USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement of the colony to the adoption of the present constitution, vol. II > Part 18
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Putnam's last visit at the redoubt had been brief. Seeing that Colonel Prescott had done in his absence everything that skill and valor could do, and aware of the almost immediate prospect of an engagement, he had taken time only to utter a word of encouragement, and had again set off for Cambridge to stimulate the leisurely movements of General Ward, and bring into the field the expected reinforcements. But delays and excuses met him at every step. General Ward was not able to believe that the British troops could be landed anywhere
* Swett.
203
[1775.] MR. DEVENS PLEADS FOR CHARLESTOWN.
save at Cambridge. Begging, remonstrating, explaining, doing everything but threaten his superior officer, Putnam labored with him in vain.
Colonel Prescott, seeing the approach of the enemy, and witnessing with pain the fatigue of his men, about 9 o'clock called another council of war, that finally resulted in his send- ing Major Brooks to head quarters to add his solicitations to those of Putnam. Failing to procure a horse, Brooks pro- ceeded on foot to Cambridge. He reached the camp about 10 o'clock, and informed General Ward that he had come for provisions and reinforcements. The commander-in- chief interposed a variety of objections. He doubted if the enemy meant to land at Charlestown ; the movement was probably a mere feint, and Cambridge would after all be their real point of destination. He had but too scanty a force at best, and as for ammunition, it was necessary to use it very sparingly, as nobody could see from what quarter they could get any more when they had expended their little store .* Such in substance were the grounds of objection urged by the good old man. But lest he might seem to repose too much confidence upon his own judgment, he laid the proposition before the Committee of Safety, then in ses- sion in the same house where he was quartered. Mr. Richard Devens, of Charlestown, was a member of the com- mittee, and pleaded with such eloquence in behalf of his native town as to make a deep impression upon the minds of the others. The committee advised a reinforcement, and Ward, much against his will, thereupon issued orders to Colonels Reed and Stark, then stationed at Medford, to join Prescott with the New Hampshire forces without delay. t General Warren was present with the other members of the committee. He had acted as president of the Congress the day before, and had spent the night also (doubtless a sleep- less one,) at Watertown. Mr. Elbridge Gerry, who had from the first regarded the attempt to fortify Bunker Hill as an impracticable one, had earnestly besought him not to go
* Humphreys, 218, 219.
+ Swett, Humphreys, and others.
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
upon the ground, as he said his death, that would be useless as his life was invaluable, would be the probable conse- quence." "I know it," was the reply, "but I live within the sound of the cannon, and should die were I to remain at home while my fellow-citizens are shedding their blood for me." " As sure as you go you will be slain," reiterated Gerry, prophetically. "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,"* was the classical and glorious answer of the patriot- scholar. Warren reached Cambridge at day-light, worn out with excitement and almost crazed with a nervous headache, and threw himself upon a bed. When the news came that the British were in motion, General Ward sent him word. He left the bed instantly, and remarking that " his headache was gone," repaired to the room occupied by the Committee of Safety, of which he was chairman. After the meeting was over he armed himself with a fusil and sword, mounted his horse and rode toward the spot where the squadrons of war were mustering.t
It was 11 o'clock before the orders issued by General Ward to the New Hampshire troops reached Medford. Even then, as no provision had been made for any such emergency, they were totally unprepared for service, as they were without ammunition. Many of them had not even flints to their guns. Every soldier was now furnished with two flints and a gill of powder, with fifteen bullets to make up into cartridges. Almost every one of them was obliged to make use of a powder-horn as a cartridge-box was a lux- ury, the enjoyment of which was yet in reserve for them. Their guns also differed as much in calibre as the features of their respective owners did in appearance, and they were compelled to hammer their balls into slugs before they could load their pieces .¿ The troops stationed at Chelsea were now recalled.
At noon, twenty-eight barges filled with the greater part of the first detachment of British troops embarked at the
* " It is sweet and lovely to die for one's country."
+ Swett. # Humphreys.
205
THE BRITISH TROOPS LAND.
