The border vidette., 1932-06-25
A,.., State Library

freedom had neither 5ayonets
to defend themselves, nor pow.
der for their deadly marksman.
ship. But though in the technic.
al military sense the outcome
was scored as q defeat for the
patriots, while they did have the
power to fight, they dealt such
blows to their enemies as had an
effect on all the rest Of the war.
Iodeed it is only now. after these
many years, that military bistor.
ians are able to calculate this
moral effect of the Battle Of
Bunker Hill on the whole after.
course of British military opera.
tions during the Revolution.
Uotil recent years. Bunker
Hill has been traditionally re.
garded as q magnificent but
futile gesture on the part OF the
patriots not so much a military
action as the subject Of poems
and the inspiration for patriotic
speeches. Now the students Of
military history concede that
Bunker Hill had profound inllu.
ence on after events apd was
one of the turning points in the
successful struggle for Indepen.
, :sence.
It will be remembered that
soon after Bunker Hill, General
Sir William Howe was placed IN
supreme command of the British
troops, and every student of his
tory is familiar with the sneers
aimed at Howe as dawdler.>
His delays are given as one Of
the chief reasons why Washing.
ton prospered so we'll against
bin. Now the keen military
analyst sees the reason for
Howe's otherwise uuaccounta ble
unwillingness to press the fre.
quent advantages be won over
General Warrington.
The United States George
Washington Bicentenniai Com.
mission points out that Howe,
before taking over the chief com.
mand. was the general leading
the British assault on Bunker
Hill. Like the brave man he
was, he charged with bis men.
and was an eye witness to the
dreadful slaughter Of his troops
from the deadly fire of the
patriot riflenen in their redoubt.
Never had be seen such accurate
craftsmanship. Every school
BOY knows the patriot command
to hold your fire till you see
the whites of their eyes," and
how we'll the command was
ooeyed. Especially had the Am.
ericsn marksmen been told to
pick off the British officers, aud
we'll they did their work.
Howe escaped, but the modern
military authorities are of the
opinion that be received tns
shock Of bis life during that
slaughter of his men. 7 h
British soldier had never been
trained to shoot with accuracy;
bis reliance was on the bayonet.
And at Bunker Hill be never got
a chance to use it until the
patriot rifles had got in their
killing fire. and then bad run
out of powder. The Americans,
on the contrary, had been &C.
customed to the rife from boy.
hood. They learned to use it
against the Indians and in bring.
ing down the game they needed
for food. Remarkable accounts
have come down of their skill
and accuracy. Indeed this dead.
liness with musket or rifle be.
came one of the main reliarces
of the patriot army.
At Bunker Hill, Howe learned
about this new method of war.
fare, aud students OF bis later
course in the Revolution are OF
the opinion that be never forgo1
the lesson. He rarely again
undertook a bayonet charge
against the patriots when be
found them strongly entrenched.
They had taken that kind of
fight completely out of him. and
at least one military historian,
Thomas 6. rockingham. is of
the opinion that the startling
experience Howe received at
Bunker Hill may have had great
deal to do with his subse quenr
lack Of initiative. TIms aud
again he had Washington corn.
cred against overwhelming nun.
bers, and neglected his oppor.
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