The Coolidge examiner., 1935-06-14

does not agree In all details with the story "a
you learned Il from your sehcol-bcok histories
In 100 or iherealouts a Frenchmau migrated
from Canada 20 the Massachusetts, Bay colony
and settled on a hill overlooking Boston harbor.
His maine was Monsieur Bon Coeur-noi a din
cult name TO pronounce unless you happened to
b. a Yankee who spoke with nasal twang
But most OF bis ncighbors were Yankees and they
spoke thus
The French Canadian tried hard To- teach them
the ihronty sound of Bong koor" But they
couldn't seem 20 get H. OR else they wouldn't
because they wanted 10 plague that Canuck."
Al any rate. their name for him was Mister
bunker NJ Bon Occur protested. II they must
AngiiciEe bis nne old French name. who not use
the translation Of II and call him Mister Good
heari-1 But. mol They wouldn't So Bunker
be became. Bunker he remained and the bin on
which he lived and reared his family became
Bunkers Hil Thus came about the nrst para.
dox IN the history OF famous battle.
Two decades after Monsieur Bon Coeur. late
of Canada. had resigned himself a, last to be-
Ing Mister Bunker % Boston. that city vas In
a state of siege. That fact. In Itself. was some
thing of n paradox For the besiegers. although
they numbered between 1900 aud 1900, we're
little more than an un0rganlEed mass OF armed
civilians. Military experts OF the time would
probably have given this Continental army ca
was not yet the American army but little chance
in a pitched battle with the bcsieged. composed
Of six or seven thousand weltralned and well.
equipped British regulars commanded BY Gen
Thomas Gage.
During the second week In June 1T55. Colonel
Gridley % the Continental forces planned series
OF earthworks which would strengthen the po-
sltIon of the besiegers around Boston But be
fore he could proceed with his plans. his com
mander-in-chief. Gen. Artemas Ward. ordered
him 90 proceed 90 Bunker HUI for the con
strueiion OF reioubts on this emlnence OF 40
feet overlooking Boston from across the Charles
river.
In the meantime Gage had noticed the men
acing heights ai Dorchester and Charlestown
and determined to seize them. Upon learning
OF this. force OF Colonials under Col William
Prescott forestalled the British commander and
on June rs took up their position on Breeds
HIN. 62 feet high and nearer TO Chariestown
than Bunker HILL II was foolhardy thing TO
do. for Breeds Hin was a dangerously advanced
position within easy gun range OF Boston. In
fact. the occupation OF these heights back OF
Charlestown was rash manenver which might
easily have proved disastrous. For II Gage had
taken advantage OF his opportunity to move
heavy guns on the British warships at his dis
posal and sailed them at foed tide around into
the Mystic river. he could have swep, the aar-
row neck OF land which led 10 Cambridge with
cannon FIRE TO cut OF the retreat OF the Coloni-
ais and. by landing his troops behind Bunker
Hin. have caught the whole Patriot force In q
trap and destroyed H.
Fortunately for the cause OF liberty he was a
general who had risen to his position BY po-
nucal wirepulling rather than BY proved merit
on the field OF battle. So he passed up his ,p-
poriunity for an easy victory and followed a
course which was to prove disastrous both 10
his soldiers and 10 the prestige OF the British
arms. He decided upon an immediate frontal
attack which General William Howe was select
ed 10 lead.
This decision was made the morning of
June IL when the British discovered the Cont.
nentals' fortiacations on Breeds Hill well ad-
vanced toward completion redoubt and
breastwOrs had been erected In front OF the hill
and from one side OF it. extending to the Mystic
river. ran a rail fence which they had stuffed
with hay TO FORK a fiimsy sort OF breastwork In
front Of Bunker dill- Immediately the British
frigate Lively In the Charles river opened fire
these civilizations but failed to stop work
on them.
The whole forenoon was taken up In ferryinr