The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-17

now carried on hand to hand. Many stood
anu reserved wounds with swords and BAY
onS's. Du. tne British continued to enter.
anu were advancing towards the Americans.
M Mnen PRESCOTT gave the order TO retreat.
men the Americans left the redoubt the
aus. arising from the dry, loose dirt was so
great great tnat the outlet was hardly visible.
g tha;H ran over the top, and others hewed
prescott, among the last to leave. was sur-
rounded oy the British, who made passes az
MIN with the bayonet. which
ne skiilfully psrried with his
sword. He did not run, but stepped
along, with his sword up. escaping I'M
harmed, though his banyan and waistcoat
were pierced In several places. The retiring
troops passed between two divisions of The
British, one of which had turned the north
eastern END OF the breastwork, and the other
nau come round the angle of the redoubt,
put tney were too much exhausted to use
tne oayonet effectually, and the com batants-
Ior hlteen or twenty rods from the redoubt
were so mingled together that firing would
nave destroy ed friend and foe. The British.
WIN eneers, took possession Of the works
DuJ immediately formed and delivared q
destructive fire upon the retreatino troons'
warren, at this period. was killed end LETT
on the held; Gridley was wounded. Rrid0e
was again wounded; and the loss OF the
1 Alnel5cahs was greater than at any previous
pe-iou Vi the sctlon. Colonel Gardner, lead
ing on part Of his regiment was descend
ing bunker Hill, when he received his
death wound. Still his men. under Major
jackson, pressed forward, and. with Cush-
lng's, Smiths and Wsshburn's compsnies of
Wards re ;iment, and Febiger,s partv of
Gerrish's regiment, poured between Rreadis
and Bunker Hill, well directed FIRE upon
the enemy and covered their retreat. In
inc meantime, the Americans at the rail
renee un1er stark, Reed and Knowlton,
reinforced oy Ciark's, Colts and Chester,s
Connecticut companies, Captain Harris,s
company OF Gardner's regiment Iieutenant-
Colonel Ward and few troops maintained
Inelr ground with great firmness and intre-
pldlty, and successfully resisted every at
tempt TO turn their flank. This line, indeed.
was hoDly defended. The force here did
great service, for it saved the main body.
who were retresting in disorder from the re-.
0ouot, from being cut off by the enemy.
Wnen IL was perceived at the rail fence that
the force under Col. Prescott had left the hill.
these brave men gave ground but with more
regularity than could have been expected of
troops who had been no longer under disci-
pline, and many of whom never Lefore saw
an engagement" The whole body Of Amer
leans were now
IN FULL Retreat,
the greater part over the top of Bunker
Hill. The brow of Bunker bill was place
of great slaughter. Gen. Putnam here rode
to the rear of the retreating troops, and, re-
CARELESS of the balls flying about him, with
his sword drawn, and still undaunted in his
bearing, urged them to renew the fight in
the unfinished works. "Make a stand here.v
he exclaimed; "we can stop them yetr' "In
Gods name, form, and give tbem one shot
more! Ii was here that he stood by an ar
tillery piece until the enemy's bayonets
were almost upon him. Tine veteran Pome-
roy, too, with his shattered musket in his
hand, and his face to the foe, endeavored
to rally the men. 1t was not possible, how
ever, to cneck the retreat. Captain
Irevett and few of his men.
drew of the only field piece that was saved
OF the six that were in the action. Colonel
Scammans, with part of his regiment, and
Captain Fosters artillery company en- their
way to the field of battle, reached the top of
Bunker Hill, but Immediately retreated.
The whole body retired over the Neck
amidst the shot from the enemy's ships and
batteries, and were met by additional troops
on their way to the heights. Among them
Major Brooks, with two remaining conapa-
MES OF Bridges regiment. One piece of
cannon at the Neck opened on the enemy,
about o'clock, with a parade of triumph,
took possession of the same hill that
had served them for a retreat on the
memorable 10th of April. Prescott, indig-
nalt at the absence OF support when victory
was within his grasp, repaired TO head
quarters, reported the issue OF the battle,
already too well known, and received the
thanks of the commander in chief He
always thought he could have maintained
his post with the handful of men under his
command, exhausted as they were by IA
tigue and hunger, if they had been supplied
with sufficient ammunition and with bayo-
nets; and he offered to retake the hill that
night, or perish in the attempt, if three regi-
ments of fifteen hundred men, we'll equip
ped with ammunition and bayonets, were
put under his command. Ward wisely de-
cided that the condition of his army would
not justify so bold measure. Nor was it
needed to fill the measure of Prescott's
lame. "He had not yet done enough to sat-
isiy himself, though he had done enough to
satisfy bis country. He had not, indeed,
secured 6Dai victory. but he had secured
glorious Immortality"