Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-07-16


Boston and its environments are spread out
in the glad sunshine. Every day Boston
spreads out her environments just that way.
Bunker Hill monument is 221 feet in
height, and has been entirely paid for. The
spectator may look at the monument With
perfect impunity without being solicited t.
buy some Of its first mortgage bonds. This
adds much to the genuine thrill of pleasure
while gazing at it.
There is Bunker Hill in Macoupin county,
Ills., also in Ingham county, Mich. and in
Russell county, Kan. but Gen. Warren was
not killed at either of these points.
One hundred and ten years ago, on the
18th day of The present month, one of Amer
ica's most noted battles with the British was
fought near where Bunker Hill monument
now stands. In that battle the British lost
1850 in killed and wounded, while the
American loss numbered but $50. While
the people of this country are showing such
an interest in our war history am surprised
that something has not been said abou.
Bunker Hill. The Federal forces from Rox-
bury to Cambridge were under command OF
Gen. ARENAS Ward, the great American
humorist. When the American humorisi
really puts ON his war paint and sounds
the tocsin he can organize a great deal CT
mourning.
Gen. Ward was assisted by Putnam,
Starke, Prescott, Gridley and Pomeroy.
Col. William Prescott was sent over from
Cambridge to Charlestown for the purpose
Of fortifying Bunker Hill. At council OF
war it was decided to fortify Breeds Hill,
not SO high but nearer to Boston than Bunker
Hill. So a redoubt was thrown up during
the night on the ground where the monu-
ment now stands.
The British landed large force under
Gen. Howe and Pigot, and at 2p. m. the
Americans were re enforced by Gems. War
rem and Pomeroy. Gen. Warren was of
literary turn of mind and during the battle
took his hat off and recited little poem be-
ginning:
Stand, the grounds your own, my braves
Will ye give it up to slavesl
A man who could deliver an impromptu
and extemporaneous address like that in
public, and while there was such bitter
feeling of hostility on the part of the au-
dience, must have been a good scholar. In
our G. eat fratricidal strife twenty years ago
the inferiority of our generals in this re-
spect was painfully noticeable. We did not
have a commander who could address his
troops in rhyme to save his neck. Several
of them were pretty good in blank verse;
but it was SO blank that it was not just the
thing to fork over to posterity and speak In
school afterward.
Col. Prescott's statue now stands where he
Is supposed to have stood when he told his
men to reserve their fire till they saw the
whites of the enemy's eyes. Those who have
examined the cast-iron fiint-lock weapon
used in those days will admit that this order
was wise. Those guns were injurious to
health, of course, when used to excess, but
not necessarily or Immediately fatal.
At the time of the third attack by the
British the Americans were out of ammuni-
ton, but they met the enemy with dubbed
muskets, and it was found that one end of
the rehAl fint-lock was about as fatal as the
other, il not more so.
Boston still mee-s the invader with its
club. The mayor says to the citizens of
Boston: "Wait till you can see the whites
of the visitors eyes, and then go for him
with your clubs" Then the visitor surren.
hers.
hope that many years may pass before il
will again be necessary for us to SOAK this
Ihir land in British blood. The boundaries
Vt our land are now more extended, aud SO il
would take more blood to soak it,
Boston has just reason to be proud OF
Bunker Hill, and it was certainly great
stroke Of enterprise to have the battle To-
Gated there. Bunker Hill is dear to ever
American heart and there are none of u
who would not have cheerfully gone intc
the battle then if We had known about it Ii.
time.