Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-30
Bunker Bill
and the
fourth Of July
BY Udllam r. uaIters
IcoPyrlsht. 1916. by c. y. LurieI

tCopyright. 1906. by c. y. Luriel
T is peculiarly appropriate TO link
the name OF Bunker Iiu with
u the Fourth OF July, FOR it was
that battle which nerved the
colonies 10 resistance and made the
Declaration OF Independence possible
IL is true that the famous night oc-
CURED over a year before the issuance
OF our charter Of liberty and that many
Important events interviewed. but the
spirit engendcred by that glorious de-
feat, IL defeat 10 may bee called. was
the same spirit embodied in the Decla-
ration. Lexington and Bunker Hill.
together with Thomas Paine's bu-le
call in Common Sense" had turned
mems minds toward separation. Bunk
er Hll had shown the world that the
Yankees would fight. II had strength
ened the tiull and falteriur. had
brought the colonies closer tOrether
and had made peaceful reconciliation
impossible The fighting blood was up
on both sides and the only possible
outcome was subiugatlon or liberty.
The battle Of Bunker Iliu was fought
on June L, 1915. Each anniversary OF
the day Is still celebrated In and around
Boston and In other parts OF the coun-
try. In CharlestOwn. which was burn
ed at the time OF the fight June II Is
especially an occasion OF patriotic ar
dor The great monument on the Hill
that then was just above. but now Is
within, the town is there TO remind the
citizens Of the significance Of the ami
versary Moreover. a constant stream
OF visitors comes at all times OF the
year TO look on the celebrated field.
and especially on June II. Grand
Army lodges make it a gathering place,
other patriotic societies meet at the
monument and tourists from ali parts
OF the earth drop on here 10 witness a
scene that IS cherished by lovers OF
freedom In all lands. SO the Charles
town folk could not forget even II
they wished 70 do so. and they have
never evinced such desire.
Many Of the Bunker Hill celebrations
are historic. One Of these was at the
laying OF the cornerstone OF the monu-
ment, when Daniel Webster delivered
his celebrated Grafton. Another was at
the time the monument was completed.
when Webster was again the orator. A
third was at the centennial celebration
OF the battle. which occurred on June
II, 1915. On more than one occasion
Edward Everett delivered notable ad-
dresses IN cOmmemoratlOn Of the day,
as did also many other famous speak
ers. Most OF the presidents have visited
the monument. as also have the great
OF foreign lands. among the number
being Lafayette and King Edward
VII. when be was Prince OF Wales.
On the occasion Of the princes advent
the novel spectacle was presented OF a
British flag hung out OF one window
of the shaft. while the stars and stripes
waved from the opposite window. Dur
Ing the civil war a tall Flagstaff was
erected On top Of the great shaft. from
which an immense American flag was
unfurled. In the interior OF the monu-
ment are two old cannons. named the
Hancock and the Adams. that belched
forth their defiance OF George III. In
''the times that tried mems souls"
The Bunker Hi OF today is not much
as II was I31 years ago. The name is
the same and the natural features. but
all else Is changed Now. the park In
which the monument stands Is closely
skirted about by the city. The bay IS
Jet below, from which the British
ships shelled the redoubts and burned
Chariestown. but il Is a very peaceful