[1775.]
long wharf in Boston. They were among the best forces of the army, being the fifth, thirty-eighth, forty-third, and fifty- second battalions of infantry, ten companies of grenadiers, and ten of light infantry .* A part of these troops were taken from the transports and had not yet set foot upon the American shore. They fell into two parallel lines and dis- played themselves with admirable effect as they flew grace- fully through the water. In a conspicuous position in the bows of the foremost boats were six shining pieces of can- non and howitzers, while the elegant uniform and polished arms of the officers and soldiers flashed brightly in the beams of the noon-day sun. At one o'clock they touched at Mor- ton's Point and landed in perfect order. So imposing was the spectacle, and so perfect were their movements, that the American officers found it difficult to keep their panic- stricken men in their places at the redoubt. As soon as General Howe had effected a landing of his troops, he dis- covered that the spare cannon balls which he had brought along with him were too large for his guns.t He therefore sent them back and ordered a new supply, and at the same time he dispatched a messenger to General Gage requesting that he would forward more troops, as the strength of the American lines was much greater than he had at first sup- posed, and as fresh recruits now began to pour in from the neck. While waiting for the other troops, the companies that had already landed dined from their full knapsacks, with as much unconcern as if they had been occupied about the most ordinary employment .¿ It was two o'clock before the remainder of the detachment were ready. They
embarked at Winnisimit ferry and soon joined the first party at Morton's Point. Not long afterward the reinforce- ments, consisting of a few companies of grenadiers and light infantry, the forty-seventh battalion, and almost an entire battalion of marines, were landed under the eastern end of
* Swett. + Gordon, i. 351, 352 ; see also Graham, iv. 380.
#Swett, Frothingham. The latter author truly remarks, "It proved to many a brave man his last meal." Hist. Siege of Boston, p. 132.
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Breed's Hill, on the very ground now occupied by the navy yard .*
Meanwhile General Putnam was busy here and there superintending and directing all the movements of the American army. He ordered Captain Knowlton, with the little handful of Connecticut men, whom he had been per- mitted to bring from the field where General Ward was waiting for the approach of an enemy who never paid him the anticipated visit, to take his position behind a rail fence about two hundred and fifty yards in length, that stretched across the tongue of land before described, from Mystic river to the road .; A little part of this fence had a stone foundation about two feet high. Some apple trees were standing in front of it and a few in the rear. There were other fences near by, which the troops removed and made with the rails thus obtained a new one parallel with the first mentioned one. Between these two frail barriers they threw new mown grass. Such a breastwork could hardly be expected to protect them from the enemy's artil- lery, but proved to be of much avail against musket balls. It was eighty yards in the rear of the slough, and one hund- red and ninety yards in the rear of the American breast- work that formed a continuation of the redoubt. Hence there was a wide opening between this breastwork and the fence, where the left flank of the Americans would be expos- ed to a raking fire, and another space of one hundred yards between the slough and the fence that would have given the British infantry ample room to advance.
Colonel Prescott also called in the companies that had
* Swett.
+ Swett's History, page 27; see also Captain Chester's letter in the "Siege of Boston," p. 390. " Our officers in command, soon perceiving their in- tention, ordered a large party of men, (chiefly Connecticut,) to leave the fort, and march down and oppose the enemy's right wing." If positive testimony on the point of the chief command is desired, the reader is referred to Colonel Swett's History. Botta, (i. 204,) says, "General Putnam directed in chief, and held himself ready to repair to any point, where his presence should be most wanted."
207
THE POST OF HONOR.
[1775.]
been posted at Charlestown and ordered them to take their stand at a cart-way that ran from the road to the south- eastern angle of the redoubt. In imitation of what had been done by Knowlton, they made for themselves a tempo- rary screen by means of parallel fences and freshly cut grass .* .
The Americans, roused by the cannonade from the British ships and floating batteries that sounded such a fearful note of preparation, now came thronging to the field.
The Connecticut troops, impatient to mingle in the battle, were all in marching order, and sent an urgent request to General Ward that he would allow them to hasten to the standard of Putnam, their idol. But as they were the best trained and best equipped forces in the whole army, they were the very last that General Ward would suffer to leave him. They might as well have supplicated the winds. General Ward sent them the consoling information that they had already the post of honor, as the enemy were expected to land near Inman's farm where they were stationed. t Whoever might have expected them, it is quite certain that neither Putnam, Prescott, Knowlton, Brooks, nor any other officers whose services were worth anything on that day, were of the number. The gallant Colonel Sargeant of New Hampshire made a like request, and was answered in the same way.
