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length the women and children were restrained, hoping that their safety might secure the town from an assault, or restrain the men from departing.

At this time the small-pox raged in Boston, and was communicated to the American army by the poor people, who were sent out of Boston, and many provincials suffered severely.

The want of money now began to embarrass the Americans, and it became necessary for the Massachusetts congress to direct their receiver-general to borrow money, particularly 3751. sterling of a gentlemen at Salem, and at the same time strike off province notes to pay the army their arrears, and advance pay to the recruits.

By the returns of the army on the 10th of June, at Cambridge, it amounted to 7644 officers and soldiers; but it was rather an assemblage of men, than an army, being all militia, without order, and without discipline; but full of zeal, and true to their rights, and their country's

cause.

In this state of things General Gage issued his proclamation on the 12th of June, offering pardon, &c. in the king's name, to all who should quietly submit to the royal authority, excepting Samuel Adams, and John Hancock; denouncing at the same time, as rebels and traitors, all such as should refuse this proffered mercy, or aid and assist in any way, or correspond with such as should refuse to accept. It also declared the province to be under martial law, until civil law could be restored.

On the 5th of December, 1774, Doctor Joseph Warren had been chosen president of the provincial congress of Massachusetts, in place of John Hancock, Esq. removed by election, to the General Congress, and at this time, June 14th, they appointed him second major-general of the Massachusetts forces.

This proclamation of General Gage, was considered by the Americans as a public manifesto, and a prelude to some serious operations; they made preparations accordingly, and at the same time watched the motions of the enemy very closely.

On the 13th, intelligence was communicated to the committee of safety, that the enemy were in motion, and that a sortie might be expected soon; they recommended to the Congress to order all the militia to hold themselves in readiness; and to the council of war to secure Bunker's Hill, as a commanding position, upon that quarter; and Dorchester neck, upon the other side, as important passes into the country. On the 16th, orders were issued accordingly by the commander in chief at Cambridge, and a detachment of one thousand men, under the command of Colonel Prescott, was sent to take possession of and fortify Bunker's Hill, on the following night. The detachment advanced to their duty; but by mistake fortified Breed's Hill, which lay contiguous to Bunker's Hill, yet nearer to the enemy. Here they commenced their operations at midnight, with all possible alacrity, and silence. When the morn appeared, the Lively, man of war, who lay near, discovered the works, and commenced her firing, which also disclosed the redoubt to the view of the enemy in Boston. Struck with surprise at the boldness of the movement, as well as the undaunted firmness with which the provincials pursued their labours, under the incessant fire of the Lively, as well as the floating batteries, and those from Copp's Hill in Boston, General Gage saw at once the danger of his situation, in an op en town, in presence of such an enemy; he resolved for his own safety, to dislodge the provincials from this position accordingly about noon of the 16th, he detached four battalions of infantry, ten companies of grenadiers, and a suitable train of artillery, under the command

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of Major General Howe, and Brigadier General Pigott. This detachment embarked at Boston, and landed at Charlestown, where they were reinforced by another detachment, making the whole force about 3000 strong. This force when formed on the beach, advanced regularly to the charge. Colonel Prescott maintained his position under a heavy fire of cannon, and musquetry, supported by Colonel Stark of New-Hampshire, and Captain Norton of Connecticut. General Warren, and General Pomeroy, joined the detachment at the approach of the enemy, and General Putnam with his accustomed bravery, and active intrepidity, traversed the field, giving life, spirit, animation, and courage, to the whole detachment. When the attack commenced, General Gage ordered the beautiful town of Charlestown to be fired; the order was obeyed, and in an instant of time, more than five hundred houses, and other buildings were wrapped in flames, exhibiting to the astonished view, an awful display of the vindictive malice of Britain, and the barbarous outrage of her savage war. Amidst the blaze of Charlestown, the murderous Britons advanced to the charge, with a firm and regular step, supported by a terrible explosion of musketry, and grape. The provincials, like the illustrious heroes of the plains of Abraham, reserved their fire until the enemy had advanced within twelve rods, when they received them with a well directed fire of musketry, which was murderous in its effects, and checked his pace; here commenced an incessant fire of musketry upon both sides; the enemy gave way, and fled in disorder. Stung with mortification at such shameful pusillanimity, the officers rallied them again, and advanced to the charge. Again the provincials reserved their fire, and received the enemy at the distance of 10 or 12 rod, and again opened their murderous fire, and again put them to flight. Stung again with mortification, the officers excliamed, "It is downright butchery to

lead on the troops against these lines."

But General

Howe was in command, and what is butchery, when put in competition with British honor.

At this critical moment Gen. Clinton volunteered his services, joined Gen. Howe, and by the united exertions of British officers, and British valour, the troops were once more led on to the charge; the murderous scene was again renewed, and the conflict and carnage again became desperate and terrible. At this critical moment the Ameriean powder became short, and the soldiers rifled the cartridge boxes of the dead, to continue the fire, even after the enemy had brought their artillery to rake their trenches. When the fire of the Americans began to slacken, the enemy redoubled their exertions, supported by a terrible cannonade from their ships and batteries, and the officers in the rear urged on the troops at the point of the sword and bayonet, to enter the trenches; here the Americans still disputed their ground, and such as had expended their powder, clubbed their muskets, and maintained the conflict until they were either killed, taken, or forced away. Overpowered at last by numbers, and having expended all their ammunition, the Americans retired in good order, secured their retreat, and recovered their camp at Cambridge. The brave Gen. Warren fell gloriously on the field, in defence of his country, and his country's rights. The Glasgow, man of war, and several floating batteries, raked the neck of land over which the Americans were obliged to pass in their retreat, with a most powerful cannonade, yet they faced even this with firmness, and retired with very little loss, and in good order. Not one action stands recorded in honour of British valour, on the whole historic page, where her troops met with such matchless firmness, and desperate resistance, as were displayed by the Americans at the redoubt of Breed's Hill, nor where her troops suffered so severe a check, or such dispropor

tionate losses, compared with those of the enemy engaged, or lost such a disproportionate number of officers.

The loss in this action, as stated by Gen. Gage, consisted of 226 killed, 19 of whom were commissioned officers, including 1 lieut. colonel, 2 majors,* and 7 captains-70 officers wounded-total, 1054, including rank and file.— This loss equalled the loss sustained by Gen. Wolfe upon the Plains of Abraham, at the capture of Quebec; but in the loss of officers, it stands as 19 to 13 killed, and as 70 to 66 wounded. When the vast disproportion is taken into consideration, between the objects obtained, viz. the carrying a redoubt which sprang up in a night, and the conquest of a city, which is justly estimated as the Gibralter of America, some just estimate may be formed of that firmness and valour the Americans displayed in the ever memorable battle of Bunker's Hill.

The American loss in this action amounted to 139 killed, 278 wounded, 36 missing-total 453. The loss of Gen. Warren, Col. Gardner, Lieut. Col. Parker, and Majors Moore and McClaney, was severely felt by America, and cast a gloom over the nation; but their names will live with glory to the latest generation. The merits of Gen. Warren as a man, and a patriot, in the private circles of his friends; in the cabinet, as member of the provincial congress, or as president of that honorable body, or in the field as major general-all combined to give a lustre to his name, that is above all praise, and that exceeds the powers of my pen to express.

Although the heroes of Bunker's Hill had triumphed over the enemy, even in their retreat, by that terrible carnage they had spread through her ranks, and that slaughter with which they had swept away so many of his officers of dis

* Lieut. Col. Abercrombie, and Maj. Pitcairn, the first British murdere in the revolution.

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