Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-12-07

unusual sounds. The rumor of their
cause soon spread. The people and sol
diery, crowding to the north end, could
scarcely believe what they saw--the re
doubt and its brave occupicrs appearing
as if they had risen by enchantment in the
night
But the enemy lost no time in idle won
der. The shipping at once opened their
fire on the entertainments, and soon the
battery at Cops Hill, in Boston, began
to play. Bombs were seen, black and
threatening, traversing the sky shot
richochetted along the sides of Breeds !;
and the thunder Of continual explosions
shook the windows of the city, and echoed
off among the neighboring hills.
Putnam had left the detachment i,ame.
distely after midnight and returned to his
quarters; but, as the first sound of the
cannon, he galloped to the scene of action.
Here, it was proposed by some, to send to
camp for a relief; but Prescott urged that
the men who raised the works were best
entitled to the honor of defending them
He consented, however, to despatch mes.
sengcr to Generel Ward for refreshments
Putnam, perceiving, from the hustle in
Boston, how imposing force was MUSTER
ing to the attack, hurried back to camp,
thinking his presence might carry influence
with it, and begged the commander-iu.
chief to reinforce the redoubt
But General ward was convinced that
the enemy intended to attack the main
army, and hence refused. He would not
even allow the troops of Putnam to follow
their leader Putnam himself, however,
could not be restrained. lie remained at
Iuman's farm only long enough to be sat
isfied that the enemy did not contemp ate
landing at that position, and thcn, fling.
ing himself on his horse, dashed off toward
Bunker Hill, his blood quickening as he
approached the scene OF action, where the
oaunonade seemed to grow louder and
more incossant.
Putnam now laborsd to throw up o re-
doubt on Bunker Hill, while Prescott,
with the larger detachment, worked assid'
uously On that at Breeds. At this latter
place redoub., eight rods square, was
erected, while breastwork extended from
its northeastern angle, in a northernl y
direction, to the marshy ground or slough
in that quarter. Just as the battle was
about to begin, the American line Of de.
fence, at Putnam's suggestion, was eztens
ded from the slough across the Iidge to the
Mystic river, by the erection Of two paral,
lei rail fences, filed up between with new.
: made hay. Meantime, Prescott applied
to General Ward for rcinforcements. Put.
nam, too, finding the crisis approaching,
galloped once more to headquarters f; this
time, it is said, in his shirt-sleeves, for he
was too excited to think of his coat, which
he had cast off to assist his men. Aid at
last was granted, the designs OF the enemy
no longer beirg doubtful.
lie was absent but short period, and
soon hurried back to Bunker Hill, where
| he remained, busily animatiug the mon.--
Prescott, in the main fertilization, equally
encouraged to assiduity. The redcubt
was now nearly finished. As the provia
cials rested moment on their spades aud
, locked of toward the neighboring country
, they witnessed a spectacle which fred each
r patriotic bosom anew. 1t was now the
. height of the summer sol.tice Far away
9 the quiet farmhouses, amid their waverine
| fields, slept in the sultry noontide. Here
and there, in the laps of the hills, stood
, the white churches, the spires peeping Out
D above the elnls that shaded New England s
S ancestral graves. How peaceful the pros
8 peet-yet how inspiriting its associations
] Changing the direction of the eye, and
a locking toward the south, Boston, with
r her thousand troops, was seen beneath
c An ominous buzz hoated up from hei
/. streets, as if the whole population was ii
o motion, above which at intervals rose the
blare of trumpcts, the shriller note of the
S fife, and tie rumbling Of artillery wagons
g Whole companies of troops were already
o mustered along the wharyes, as if in readi
C ness to be embarked The cannon, fron
n the shipping, thuudered continually.
/. This spectacle might have moved Ssoute
d hearts, but it struck no terror to the pro
& vincials, who labored silently on Noo'
D, passed, yet they still toied on. Since the
'f had left Cambridge the night before, no
Of morssl Of food had passed their lips
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