Captain Callender, who commanded a company of artil- lery, and whose services, as the event proved, were just such as would have been best fitted to help General Ward
* This impromptu mode of fortification proved even more formidable to the enemy than either Prescott or Knowlton had anticipated. A British letter, dated July 5, 1775, says : " Our light-infantry were served up in companies against the grass fence, without being able to penetrate-indeed, how could we penetrate it ? Most of our grenadiers and light-infantry, the moment of presenting themselves, lost three-fourths, and many nine-tenths of their men. Some companies had only eight or nine men left ; some only three, four, and five." Another British letter says : " It was found to be the strongest post that was ever occupied by any set of men." Frothingham, 142.
+ Swett's History.
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and the main body of the army to do nothing, was ordered to repair to the hill. To make sure that nothing might in any event happen to him, the General also ordered Colonel Gardner's regiment to march to Patterson's station, and there await further orders. A little in advance of this regi- ment was Colonel Doolittle's on the Charlestown road.
One quarter of the forces who thus begged to be led into the field, with a tenth part of the ammunition that was hoarded up to be burned in honor of the arrival of the enemy at Inman's farm, would have cut in pieces the five thousand British troops landed at Morton's Point and Modlin's ship- yard, and changed the whole fortune of the day.
As yet Putnam had been unable, notwithstanding all his exertions, to find men enough to throw up the works that he had been so anxious to erect upon Bunker Hill. Upon this highest point of the peninsula, the last place of retreat, should retreat be necessary, unless he was to retire again across the neck, not a spade had yet been struck into the ground. Half the number of men that had so faithfully thrown up the redoubt upon Breed's Hill, could easily have made this other hill defensible on account of its superior ele- vation and the steepness of its sides. It seemed hard, after all the fatigue and hunger that the detachment at the redoubt had undergone, that they should be compelled to perform this new task, and that too in the face of the hot June sun whose beams now pierced the poor fellows like arrows. Yet there appeared now to be no help for it. He therefore ordered a large detachment to leave the redoubt and repair to Bunker Hill with the intrenching tools. Colonel Prescott remonstrated. His men, he said, were weary, and had already done more than human nature ought to be called upon to endure. But on this vital point Putnam was inex- orable, and Prescott was compelled to yield .*
Having seen the works upon Bunker Hill fairly begun, Putnam again rode off toward Cambridge to see after the tardy reinforcements. Those who are aware what his tem-
* Swett's History.
209
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
[1775.]
perament was, will readily imagine that by this time he was in no very gentle frame of mind, and that he rode at some- thing more than even his ordinary rate of speed. To his inexpressible joy, he learned from General Ward that the New Hampshire troops had been ordered to march from Medford, and instantly turned his horse's head toward Bunker Hill. As Colonel Stark marched his men very slowly, acting upon his favorite maxim, that one fresh man in battle is better than ten fatigued ones, Putnam was already on the ground when he arrived there. Detaching a part of this new force to aid the intrenching party on Bunker Hill, he ordered Colonel Stark to hurry forward with the rest as fast as he could, and join Captain Knowlton at the fence. Stark now made one of his pithy, characteristic speeches to his men, bade them give three hearty cheers to inspire themselves with the true spirit of liberty, and then moved forward to the line.
It now became apparent to General Ward, from the fact that the British were landing at Charlestown, that his extreme prudence had deceived him as to their real designs. To repair the mischief that had been done by this mistake, he now began to bestir himself. Reserving the choicest troops of his army, consisting of his own regiment, Putnam's, Sargeant's, Patterson's, Gardner's, and a part of Bridge's, he sent off the rest as a reinforcement to Charlestown. But it was too late now to do anything methodically, as will appear by the following extract from Captain Chester's letter :
" Just after dinner, on Saturday, 17th ult., I was walking out from my lodgings, quite calm and composed, and all at once the drums beat to arms, the bells rang, and a great noise in Cambridge. Captain Putnam came by on full gallop. ' What is the matter ?' says I. 'Have you not heard ?' ' No.' ' Why, the regulars are landing at Charlestown,' says he ; 'and father says you must all meet and march immediately to Bunker Hill to oppose the enemy.' I waited not, but ran and got my arms and ammu-
46
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
nition, and hasted to my company, (who were in the church for barracks,) and found them nearly ready to march. We soon marched, with our frocks and trowsers on over our other clothes, (for our company is in uniform wholly blue, turned up with red,) for we were loth to expose ourselves by our dress, and down we marched."*
General Howe, a brother of that gallant Lord Howe whose last words were addressed to Putnam, had the immediate command of the British forces, and under him were General Pigot, Colonels Nesbit, Abercrombie, and Clarke ; Majors Butler, Williams, Bruce, Spendlove, Smelt, Mitchell, Pitcairn, Short, Small, and Lords Rawdon and Percy,t whose names were even then known with honor wherever the British flag waved on land or sea.
