The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-16
FRoTHINGHAM OK THE BATTLE.
CHARLEsrowN, Mass, juno Is, rs

accorded the NlsltOTs, WnO maue nne display.
FROTHINGHAM on THE BATTLE.
CHARLEsTowS, Mass, June Is, 1875.
There are few living men who are more familiar
with the history aud incidents OF the battle or
Bunker Hill than Richard Frotnlngaam, the cele-
brated historian. His published works on Boston
and Charlestown during the period Of the Revolu-
ton are everywhere regarded rs indisputable au-
thority, and yet he has not given 10 the public
more than fragment OF the facts which are in
ais possession. In view OF the centennial ceebra-
non. now so near at hand, he has been constantly
sought by those in search o! "reminiscences OF the
great event which Is TO be commemorated.
THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
called upon the distinguished historian the other
day. and the members we're very much enlignt-
eneu as well as delighted with their visir. Mir.
Frotningham's residence is ID Monument square,
and within an easy stones throw OF the memora-
BILE shaft itself. Nearly all the members OF the
Historical society were present, ana they were
cordially welcomed II neat little speech by Mr..
rockingham. subsequently he called their atten-
ton 10 remarkable series OF maps and plans OF
Guar lest own. Bunker ana Breeds nils, ana oil the
battle, hIcn he nad Ueen ior twenty-five years
collecting, when he appropriately displayed Tor
ne occasion, giving history OF each 50 lar as IL
was known. No, lew OF the pictures OF the bat
tie were imaginary, anu some OF the plans vi the
p1ttle erroneous IA MANY respects He regarded
as tue most authentic mat published Dy Lieuten-
ant Page, OF the engineers alde-de-camp 10 Gen.
eral Howe III :ne action IRON an acfual survey by
Captain Montressor, anu a facsimile oi wnicn was
published the herald lew days since. Mr..
Frotnlngham, IN concluding his remarks, pro-
posed ..
and adjacent territory, winch proposition was
warmly approved by al the genilemen present.
Mr.. rockingham pointed out the topograrhy OF
Charlestown, the Ny site River moving on the east
side and The Charles RIVER on inc west SIDE. ana
and since IN his ooyhood, the evolution at nigh
ildes the waters VI the Two rivers met anu made
the town u peninsula. On this peninsula Were:-
First-MouIon's Hll named from an cary citl-
zen, . no;able sntpouilder VINO carried on his
second-Bunker Hin, also from an early settler
whose allotment OF land extenied rom tee main
stree the hill 10 the river-an ou name lound
In deeds and the RECORDS.
Thfrd-1nls place-wheie the monument
stands-known as Charleslown Heights; but 1t Is
not until aiIer the battle tnat the name or Breeds
Hill Is found. and this fist IN letter printed In
the newspapers q l7I6. lie vas aware tnat
about the battle. saws tnat he received orders 10
march % Breeds Hill, IN Cnariestown; but ne got
OF safety 0. dered Bunker Hill 70 be fortified and
held.
Colonel Prescotrs route over Bunker Hill, with
his band OF 200, was then described In this was
q detachment OF Connecticut men, OF ZOO under
Captain knowlton, military nan, who won un-
bounded respect. rne detachment balted on tue
low ground between the two bills, where there
was an hours consultation as to Tue place 10 be
fortified. General Putnam aid not 20 with the
party. but took part IN tnat consultation. About
Twelve at nigut Colonel Prescott arrived on the
place where ne now stood. Here colonel Gridey
staked out the lines for the redouot they began
~ tue southwest corner VI the monument and ran
In noriheastery direction eight RODS. or l32 ieet.
