The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-13

saw as they had been with the shovel.
A royal general noticed him in his
blue coat and three-cornered hat and |
asked whether he would fight. The |
person to whom, as 1t happened, the |
Englishman applied for his information
was Prescott's own brother-in-law. who
asseverated with q great oath that he
would answer In the affirmative for
his kinsman.
"Our troops were eager to try con-
clusion at the earliest moment and
under difficulties which would enable
them to show their mettle. AS soon
as it was known that there were forti-
fications to attack. the resolution to
approach them in front was automatic
and all but unanimous. BY l o'clock
Of the day four entire regiments and
twenty companies Of grenadters and
light infantry had landed on the e1.
IRENE east Of the peninsula, to the
north of Charlestown. Howe, who was
in command, after carefully inspect
ing the ground in face Of him, sent
back the barges for reinforcements
and ordered his men to take their din.
ner. In a couple of hours the flotilla
returned with two more battalions.
The assaulting force was now between
1000 and $500 strong; the soldiers
were full of heart. and in more gallant
trim had never stepped over the gun
vale of a boat onto soil which they
meant to make their own.
Colonial Leaders Alert
when the fight began. the colonists
mustered 1900 men; quite as many.
if all preasant stood their ground. as
could be effectualy employed along
of1 C00 Tho
i, military etiquette prevailing in the
American lines not yet rigid enough
to permit an officer Of rank from tax
ing part in an operation outside the
precincts of his own command. Seth
| Pomeroy had borrowed a mount from
! the commander-in-chief, but the can
non fire which raked Charlestowu
! Neck was so hot that he did not con-
| ceive himself justified in risking an
animal not his own property. His
! person, however, belonged to himself
so he walked across the isthmus and
| up to the rail fence, where he was re-
ceived with cheers and provided with
musket. Putnam, who had horses
of his own and never spared them, was
seen during the course Of the after
| noon in every corner Of the field,
Wherever he might be he took his
share Of the danger and a great deal
more of the share of the responsibility
that was going begging. Warren
came on the field with bad headache.
! which was soon to be cured. He
placed himself gun In hand, among
marksmen who lined the wall. ...
| "The American artillery was badly
| served, for reasons which it subse-
quently required couple Of courts
| martial to explain for the benefit OF
| those who exacted too much from the
scientific department of a raw army,
On the other hand, the round shot
which had been brought across the
bay did not fit the British fielr pieces.
The royal troops moved forward
steadily, but all too slowly. They
were buredned with full knapsacks !;
the hay rose above their knees: they
had fence after fence to cross; and
they were allowed to open fire too soon
The colonists would have followed
their example, but their commanders
! were on the alert. Putnam, at the
fence, threatened to cut down the next
man who let his gun off without orders
and PrescOtt's officers ran around the
top Of the parapet and kicked off the
muzzles Of the firelocks. When tbs
discharge came at last. the execution
done was very great. The British
vOlleys. delivered with the regularity
Of full dress review. were almost
dsregarded by the colonists, who
were loading under cover. talking
among themselves. and arranging tt
shoot, one, two. three together at Tx
same officer.
British Losses Heavy.
, The attack Jared badly in ever,
, quarter Of the field. Most Of on
-, grenadiers and light infantry. th'
! moment of presenting themselves, los
three-fOurths and many nine-tenths D
. their men Ten minutes or it might b,
fifteen. Of such work showed the Brit
= iSh leaders that the position could no
| be carried then: and the less reSOlut,
among them carried at all The as
saulting force retreated: and How
- with the composurc of a man who lia
. more than once been in affairs whic
began i'll and reformed his troops a
soon AS he had withdrawn them on
: of cunsh0t.
u The British advanced a second tim
in the same style as before Agai
!; they came on firing. Their opponent
), noticed and admired the deliberatio
q with which they stopped over IN
: activity leading up to the America
, lines already resombled rather
breach after an assault than a porto
j., of a field Of battle. The colonists tn:
time did not pull trigger until tn
y British van was within forty yards
! and then aimed at the waist belts. .
:. continuous stream of flashes poure
- forth along the whole extent OF tn
- Entertainments, from the instant tina
-, the word was given to fire until tn
= ground in front was cleared Of all e.
:. cept the dead and wounded.
a Outside the works no one could live
- and it was evident, almost from tn
first, that on this occasion likewise r.
-, one could penetrate within them. TIL
- British regiments once more fell bac
- TO the landing place. a repulsed an
~ disordered, but, to their honor be
y, spoken, not a disorganiZed or route
q army
p Space will not permit quotatio
IL from Trevelyan's description Of til
= further progress Of the battle-th
,. issue is familiar history to American
y OF the aftermath Of the dearly bougi
lS virtorv reoIi7atio,, 81