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

THE PLUCK OF PRESCOTT.
,av oF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TIE HILL
-psrTr-H OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF SOME
or THE PATRIOIS-wAEREN's BRAVEHf-
r4E THREE ATrACKs-LACK OF Rec
TopcrMENTs AND AMMUNITIoN-THE RE-
D,uBr FINALLY CARRIED-PREscoII IN
DTaSATIoN.
N-x Thursday the centennial OF the bat
tIa of Runker Hill, is to be celebrated IN
magnificent style. The anniversary mas
prodaced several literary contributions IN
prose and verse from eminent hands, among
thspn pamphlet containing an account oil
ths bsttle by Richard Rockingham, irsm
--hion the New York Evening Post COM
MES tbs foIIowing= The peninsula OF
Charlestown is situated opposite TO tne north
mart Of Boston, and Is separated HOun u Dy
CHARLES River. Il is about mile IN iehg1h
from north to south. Its greatest brea1th,
next 10 Boston, is about hslf mile, whence
IL gradually becomes narrower unth IL
makes an isthmuz, called the Neck, connect-
ing it wish the main land. The Mystic
RIVER. about half mile wide, is on the east
side: and on the west side IS Charles KlVer,
which here forms large pays Pa1O OF
whiap. by dam stretching in the dlree-
tion af Cob6le Hill. is a mill pond. The Neck,
an artificial c2useway. Was 50 low % 20 pe
frenuentlv oVeriiOwod by the tlues.
Buuker Hill begins a. the lsthmus ana rises
gradually for about three hundred yGrds,
forming a round, smooth hill, slopiog on
Two sides towards The water, and connected
ov ridge of ground on the south with the
haiahts now known as Breeds Hlii.
Z. Rual<er Hill " was well known-the name
being in the town records ana oesos rom
an early period. Not 80 with Breeds
HiII.D for il is not named in any description
OF streets previous to 1775. Mr.. Frothing-
ham SAYS that he never met with the name,
in any private letter or public paper, prior
10 the date of tbs battle. Moulton's Point,
name coeval with the settlement OF inc
town, constituted the southeast corner OF
the peninsula. A part OF this tract formed
what ia called. in ali the accounts of the bat
lie, Morton's HILL" Bunker Hill was one
hundred and ten feet high, Breeds seventy
i've feet, and Morton's Hill thirty-hve feet.
There was near the Boston ferry market
place, now the square. Here were church,
a court house. q schoOl-house and JAIL. On
Friday, the 10th of June 1775, the COM
maudeTs of the provincial army took
measures to fortify Bunker Hill. Orders
were issued Tor PreSccttS, trye's and
Bridges regiments, and a fatigue party OF
200 Connecticut troops, TO parade at O'CLOCK
"a the evening with all the entrenchlng
tools in the Cambridge camp. Capt. Grid
ley's company of artilleTy,of AZ men ana
two field pieces, was also ordered 10 parade.
The number may be fairly estimated al
200 The detachment was pleced uad9r
the command of Col. William Prescott, Oh
Papperet, vino had
ORDERS IN WRITING
from Gen. Ward to proceed that evening to
Bunker Hill, build fortifcatioDs to be
planned by Col. Richard Gridley, the chief
engineer, and defend them until be should
be relieved. This detachment Paraded on
Cambridge Common at the time appointed.
After fervent and impressive prayer By
President IangdOn, of Harvard College, 1t
commenced, about o'clock, its memorable
march fox Charlestown. Prescott was at its
head, arrsysd in a simple and appropriate
uniform, with g blue coat and three cor
nered hat. Tbs main body marched
over Bunker Hill. Here Prescott called
the field officers around him, and commu-
nicated his orders. A long consultation
took place Ia relation to the place TO De forth
6ed. The veteran Colonel Gridley and two
generals, one OF whom was General Putnam,
took part In it. The order was explicit as to
Bunker Hill; and yet a position in the
pastures near Boston, now known as Breeds
Hill, seemed better adapted TO the objects
of the expedition. and better suited TO the
daring spirit OF the officers. "One general
and the engineer were of opinion we ought
not 10 intrench on Charlestown Hill Breeds
Hill) till we had thrown up some works on
the north and south ends of Bunker Hill, to
cover our men in their retreat, II that should
happen; but, on the pressing importantly of
the other general officer, IL was consented TO
becin. "a was dOne.n During the next
forenoon food tide enabled the
British TO bring three or four floating bat
teies TO play on the entnrechments, when
the fire became more severe. The men Of
war at intervals discharged their guns-the
Glasgow, one account states, continued TO
FIRE all the morning. The only return made
TO this terrific cannonsde was few inet-
factual shot from cannon In corner OF the
redoubt. About IL O'Clock the men had
mostly ceased labor on the works The in
rrenching tools had been piled in the rear,
and all were anxiously awaiting the arrival
OF refreshments and achievements. Soon
after this, the enemy was observed to he
in motion in Boston. General Gage
mad called a council OF war early in
the morning. As il was clear that
the Americans Were gaining strength
every hour, it was the unanimous opinion
that il was necessary to change the plan of
operations that had been agreed upon, ard
drive them from their newiy-erected works.
It was decided to attack in front, and Gage
Immediately Issued, at 10 o'clock in toe
morning the necessary orders. The force
was pat under the command of Gen. Howe,
who had under him Brighten. Pigot and
some of the most distinguished officers 10
Boston, He was ordered to drive the
Americans from their works. About IL
o'clock the several regiments marched
through the SJr6SLS OF Boston 10 bneir ptacos
OF embarkation. and two ships OF war moved
up Charles River 10 join the Others IN tiriug
unon their works. Suddenly the redoubled
roar OF The cannon announced that
THE CRISIS WAS AT HAND.
Inc Falcon and the Lively swept the low
grounds in front OF Breeds Hill, to dislodge
any parties of troops that might be postal
there 90 oppose a landing; the Somerset,
.ud fsqc floating batteries at the ferry. and
the battery on Cops Hill, poured shot on
the American works: the Glasgow frigate
aud the Symmetry transport, mounting 20
guns, m0ored further up Charles River,
raked the Neck. The troops embarked at
the Long Wharf and the North Battery
and whsR blue flag was dis
plsyed as a signal, the fleet, with field-piecss
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