The Portland daily press., 1875-06-17
Bunker Hill.

One hundred years ago this morning the
British general in command at his Majesty'S
port of Boston was getting ready to send his
troops over to Challestown to disperse large
body of malcontents who had gathered there
in open defiance of the authority of Parlia-
ment. He had it in mind to friShten the rus
tics and the restless aud ambitious splits who
were at their head, by slaughtering few and
showing the others the utter folly of contend
ing with the veteran troops of Great Britain.
The insurgent colonists had thrown up a
small redoubt about eight rods square on
Breeds (Bunker) Hill, promontory just at
tie entrance of the peninsula at Charlestown.
From the east side of the redoubt slender
bfeastwork extended nearly to tae foot of the
hill. Behind these insufficient Notifications,
thousand or more provincials, poorly armed,
badly equipped, and supplied with but little
ammunition, were stationed. AT noon the
British brigade crossed the water, landed leis-
urely, formed in order of attack, and slowly
advanced toward the redoubt. When it ar
rived within dozen rods of the rude fortiti-
cation it was met with furious discharge of
small arms from the experienced colonial
marksmen. Whole ranks were swept away, and
the red coated soldiers faltered, fell back, and
finally broke and fled. A second time they
advanced to the attack, and second time
they were repulsed. They formed once more,
and having received reinforcemeDts, ad-
vanced under the fire Of the ships in the har-
.,f+ ,a uvac
now expended, they had no bayonets on their
guns, they saw that further resistance was
useless, and the order was given to retreat.
They did not give way however, until the re-
doubt was half filled with British troops.
This was the battle of Bunker Hill. The
government troops gained the day, but at
fearful sacrifice, losing two-thirds of their
men. The Americans held the redoubt for an
hour against the attack CT force OF double
their number, made up Of the veterans of the
British army; ard when they retreated they
fell back with little loss or confusion. 1t was
In effect victory for the colonists. The Brit
ish general learned that the insurgents could
fight, and that the suppression of the insuF-
recton was to be no light affair. The people
of the colonies learned that their rude levies
could meet British troops on equal terms,
ard they were strengthened in their determi-
nation to resist the expressions put upon
them. The consequences of the contest have
been too often dwelt upon to need extended
consideration here. By general consent they
are allowed to be as momentous to the world
as those of any of its great and far more de-
cisve battles.
To-day the people of Boston celebrate with
fitting pomp and ceremony the one hundredth
anniversary of the conflict on the Charles
town peninsula. The city is feverish with
excitement. Boston always achieves what
she undertakes, and in a manner, too, COM
mensurate with the breadth of the concep-
ton. She has ever been lavish in the honor
paid to her historic dead. and on this occa-
sion her memorial observance may be expect
ed to outdo anything she has before attempt
ed. She is the representative of Mlssachu-
setts to-day, and the reputation Of the COM
monwealth will not suffer in her keeping,
The people Of Maine, which was once part
of Massachusetts, have peculiar interest In
the celebration, and there will be large at
,tendance from this state. 1t is not Bunker
Hill alone that is to be visited. Boston is full
of historic landmarks, and care has been
taken that they shall receive their proper at
tention to-day. Some of them are almost
certainly marked for destruction, and this
may be the last opportunity as it is the mos
lifting, to visit the buildings where the spirit
of American liberty had its birth.