am told by professional men that these dispo-
sitions evince consummate military skill and show
that Washington, too often compelled by his stua-
ton TO pursue the Fabian policy, possessed tall
ent for military combinations that entities him to
place beside the greatest captains Of the last CEN
fury.
The 4th Of March, the day so long and anxious
ly expected, at length arrives. The troops put
in motion in the evening from the American lines
at Roxbury and Dorchester. An advanced guard
of 500 precedcs; the carts with intrenching tools
came next with the main body, 1900 strong, un-
der General Thomas; the whole followed by train
of 800 wagons loaded with fascines, gabions and
bundles Of hay. They cross Dorchester Neck with
out being perceived, and reach their destination in
two divisions one ,ach,,at the Heights.
Bundles Of hay were placed on the side of the
causeway at the most exposed parts as protection
in case the enemy should discover and attempt to
interrupt the movement Under this shelter, par.
ties from the American army passed several times
during the night, without being perceived, though
il was bright moonlight. This was owing, no
doubt, to the cannonade and bombardment Of the
town, from the opposite quarter by which, also,
the whole surrounding country was thrown into
A.. n -. Frt