The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-30
BOOK Nv
ChaDter XII


|
| Armed with the bayonet, covered by their
cannon, the British marched against two
pc:nts-the redoubt and the rail fence Pigott
| led the detachment uD the hill, Howe that
which went along the water In bright attire
and perfect order, yet under that hot sun
carrying the weight of sixscore pounds-in
| gun and cartridges. blankets. ,haversack and
three days rations-the British faced the long
and slippery grass. the fields cut up with
| fences and the fortified foe. And never before
drawn up for such fight, Dlownan and
| woodsman waited. The fire from the shipping
Stacked, and though the Glasgow continued
| to sweep the Neck, and the feldpeces began
| to below. in intervals of quiet the waiting
Americans could hear the tramp Of the SOL
diery and the tap of scattered drums.
| Then the two solid columns deployed AS on
parade they spread out, presented a broad
! front and came marching on In prlde-fatal
mistake which gave to marksman such tar
| get Each American picked his man and on
| him fixed his eye; some, too eager, tired as at
distant deer; and in the British ranks the hrst
| men toppled and fell But Robinson, leaplns
| to the parapet of the redoubt, kicked UP the
guns; and at the rail fence, raoring with fury,
| Putnam threatened to cut down the next tnat
| disobeyed.
But at last the regulars began to hre by
companies, with loud and sullen discharge,
| they answered the first scattering shots OF
| their enemies, and firing, advanced. Ihe
breeze drifted the smoke away, steadily they
| came on, throwing down fence. stepping
| over a WALL pausing to load. and then pre-
| senting for another volley. But of the line of
| waiting heads that crowded the redoubt
scarcely one was hit, and Frank, turning to
Warren at his side, pointed to the apple Tree
above them. 1t twigs were falling. E
| They fire too Nigh, he said.
| "Wait for the world" came the strong voice
ha nkod uytth
| brows at the advancing line. And at the
| fence Putnam with reddening face, watched
| the approach of enemies once friends, ana
! counted the rods that mtervened. But suli
the troops came On, while from the ships oe-
| low. and the town across the water, thousands
| of spectators watched the first act OF the ter
! rife drama.
For another minute lasted the impressive
| sight. The sloping fields were green and pure,
and little BIRDS springing up amid the gram,
few away. The sun still shone, the SKY sun
| smiled, the water still reflected the beauty OF
q world where death had scarcely come The
| brilliance of the marching troops was sisnt
! for ladies' eyes-yet the low, grim earth"orks
| and the fence of rails, the 'countrymen WIN
| their DUH -tarreled guns, made threat that
| non., might disregard. Waiting tney stooo'
| while steadily lessened the distance between
them and their foe, till the very NUMBERS Oh
reeimental badges were clear, and the WHITES
| of eyes We're visible ~ $3.50
| And then the outburst came. Sighting along
| their pointing barrels, each muzzle moving
| slightly. following its mark, the Americans
had heen patient Their eagle commander at
| the redoubt had measured every yard; DOWN
at the fence the troops had reached the stake
which Stark had planted at "a mark; the time
had come, the word was given. FIRE! -:
| And no word can describe or pen 1nolte'
| the swift succeeding minutes Torn, shat7
| h,,11of
nnents nassed the volley was renewed, ana IN
| the smoke each shadowy form was marked
| and doomed. how could these troops, though
| veterans of Minden, bear for single minute
| that frightful charge? Yes they did pear IT.
| and other ranks came forward STILL Al the
hill many struggled onward, to iah upon tne
ranpart's very slope. At the fence, "nere
! New Hampshire and Connecticut proven
| themselves no less than Massachusetts, still
| while they might the grenadiers maintained
| themselves Yet it was vain; no human loree
| could take those slender walls. Inc "oro
| was given to retreat, and the bathed troops
| withdrew. 49,, 49,.
| Almost unscathed the defenders stood, but
| shocking was the claughter OF the troops.
| The dead were close together on the hill, but
| nv the shore they lay thick as sheep IN a
| fold Where the light infantry had sklrted
the beach, and where at their SIDE naa
marched the grenadiers-the flower OF the
| armv-the scene of death was frlghtful:
| "seryed up'. one by one against the fire OF
| men whose aim was sure and whose re-
loading rapid, whole ranks had gone oo"n
| +ooether and those who retired bore many
| wounds. 49,. .s-.' 49,. ,
! And vet those troops reformed. BIND
| courage, headstrong anger, demanded ven
geance. and Howe and Pigott prepared new
| assault In the breathing space wounds were
| hound and there began again the cannonade
| pd Putnam.
| on horseback hurrying to the rear, found
| still the hesitant militia on the wrong SIDE
| of the isthmus. Though he rode up ana down
amid the balls, daring the men to cross. 1t
| was in vain. The dust spurted beneath MS
horses body; few cared to run the risk, and
though some came, the great majority hung
| back Scamrnan's regiment remained mile
| away and the colonel sent messenger fC
| know if he were wanted. Gerrishs cannon
stayed at Cobble Hill, and suffered feeoly
| at the ships. That invaluable force was
wasted, and Putnam, hearing behind him the
second ominous ceasing of the cannonade
| once more fastened to the fence.
| And now one other sight was added to the
! Danorama, Fired by red-hot shot, the con
| Migration increased by sailors from the ships
Charlestown was in blaze. Flames were
leaping from many roofs; the church was
| af1re; and from house to house the breeze
was spreading havoc. While once more the
! burning town. with clouds of smoke anC
sheets of fame gave grandeur to the scene
! And this time the Americans, their lessor
learned waited. Nc shots sped now from
| them But the British, not yet perceivins
that an extended front, comparatively safs
against a fire such as their own, did bu
invite destruction at the hands of marksnen
/ came on as before. With measured pace, vol
! leying at intervals, the men stepping ove1
bodies as over logs; again the two divisions
marched against the redoubt and the fence
while at the ships and on the farther shore
) spectators watched and dreaded the secont
welcome. Nearer than before the column
,, went. but no other volley than theirs wa
fired, and 70 sound came except, against tn
wind, the crackle Of the fire in Charlestown
The flame swept up the spire and SWayet
from its top distinctions smoky flag, unit
as the soldiers grpped their guns for tn
}. charge the word again was given to tn
farmers Then leaped the short flames from
the guns the crash was like the noise Of fall
ing walls, and one great cloud enveloped for
1 and fence.
stood the fire; again, in the squirting smoke
they thrust on. Vain 1t was to, fall on tn
face Of the redoubt; vain to clutch the stone
that based the fence. With futile cries tn
officers pressed forward, with heroism super
but unavailing Howe himself stood alone IL
front of his men and called them on. The.
had melted away; they were swept bacl
blinded, and In the first panic of that da.
some few soldiers sought their boats. Bu
3 the stubborn Howe gave new orders, his sub