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

Rud many n1ne-tenths, OF their men, Some
had only eight ano nine men to q company
left; some only three. four and five"
Another says: 1t was found to be the
strongest post that was ever occupied by any
set of men," And now moments of Joy sue
ceeded the long hours of toll, anxiety and
peril. The American volunteer saw the vet
Grams OF England fly before his fire, and felt
new confidence in himself The result
was obtained, too, with but little loss on his
side. Colonel Prescott mingled freely
among his troops, praised Their good con-
duct, and congratulated them on their sue.
cess. He felt confident that another attack
would soon be made, and he renewed his
caution TO reserve the fire until he gave the
command. He found
HIS MEN IN HIGH SPIRITS,
and elated by the retreat. In their eyes the
regulars were no longer invincible. Gem
eral Putnam rode to Bunker Hill, and to
the rear of it to urge on reinforcements.
Some had arrived at Charlestown Neck, but
were deferred from crossing it by the Sc
we're fire that raked it. Portions of regi-
ments had reached Bunker Hill, whore
they scattered. Col. Gerrish was here, and
confessed that he was exhausted. General
Putnam endeavored to rally these troops
He used entTeaty and command, and offered
to lead them into action, but without much
effect. 1t is doubtful whether any consider
fence during the short interval that
elapsed before second attack was made by
the British troops. Captain Chester says:
1.-THE men that went to intrenching over
night were in the warmest of the battle, and
by all accounts they fought most manfully.
They had got hardened To the noise OF can
non; but those that came up as recruits were
evidently most terribly frightened, many of
them, and did not march up with that
true courage that their cause ought to have
inspired them with" General Howe in a
short time rallied his troops, and immedl-
ately ordered another assault. They
marched in the same order as before, and
continued to IRE as they approached the
lines. But, in addition to the previous OBJ
stacles, they were obliged to step over the
bodies Of their fallen countrymen. SIT was
surprising" a British writer says. ''to see
how they would step over their dead bodies,
as though they had been logs of wood"
The artillery did more service on this at
tack. 1t moved along the narrow road be-
tween the tongue of land and Breeds Hill
until within three hundred yards of the
rail fence, and nearly on line with the
breaStwork, when 1t opened severe fire 10
cover the advance of the infantry. The
American officers, grown confident in the
success of their manouvre. ordered their
men to Withhold their fire until the enemy
were within five or six rods
OF the works. Charlestowp, in
tlo nCdublulc, Uocu SSb VI
fire-in the square, by shells thrown from
Copp's Hill: and in the easterly part by a
party of marines from Somerset. AS the
buildings were chiefly of wood, the confa-
grafton spread with great rapidity. The
| burning of the town neither intimidated
the Americans nor covered their attack on
the lines. The wind directed the smoke so
as to leave full view of the British col
umns, which kept firing as they advanced.
Coils. Brewer, Nixon and Buckminster were
wounded, and Major Moore was MORALLY
wounded. In general, however, the balls OF
} the British did but little execution, as their
aim was bad and the entertainments pro-
tected the Americans. At length, at the
prescribed distance, the fire was again
given, which. in it's fatal irnpartiality, pros
trsted whole ranks Of officers and men.
The enemy stood the shock, and continued
to advance with great spirit; but the con-
tinued stream of fire that issued from
the whole American line was even more
destructive than before. "The discharge"
says Judge Presco T. twas simultaneous the
whole length of the line, and though more
destructive, as Col, Prescott thought, than
On the former assault, the enemy stood
THE FIRST SHOCK,
and continued to advance and fire with
great spirit; but before reaching the rodoubt
the continuous, well directed fire of the
Americans compelled them to give way, and
they retreated a second time, in greater dis
order than before. Their officers were seen
demonstrating, threatening. and even prick
ing and striking the soldiers to urge them
on, but in vain. Colonel Prescott spoke of
it as a continued etream of fire from his
whole line, from the first discharge until
the retreat. The ground in front of the
works was covered with the dead and
wounded, some lying within q few yards.
my Godi" Putnam said, 'I never saw such
carnage of the human race!" General
Howe, opposite the rail fence, was in the
hottest OF it. Two of his aids and other off,
GERS near him were shot down, and at times
be was left almost alone. A British officer
says: He was three times in the field left
by himself, so numerous were the killed
and wounded about him." The British
were compelled again to give way, and they
retreated even in greater disorder than
before, many running toward the boats.
The British Acknowledgements are gener
Gus: They once ran and filled some
of their boats" "Twice they were stopped,
and twice returned to the charge" ut re-
CURED the utmost eXertion in all the off, |
GERS, from the generals down to the sub
alterns, to repair the disorder which this |
hot and unexpected fire produced" "Tne |
Kings troops gave way several times, and |
it required the utmost efforts OF tie gener- |
ais TO rally them" "a moment of the day |
was critical; Howe's left was staggered"
The ground In front OF the American works |
was covered with the killed and the wound |
ed. So long time elapsed before the Brit |
ish came up again, that some of the officers |
thought they would not renew the attack. |
General Putnam was on Bunker Hill, aud |
in the rear OF it, urging forward the REIN
forcements. Much delay occurred in march |
ing these to the field. Indeed, great confu- |
sion existed at Cambridge. Gen. Ward was
not sufficiently supplied with staff officers |
to bear his orders; and some were neglected, |
aud others were given incorrectly. Henry |
Knox, afterwards Gen. Knox, aided as
volunteer during the day, and was engaged
in reconnoit ring service. Late in the day /
Gen. Ward dispatched his own regiment,
Patterson's and Gardeners, to the battle
field Col. Gardner arrived on Bunker Hill,
when Putnam detained part of his regi-
ment to labor on the works commenced
there. while one company. under Gap |