The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-11

. ton. comprehensively considered, to which tho
concluding chapter OF tho story 10 devoted.
For. the detailed account Of the successful
stotming Of Bunker Hill by the British troops
under Lord Howe. we must refer the reader to
the chapter which bears the appropriate title
OF 1.-The Reply to Lord Sandwich" We would
hore invite attention to the authors elucida-
ton of the lesson which the ~colonists then
received, and BY which Englishmen. to their
misfortune. failed to profit. or course the
victory was with the British. for they took the
contested ground and held 1t. But, as Senator
Lodge points out, the defeat at Bunker Hill
was worth many victories to the Americans.
It proved to them, once for all. that British
troops were not invincible. as they had been
confidently assured. It demonstrated their
own fighting capacity and gave strength and
heart to the people of every colony. The col
lisions at Concord and Lexington had made
civil war inevitable. Bunker Hill showed
that the Revolution. rightly conducted. was
certain to succeed. Washington. on his
way to Boston to take command OF
the Continental forces. was. on June
n. t1775. barely twenty miles from Phila-
delphia. when he met the messengers from
Bunker Hill. There had been a battle. they
said. He asked but a single question. Did
the militia fight p, When told how they had
fought. he said. "Then the liberties Of the
country are safe" and rode on. He recognized.
as history was to recognize. the meaning of the
battle. The fact that the British carried tho
hill is nothing. for they lost thirteen colonies
IN consequence OF the almost unparalleled re-
sietanee offered. It was not in the ostensible
, outcome, but In the statistics, OF the fight that
the fundamental lesson lay-a lesson which
showed how disastrous a day It really had
been for the British army. The price paid
then and there in blood for that hill was
enormous. without regard to, more remote
. results. Never had the British troops be-
haved with more stubborn bravery: never had
they been moro ruthlessly sacrificed; but
never. on the other hand. up to that time had
British soldiers faced such a fire. They brought
into action something over 5000 men and GER
tafnly not more than $500. The official British
returns gave the killed and wounded as 1904.
or.'in other words. over 30per cent. of the force
engaged. The author brings out the siEnih-
canoe OF these figures by a few comparisons.
The statistics Of losses In Marlborough's battles
are rough and inexact. but. SO far as we know.
the allies lost at Blenheim. whore only 10000
ofthe455 900 were British troops. about 20 per
cent. |: at Malplaquet. less. than % per cent. at
Families, about 2 per cent; at Fontenoy.
whore the Duke Of Cumberland hurled the
British force at the centre of the French line
IN q charge desperate and foolish. though
magnificent. the English loss in killed and
wounded was somewhat over IA per. cent.
Thus 10 attested the accuracy OF the. state
ment that, up to that date. no British soldiers
had ever faced such a fire as they met at Bunker
HILL Later times were to offer but one par
Rllel. At Waterloo the British loss was nearly
81 per cent. and the loss OF the allied
armies viewed collectively about 10 per cent. (;
Mt Gettysburg. the Union army lost about 20
per cent. These were two of the bloodiest
of modern battles. Waterloo. however. lasted
all'day. and Gettysburg three days. but Bunker
Hill only an hour and q half. At Gravelotte. the
most severe battle OF our own time-a battle.
moreover. fought with modern Irresponsible
German loss was less than IA per cent. Still
another significant feature of Bunker Hill is
noted by our author. One hundred and nifty
seven British officers were killed or wounded.
Wellington had 458 killed or wounded at
Waterloo. II the Bunker Hill proportion had
been maintained. he should have lost 942.
The American loss was loss than the British be-
cause the men fought behind intrenchments,
and 1t was sustained chiefly In tho last hand-to-
hand struggle. Nevertheless, It was very severe.
Washington. who was most accurate, and had
careful returns before him. stated that the
Americans neverhad moro than fifteen hundred
men in action. The American loss was. from
the best reports accessible. AL killed and
wounded. or at least 20 per cent. OF the whole
force actually engaged. These statistics OF
losses. when analysed. bear witness to a degree
of gallantry on the part Of the English soldiers
which no other race at that time could have
equalled. but also to q degree OF folly on the
part of their commander, in attempting to rush
an earthwork held by such redoubtable oppo-
Nnsnts. which it is hard to realize.
u We are reminded by Senator Lodge that. at
the outbreak OF our war for independence. and
for some time after 1t. EnRlishmen generally
took the view that the people Of the American
colonies were. In all ways. inferior to them
selves. and. particularly. in fighting capacity.
Lord Sandwich was not exceptional In his ig-
.norance when he declared that the Yankees
were towards. Weight was given to what he
said merely because he happened to be a peer,
but his views were shared by most public men
in England and by most Of the representatives
OF the British Crown In America. both military
and OWL. The opinion Of a few keen-sighted
statesmen like Chatham. Hampden, and Burke
was disregarded, while that Of Lord Sandwich
and other persons equally unintelligent was
almost universally accepted. 1t was this stupid
iy and lack of knowledge which gave birth
TO the policy that resulted in colonial resist
Gnce tn the Stamp act. and. later. to the
assembling OF che first Revolutionary Congress-
Our author considers It strange. however, that
men OF any intelligence should have adopted
such ideas in regard to the people OF the Amer
lean colonies. The slightest reflection. would
have disclosed to them the truth. The men OF
New England, against whom the wrath OF the
British Government was first directed. were OF
almost absolutely pure English stock. They
were descendants Of the Puritans, OF the men
who followed Cromwell and composed the ia
nous Inonsides, whom he led to an unbroken
series OF victories. Whatever may have been
che faults of the Puritans. no one had ever
doubtsd their ability in public affairs. their