The Belding banner-news., 1921-06-22
New Facts
About
Bunker Hill
Gm-,l1&l

There are many Ouu hS well as uli-
familiar facts in regard TO the battle
Of Bunker Hill, the dawn Of the Revo-
luton" fought June II, 1915.
1t is curious fact. writes Alexander
Corbett IN the Boston Globe, that Gen.
Artemas Ward. American commander
In chief, did not believe the erection
Of the redoubt would spur the British
to attack the hill, but feared and pre-
pared for retallatory attack on the
American camp In Cambridge.
And the 900 or more provincials
who built the redoubt during the night
sleepless night and nearly II hours
labor Of the hardest kind with not a
drop Of water within half a mile, they
would he called upon TO fight one OF
the memorable battles In history.
They had been promised that fresh
troops would relieve them the morn
ing of the 18th. Deep was their con
sternatlon when, hungry thirsty and
sleepy, and while the British were pre-
Iraring 10 cross the river, Colonel Pres
colt, their commander on being asked
TO send 10 Cambridge for the fresh
troops for their relief, coolly replied:
NO. boys, only those who built the
redoubt shall have the honor of de-
Tending H."
II was wonderful proof of the
farmer colOnels influence over his
farmer heroes that they accepted his
dictum without murmur and pre-
pared for the reception of the enemy
Hundreds of redcoats had deserted
10 the Americans in the six months
preceding the battle of Bunker Hill,
and even number of officers had
written home 10 England that they
had no heart in their work here and
sympathiZed with the Americans in
their stand.
Even while the British attacking
line was being formed at the foot OF
Breeds hill. the correct name of the
elevation where the battle occurred
/ dozen or more redcoats made a dash
20 join the Americans. In order 10
stop so Serious menace. General
Howe, the British commander, had two
Of the deserters who were caught
hanged 10 the nearest apple tree as an
example TO the rest.
No Field Artillery.
Many modern accounts of the battle
Of Bunker Hill contain references 10
the effect OF British and American ar
| tillery fire there, yet Gen. Henry Dear
born, then a lieutenant with John
| Stark's New Hampshire troops, de-
clared that not shot was fired by
field artillery on either side during the
battle.
| Both armies had artillery. but the
| British had only twelve-pounder balls
for six-pounder guns and the American
artillery men were not TO be found
when they were needed. The Ameri-
cans In the redoubt were exposed TO
bombardment by British warships and
the battery on Copp's hill, however.
The noise Of the guns was heard
about noon in Newport, X. l., by Presi-
| dent Stiles Of Yale college, who wes
at Newport that day. At least, he so
declared when he heard OF the battle
later.
At the war council the day before
he battle younger officers proposed co
rounds Of ammunition for each man.
An older one, "a noted hunter" prob
ably Israel Putnam, scofred at the
suggestion, saying:
Five rounds each for 1900 men
means 5000 rounds. Any man who
can't hit his mark three times out Of
Eve ought not TO be trusted with a
musket. IL half Of 5000 shots hit
their mark the British will be out Of
the fight"
As compromise 10 rounds for each
man was allowed and the Yankees
were routed. After the battle II
was generally agreed that IS more