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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 mufkets, 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 resistance 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 exposed, and more than is needful; and the regulars will have no reason 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 ftrenuous exertions of the regulars cannot compel them to retreat, till they observe 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.

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The courage and conduct of the provincials that oppofed the light infantry, faved their co-patriots, who were overpowered and obliged to retreat from the fort; and who muft otherwife have been cut off, as the enemy, but for fuch oppofition, would have been inftantly upon the back of the redoubt. While these brave men were retreating, general Warren was fhot in the back part of his head, on the right fide *: having mechanically clapt his hand to the wound, he dropt down dead.

The retreat of the Americans lay over the neck, which joined the peninfula of Charlestown to the main land; and as the Glafgow man of war and two floating batteries were fo ftationed as to rake every part of it with their fhot, it was feared that they would be cut off after all, but they retired with very little lofs. The inceffant fire kept up by the ship and batteries across the neck from the beginning of the engagement, prevented any confiderable reinforcements getting to the hill; but this was owing more to the cowardice of fome provincial officers than to the execution of the fhot.

The number of Americans engaged, including those who dared to crofs the neck and join them, amounted only to fifteen hundred; but the unengaged, who appeared in various parts, did, by their different movements, lead many of the Boston spectators to apprehend, at that distance, that they confifted of fome thousands.

Mr. afterward major Winflow, of the American artillery, (who was perfonally acquainted with the general, and croffed over from Boston to the place of action, after the battle, and narrowly surveyed the body) related his being fo fhot, and the hand's being bloody as if by the wound.

It was feared by the Americans, that the British troops. would push the advantage they had gained, and march immediately to head quarters at Cambridge, about two miles diftant, and in no ftate of defence. But they advanced no further than to Bunker's-hill, of which they poffeffed themselves the night of their retreat from Lexington; and here they threw up works for their own security. The provincials did the fame upon Prospecthill in front of them, about half way to Cambridge. The apprehenfions of each fide in regard to the other appeared to be fimilar. Both were guarding against an attack, and in hopes of preventing it. Had the refolution of either led on immediately to a fresh engagement, the day would probably have been far more decifive. But the lofs of the peninfula damped the courage of the Americans, and the lofs of men depreffed the fpirits of the British. A veteran officer, who was at the battles of Dettingen and Minden, and at feveral others in Germany, has faid, that for the time the engagement lafted, and the number of men in it, he never knew any thing equal it. There was a continued fheet of fire from the provincials for near half an hour, and the action was hot for about double that period. In this fhort space, the lofs of the British, according to general Gage, amounted to 1054, of whom 226 were killed, of thefe 19 were commiffioned officers, including a lieutenant colonel, 2 majors, and 7 captains; 70 other officers were wounded. Among thofe more generally regretted, were lieutenant colonel Abercromby, and major Pitcairn, who occafioned the first shedding of blood at Lexington. The battle of Quebec in the late war, with all its glory, and the vastnefs of the confequences it produced, was not

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fo deftructive to the British officers as this affair of an American intrenchment, the work of only a few hours. Even at the battle of Minden, where the British regiments fustained the force of the whole French army for a confiderable time, the number of officers killed, including two who foon died of their wounds, was only 13, and the wounded remaining 66: their whole lofs in killed was 291, in wounded 1037, together 1328 *. That the officers fuffered fo, must be imputed partly to their being aimed at by the Americans; and this may account for most of thofe, who were near the perfon of general Howe, being flain or difabled. It was a wonder, that the general himself efcaped. The men, habituated to take fight, would naturally aim at the officers, without expecting or waiting for orders, from an apprehenfion that much confufion would follow upon their dropping. Gage's account of the killed and wounded is large; but does not equal by much what has been given to one of the felectmen of Bofton, remaining in town, by a fergeant who declared he had feen the returns from the proper perfons, the total of which was 1325. The light infantry and grenadiers, the moment they presented themselves, lost three-fourths of their men, and in a few inftances more. Of one company only three or five, and of another only fourteen efcaped. A number of tories ferved as volunteers, feveral of whom were killed. The unexpected refiftance of the Americans called forth all the courage and exertions of the British officers, which did not fail upon the occafion : but whatever commendations they are entitled to upon that account, the Americans are certainly entitled to a

• Entick's History of the War from 1755, Vol. IV. p, zo. printed for Mr. Dilly.

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proper portion of the like for having made the fame neceffary. These have now wiped away the reproaches unjuftly caft upon them by their enemies in Britain. Let fuch praile the fpirited conduct of general Howe and of general Clinton; and attribute in a great measure the fuccefs of the day to the firmnefs and gallantry of general Pigot; but let them no more pronounce the colonists cowards, who will fly at the very fight of a grenadier's cap. The British, befide gaining the peninfula, took thirty wounded prifoners, and five pieces of cannon out of fix.

The lofs of the provincials has been trifling. The killed and dead of their wounds are 139, the wounded living 278, and the miffing 36, in all 453. They deeply regret the deaths of major general Warren, of colonel Gardner of Cambridge, of lieutenant colonel Parker of Chelmsford, who was wounded, taken prifoner, and perished in Boston jail; of major Moore and major McClany, who were the only officers of diftinction that they loft. But the death of general Warren will be most feverely felt, and occafions the greateft forrow. His enemies bear teftimony to his importance, by triumphing at his fall, and rating it as better to them than 500 men. Neither refentment, nor interested views, but a regard to the liberties of his country, induced him to oppose the measures of government. He stepped forward into public view, not that he might be noted and admired for a patriotic fpirit, but because he was a patriot. He was a gentleman of integrity, in whom the friends of liberty could confide. The foundness of his judgment enabled him to give good advice in private confultations. His powers of fpeech and reafoning commanded

VOL. II.

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