Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-05-08
M | S c E L L A n Y.
THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.

From Bancrofs History Of the United States seventh VOL
ume, just publshed
The royal army, exaSperated at retreating be-
fore an enemy whom they had professed to des-
pise, and by the sight of many hundreds of their
men who lay dead or bleeding on the ground,
prepared to renew the engagement. While the
light infantry and part of the grenaders were
left to continue the attack at the rail-fence
Howe concentrated the rest of his forces upon
the redoubt. Cannon were brought to bear in
such manner to rake the inside of the
breast-work, from one end of it to the other, so
that the Americans were obliged to crowd with
in their fort. Then the British troops, having
disincumbered themselves of their knapsacks.
advanced i'll column with fixed bayonets Gin
ton, who from Copp's Hill had watched the bat
tie, at this critical moment, and without orders,
rushed oil in boat, and put himself at the head
OF two battalions, the marines and the 47th,
which seemed to hesitate on the beach as if un-
certain what to do. These formed the extreme
left of the British, and advanced from the south ;
the 9th, the 3Sth and43d battallions formed the
center and attacked from tho east ON their
right was the sd with grenadicrs, who forced
the now deserted entertainments.
The Americans within the redoubt, attacked
at once on three sides by six battallions at that
time numbered less than seven hundred men.
OF these some had no more than one, none more
than three or four rounds of ammunition left
But Prescott's self possession increased with
danger. He directed his men to wait till the
enemy were within twenty yards, when they
poured upon them deadly volley. The Brit
ish wayered for an instant and then sprang for
ward without returning the hire. The American
hre siackened' and began to die away. The
british reached the rampant on the southern
sac lhose VINO hrst scaled the parapet were
shot Inrn n tbpv unpuuta1 Mninr Ditcnir,,
ieil m0rtaily wounded just as he was entering
the redouot; a single artillery, cartridge fur
nished powder Tor the last muskets which the
Americans fired. For sometime longer they
kept the enemy al bay, confronting them with
the butt ends OF their guns, and striking them
with the barrels after the stocks were broken.
Inc breastwork beng abandoned the ammunl-
ton all expended, the redoubt hali-filled with
regulars and on the point OF beng surrounded,
and no other re-enforcements having arrived, at
little before four, Prescott gave the word to
retreat. lie himself was among the last to leave
the Tort escaping unhurt, though with coat and
walstcoat rent ana pierced oy oayonets, which
ne Parrled WIN MS sword Inc men, retiring
through the sailyPort or leapihg over the walls,
maze tneir way through their enemies, each for
himself wi.nout hucn oruer' ana the aust winch
rose irom the dry eartn now powdered IN the
them some covering lhe British, who had
turned the northeastern END OF the breastwork,
ana had also come round the angle OF the re-
uouo'' were 700 much eNlausteu 10 use the pay
ohet against theih WIN !ieor, ana al hrst the
parues were 100 closely intermhgied to admit
OF hring II also appeared 'nat supply OF ball
ior the artillery, sent rom BOSTON during the
pattie' was 100 large ior the heiu-pieces which
accompanied SC tne Getacnhelt' -,
Inc niue handful oI brave men would nave nave
been elecsualy cut OH, ou. lor tne unialhng
courage Oh tne pf3vhciaiS @ q. .ne ran renee ana
the BANK Of the Mystic. Lhey nau ieplised tne me
enemy Twice they now heu Hheil, IN cnTck till
d tIis man ma nouy nau iel. .ne n hoT tin lnen
ulu ,he SolllieGtlcut compa1ies uhuer hnoSito,l'
anu . .Ie new iianPsmre soiuieIs uliuer osarS'
q1is 'nT ne stauon' wnch the{ haa 'hopiy aelehu-
eu' M me retreat eau was mace win more regular
ily 'hah nan eSuIu haNe neen expected Oh troops VINO
ha9 peeh iof 80 snort ti'he uhuer WsclPhle'
anu many T. oi miion hau never seen an engage
Gd odn fthet' tet ana MS a men drew on the Hnl
1T 'iu-Piecc 'nat was s"Neu' roIeroy walked
I