The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-16
BUNKER HILL.
Picturesque Description of the Battle


"The advance of the British army was
like solemn pageant in its steady head
way, and like parade tor inspection in
Its completeness of equipment. This
army, bearing their knapsacks and the
full equipment for champaign service,
moved forward as if by the very force of
its closely knit columns it must sweep
away all distractions, and overturn every
barrier in its way. But right in the way
vas calm, intense, and enersizng love of
liberty. 1t was represented by plain men
of the same blood and of equal daring.
Contrast marked those opposing English
men, very distinctly, that summer after
noon. The plain men handled plain fire.
locks. Ox-horns held their powder, and
their pockets held the bullets. Coatlsss,
under the broling sun, unincumbered,
nnadorned bv plumage or service medals,
looking like vagabonds after their night
Df labor and their day of hunger, thirst,
and waiting this live obstruction was tru-
ly in the way Of that advancing splendor.
Elated, conscious, assured of victory, with
firm step, already quickened as the space
of separation lessons, there is left but
few rods of interval, few steps only, and
the work is done. A few hasty shots, i'm
pulsive'y fired but quickly restrained
drew an innocent fire from their front
rank, The pale men behind the mock de-
tense, obedent at last to one will, answer
ed nothing to that reply, and nothing to
the audible command Of those steady col
umns-waiting still
at needs nc painter to make the scene
seem clearer than it appears from the re-
eital of sober deposition and the record
of surviving participators on each side
History has no contradictions to confuse
or explain away the realities of that fear
ful tragedy.
"Ihe left wing is near the redoubt. 1t
is nothing to surmount a bank of fresh
earth but six feet high, and its sands and
clods can be almost counted, it is so near.
so easy-sure!
"Short, crisp, earnest, low.toned but
felt as an electric pulse from redoubt to
river, are the words of single man-of
Prescott! Warren, by his side, repeats it,
The word runs, quickly along the impa-
tient lines. The eager fingers give back
from the waiting trigger. STEADY, menp
wait until you see the white of the
eyer Not shot soonerr Aim at the
handsome coatsr Aim at the waist.
bandsH Pick off the commandersr
Wait for the word, every man, steady
"These plain men, so patient, can al
ready count the buttons, can read the EN-
blem on the belt plate, can recognize the
officers and men whom they have seen on
parade at Boston Common. Features
grow more and more distinct. The silence
Is awful. These men seem breathless
dead 1t comes, that word, the word wait
ed tor-Firen
"On the right the light infantry gain an
SiH"i aH amy aIIilOSt ~ tIlG oa4IIC
that the left wing was treading SO near
the humble redoubt, Moving over more
level ground, they quickly made the
greater distance, and they passed the lines
Of those who marched directly up the
hill.
"The grenadiers, also, move upon the
center, with the same serene confidence,
and the interval was lessened to the gauge
Of space which the spirit Of the impend
ing word defines. That word, waits be
hind the center and the left wing as it lin
gers behind the breastwork and redoubt
Sharp, clear, and deadly, IN tone and es-
sence, il rings forth, Fire = From redoubt |
to liver, along the whole sweep of devour.
Ing fame, the forms Of brave men wither |
as in a furnace heat The whole front |
goes down! For an instant the chirp of |
the cricket and the grasshopper in the
freshly cut grass might almost be heard
then the groans OF the suffering-then
the shouts of the impatient yeomen who
leap over obstacles to pursue until recall,
ed to silence and to duty.
staggering, but revying, grand in the
glory OF their manhood and the sublimity
of their discipline heroic in the forttude
which restores them TO self possession;
with steady step in the face of fire, and
over the bodies Of the dead, the remnant
dare to renew the battle.
"Again the deadly volley, and the shat.
tered columns, in spite Of entreaty or
command, move back to the place of start
ing, and the first shock Of battle is over.
"A lifetime, when it is passed is but as
moment! A moment sometimes is as
lifetime! Onset and repulse! Three
hundred lifetimes ended in twenty min
utes!
'Putman hastened to Bunker Hill to
gather scattering parties in the rear, and
to facilitate the passage of reinforce.
ments across the isthmus, where the fire
from the British shipping was maintained
With destructive energy.
"But the battle at last had to depend
mainly upon the men who had toied all