then turning anu running westerly 49, leet, tnen
turning ana ru ming 1872 Ieet terly TO the
corner OF the monument began AT. Tnis lasr line
WAS In 'front.' or the reuoubt, facing tue settled
lart Of Cnsrlestown ana Boston ms would
NOS give the monument tue centre OF the
redouor out places tin the southeast corner tbs
probably arises ron an incorrect map that was
ha M maj
Here Mt. Frotnlnghsm described Montres,or's
map Of Csarlesto~n, l775. on which pan
thee fs-skeicned Dy Lieutenant Page aide OF
General Howe. Inc correctness OF tue ground
plan was attested by its exact accordance WlIn
4 plan OF Charlestown drawn In ls4s by FeItvr
Parker. the streets and snore lines OF Pages plan
corresponding with tie streets on t6e plan OF isss
occupied In CHARLES River By the Falcon, Lively,
the Somerset. &C, and the beginning OF FIRING on
toe mornlag OF June II. Under this not IRE rres-
colt directed "A work TO be thrown up on line
about twenty rods 'fiom the tort northerlyn
This was described as running across the street
on the square by a corner OF The house In winch
ex-Mayor Keut resides. This line also shows that
the granite slab ON the grounds Indicating the
remains Of tue DreastworK Is incorrect, Tor TINS
line ran q ROD or 20 9eioE tne point
dweIIs on Inc grand spectacle Of the IanlIn9
or tue British army NJ Moulton's Point exactly on
the pace occupied BY tue most nor nsry snip
toms HILL on the size OF tue gasometer OF the
CnarestoSn Gas Company, Were thlrty-nye
aUouL two hours. or from one TO about three IN
the ate noon. Colonel Prescott, from the move
10 hank aim. when ne ordered the trains " artll-
lesy 10 20 and oppose them and the ConnecLlcut
forces 10 support the tram.
THE RAIL PENCE PROTECTION.
Knowlton went ABOUT nafpast one 10 the base
oil Bunker HilI where the burial ground ana Pres
colt school are, and began the famous rail- fence
protection. Tho party OF Hampshires winch, he
SAID. joined Knswlton, were the reElments under
stark anu Read VINO came on about Two O'Clock,
tue former rong quite on 10 the beach, using tas
stOnes. aud tue latter taking post between Knowl-
ton snd Read. General Howe must have seen tue
beginning aud progress o this last lns Of defence;
he mig ut have at least trled TO scatter the smAl
force sent mere; he might have asked General
cave. the commandsr OF the naval as well as land
forces, 10 nave RunoOat, Or even one OF the
lrigates sent UP tue Aystic. Ther guns could
have ennlaued this line and driven the N en- from
II. But no. ming " the klnd was attempted. Not
q gun0ost WAS seen on the Mystic RIVER until after
toe battle was over, when one or more were sta.
TONED there, and hence gunDoats on Mystic River
appear on some Of tne plans. Thus At aDeut three
besides 4 cartway on the right OF the rsdouDt, the
esrtn presstworEs and The raul ieDoe. Meantime
reached Cnarlestown Rbout threS O'Clock, LANDING
OF the place near tue entrance " tue Navy YARD,
Tners we're now ABOUT 1000 British troops lers.
TAE FIRST AND SECOND ATTACKS
Mr.. FrotnIngaam now describes me appear.
ance OF warren, Pomeroy ana others Oh the
fed, the nrst attack and repulse and
the second attack. he Thought the interval
tais time CnarIestown Was burning. Howes
troops were nred upon from the houses,
aud tnis was Gel tain JUSTIFICATION !or nls destroy.
lug the buildings rom wnlen came tnis firing
But what JUSTIFICATION was there, even IN the hard
usage OF war, Tor burning The buildings Ia the
square for instance, as tue cnuIca aud the court
House Ihe buildings we're nred Ia several places.
Tue scene was nos q, pallILg. Mr. rockingham
thought that IOrty Or MY minutes must
have elapsed before the thru and nnAl
attack. Toe British oRcers, In tue 5.
charxe OF hard duty, we're oonges 10
PRICK the reluctang soldiers get them No.
but 10 DO justice 70 those soldiers, they met
tue lnurdcrous storm o. leanen nail Vito Won
ueriut endurance, eilcltlng rom tue Americans
q tribute VI admiration. BRITISH valOr was never
more needed, and there was iuIl supply Of
what was wante1 there mr.. trothing nam re ated
the scene Ia the redouOt. as ne Had IL, standing
mere. from Americans WHO were Ia ~ aud fought,
whea one sue Drlsted win British OayUuets anu
the Quiet Was scarcely visible. Howe Dad changed
has tactics. lie did not aitsck severely the ran
fence nne tue reuouDt simultaneously As before.
His artillery on the twO nrst assaults was BADLY
served. he now succeeded Ia planting II IN tue
low ground, 50 that the balls epnadcd the cart
p.eastworks oiiving taeir defenders into the re-
doubt. lie mace ieIut on toe Americans ~ tue
rail- fence, Tut attacked tie redOuOt on three sides