The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-07-01
GRANDMoTHERs STORY OF BUNKERHILL
BATTLE.
As She saw 1t from the BeIrry
BY OLIVER WENDELL HoI MES.

BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
Tis like stirring living embers, when, at
eighty, one remembers
All the achings and the quakings OF the ''times
that tried mems souls :"
When talk Of Wing and Tory, when l tell the
Rebel story
To you the words are ashes, but to me they're
burning Goals.
had heard the muskets' rattle Of the April
running battle;
Lord Percy's hunted soldiers, can see their
red coats still
But deadly chill comes DER me, as the day
looms mp before me,
When thousand men lay bleeding on the
slopes of Bunker Hill.
Twas peaceful summers morning, when the
first thing gave us warning
Was the booming of the cannon from the river
and the shore;
- Child, " SAYS grandma, whats the matter :;
What il all this noise and chatter?
Have those scalpirg Indian devils come to
murder US once more 2"
Poor old soul! My sides were shaking in the
midst of all my quakIng,
To hear her talk of Indians when the guns
began to roar;
She had seen the burning village, and the
slaughter and the pillage,
When the Mohawks killed her father with
their bullets through the door.
Then said, Now, dear old granny, don't
you fret and worry any.
For I'll soon come back aud tell you whether
this is work or play;
There can't be mischief IN it, so 1 won't be
gone minute
For a minute then started. WAS gone the
live-long day.
No time for bodioe-lacing or for loodng-glass
grimaciug
Down INV hair went as hurried, tumbling
halfway to my heels;
| God forbid your ever knowing, when there 8
blood around her flowing,
| How the lonely, helpless daughter OF quiet
household feels
/ In the street I heard humping and knew
it was the stumping
| OF the corpora our old neighbOr, on that
wooden leg he wore,
With a knot OF women round hint WAS
lucky 1 had found him,
| So followed with the others, and the corporal
marched before.
| They were making for the steeple-the old
soldier aud his people;
| The pigeons circled round rs as we climbed
! the creaking stair.
| just across the narrow Tiver-oh, so close 1t
! made me shiverl
| Stood fortress on the hilltop that but yes
! terday was bare.
| Not slow our eyes to find it we'll we knew who
! stood behind II,
| Though the earth-work hid them from us, and
the stubborn walls were dumb;
| Here were sister, wifo and mother, looking
Wild upon each other,
| And their lips were white with terror as they
said; p" The hour has come"
The morning slowly wasted, not a morsel hs /
we tasted,
| And our heads we're almoet splitting with the
the cannons' deafening thrill,
When a figure tall and stately round the RAM
| part strobe sedatey;
| II was Prescott, one since told me he COM
manded on the hill.
| Every woman's heart grew bigger when we
saw his manly figure,
| With the banyan buckled round it, standing
| up so straight and tall;
/ Like a gentleman Of leisure who is stroihng
| out for pleasure,
| Through the storm of shells and cannon shot
He walked around the wall.
! At eleven the streets were swarming, for the
| red coats ranks we're forming;
! At noon in marching order they were moving
| to the piers;
| How the bayonets CLEANED and glistened, AZ
| we looked far down and listened
/ To the trampling and the drum beat OF the
| belted grensdiers-
! Al length the men have started, with a cheer
| lit seemed fSint-hearted),
| In their scarlet regimentals, with their knap
sacks on their backs,
| And the reddening, ripping water, as after
| sea-hghts slaughter,
| Round the barges gliding onward blushed IKE
blood along their tracks.
| So they crossed to the other border, and again
| they formed IN order;
/ And the boats came back for soldiers, came
for soldiers. soldiers still;
| The time seemed everlasting to us WomeI
| faint and fasting
| At last they're moving, marching, marching
proudly up the hill.
We can see the bright steel glancing all along
| the lines advancing
| Now the front rank fires a voley-they nav
| thrown away their shot; -
/ For behind their earthwork lying, al the DALI
| above them flying,
Our people need not hurry so they walt an'
| answer not.
Then the corporal, our old cripple Che woul'
swear sometimes and fipple)-
ne had heard the bullets whistle Gin the oil
French war) before
Calls out in words of ieeIing, just % II the
al we're hesTing-