The action was commenced by the British artillery, who now opened a tremendous fire upon the American works on Breed's Hill. Prescott ordered the men to keep close behind the works and not expose themselves. Lieutenant Spalding, who disobeyed this order, had his head shattered to atoms by a cannon ball. Captain Gridley's pieces were now ordered out of the redoubt, and with Callender's were stationed where they were most needed, in the space between the breastwork and the rail fence. Here they attempted to return the fire of the enemy, but without effect. These companies had just enlisted from the infantry and were unqualified for this service. The officers complained that their cartridges were unskilfully made up, and soon with- drew. As Callender was retreating to the farther side of Bunker Hill, where he might safely prepare his cartridges, he was suddenly, arrested by General Putnam, who rode up and with a face flaming with indignation, commanded him to resume his post. Callender begged that he might be allowed to retire. This so enraged Putnam that he threat-
* Letter from Captain John Chester, of Wethersfield, to Rev. Joseph Fish, of Stonington, the original of which is preserved by the Hon. Gurdon Trumbull, of Hartford. See Frothingham, 389.
+ Hist. of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
211
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
[1775.]
ened to kill him instantly if he did not go back. Rather than die, Callender yielded, but his men soon ran away and left him. *
The genius of Putnam now exhibited itself in all its splendor. On the right and left breastworks, at the redoubt, at the rail fence, on the summit of Bunker Hill, where the new works were going rapidly forward, at the neck, at the unguarded space between the breast work and the fence, mounted on his white horse, he seemed to be in all parts of the field at once, commanding, encouraging or threatening, as the exigencies of the moment seemed to demand. As the reinforcements arrived in parties of two or three hundred, he was ready to receive them and assign them places.
Colonel Little soon came across the neck with his troops. Putnam ordered Captain Norris's company to the rail fence on the right of the redoubt, Captain Perkins's company to the open space deserted by Gridley and Callender, and the rest of them to fall into the main line behind the rail fence where Stark and Knowlton were posted. t
Colonel Brewer, Colonel Nixon, who had been rangers in the French war, Colonel Woodbridge and Major Moore, soon after brought each about three hundred men into the field, who were ordered to their appropriate places as soon as they came.}
The British columns were now formed with their field train in the centre, ready to march up the hill. Just then Captain Ford, a veteran officer who had distinguished him- self in the battle of Lexington, made his appearance with his company. He was marching down from the summit of Bunker Hill, when Putnam met him joyfully, for he knew what sturdy material he was made of, and pointing to Cal- lender's deserted cannon, ordered him with his men to draw them to the line. Ford asked to be excused on the ground that his soldiers did not know how to manage field-pieces. Regardless of the remonstrance, Putnam repeated the
* Siege of Boston, p. 138 ; Callender's account in the Boston Sentinel, 1818. + Swett's History. # Frothingham.
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
order, and the gallant Captain submitted. Putnam accom- panied them, and saw the guns placed in the line, at the rail fence, before he lost sight of them.
He was now joined by General Warren. The following dialogue not only shows the noble disinterestedness of both, but the estimate that each had of the other .*
Putnam. "I'm sorry to see you here, General Warren ; I wish you had left the day to us, as I advised you. From appearances we shall have a sharp time of it ; but since you are here, I'll receive your orders with pleasure."
Warren. "I came only as a volunteer. I know nothing of your dispositions and will not interfere with them. Tell me where I can be most useful."
Putnam. (Pointing toward the redoubt,) "You will be covered there."
Warren. "Don't think I come here to seek a place of safety ; but tell me where the onset will be most furious !"
