Litchfield enquirer., 1858-08-19

MR. EDlron Every thing connected with our Revolutionary History is peculiarly interesting. This is especially the case with letters, and whatey CT private documents dverge from the beaten track of History, acquainting one with the thoughts and feelings as we'll as with the actions of the men of of that age. Below is the copy of letter. written just after the battle of Bunker Hill-which, with others that propose to furnish from time to time, may prove interesting to your readers It is super. scribed, "To Mr. John Leslie, Buckingham Street, York Buildings, London" and proceeds thus
 "SANDr Hook, 27th June, 1775. My Dear Brother:
 After passage of 6 weeks and days, we arrived here yesterday, and found a man-of-war waiting with orders for to proceed to Boston, where there has already been several skrmishes twxt the Kings troops and the Provincial army as it is called in which the Regulars have, as you may imagine, come off victorious. At the same time, few persons be- lieved the Yankees would have made so good fig ure The action of the l7th instant was the most tackled about ten thousand Provincals strongly en- trenched, drove them from their stronghold with the loss of above thousand that on our side am afraid, was more considerable than was to be wished, or than could afford. will write to you fully from Boston, and beg you will write to me by every ship to that place, well as by the pack ct, as I suspect the mail will be stopped at New York. The Asia, man-of war, lies at the Town which keeps them little in order, though they have about fifteen hundred men encamped at some miles from the city. What to think of this contest am at loss at present it looks much mere seri- ous than could have imagined. Every colony, nay every parish in this and the neighboring Pro- vinces have raised their militia without the con- currence of the Governors. was on shore several hours to-day, buying some stock for the mess, The people were ready to take our money for what they had to sell but it was astonishing to to what tone of phrenzy they raised-every one ready to
 fly to their arms, and yet they cannot tell for what only repeat few of the patriotic phrazcs of Lber ty, Charter Rights, Sc. I am really at loss what to think of this dispute. The Provincial Congress is just rroke up after choosing Colonel Washing ington, Virginian of no property, for their Gene ral He has gone to command the army near Bos- ton. Mary and have been better on the voyage than we could have expected, and were only sea sick a iS" o"yo' eoh Sty dS lo Complalut. On the whole, its no worse than when left Ireland Our love to Mrs. Leslie you and the dear little ones
 am yours VIM. LESLIE.'
 This letter, it will be secn was written just after arriving in New York Bay to brother in London. The action of the 17t referred to- is the battle of Bunker Hill, and Lese's account of the troops en- gagged on the two sides is distorted. We had not half the number engaged which he assigns us while the British marched more than twice as many as he gives them credit for. The Provincial Congress of which he speaks, was the Second Continental Con- gress, and it assembled at Philadelphia on the 2Oth of May. Washington was appointed to the general command the 18th of June; and it appears matter worthy of remark to the Englishman, that a man without family or fortune should be elevated to the position of Commander in Chief. He seems in doubt how to consider the matter of the approach ing Revolution but he may have known, even then, better than he expresses the causes of the 'phrenzy, and the reasons why the people were " ready to fly to their arms" But probably the causes which appeared allimportant to the Colo4 nsts though he knew them well, seemed rather in significant to him. RODERICK.