Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-06-17
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Bunker Hill.
1875.

1875. Bunker Hill. 1875
One hundred years ago to-day, was
fought battle which had an effect far
beyond that merely of a collision be-
tween two hostile bodies of men. 1t
was the first regular engagement of the
revolutionary war, and fought on the
seventeenth day of June, one hundred
years ago. May we not regard it as an
omen of good that we begin our con-
nectiOn with the REPUBLICAN on the
one hundredth anniversary of so grand
day?
Of all the battles of the revolution,
none had more significance than that
known as the battle of Bunker's Hill.
No event of our history is worthier of a
grand Centennial OutburSt than this.
There are battles which mean far more
than mere victory to one side or the
other. Battles are sometimes contests
of principles, and this was the charac-
ter of the struggle when the raw re-
cruits of New England grappled with
the trained and disciplined veterans
from across the sea. This was one of
the historical battles which affect the
destiny of mankind. Battles have been
fought i'm which thousands Of men have
fallen, yet which have no place in his
tory, because they had no more signlfi-
canoe than prize fight; they meant
nothing for civilization. But when
there is contest of principles, the can
mons roar sounds down the ages, the
sabre's flash CLEANS on the pages of
history.
On the morning of June IL, IT'S,
Gen. Gage, the British commander,
was reused by the roar of cannon
Looking over to Charlestown Heights,
the sight was one he could scarcely COM
prehend. Up to that moment his feel
ing for the military prOwess of the colo
nists was one of contempt. 'WhO is that
officer who appears in cOmmand?" asked
he, as he beheld the tall form of Col
Prescott walking the parapet. 1t was
PreScOtt's brOther-in-law, who answered
him. Twill he fght?' demanded
Gage. "Yes, to the last drop his blood.
He is an old soldier" VIM. Prescott,
had seen service i'm the French war, and
and was thorough soldier. 1t was
because of his military experience and
soldierly bearing, and the consequent
respect that would certainly be paid
him by the rustic troops of the day,
that Gen. Ward sent him on the night
expedition of the 18th, to ''fOrtify Bun
ker's Hill and defend the works until
he should be relieved" On the morn
ing of the 18th, the army of the colo
nists, consisting of about $4,000 men
were spread Over an extent of ten or
twelve miles. General Ward, who came
nearest to being i'm command, had his
Headquarters at Cambridge, where was
also the main body of the troops. Gen
eral Thomas the second i'm command
was posted with about 5000 Massachu-
sets, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
troops at ROxbury and Dorchester,
while the left composed chiefly of New
Hampshire troops, under Stark, ex-
tended through MedfOrd to the hills of
Chelsea. The British officers called
them "a rustic rout with calico frocks
and fowliDg pieces" and they were ex-
cessively annoyed that they should be
hemmed in by such an army. 1t was
in fact singular army. Almost the
only man who wore uniform was Col.
Prescott. 1t could scarcely be said
that the army had a head. General
ARENAS Ward commanded the Massa-
chusetts troops, and was nominally i'm
command of the whole, though there
was no general authority by which the
officers and men from other States
could be compelled to obey him. Col.
John Stark commanded the New
Hampshire troops; General Nathaniel
Greene commanded those who came
from Rhode Island; and the old veter-
an Israel Putnam commanded the
Connecticut forces. These were all in
dependent of each other, only render
ing voluntary obedience to General
Ward because the struggle was going
on upon Massachusetts soil. They
were destitute of military discipline;
but they were well acquainted with the
use of the rifle in hunting, and were
accurate marksmen. There was
scarcely any organization, and it was
only feeling of patriotism, stung by
the aggressions of the enemy to intense
action, that kept them together.
The British commander had received
large reinfOrcements under Howe, Bur-
goyne, and Sir Henry Clinton, and he
had determined to occupy Dorchester
Heights. 1t is said that this was to
have been done on the 18th. This
would have given the British cOmmu-
nication with the country, and other
advantages to prevent which the occu-
patton of Bunker's Hill was planned,