Putnam. (Again pointing to the redoubt,) "That is the enemy's object ; Prescott is there, and will do his duty, and if it can be defended the day is ours ; but from long experi- ence of the character of the enemy, I think they will ultimately succeed and drive us from the works ; though from the mode of attack they have chosen, we shall be able to do them infinite injury, and we must be prepared for a brave and orderly retreat when we can maintain our ground no longer."
Here the conference ended. Warren fell in with Putnam's suggestion and repaired to the redoubt. When we remem- ber how similar was this piece of advice to that which Put- nam had seventeen years before given to the graceful and accomplished Lord Howe, the brother of the British chief who was now in the field against him, and when we look in either case at the melancholy sequel, we see in him, in middle life, as well as in old age, the same manly courage and the
* This interview also appears to throw much light on the question, " Who commanded at Bunker Hill?" As Warren was a major-general, and Putnam only a brigadier-general, the latter would naturally offer to give up the command to an officer of higher rank.
213
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
[1775.]
same magnanimous desire to save others at the expense of his own life.
The British field-pieces now opened furiously on the redoubt, and their columns advanced slowly and steadily, making a halt at regular intervals to await the heavy movements of the artillery. Tall, elegant, and dressed as became his rank, General Howe advanced two hundred yards in front of the columns, to reconnoitre the American lines.
At that time, Putnam was on Bunker Hill, superintending the works. He instantly left this position, ordered the drums to beat to arms, and hastened to the line. It was the first time that the tune of Yankee Doodle ever led Americans to battle.
Lord Howe led the British right wing, consisting of the fifth regiment, one of grenadiers, and one of light infantry, toward the rail fence, while at the same time, a few compa- nies of light infantry moved along the shore of the Mystic, designing to turn the American left .*
General Pigot led the left wing directly against the redoubt and breastwork. It was composed of the fifty-second regi- ment, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-fifth, the forty-seventh, three companies of grenadiers, three of light infantry, and the marines. As they moved forward, the sound of the cannon suddenly ceased. General Howe sent to inquire the cause, and was told that the cannon balls sent over were too large for the pieces ; but that they had plenty of grape-shot. He commanded them to keep up the firing with grape.
The British lines soon appeared in full view, and some of the American marksmen now began to get ready to fire upon them. Putnam rode through the American line and gave strict injunctions that not a gun should be fired until the enemy had arrived within eight rods of the fence, nor even then, until the order was distinctly given. He then addressed the troops nearly in the following words :
" Powder is scarce and must not be wasted. Don't fire at the enemy until you can see the whites of their eyes :- and
* Swett's Hist., p. 33.
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
then fire low. Take aim at their waistbands. You are all marksmen, and can kill a squirrel at a hundred yards. Reserve your fire and the enemy are all destroyed. Aim at the handsome coats-pick off the commanders."*
The orders of the general were repeated along the whole line by Pomeroy, Stark, and the other veteran officers, and by Prescott and the officers who were with him in the redoubt .* As there was no experienced gunner in the line, Putnam now dismounted and assisted in managing the field-pieces. The two companies of artillery had only twelve cartridges each, and it was necessary to see that every one took effect. Put- nam aimed the cannon himself, and had the satisfaction to see that they did fatal execution. A single case of canister shot cut a line entirely through the British ranks. With admirable discipline they closed up their columns and coolly marched on.
When the British right wing had arrived within about one hundred yards of the line, and were engaged in throwing down a fence that impeded their advance, a few sharp-shooters, unable to resist the temptation, fired upon them. Putnam instantly rode to the spot where the firing took place, and and with his sword drawn, threatened to cut down the first man who should dare to fire again without orders. This pre- mature discharge of muskets had the good effect to draw out the enemy's fire, who kept moving on and firing until they had arrived within about eight rods of the American line. The order, so impatiently waited for, was now given, and was obeyed with a faithfulness and precision that bore testimony never to be forgotten, of the skill and coolness of the provin- cial marksmen. Nearly the entire front rank was swept away at the first volley, and there has seldom been in the annals of war such destruction among officers. The same orders were executed with the same fatal effect at the redoubt. As the clouds of smoke rolled away from the hill- side, the ground occupied by either wing of the British army presented a frightful spectacle. The dead lay in heaps,
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