The Cook County herald., 1905-07-15


northerly to the old milldam, there is
an agitation like an earthquake thrill
ing patriotic hearts as we'll as rousing
the British.
Patriots Start for Chariestown.
Last evening 1000 American rebels
paraded ON Cambridge common. COL
William Prescott, of Pepperell, was
the commander, and under him were
300 soldiers from his Middlesex regi-
ment, 200 Connecticut troops under
Thos. KnOwlton and detachments from
the regiments of Frye and of Bridge.
1t was not uniformed party. Their
guns were only fowling pieces of not
ed fame in killing wild geese, guns
without bayonets, and each man, in
horn and pouch, carried a scant sup
ply Of powder and bullets.
President Langdon, of Harvard Col
lege, prayed with the men and then,
amid the shadows of the night they
took up the march for Charlestown.
Wagons, burdened with tools for
throwing up earthworks, were the rat
shadowy column.
They moved across Charlestown
neck. They halted in the country road
that wound past Breeds hill though
there had been some preference for
Bunker. Across the water came the
sweet resonant tones of Boston mid
night bells. 1t was time to pick and
shovel, shovel and pick
Then the heroic 1000 went to work
They were the moles that made the
disturbance of the earth's surface that
the British spied in the morning.
Pickax and spade were the claws of
the American mole. Earthworks about
eight rods square lighted up by the
rays of the sun that broke across Bos-
ton harbor. That is now the situa-
ton, rebel garrison on Breeds hill.
Something must be done by the
British in addition to the thunder
from the fleet and the battery on
Copp's hill.
Gen. Gage is in command of the
Boston garrison, reputed to number
5000 effective British soldiers. Nu-
Among Cages officers is Gen. Howe
British nobleman. He is selected to
command British force that will dis
pute with the Middlesex farmers the
possession of the Charlestown hill.
Two thousand men are detailed for
this assault. All the forenoon is con-
sumed in getting this battering-ram
ready for it's hill work.
In the meantime the farmers are re-
ceving reinforcements. Gen. Putnam,
host in himself, arrives in the night.
Gen. Joseph Warren comes early in
the morning from Watertown, by way
of Cambridge.
Seth Pomeroy of Northampton, a
venerable pilgrim of 20 years, tramps
over Charlestown neck, his fowling
piece over his shoulder. He is cheered
by his fellow-farmers.
Col. John Stark brings a detach-
nlent of New Hampshire troops.
These men are variously Stationed
Between the hill and Mystic river
there is a stretch of low ground and
of elevated land, and the farmers have
just been moving the June grass.
There is rail fence, set in stone
wall, that runs toward the Mystic
The farmers stuff the space between
the rails with the mOwn grass. There
is an uncovered territory between the
redoubt and the wall Of stone, rails
and grass. The British will be quite
likely to make flank movement and
go up this way. The farmers can but
know this, and they wait-for what
life or death?
Now, let us go back to the British
force in Boston. 1t seems a long time
to wait until noon, and the sun pours
down it's sharp June heat.
Redcoats Embark for Action.
The British troops are finally ready,
and their scarlet coats make a long
column of brilliant color, as they pa