Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-30

the gray light OF that summer morning,
was eight rods square, the southern side
running parallel with Main street, being
constructed "with one projecting and
two entering angles" On a line with
the eastern side, which faced the
Navy Yard, was breast
work nearly four hundred feet
in length, running down the hill toward
the Mystic. The sally-port opened upon
the angle between this breastwork and
the northern side of the redoubt, and
was defended by blind" Within this
redoubt and behind this breastwork, be-
tween six and seven feet in height, were
gathered the brave company OF men who
had toiled all the night and still kept at
work. Prescott was everywhere, cheer
ing them on mounting the works, his
commanding presence was the personal
power which, above all official authority,
governed men who felt the same ardor
which he possessed, and knew how to
obey brave man. General Putnam
had returned in the night to Cambridge,
to urge forward reinforcements and
provisions.
The sentries on the man-of-war Lively,
relieving each other during the night of
the 10th, had not heard the thousand sol
diers digging within ear-shot, and their
cry of ssAll's wel'' had sounded very
peacefully, but now as the dawn broke,
promising thefull splendor of June day,
the work of the night was discovered, and
the captain, without waiting for
orders, opened fire. The sudden noise
Of the guns gave the alarm to the fleet,
to the army, to all the town of Boston,
and must have been heard with beating
hearts by the patriots in the town and
the waiting companies IN Cambridge
and Rcxbury. Then the firing ceased
by order of the admiral.
Half after eleven o'clock was the hour
named by General Gage for the regi-
ments and companies to parade with
ammunition, blankets, and provisions,
and march to Long Wharf and the
North Battery, while the remainder of
the troops we're to hold themselves in
readiness to embark at moments warn
ing. At noon Colonel Prescott and his
men, looking down from their intrench.
ments, saw twenty light barges come
through the channel between Boston
and Noodles Island east BOSTON, and
make for Moulton's Point, where Chel-
sea bridge now leads from Charlestown.
The bright sun shone upon their splen-
did accoutrements and polished fire.
locks, and, in the bows of the leading
barges, upon glittering pieces of ord
nance. At the same time the Falcon
and the Lively swept the low grounds
In front Of Breeds Hill, to protect the
troops in landing, should any sally be
made from the redoubt. But the little
band on the hill had not built their in
trenchment to throw themselves out of
it upon this superior force. Turni lg
their eyes inland, the Americans looked
anxiously still for the desired reinforce
ments. They were under a heavy fire
from the Somerset, from floating bat
teries, and from the battery of the re-
doubt on Cops Hill. and they could
see the Glasgow frigate and the Sym
metry transport moored close under the
shore beyond Lechmere Point, raking
the narrow neck and making any at
tempt of reinforcements to cross
perilous one.
Meanwhile, just before the arrival of
British reinforcements, the Americans
were cheered by the arrival of those
they had anxiously looked for. Notably
there came DIR. Joseph Warren, Presi-
dent of the Provincial Congress, who
had just received his commission as
Major General, and was per-
haps the best known and most
popular 81, leader in Massachu-
sets. He was at Cambridge when the
news came, and with a bravery of which
he had already given signal example, he
hurried forward to the post of danger:
in common with General Ward, he had.
on prudential grounds advised against
the expedition. He presented himself
at the redoubt, and Col. Prescott atonce
rendered the command to him, but he
refused, only asking that he might
serve as volunteer. He brought news
of two thousand reinforcements which
he had passed on the way. There came
also General Pomeroy, veteran of the
French wars; without command he
had asked of General ward Horse to
take him to the field, but on reaching
the neck he would not expose the horse
to the murderous fire, dismounted.
shouldered his musket, walked across.
and joined the men at the rail fence.
who received him WITH cheers, and with
them he fought all that day, animat-
ing, inspiring them with words and his
own courage and enthusiasm. Colonel
John Stark, also, who had been ordered
forward when Major Brooks had first
applied for aid. arrived with his regi-
ment at the neck. The enemy's guns
were pouring their fire across thatnarrow
isthmus,-one could toss stone from
the centre into either river, and he
was advised to quicken the pace of his
men as they crossed. zone fresh man
in action is worth ten fatigued Ones" he
replied, and marched over in good order
and steadiness. He carried his men to
the rail fence and helped Captain Knowl-
ton complete his work. Here, too, Gen
eral Putnam was prominent figure
There was now a general discharge
from Howe's eld-pieces, from the
Copp's Hill batteries. and from those
on the ships, while the British columns
moved forward in two divisions; the
right commanded nv General Howe