The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-20
AHour nuNKrR HILL.

No doubt most of our readers for- got or failed to remember that last Wednesday was the anniversary of the battle of Bunker's Hill, which histor- ical event occurred on June 1T. IT'S. For it was a historical affair, although scarcely more than a spirited skirmish when compared with some of the great battles fought since that day. But thogh neither remarkable for the num- bers employed or for the casualties re- sulting from the light. 1t may be look ed on as the first stone in the building of this mighty Republic of ours. Small in itself, it was great in the results which followed 1t and 1t Is not to be wondered at that the people of New England, especially, celebrate 1t annu- ally with ftting observance.
 And that hot little fight had one de- cisive erect. for it taught the British regulars, much to their surprise, that the untrained Continentals not only would fight, but that they could shoot to kill. It was something of the same kind of surprise that greeted the Union Army at the first battle of Manassas. It was a singular and un- accountable infatuation, but neverthe- less a fact that there was a widespread sentiment up North that the Southern Army would give way at the first onset, and the Union Army would go right through to Richmond with lit- tie opposition. They apparently were ignorant of the fact that the Southern people were not only brave. patriotic and enthusiastic in the cause, but that they were accustomed to the use of guns and well knew how to shoot. The battle of q few hours opened the eyes of the North to the unpleasant fact that they had their work cut out for them, and that it was to be war in earnest.
 This ss history, and the good people of both sides understand 1t and feel no bitterness In connection with 1t. We merely allude to it because 1t bears a resemblance to the other affair eighty-six years before. There were some 10000 British troops in Boston, and when some 5000 of them, under General Gage, were sent to destroy the hastily constructed breastworks on the hill, and drive out the obstreperous rebels" they started out very much as if they were going out on dress parade. or to a picnic. They were thoroughly trained and experienced in all the arts of war. fully armed and equipped and considered themselves in- vincibIe. They looked on the occu- pants of the fort as a motly crowd of untrained countrymen who did not know how to light. and who would run at the first smell of gunpowder. In short, their feeling towards the Americans was one of contempt and derision.
 And there was where they made their grievous mistake. The continentals, poorly armed and equipped, untrained in the regular art of war. were pa triotic and enthusiastic, and as hunt CTS in the woods of Massachusetts they knew how to shoot and to shoot straight. When, after only really few minutes of actual fighting, the British had lost more than 1000 men in killed and wounded. they were made aware of the fact that the des- pissed rebels" could and would fight. If the latter had had plenty of ann munition tho whole British army tn en in Boston might not have been able to dislodge them-but that is a might have been" The real facts are of sufficient interest to warrant this brief reference to the incident and it's far reaching consequences. Let us then not forget to give all due honor and credit to
 The brave ContinentaIs
 In their ragged regimentalss
 as some poet calls them, and remember that the short fight was among the more important events of it's century and of this continent.