Evening star., 1915-08-07
BUNKER HILL.
Inside Story of Plans of British Gen.
erals at Boston.


From the Boston Globe
The story Of the battle of Bunker
Hill often has been told. but there
are few features of it which have
escaped notice by some noted his
torians. owing to the lack of British
data on the subject
Little was known in the past Of the
real plans of the British until comics
OF Lord Dartmouths collection of pa
pers were made public a few Years
ago. The grandfather of Lord Dart
mouth was British secretary Of war
In 1774-75, and his manuscripts bear
ing on military operations in the revo-
lutionary war are very valuable.
These papers indicate that the Brit
ish had very clearly defined IDEAS of
raising the siege Of Boston In brief.
the British plan, decided upon June -.
was to seize Dorchester Neck, June 49,:
thence to march to Roxbury with the
three divisions of Howe, Clinton and
redoubts and some 500 men: then.
with the entire force available. To-
cross over to Charlestown; then to
either attack or turn the American po-
Gems. Howe and Burgoyne show the
plan was to take Dorchester first.
Roxbury next. and Charlestown. and
thence march to Cambridge with a
1orce OF at least twelve regiments.
This plan was abandoned when it
was discovered that the Americans
had intrenched on Breeds hill on the
night OF June 16. The movement in
charlestown was designed to divert
! it was SO successful that the British
generals decided promptly to attack
Charlestown and then proceed to Cam
bridge.
Daniel Webster in his eloquent ora
tion. June II. 1s43. when the monu-
ment was completed, said:
Both parties were anxious to try
the strength Of their arms. The pride
of England would not permit the
her to the teeth; and without for a
moment calculating the cost, the Brit
lsh general determined to destroy the
fort Immediately. On the other side,
longed and thirsted for decisive trial
of strength and Of courage. They
wished a battle and wished it at once.
And this Is the true secret of the
movements on this hill"
Webster was right in his declaration
of the anxiety of both parties for a
trial of strength and courage. But the
Dartmouth papers show other motives.
the chief being the British effort to
raise the siege Of Boston.
Brown in 1885, entitled Stories About
Gen. Warren" it is stated that Gen.
Warren had. June II, with his accus-
TONED fearlessness, ventured in a
small canoe to Boston. that he might
himself gather information OF the de-
signs of the enemy.
The plans Of the designs of the
enough enough to enable the Americans ] % to
judge where it was best to build the
redoubt
Some old histories stated that a mis-
take was made in building the re-
Bunker hill. that in the darkness one
hill was mistaken for the other. This
+, is an erroneous statement, in view OF
later data; It has transpired that
Richard Gridley, an eminent engineer
(who was wounded near the rail
fence). because II was considered the
peninsula, whereas Bunker hill was
SO high that retreat. always provided
for. was not easy.
The American plan included pro-
other hill. That it was not intended
or expected to hold Charlestown is
proved by the fact that Prescott's
blankets and few big gums; Put, St,
to cripple the British all that was
possible before retreating before su-
perior numbers The British carried
their blankets and three days ratfons
Behind the famous rail fence line
were TOO New Hampshire men. trained
to shoot by hunting, who covered the
retreat successfully.
| Burgoyne said of the battle and re-
treat: "The defense was we'll con-
ceived and obstinately maintained
The retreat was no rout; 1t was even
covered with bravery and military
skill, and proceeded no farther than
the next hfll, where a new post was
taken, new intrenchments instantly
Every military campaign must have
an objective plan. II that objective
plan is successfully carried out. then
those who put 1t into operation are
tho actual victors.
viewed from this true military
standpoint, the real honors Of the bat
| tie OF Bunker Hill went to the Ameri-
cans, for they signaNy defeated the
campaign objective Of their opponents
When the British. with terribly de-
pleted ranks, left Charlestown 1t was
too late to break the contracting lines
iabout Boston.
The battle Of Bunker Hill led I'm
lmediately to an outpouring of fight
ling men from all the colonies, which
ultimately resulted in the independ-