Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-18
Bunker Hill, 1115.

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already accepted the ultimatum OF war
Hancock. Adams, Warren, Putnam and
Stark had already been rallying the militia,
to relieve Massachusetts, by shutting up the
British troops in Boston The Massachu-
sets Council of Safety decided to occupy
Bunkers Hill They had but eleven bar
rels of powder, but they proposed to burn
that behind patriot bullets before submit
ting. So a little before sunset on the 10th
of June, 200 militia, in their working
suits of homespun, assembled upon Cam
bridge Common, at the order of old General
Ward. Prayer was offered by the Rev.
President Langdon of Harvard College, and
about nine o'clock. they set out on their
march. Colonel William Prescott, of Pep
percll, conducted the expedition. Prescott's
written orders were to fortify Bunker Hill
and defend the works until relieved.
Silently the column moved on. Charles
town Neck. within range Of the eneIny's
guns. was safely passed and Bunker's Hill
reached. But Breeds Hill, where the mon
ument now stands, is nearer Boston, and
after much deliberation it was resolved to
move forward and fortiiy this. 1t was mid
night before the first shovelful Of earth was
thrown out. The British forces were close
at hand. The other shore of the Charles
was lined with their sentinels, and their
men-ol-war lay within ear-shot. Through
the still night the men worked in the
tire nches, and dawn of day found the breast
work nearly finished. At daylight the
nearest ship, the Lively, opened fire upon
the Hill 50 suddenly covered with armed
men The other ships soon followed.
Gage scanned the works with his glass,
from Cops Hill.
"Who Is that officer who appears to he in
command ?" he asked, as he saw the tall,
erect form Of Prescott standing on the edge
OF the redoubt. Councillor Willard recog-
nized his brotheI-in-law.
"Will he fight - asked Gage.
"YcS sir, ne is an old soldier and will fight
as long as a drop of blood remains in his
veins.
The works must be carried, exclaimed
Gage.
At noon the flower of the British troops
crossed in twenty-eight barges and landed at
Moulton's Point, near the present Navy
Yard
General Warren reached the field and Pat
nam asked him for orders. Il am here only
a. a volunteer" said the yet uncummssioned
-. I.11 b..r | II,
most useful Putnam told him he would
be covered in the redoubt Don't think
/ came To seek place Of safety,' said War
rem. "but tell me where the onset viii be
most furious. I'm the redoubt," said the
old fighter, and the men huzzaed as he took
place in the ranks, musket in hand.
The Kings troops moved forward in two
divisions General Howe with the right wing
along the Mystic River. to tun the left flank
Of the American force and 50 cut off retreat
from the redoubt; General Pigot with the
left wing, to make the direct attack upon
the fort. They began discharges Of musket-
~ at great distance They anticipated an
easy victory Prescott gave his orders
wait until the word l. given - Powder
i scarce and must not be wasted - Fire !
low - Aim al the Wristbands 10y Wait IN
til you see the whites of their eyes :" Pick /
of the officers
The red-coat> almost reached the base of
the redoubt Prescott reared. Fire :" The /
redoubt blazed with line of fire. and a storm /
Of lead moved down the first rank Of the |
British. like grass. Their ranks were broken |
OF some companies only nine were loft. and /
others lost all but four or five The column /
wayered a moment, then broke and retreat /
ed. Some of the men threw themselves on /
board the transports. Prescott was exult- /
ant. His men were ela.cd. Putnam rushed .
about like a mailman, cheering the men,
hurrying forward reiniorccments grating his
teeth with rage that 80 few troops could be
had at the critical moment.
Howe Jared no better at tie left. One OF his
soldiers writes "Our light infantry were
served upaganSt the grass fence without be-
Ing able to penetrate indeed, how could We
penetrate? Most Of our grenadiers and in
iantry the moment Of presenting themselves.
lost three-iourths and many nine-tenthS of
their men.
The British rallied and renewed the as
>ault. \ party Of marines set fire to Charles
town. and the burning town sent up black
cloud of smoke The British troops pressed
up the hill, stepping over the bodies ofthcir
dead comrades as though they were log, of
wood. At ten rods from the works. the
Americans again opened fire as before, and
with like execution. The British retreated
the second time in great disorder. The third
assault came after long pause. The enemy
Is reinforced by the arrival of fresh men
from Boston. The British had discovered
The weak point in the American defence, and
directed their whole force to the unprotected
space between the reduubt and the rail fence. ,
They Were encouraged by hearing incautious
Americans shout that their powder was out.
he American ammunition failed. Their
ire sackened the parapet was scaled ;
here was a hand-tO-hand encounter in the ,
rcnch. Prescott reluctantly gave the order
% retreat. In cutting their way through
he ranks OF the enemy in the rear of the
Jrt Warren fell. The force at the fence. J
lnder Stark, Read and knowton, also re- I
ire. dl>putlng the ground inch by inch. IN y
II Bunker : Hall Is reached. Here Putnam
triyeS 10 rally the forces for a fresh defence,
ut 1t Is IN vain. The British follow the re n
reatlns Americans as far as Bunker's Hill t
nd there halt.
The British forces in this battle numbered
,ooo without count Of the sailors and gun :
erS OF the fleet. They lost 22G killed and b
= wounded-a total Of l,054 The Amer il
ans numbered at most 800. They lost I
~ Killed, - wounded, 50 missing-a to-
Al OF iil. said Daniel Webster ''When
ne sun oi that day went down the event of
dependence was no longer doubtful"
a>nlngton, when he heard that the militia {
al not only stood the fire of the regulars, n
ut reserved their fire till the enemy was -
thin eight rods, and then delivered 1t with
iect, exclaimed. Then the liberties of the Il
'untry are safe - Americans will fight" II
rote Franklin to his English friends. land c
ngland has lost her colonies forever" fe
We judge from the browbeating of the $
reman of the Brooklyn jury, by Mr.. :,
EACH that the plaintiffs lawyers have Civ
up all hope Of verdict in his favor. tn
News has been received at Havana of a
rrible earthquake in New Grenada. The "a
struction was greatest in the Valley OF =, IN
lcuta, on the Venezuelan frontier. 1t is
ported that l6, 900 lives were DESTROYED by az az
c calamity Of
Inc Indictment OF the members of the ri,
eat dry goods firm of Ii. B. ClaAin AZ Co., Gu Gu
purchasing smuggled goods, creates no IN
tie stir in New YORK. They appeared by -
cir counsel, Col Joel B. Erhardt, on Fri to
y, and gave bail in $50, 900 each, to ap- aT
ar for trial. In a Published card the !
N say 1--WE simply ask our fellow .citi- ml
Is to Withhold all judgment in the case. -
e have conducted our business honorably ar
d honestly. We expect to demonstrate ne
: integrity and innocence" =.
The case of the Emma Silver mining Com W.
by was again before the Vice Chancellor's -