with refreshment, but was left to engage under thefe: disadvantages.

Between twelve and one o'clock, and the day exceeding hot, a number of boats and barges, filled with regular troops from Boston, approach Charlestown. The men are landed at Moreton's point. They confift of four battalions, ten companies of the grenadiers, and ten of light infantry, with a proportion of field artillery, but by fome oversight their spare cartridges are much too big for them, fo that when the Americans are at length forced from their lines, there is not a round of artillery cartridges remaining. Major general Howe and brigadier general Pigot, have the command. The troops form, and remain in that pofition, till joined by a fecond detachment of light infantry and grenadier companies, a battalion of the land forces, and a battalion of marines, making in the whole near upon 3000 men. Generals Clinton and Burgoyne take their stand upon Cop's hill to observe and contemplate the bloody and destructive operations that are now commencing. The regulars form in two lines, and advance deliberately, frequently halting to give time for the artillery to fire, but it is not well served. The light infantry are directed to force the left point of the breast-work, and to take the American line in flank. The grenadiers advance to attack in front, fupported by two battalions, while the left, under general Pigot, inclines to the right of the American line. One or two of the continental regiments had been posted in Charlestown; but afterward removed to prevent their being cut off by a fudden attack; fo that the British are not hurt in the leaft by any musketry from thence, whatever may hereafter be pre

tended; neither do generals Clinton and Burgoyne perceive any*, though properly ftationed for obferving all that paffes. General Gage had for fome time refolved upon burning the town, when once any works were raised by the Americans upon the hills belonging to it †: and while the British are advancing nearer and nearer to the attack, orders come to Cop's hill for executing the refolution; foon after a carcafs is discharged, which fets fire to an old house near the ferry way; the fire fpreads, and moft of the place is instantly in flames. The houses at the eastern end of Charlestown are fired by men landed from the boats. The regulars derive no advantage from the smoke of the conflagration, for the wind fuddenly fhifting, carries it another way, fo that they have not the cover of it in their approach. The provincials have not a rifleman among them, not one being yet arrived from the fouthward; nor have they any rifle guns; they have only common muskets, nor are these in general furnished with bayonets; but then they are almost all markfmen, being accustomed to fporting of one kind or other from their youth. A number of the Massachusetts troops are in the redoubt, and the part of the breast-work nearest it. The left of the breast-work, and the open ground ftretching beyond its point to the water fide, through which there has not been the opportunity of carrying the work, is occupied partly by the Maffachusetts

* General Burgoyne's Letter.

+ This refolution was affigned

by a near female relation of the general, to a gentlewoman with whom fhe had been acquainted at fchool, as a reafon why the other, upon obtaining a pafs to quit Bofton, fhould not tarry at her father's (Mr. Cary's) houfe in Charlestown.

forces, and partly by the Connecticut, under capt. Nolten of Ashford, and the New Hampshire under colonelStark.

By the direction of the officers, the troops upon the open ground pull up the poft and rail fence, and carrying it forward to another of the fame kind, and putting fome newly mowed grafs between them, form a flight defence in fome parts. General Warren joins the Maffachusetts forces in one place, and general Pomeroy in another. General Putnam is bufily engaged in aiding and encouraging, here and there as the cafe requires. The provincials are impatiently waiting the attack of the enemy. What fcenes now offer to our view! Here, a large and noble town, confifting of about 300 dwelling houses, and near upon 200 other buildings, in one great blaze, burning with amazing, fury, being chiefly timber, with but little exception. The only place of worship, a large commodious meeting house, by its afpiring fteeple, forms a pyramid of fire above the reft. There, in Bofton, the steeples, houses, and heights, are covered with the inhabitants, and those of the military, whofe duty does not call them elsewhere. Yonder, the hills around the country, and the fields, that afford a fafe and diftinct view of the momentous contest, are occupied by Americans of all ages and orders. The British move on fteadily, but flowly, instead of using a quick step; which gives the provincials the advantage of taking furer and cooler aim. Thefe referve their fire, till the regulars come within ten or twelve rods, when they begin a furious difcharge of fmall arms, by which the enemy is arrefted, and which they return for fome time without advancing a ftep. The ftream of American fire is fo inceffant, and does fuch

execution, that the regulars retreat in disorder, and with
great precipitation toward the place of landing, and
fome feek refuge even in their boats. The officers are
seen by the spectators on the oppofite fhore, running
down to them, ufing the moft paffionate geftures, and
pushing them forward with their fwords. At length
they are rallied; but march with apparent reluctance up
to the intrenchment. The Americans again referve
their fire, till the enemy come within five or fix rods;
then discharge their well-directed pieces, and put them
a fecond time to flight. Such is the lofs already
fuftained, that feveral of the officers fay, "It is down-
right butchery to lead the men on afresh against the
lines." But British honor is at ftake: thefe must
therefore be carried.
double their exertions.
the army is staggered, paffes over, without waiting for
orders, and joins them in time to be of fervice. The.
united and strenuous efforts of the different officers are
again fuccessful, notwithstanding the men difcover an
almost infuperable averfion to renewing the attack. The
Americans are in want of powder, fend for a supply,
but can procure none; for there is but a barrel and a
half in the magazine. This deficiency difables them
from making the fame defence as before; while the
British reap a further advantage by bringing fome cannon
to bear fo as to rake the infide of the breast-work from
end to end; upon which the provincials retreat within
their fort. The regular army now makes a decifive push.
The fire from the fhips and batteries and field artillery
is redoubled. The officers in the rear goad on the fol-
diers, and the rędoubt is attacked on three fides at once.

General Howe and the officers
General Clinton perceiving how

The provincials are of neceffity ordered to retreat; but they delay, and keep the enemy at bay for fome time with the butt ends of their muskets, till the redoubt is half filled with regulars; the works of which are easily mounted, a few hours only having been employed in throwing them up.

While these operations are going forward at the breastwork and redoubt, the light infantry are engaged in attempting to force the left point of the former, through the space between that and the water, that they may take the American line in flank. They exhibit repeated proofs of undaunted courage; but the refiftance they meet with is as formidable and fatal as what their fellow foldiers experience in the other quarter. Here the provincials alfo, by command, referve their fire till the enemy is near, and then pour in their fhot upon the infantry with fuch a true direction and amazing fuccefs, as to mow them down in ranks. Some of them are flightly guarded by the rail fences abovementioned; but others are quite expofed, and more than is needful; and the regulars will have no reafon in future to charge them with fighting unfairly, because of their using defences, not formed by military rules, and workmen. The engagement between the two parties is kept up with great refolution; but the well-aimed fire of the Americans does aftonishing execution; and the strenuous exertions of the regulars cannot compel them to retreat, till they obferve that their main body has left the hill: when they give way, but with more regularity than could be expected from troops who have been no longer under difcipline, and in general never before faw an engagement.