Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-06-15
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
The battle Of Bunker Hill.

The dawning of Thursdays sun
will usher in the centennial of a
day memorably dear to the heart OF
every true American citizen-the
Battle of Bunker Hill. No matter
in what cline, under what sun, on
land or sea1wherever the starry
folds kiss the air of Freedom
there and then shall be found wor-
shipful devotees at the shrine of
Liberty, who will bless the day
and the memories which it brings
back from buried centuries. Filter
pens than ours shall write its his
tory, filter tongues shall sing songs
of great nations birth, and we
are content to give the account of
the Battle of Bunker Hill, as it has
been handed down to US in history:
On the evening of June 10th, Col.
Prescott received orders to fortify
Bunker Hill, but General Putnam,
who had command of the expedi-
ton, finding Breeds Hill more suit
able, the requisite Notifications were
rapidly thrown up on that height.
The British were unconscious OF
the enterprise until morning, when
their ships of war, floating batteries,
and the guns of Cops Hill opened
a severe fire OH the Americans. At
one O'Clock the troops under Howe
landed in Charlestown, and were
soon after reinforced, which swelled
their number to about 5000 men,
with six field pieces. The British
troops were we'll equipped and
differed, possessed all the advan-
tages of strict discipline, and were
by no means distrustful OF the issue
of the contest. The American army
on the other hand, having been
hastily called together, was COM
posed of men who had few ideas of
military combinations, and whose
weapons were generally fowling-
pieces without bayonets, but who
were all animated by one spirit.
Their leaders were beloved and re-
spected by them, and were men of
tried truth and nerve; Putnam,
Stark, Pomeroy, Warren and Pres
colt, men whose names yet call
glow into the bosom of every
patriot. The provincial troops
amounted to perhaps 1000 men,
with two field-pieces. "Don't fire.
said Putnam to his men, till you
can see the whites of their eyes,"
The British approached unmolested
till within close gun-shot, when the
tremendous fire of the provincials
drove them back With great slaugh-
town was set on fire and burned to
the ground, adding its raging flames
to the other horrors of the battle
scene. AS the ammunition Of the
Americans was nearly exhausted,
the third attack carried the redoubt,
although the provincials resisted the
British with the butt-ends of their
muskets, and slowly retreated from
the hill. The Americans lost lis
killed among them General War
REM, 3O5 wounded, and 80 were
made prisoners. The British lost
1854 in killed and wounded.
AS the Americans retreated across
Bunker Hill, General Putnam used
every exertion to rally them. He
commanded, begged, cursed and
swore like mailman. Halt
Make stand here!" he cried; " we
can check them yet. In Gods name
form, and give them one sho,
more" 1t is said that for the tor.
rent of profanity in which the brave
old general INDUCED at this time, he
made a confession, after the war
before the church of which he was
a member. alt was almost enough
to make an angel swear" he said
"to see the towards refuse to secure
a victory so nearly won." But the
undisciplined yeomanry were des-
titute of ammunition !; thrice had
they repulsed a force superior in
strength and skill and whatever
victory the British had gained was
more humiliatiuo than defeat,