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induced us to excite any other nation to war against them. We have not raised armies with ambitious designs of separating from Great Britain, and establishing independent states. We fight not for glory or for conquest. We exhibit to mankind the remarkable spectacle of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation, or even suspicion of offence. They boast of their privileges and civilization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than servitude or death.

"In our native land, in defence of the freedom that is our birth-right, and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it, for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our fore-fathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, and all dan ger of their being renewed shall be removed, and not before."

During these transactions, Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, with a reinforcement of troops from England, arrived at Boston; soon after which General Gage published a procla mation, declaring martial law to be in force, and offering pardon to those who would lay down their arms and submit to the king, with the exception of Samuel Adams and John Hancock. This proclamation, like every other measure,

designed

designed to intimidate or divide, served only to increase the activity of the Americans, by strengthening their conviction, that arms, and arms alone, were to be relied upon for ultimate safety.

It having been conjectured, from intelligence received respecting the movements of the British army, that General Gage intended to penetrate into the country, it was recommended by the provincial congress to the council of war to take the necessary measures for the defence of Dorchester Neck, and to occupy Bunker's Hill, a very high and commanding piece of ground just within the peninsula on which Charlestown stands, and which had hitherto been neglected by both armics*. In observance of these instructions, a detachment of one thousand men, under the command of General Prescot, was ordered to take possession of this ground; but by some mistake, Breed's Hill, situated on the further part of the peninsula, next to Boston, was marked out instead of Bunker's Hill, for the intrenchments proposed to be thrown up.

The party sent on this service proceeded to Breed's Hill, and worked with so much diligence and secrecy, that, by the dawn of day, they had thrown up a small square redoubt, about forty

* Charlestown is separated from Boston only by a narrow sheet of water, over which a bridge has since been thrown.

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yards

yards on each side, without having given the least alarm to some ships of war which were stationed in the river, at no great distance from them. As soon as light had discovered this new work to the enemy, a heavy cannonade was commenced upon it, which the provincials bore with firmness. They continued their labour till they had thrown up a small breast-work stretching from the east side of the redoubt to the bottom of the hill, so as very considerably to extend their line of defence.

As this eminence overlooked Boston, General Gage thought it necessary to drive the provincials from it. To effect this object, he detached Major-General Howe, and Brigadier-General Pigot, at the head of ten companies of grenadiers, and the same number of light infantry, with a proper proportion of field artillery. These troops landed at Moreton's Point, where they immediately formed; but, perceiving the Americans to wait for them with firmness, they remained on the ground till the success of the enterprise should be rendered secure by the arrival of a reinforcement from Boston, for which General Howe had applied. During this interval, the Americans also were reinforced by a body of their countrymen, led by Generals Warren and Pommeroy; and they availed themselves of this delay to increase their security by pulling up some adjoining

post

post and rail fences, and arranging them in two parallel lines at a small distance from each other, the space between which they filled up with hay, so as to form a complete cover from the musketry of the enemy.

On being joined by their second detachment, the British troops, who were formed in two lines, advanced slowly under cover of a very heavy discharge of cannon and howitzers, frequently halting in order to allow their artillery time to demolish the works. While they were advancing, orders were given to set fire to Charlestown, a handsome village containing about five hundred houses, which flanked the line of march. The buildings were chiefly of wood, and the flames were quickly communicated so extensively, that almost the whole town was in one great blaze *.

It is not easy to conceive a more grand and a more awful spectacle than was now exhibited, nor a moment of more anxious expectation than that which was now presented. The scene of action

To justify this severe policy, it has been alledged that the houses afforded a cover to the Americans, who fired on the flank of the British columns advancing against Breed's Hill; but the truth of this assertion is denied by all the provincial accounts, which allege, with great probability, that the troops were withdrawn from the town under an apprehension that the enemy, after passing it, might suddenly turn upon them, and cut off their retreat.

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was in full view of the heights of Boston, and of its neighbourhood, which were covered with spectators, taking deep and opposite interests in the events passing before them. The soldiers of the two hostile armies not on duty, the citizens of Boston, and the inhabitants of the adjacent country, all feeling emotions which set description at defiance, were witnesses of the majestic and tremendous scene.

The provincials permitted the enemy to approach unmolested within less than one hundred yards of their works, when they poured in upon them so deadly a fire of small arms, that the British line was totally broken, and fell back with precipitation towards the landing place. By the very great exertions of their officers they were rallied, and brought up to the charge; but were again driven back in confusion by the heavy and incessant fire from the works. General Howe is said to have been left at one time almost alone, and it is cer-tain that very few officers about his person escaped

unhurt.

The impression to be made by victory or defeat in this early stage of the war, was deemed of the utmost consequence, and therefore very extraordinary exertions were made once more to rally the English. With great difficulty they were a third time led up to the works. The redoubt was now attacked on three sides at once, while some

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