Year: 1875

General Brgoyne in letter to Lord
Stanley gives the following interesting
story of the battle of Bunker Hill:


Boston is peninsula, joined to the
mainland only by a narrow neck, which
on the first troubles General Gage forti-
fed. Arms of the sea and the harbor
surround the rest on the other side.
One of these arms to the north is
Charlestown, or rather was, for it is now
rubbish, and over it large hill, which
is also, like Boston, peninsula. To
the south of the town is still larger
scope of ground containing three hills,
joining also to the main by tongue of
land and called Dorchester Neck. The
heights as above described, both north
and south (in the soldiers phrase), COM
mand the town-that is, give an oppor-
tunity of erecting batteries above any
that you can make against them-and,
consequently, are much more advantage
GUS. 1t was absolutely necessary we
should make ourselves masters of these
heights, and we proposed to begin with
Dorchester, because from particular
situation of batteries and shipping (too
long to describe, and unintelhgible to
you if I did), it would evidently be eff
fected without any considerable loss.
Everything was accordingly disposed.
My two colleagues and myself (who, by
the-bye, have never differed in one iot of
military sentimenD had, in concert with
General Gage, formed plan. Howe
was to have the transports at the point,
Clinton in the center, and I was to can
nonade from the causeway on the neck,
each to take advantage of circumstances.
The operations must have been very
easy, and they were to be executed on
the 18th. On the 18th, at dawn of day,
we found that the enemy had, during
the night, formed intrenchments, with
great diligence, on the heights of
Charlestown, and we saw that every hour
evidently gave them fresh strength. 1t,
therefore, became necessary to alter our
plan and attack on the side. Howe, as
second in command, was detached with
about 1000 men, and landed en- the out
ward side of the peninsula, covered with
shipping, without opposition. He was
to advance from thence up the hill which
was over Charlestown, where the
strength of the enemy lay. He had un-
der him Brigadier General Pigot. Clin
ton and myself took our stand (for we
had not any fixed post) directly opposite
to Charlestown and commanded it, and
also reaching the heights above it, and
thereby facilitating Howe's attack.
Howe's disposition was exceedingly
soldier-like. In my opinion it was perfect.
AS his first arm advanced up the hill
they met with thousand impediments
froml long fences and were much exposed.
They were exceedingly hurt by musketry
from Charlestown, though Clinton and 1
did not perceive it until Howe sent us
word by a boat and directed us to set fire
to the town, which was Immediately
done.


We threw parcel of shells and the
whole town was instantly in flames.
Our battery afterward kept an incessant
fire on the heights, and it was seconded
by number of frigates, floating bat
teries, and one ship of the line. And
now ensued one of the greatest scenes of
war that can be conceived. If we look
to the heights, Howe's corps, ascending
the hill in the face of intrenchments
and in very disadvantageons ground,
was much engaged; to the left the
enemy pouring in fresh troops by the
thousands over the land, and in the
arm of the sea our ships and floating
batteries commanding them. Straight
before us large and noble town in one
great blaze. The church steeples, being
OF timber, were great pyramids of fire
above the rest. Behind us the church
steeples and heights of our own camp
covered with spectators, the enemy all
In anxious suspense; the roar of cannon,
mortars, musketry, the crash of churches,
ships upon the stocks, and whole streets
falling together in ruins to fill the ear
the storm of the redoubts, with the OBJ
jects above described, to fill the eye
and the reflection that perhaps defeat
was final end to the British empire in
America to fill the mind-made the
whole picture and complication OF
horror and Importance beyond anything
that it has ever been my lot to be witness
to.


must lament Toms absence. (Tom
was a nephew of Lord Stanley.) II
was fight for young soldier that the
longest service may not furnish again,
and had he been with me would likewise
have been out of danger, for, except two
cannon balls that went a hundred yards
over our heads, we were not in any part
of the direction of the enemy's shot. A
moment of the day was critical. Howe's
left was staggered, two battalions had
been sent to reinforce them, but we
perceived them on the beach seeming in
embarrassment what way to march.
Clinton, then next for business, took the
part without waiting for orders, to throw
himself into a boat to head them. He
arrived in time to be of service. The


day ended with glory, and the success


was most important, considering the
ascendancy it gave the royal troops.


But the loss was uncommon in officers
for the numbers engaged. Howe was