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

=
Finding this impossible, he remained be-
hind to cover their rctrent Coming to a
deserted field piece, he dismounted, and +,
taking his post by it, seemed resolved to
brave the foe alone. One m an only dared
remain with him, and he was soon shot
down. Putnam did not retire until the
British bayonets we're close upon him.
He then followed the rstreating troops,
who fell back in good order across the
neck, and took post at Bunker Hill.
Night fell on the scene of battle, but
did not bring repose. The British, as if
fearful of an attack from the colonists,
kept up an incessant fire of shot and she'll :,
in the direction of Cambridge. As the
gloom deeped, the spectacle became sub
lime. Bombs crossed and re crossed in
the air, leaving fiery trails like comets
the thunder of cannon echoed among the
hills, and shook the solid shores lights
were flashing up and down in Boston, and
far and wide over the neighboring country;
while, as if to crown this terrific day, the
smouldering embsrs of Charlestown illumi-
mated the horizon in that direction, and
poured upward thick volumes of smoke,
which, gradually extending, blotted star
after star from the heavens. Terrible
omen of the years Of war to come 1t was
a night of alarm and vague foreboding, Us
the day had been of horror and blood.
The moral effect of this battle, especial.
ly in England, was almost Incredible
But the truth is, that men there had been
accustomed to regard the inhabitants Of
the colonies in the same light they did the
peasantry Of the continent-a timorous,
ignorant race, poor, without leaders, awe.
struck before authority; and in this opin
ion they had been confirmed by the repre-
sentations sent home from persons high in
authority. In consequence, when it was
told abroad that two or three thousand OF
these despsed peasants had virtually de,
featcd four thousand well>appointed Brit
ish troops, with loss to the latter Of near
ly one.third OF their number ,astonishment
and admiration took the place of contempt
Horace Walpole alluded to the conflict al
most with glee, overlooking all considera
tions cf country in sympathy for the
Americans, while France dreamed OF re.
venge and glory.
Putnam was unquostionably the hero Of
Bunker Hill. Much has been written to
dispute his claim to this high merit; but,
even admitting all the assertions Of his on
emies, their facts prove nothing. It is Lot
now pretended that Putnam held any au-
thorized command on the field; his real
post was q. Irman s farm, bus he seems &c
have hurried, ir tho restlessness Of his
spirit, from one place to another, until the
battle really begun when he flew to Breed 1
Hill and Tough. on the American lefs.-
Here, as during his occasional presence in
The preceding hours, his reputation, his
energetic spirit, and the fact of his being
the highest officer in rank present, gave
him an authority which, wherever he wen
was paramount for the time. He seems
however, not to nave intertered with Pres
colt, who was the real comniander-in-ch Chi 4
and who fought on the right. But as il
was in consequence Of Putnam's counsel
that the battle was brought on, SO, during
the strife, aud in the retreat, he was thu
presiding spirit Of the day. Whether gal
looping to headquarters fer rcinforc-
ments, or assisting his men to throw VI
the redoubt on Bunker Hill, or hurryinl
along the line telling the prcvincials to re
serve their fire, or dashing backward anC
. forward over the isthmus to persuade tn
recruits to cross, or standing alone befor'
. that solitary cannon, in the retreat, bran
dishing his sword passionately against I
thousand British bayopets, i. IS sill Put
, nam whom we meet, the Achilles of tn
, fight, or, to change the similc, the luric
: comet of the scene, blazing hither anc
thither, wilder every moment, until W
} lose sight of everything else in watching
its fiery progress.