Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-07-24
Bancroft's Description Of the e3attle Of Bun
ker Hill

ker HILL
The royal army, exaspCrated at retrcating
before an enemy, whom they had professcd to
despise, and by the sight of many hundreds of
their men who lay dead and bleeding on tho
ground, prepared to renew their engagement.
While the light infantry and apart 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 manner as to rake the inside
Of the breastwork, from ono end Of II to the
other, SO that the Americans were obliged to
crowd within their fort Then the British
troops having disencumbered themselves Of
their knapsacks, advanced ina column with
fixed bayoncts Clinton, who from Copps
Hill had watched the battle, at the critical
moment, and without orders, pushed off in q
boat, and put himself at the head Of two bat
taliOns, Of the marines ofthe 47th which SEEM
ed to hesitate on the beach as If uncertain
what to do. These formed the extreme left Of
the British, and advanced from the South the
9th, the 38th and 43 battalions formed the
centre and attacked from the east on their
right was the 52d, with grenadIers who forced
the now deserted intrenchmentS.
The Americans within the rcdoubt, attack
cd at once on three sides, by six battaliOns, 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 ammu.
milton left. But Prescott's selEpoSsession in
creased with danger. lie directed his men to
wait until the enemy were within twenty
yards, when they poured upon them the dead
ly vollcy. The British wavercd for an instant,
then sprang forward without returning the
fire. The American fire Stacked, and began
to die away. The British reached the ram
part on the southern side. Those who first
scaled the parapet were shot down as they
mounted. Major Pitcairn fill mortally wound.
ed, just as he was entering the redoubt. A
single artillery cartridge furnished 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 breast
works being abandoned, the ammunition all
expended, the rcdOubt half filed with regu-
lars and OH the point of being surrounded,
and no other reinforccments having arrived,
at little before four, Prescott gave the word
to retreat. lie himself was among the last to
leave the fort, escaping unhurt, though with
coat and waStcoat rent and pierced with bay
men retiring through the :ally-port, or leap
ing over the walls, made their way through
thicr enemies. each for himself, without much
order, and the dust which arose from the dry
earth, now powdered in the sun, and the smoke
of the engagement gave them some covering.
The British, who had turned the northeastern
end Of the breastw0rk, and had also come
round the angle Of the redoubt, were too much
n IN hosI
with vigOr, and ut first tho parties were too
closely interlningled to admit of firing; It also
appeared that supply Of ball for the artillery,
sent from Boston during tho battle. was too
large for the field pieces which accompanied
the detachment.
The little handful of brave men would have
becp eiIcctualy cut off, but for the unfailing
courage Of tho prOvincials at tho rnil-fencc and
the bank Of the Mystic. They had rcpulscd
the enemy twice; they now held them in check !.
till the main body had left the hill Not tili
then did the Connecticut companies, under
KnowltOn, and the New hampshire soldiers
udcr Stark, quit the station which they had
"nobly defended" The retreat was made
with more regularity than could have been
expected Of troops who had been for so short
o time under discipline, and many Of whom
had never seen an engagement before Ire
vctt and his men drew oft the only field piece
that was saved. Pomeroy walked backward,
facing the enemy and brandshing his mlsket
till it was struck and marked by ball. The
redoubt, the brow Of Bunker Hill, and the
passage across the Charleston causeway, were
the principal places Of slaughter.
Putnam, at the third onset was absent tenn
ploycd in collecting men, for reinforcement
and was encountered by rctreating party on
the northern declivity Of Bunker Hill Ac-
cording to his own responsibility, he now for
the first time assumed the supreme direction.
Without orders from any person, he rallied
such Of the fugitives as would obey him, and
Joined them to detachment which had not
arrived in season to share in the combat, and
with respectable force took possession of
Prospect Hill, where he encampCd 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
tho best service, never thought that he had
done more than his duty. Il is the cotempo-
rary record, that during the battle "nO one
appeared to have any command but Col.
Prescott" and that his bravery could never
be enough acknowledged and applauded." !"
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 companions"
The British were unable to continue the
pursuit beyond the IsthmuG They had al.
ready brought their best forces into the field;
moro than third of those engaged lay dead or
bleeding, and the survivors were fatigucd and
overawed by the courage Of their adversaries.
The battle put an end to all offensive opera
tions on the part Of Gage. o.,
The number of killed and wounded in his
army was--by his own account--at least
1904. Seventy commissioned officers were
wounded, and thirteen slain. or these, there
were lieutenant, majors and Z captains.
For nearly half an hour there had been con.
tinual sheet Of fire from the Provincials: and
the action was hot for double that period.
The oldest soldiers had never seen the like.
The battle Of Quebec, which won half conti-
nent, did not cost the lives Of SO many officers
as the battle Of Bunker Hill, which gained
nothing but place Of encamplnent.
Sir William Howe, who was thought to have
been wounded, was untouched, though his
white silk stockings were stained from his
walking through the tall grass, red with the
blood Of his soldiers. THAT he did not fall
VAya Q h. \ =