The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-01-04

| Visions. i heartily wish myself with
I! you and the rest of my friends; aId
| the first opportunity that offers will
| sell out and return, for at best only
| disgrace can arise in the service OF
such cause as that in which we are
engaged. The Americans are not the
| poltroons | myself once was taught to
believe them to be; they are men OF
| liberal and noble sentiments; their
very characteristic is the love of lib
erty; and though am an officer un-
der the king of Great Britain, l tacit-
ly admire their resolution and per-
severance against the present oppres-
sive measures of the British govern.
ment"
The Third Letter.
The author of the third letter was a
prosperous merchandise. He was
not native born. He came out from
Scotland in his youth and settled in
Boston. Here in letter bearing date
of June "a is what he had to tell to
his brother in the old country:
From the 10Th of April to the 18th
of June nothing very material hap
pened. On the 18th of June the gen.
eral issued a proclamation offering his
majesty's most gracious pardon to all
who would lay down arms and return
to their duty, except two of the ring
leaders; and likewise establishing
martial law in this province while
this unnatural rebellion exists; but no
regard was paid to this.
ION the 18th instant, at daylight, it
was observed by some of the ships-of-
war that the rebels had thrown up an
intrenchment on a hill on the other
side of the river about one mile from
Boston. The alarm about this new
movement of theirs was general; for,
from this, if they were suffered to go
on, they could beat down or burn the
town. At nine o'clock a battery on an
eminence in this town directly oppO-
site their works began to play upon
them but found it could not dislodge
them.
"The rebels fired a few shots into
this town and then deSiSted, for their
shots did no execution. Eighteen hum
dred of the best of the troops were
Immediately ordered to embark on
board of boats and go and engage
then under the command of General
Howe. About three o'clock they land
ed on the other side about half mile
from the rebels, under the cover of
five or six ships-of-war, which kept a
continual fire on the ground betwixt
the place of landing and the enemy
who chose to lie in their breaStwOrkS
all this time. AS soon as the troops
had got themselves in order they be-
gan to advance, cannonading all the
way till they came within gunshot.
Charlestown, on the foot of the hill,
consisting of about two hundred
houses, was set on fire by the fort on
this side at the instant the engage
ment began, whose flames ragged in
the most rapid manner, the buildings
being chiefly of wood. Sure l am,
nothing ever has or can be more
dreadfully terrible than what was to
be seen and heard at this time! The
most incessant discharge of guns that
ever was heard with mortal ears con-
tinued for three-quarters of an hour,
and then the troops forced the
trenches and the rebels fed.
"The place where the battle was
fought is a peninsula of mile long
and half broad, and the troops drove
them over the neck and kept the is
land. All this was seen by us from
this town.
Praises British Troops.
"a very small part of the enemy's
intrenchments was seen on this side,
it being only thought to be the work
of a night; but their chief breast
works were on the other side of the
hill; it was found to be the strongest
post that was ever occupied by any
set of men, and the prisoners that
were taken say they were nine thou
sand strong and had good artillery.
Five cannon were taken. The spirit
and bravery that the British troops
exhibited on this occasion, suppose,
is not to be surpassed in any history
But, oh! the melancholy sight of killed
day! In four hours after their land
ing, not less than five hundred wound
ed were relanded here, and one hun
dred and forty were left dead on the
field, amongst whom was large pro-
portion of brave officers, viz: thirty
e,sx l. al fn,.fxy fnr1r n6
three hundred of the rebels were
killed and thirty-siX wounded left on
the field, but they carried off great
numbers of their wounded in their re-
treat. To the great satisfaction of all
good men, Doctor Warren was slain,
who was one of their first and great.
est leaders.
early next morning / went over
and saw the field of battle, before any
of the dead were buried, which was
the first thing of the sort that 1 ever
saw, and pray God / may never have
the opportunity of seeing the like
again. The rebels are employed since
that day terrifying all the hills ard
passes within four miles, to prevent
the troops from advancing into the
country. We hourly expect the troops
to make movement against them,
but they are too few in number, not
less than twenty thousand being equa!
to the task. l cannot help mention
ing one thing which serves to show
the hellish disposition of the accursed
rebels: by parcels of ammunition that
were left on the field, their balls were
found to be poisoned.
"Thus, brother, l have endeavored
to give you short account of the
desperate state of matters here since
my last. and shall sum up the whole
with one single observation, viz: the