The Nevada Democrat., 1858-06-16

Or find my heightened days consoled
BY Gods sweet peace-when am old
Rancroft,s Description of the Battle OF
Bunker Hill.
The royal army, exasperated at retreating
before an enemy, whom they bad proessed to
despise, and by the sight of many hundreds Of
their men who lay dead and bleeding on the
ground, prepared to renew their engagement.
While the light infantry and part OF the gren-
adiers 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 a manner as to rake the inside
of the breastwork, from one end of 1t to the 9th
er, SO that the Americans were obliged to crowd
within their fort Then the British troops hav-
ing disencumbered themselves Of their KNAPP
sacks, advanced in column with fixed bayO-
nets Clinton, who from Copp's Hill had watch
ed the battle, at this critical moment, and with
out ORDERS pushed of in boat, and put him-
self ut the head of two battalions, the marines
of the 47th which seemed TO hesitate on the
beach as if uncertain what to do These form
ed the extreme left of the British. and advanced
from the south; the 5th, the 3Sh and 43d bat
talions formed the centre and attacked from the
east; on their right was the 52d, with 81 enadiers
who forced the now deserted intrenchments.
The Americans within the redoubt, attacked
at once oD three sides, by six batalions, 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 selfpossession increased
with danger. He directed bis men to wait un-
til the enemy were within twenty yards, when
they poured upon them the deadly volley. The
British wavered for an instant, and then sprang
forward without returning the fire. The Amer
lean fire Stacked, and began to die away. The
British reached the rampant on the southern
side. Those who FIRST scaled the parapet were
shot down as they mounted, Ma jor Pitcairn
fell mortally wounded, just is he was entering
the redoubt. A single artillery cartridge fur
niShed powder for the last muskets. which the
Americans fired. For some time longer they
kept the enemy at bay, confronting them with
the butt ends OF their guns, and striking them
with the barrels after the stocks were broken.
The breastwork being abandoned the ammunition
all expended, the redoubt half filed with regu-
lars, and on the point of being surrounded, aud
no other renfOrcements having arrived at lit
tie before four, Prescott gave the word to re-
treat. He himself was among the last to leave
Lhe tort, escaping unhurt, though With coat and
waIstcoat rent aud pierced by bayonets, which
he parried with his sword. The men, retiring
through the sally-port, or leapng over the
walls. made their way through their enemies,
each for himself, without much order, and the
dust which rose from the dry earth now pow
dered in the sun, and the smoke of the engage
ment gave them some covering. The British,
VINO had turned the northeastern end of the
Dreastwork and bad also come round the angle
OF the redoubt, were too much exhausted to use
the bayonet against them with vigor, and at
hrst the parties were too closely intermingled
10 admit OF firing; it also appeared that a sup
ply OF ball for the artillery, seat from Boston
during the battle, was too large for the field
pieces which accompanied the detachment.
The little handful of brave men would have
been eflectually cut off. but for the unfailing
courage OF the provncials at the rail-fence and
the bank of the Mystic. They had repulsed
the enemy twice; they now held them in check.
TIL the main body had left the hill. Not till
tnen did the Connecticut companies under
hnowton, and the New Hampshire soldiers un-
der stark quit the station which they had "no-
bly defended" The retreat was made with
more regularity than could have been expected
or troops who had been for SO short time un-
der discipline, and many of whom had never
seen an engagement before. Trevett and his
men drew off the only field piece that was saved.
Fomeroy walked backward, facing the enemy
aud brandishing his musket till it was struck
ana marked by ball. The redoubt, the brow
Oh Bunker Hill, and tie passage across the
Chariestown causeway, were the principal pla-
ces of slaughter.
Putnam, at the third onset, was absent, tenn
ployed in collecting men," for reinforcement
and was encountered by q retreating party on
the northern declvity of Bunker Hill. Accord
ing to his own responsibility, he now for the
first time assumed the supreme direction. With
out orders from any person, he rallied such oi
the fugitives as would obey him., and joined
them to detachment which had not arrived il
tO chor in tha haf nd NIT n rn
spectacle force took possession Of Prospect Hill
where he encamped that very night.
Repairing to head quarters, Prescott offered
With three fresh regiments to recover his post
But for himself he sought neither advancement
nor reward, nor praise. and having performed
the best service, never thought that he had done
more than his duty. 1t is the contemporary
record that during the battle ''no one appeared
to have any command but Col Prescott" anG
that "his bravery could never be enough ac
knowedged and epplauded.' The camp long
repeated the story of his self-collected valor
and historian of the war, who best knew the
Judgments of the army, has rightly awarded the
highest prize of glory to Prescott and his com
panions"
The British were unable to continue the pur.
suit beyond the Isthmus They had already
brought their best forces into the field more
than third of those engaged lay dead or bleed.
ing and the survivors we're fatgued and over
swed by The courage of their adversaries. The
Dattle put an end to all offensive operations on
he part of Gage.
The number of killed and wounded in his ar
~ was-by his own account-at least 1854
evenly commissioned officers were wounded,
nd thirteen slain. Of these, there was lieu
nant-colonel, 2 majors and captains. For