The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-06-19
HUNKER HILL.

anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, wa
Idulv celebrated by the Bostonians, who ciier
yesced IN IL frenzy of patriotic excitement
The day happened to be one of marvelou
beautv. with cool east wind blowing so tina
there was no suffering from heat The pres
? ence of Gen Grant alone was wanting t
! make the ovation perfect success. Howev
er, Vice President Wilson was there to take
his place, and Gen. Sherman was there, will
several foreign ministers, Governors and ex
Governors of states, and poets and phlloso
pliers innumerable. There was also mas
sive turn out of military companies, so thai
when the procession was formed it was ten
miles in length. In the evening the entire
city was illuminated, and all kinds OF flre-
works were displayed from the surrounding
water as we'll as from every eligible elevation
Gen. Deycns delivered the Grafton of the day,
and shorter speeches were made by Gen
Sherman, Gen. BedlR. Of New Jersey, Vice
President Wilson, Gov. Hartrantt, Of Pa, and
others. The visitors from oil parts of the I'm
ion, to witness and participate In the ceebra'
ton, is roundly estmated at 100000.
! The battle of Bunker Hill, as our readers
are doubtless all aware was fought on the
18th OF June, 1875, owe: year before the De
claration of Independence was promulgated
at Philadelphia. 1t was necessary sequel
to the scrlmmage, few weeks before, at
Concord and Lexington. The colonists had
now assumed position of open defiance and
rebellion, and they must either fight or sue.
cumb. The British forces were concentrated
at Boston, and the colonists naturally drew
their military lines around that city. Their
right wing was placed at Roxbury, under
Gen. John Thomas; their left wing under
Gen. Isreal Putnam, at Charlestown and
Chalsea; and their center under Gen, Arte.
mas Ward, at Old Cambridge. The British
force Mt first numbering but 5000 regulars,
had been increased by re.inforcements up to-
18th of June to 10000 men, including in the
accessions such Generals as Howe, Clinton
and Burgoyne. On the 18th of June the col
onists got information they had plenty of
friends and spies IN Boston, that the British
were about to "spread out and tortity Dor
chester Heights on the south and Bunker
Hill on the north. The colonlSts decided to-
resist the movement, and on the night Of the
10th commenced throwing up earthworks and
entertainments on Breeds and Bunker HILL
Next morning. of course, their operations
were discovered, and the British commander
Gen Howe decided to dislodge them. Sew,
eral war vessels in easy range opened brisk
fire on them, but without effect; and finally,
about noon on the 18th, several regiments of
British infantry were embarked in barges.
at Long Wharf and sent across to Charles
town. The detachments sent over numbered
about 1000 men. The first assault was made
about 3 o'clock p. NJ. The British formed on
the right or north of Charlestown and march
ed up in splendid order, and were allowed to-
approach within so yards of the works, when
the Americans not over 1900 in number,
opened upon them so deadly a fire, that they
fell back in wild confusion Being slightly
reinforced and reformed in the course of an
hour a second assault was made, and rcpulsed
in the same way. Then an interval of a cou.
pie of hours followed. The British were
again reinforced; Gen Clinton had come
over to aid Gen. Howe, and at length the col.
umn was reorganzed Tor final assault.
The colonists were nearly out of ammunition,
but resolved to maintain their ground to the
last The British were allowed to come
within twenty yards before they were fired
upon, Without stopping to return the fire,
however, the British rushed forward with a
yell, and the colonsts being without ammu.
milton and having no bayonets, "skedaddled"
to Bunker Hill and being there routed out,
fell back towards Cambridge. The British
were victorious, but their victory had cost
them 1854 men, while the colonss lost ia
killed and 304 wounded