Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-07-08

At the war council the day before
the battle younger officers proposed GO
rounds Of ammunition for each man.
An older one, "a noted hunter" prob
ably Israel Putnam, scoffed at the
suggestion, saying:
Five rounds each for 1000 men
means 5000 rounds. ANY man who
can't hit his mark three times out of
five ought not TO be trusted with a
musket. If half of 5000 shots hit
their mark the British will be out Of
the fight"
As a compromise 10 rounds for each
man was allowed and the Yankees
were routed. After the battle it
was generally agreed that 10 more
rounds would have reversed the re-
suit, the redoubt having been given
up to the British solely for want Of
powder and ball.
Not Flag Displayed.
Both British and provincial flags
Haunting in the breeze and American
officers in uniform are depicted in
some pictures of the battle of Bunker
Hill, yet men who were in the battle
declare not a flag was displayed by
either side and not one American, from
private to major general, wore any
thing but civilian garb. Colonel Pres
colts uniform" consisted of rough
homespun knee breaches, coarse
woolen stockings, low shoes, a red fan
mel waistcoat and a figured calico sack
coat.
A Connecticut company Of militia
appears to have been the only one pos
sessed of uniforms. Capt. John Ches-
ter, its commander, wrote home that
on being ordered to Bunker Hill to
take part In the battle his men all
conned overals and jumpers over
their red and blue uniforms, lest their
brilliant colors should make them too
good 4 target for the British.
Effect of the scarcity of lead among
the Americans and of the advice of
Colonel Prescott to his men as the
British advanced: "Aim at their hips,
boys, every time" appears in a report
Of British army surgeon after the
battle in which ne said Most of our
men were wounded in the legs. We |
found old nails and pieces Of scrap |
ron, instead of bullets, in the
Wounds"
Avoided the Churches.
The battle made hot work for the
Tory civilians in Boston as well as
he military, for they were called on
o supply private coaches, carriages,
arts, handcarts and even wheelbar-
Ows to convey the wounded redcoats
rom the Boston side of Charlestown
cry to the various improvised hos
itals.
A curious superstition deferred both
British and Americans in the Revolu-
on from utilizing churches as hos
itals; in many places the British
bowed no scruples about using Amer
an churches for barracks and stables
hlle the provlncials melted the pipes
{ the organ In the English church at
for bullets to make music
bout the ears of the British at Bunker
Ill.
The British who died in hospitals
fer the battle Of Bunker Hill were
lried several deep In the graveyard
the common.
British and Americans alike who
ere killed in the battle were buried
Breeds hill.
One of the humorous circumstances
the night following the battle con-
rned a British officer who climbed
e blazing ruins of Charlestown. Sud-
My he was alarmed by the seeming I
lizzing of bullets about his ears ,
t was relieved on discovering that +
at he heard was merely the whirr- $
, of the wings Of innumerabIe June r
IS out for their nightly flight in the n
k a