New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-12
JUNE II, 1875.
BATTLE OF BUNKER's HILL.

Battle of Bunkcr's Hill. Before the smoke Of the
struggle had cleared away, long before the wounded
had recovered, the debate began, and it has con-
tinued to the present time. What the object Of
the movement Of the American forces and Of the
occupation of Breeds Hill Who ordered it, Did
the leaders, whoever they were, obey their nstruc-
tions if they had anyi Which of the patriot forces
engaged exhibited persistent valor, and which
yielded to panici Was Putnam hero poltroon
and braggart: Was Ward wise commander OF
superannuated and mbccilef How much Of the
credit Of the sturdy repulse is dine n the sni-
mating presence Of Gen. Warren. Was the
burning Of Charlcstown act of justiliable military
precauton. or was it deed of wanton cruelty. The
battle itself has had a singular fortune and fame.
At first American spoke of il except az defeat;
now it is never mentioned save as rebel victory.
while an enduring monument bnlt by the
descendants of those who beaten, com
mcmoratcs their failure and their flight. The dis
patches of the British commander speak only Of
success, and makes mention of the bad behaviour
of his soldiers; while there is theory that The
sympathies Of the royal regiments were with the
embattled farmersa theory based upon nothing bet
ter than desertons which during every battle
at is singular fact" says historical writer.
that on the 18th of June, 1875, there were few
who would have cared to claim share in the tran
sactons Of the previous day. The attempt to occupy
30 exposed place AS Breeds Ill., was pronounced
rash in conception and discreditabe in the
execution; there was deep feeling OF DIS
appointment and modification in the colonies and
the complaints were loud and many of the lack Of
good conduct evnced somewhere. Years elapsed
before anyone claimed for himself OF for friend the
honor Of having commanded on the occasion; and
other years elapsed before there general notice
of the anniversary" 1t will not be strange if in our
conjectures, and opinions Of Others We only fol-
low the best historical authority and We shall 40 %
with anccstors'to sorify and with no preudiees
to overcome.
THE MILITARY SITUATION BEFORE THE BATTLE
The military situation before the battle must b
first considered Gen. Washington had Just been aFr
pointed by the Congress the Commander-in-Chiefo d
the patriot forces, but had not yet joined. His COM
mission was Issued upon the 18th Of June. On The
21st accompanied by Lee and Schuyler, he began his
journey north and, according to one writer, h
had not proceeded twenty miles from Philadelphia
before he was met by courier with the news Of The
Battle of Bunker's HILL" Sparks says that he did
not receive the intelligence until his arrival in New
York. Still, considering the facilities Of the time
for the transmission of the news il flew swiftly.
Gage, cOOped mp in Boston, had issued proelama-
ton about the 18th inst declaring the Provinos
Oh III " stabc ol ourHh8
pardon to all who would resort TO his standard ex-
cepting by name Mr.. John Hancock and Mr.. Sam
Adams and threatening the contumacous With the
terrors of the martial law.
The American forces beseiging Boston In JUnS
1870, were "a tOrtuitOus assemblage Of troops"
contributed independently by the New-Engan6
Colonies. The army is said to have amounted 70
$4,000 men at different points. Each division was
under leader of its own selection. About 10000
mon belonged to Massachusetts,, and wero com-
manded by Gen. Artemas Ward, with bis head
quarters at Cambridge. The New Hampshire men
were led by Stark, the Rhode Island men by Greene.
and the Connecticut men by Putnam. But there
was little organization. A regiment Of artillery was
commanded by Gridley. veteran engineer
of repute. John Adams wrote afterward:
Massachusetts had her army, New-llamp-
shire her army, Connecticut her army
and Rhode Island her army. These four armies mos
at Cambridge, and imprisoned the British army in
Boston. But who was the sovereign Of this united
rather cOngrcgated army, and who was its COM
mander-in-cheff 1t had none Putnam, Poor, and
Greene wcrc as Independent of Ward as Ward wa
of them None of them but Ward subject =
tho orders of the Massachusetts, Provincial Con
gress" The troops were without uniforms or ac-
couterments, and each soldier had brought his owA
rifle, m,isket, or fowlingpiece. The army had
spread itself over extent of 10 or IL miles. Ward
was at Cambridge with 5000 infantry and four
companies of artillery; Thomas was at ROxbuD
and Dorchester with 5000 Massachusetts,, Connect.
lieut. aud Rhode Island men, and three or four com
panes of artillery. The remainder, mostly New
Hampshire troops, stretched through Medford -
Chelsea
The British army holding Boston had been reen-
forced on the 25th Of May by large body Of men
under Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, bringing the
royal garrison up TO about 10000 soldiers, fully dis
cipned and supplied and with large experience OF
war abroad. The naval force which could be easily
brought into cooperation amounted to about ITS
guns with gunboats. transports, and floating bat
terry
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
There has been as much discussion Of the men %
bodies to whom the responsibility Of the occupation
of Breeds Hill must be assigned OF the question
of command during the action itself. For this req
son, some view of the political situation
at tho moment may be of value. Gen.
Gage, upon the LIST of September. l774.
had issued writs for general election;
but had subsequently cOuntermanded them by pro-
clamatlon. The people, however, disregardng his
orders, had elected the new members who had voted
themselves to be Provincial Congress, which, after
meeting in Salem, had adjourned to Concord and
subsequently to Waterfowl. But the real author
ity of the province vested in the Committee Of
Safety which was sitting at Cambridge, where Ward,
the Commander of the Massachusetts army, had
his headquarters. This Committee of Safety was
not distinct body, but really standing committee
of the Congress, endowed with very large
thOrity, which it exercised without much
respect for the wishes and opinions of the
main assembly from which it derived Its ex-
istence. 1t could determine when the services