USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. I > Part 20
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On the afternoon of the 13th, the day after the recommendation to fortify Bunker Hill, the Amer- icans made a threatening demonstration. At the head of from two to three thousand men, drawn from the camps at Cambridge, General Putnam marched into Charlestown, over Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill, and through the town, to the public square. After parading some time, and shouting their defiance to the frigate Somerset, which lay
1 George Lord Harris, the conqueror of Seringapatam.
anchored in the ferry-way, the Americans returned to their camps without committing any hostile act or receiving the least molestation from the enemy.
The impunity with which this reconnoissance was made doubtless strengthened the belief that very little opposition would be offered to a perma- nent occupation of the peninsula and heights of Charlestown. The enemy's frigates might easily have inflicted great loss on the Americans while crossing and recrossing the neck, but they had remained silent ; and this hesitation, which really proceeded from contempt, might unjustly be at- tributed to fear. Still it would seem that such a demonstration should have opened the British general's eyes to the importance of Bunker Hill, however foolhardy an attempt to possess it by the Americans must appear to the most unskilled sol- dier in his army. He, however, clung to the delusion that he was, through the fleet, in virtual possession of Charlestown.
Very little change in the situation occurred during the last weeks of May and the first fort- night in June. Several affairs of no great conse- quence, except as they might raise the spirits and increase the confidence of the besiegers, took place. On the night of the 18th of May a serious con- flagration broke out in Boston, destroying the barracks of the 65th and 47th regiments. The 65th lost their arms, clothing, and regimental property ; the 47th, their clothing. Detachments from the different corps were sent to extinguish the flames, which they at length succeeded in doing.
Several attempts by the garrison or fleet to remove the live stock or hay from the harbor islands met with determined resistance from the Americans. The Committee of Safety directed the removal of live stock to prevent its falling into the enemy's hands. An affair took place at Grape Island, near Weymouth, on the 21st of May. On the 27th an American detachment went to Nod- dle's Island (East Boston) and began to drive off the stock. The British admiral immediately landed some marines on the island, and sent an armed schooner around it to intercept the retreat of the Americans to Hog Island and the main- land. The Americans killed or drove to Hog Island all the stock on Noddle's Island, and burnt a barn and farm-house before retreating under a heavy fire from the marines, several armed boats, and the schooner. During the evening the Amer-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
icans were reinforced, and under the command of General Putnam kept up a brisk fire upon the schooner and Noddle's Island, throughout the night. Towards morning the schooner grounded, and was abandoned by her crew. The Americans then boarded her, took out her armament, and burnt her to the water's edge. In this affair the Americans had two light field-pieces, and were encouraged by the presence and example of War- ren. The loss on both sides was trifling, but the Americans were greatly elated by the destruction of the enemy's vessel.
On the 30th the Americans again went to Nod- dle's Island, and burnt the Williams mansion, under the fire of the shipping. The next day five hundred sheep and thirty cattle were removed from Pettick's Island by a party of provincials under Colonel Robinson ; and on the night of June 2d Major Greaton carried off eight hundred sheep and lambs, with a number of cattle, from Deer Island.
Some few changes in the disposition of the troops in Boston were made by the general. The grenadiers and light-infantry were again consoli- dated in a separate corps, and encamped on Beacon Hill. Part of the 43d was moved from Copp's Hill to Barton's Point, where the rest of the regi- ment was posted. The 5th, 38th, and 52d went into camp near the Common.
On the 6th of June an exchange of those pris- oners captured on the 19th of April was effected at Charlestown. The Americans were represented by General Putnam and Dr. Warren. The British prisoners were guarded to the place of exchange by Captain Chester's company of Connecticut militia, one of the few in the army which was uniformed. Major Moncrief was deputed by General Gage to receive the officers and men be- longing to his army, and to deliver up the Ameri- can prisoners, nine in number. After the usual formalities were concluded the British officers were hospitably entertained at Dr. Foster's residence, after which they went on board their vessel and the Americans returned to Cambridge.
General Gage, on the 12th of June, issued an ex- traordinary proclamation declaring martial law es- tablished throughout the province. Full and entire pardon was offered to all such as would lay down their arms and return to their allegiance, except Samuel Adams and John Hancock. All who re- fused to avail themselves of the proffered amnesty would be considered rebels and traitors. The Pro-
vincial Congress immediately published a counter- proclamation, in which free pardon was offered to those inhabitants who had fled to Boston for refuge, and to all other public offenders against the rights and liberties of the province, except General Gage, Admiral Graves, and such Mandamus Councillors as had not tendered their resignations.
While circumstances thus contributed to aggra- vate the military exigency, the pressing need of some settled form of civil government was keenly felt. General obedience was yielded to the resolutions and orders of the Provincial Congress and of its committees, but these were almost wholly directed to the emergency which had called this extraordi- nary body into being. It had no proper legisla- tive functions, although it had assumed to direct the affairs of the province, and had exercised the highest prerogatives of government in levying troops and in issuing money. In her distress Massachusetts looked for support to her sister colonies, whose cause she was now bravely uphold- ing. Those of New England had nobly come to her aid with their patriotic soldiers ; but she felt the inadequacy of half-measures in the contest begun on her soil, and anxiously looked to the Continental Congress for the bold and energetic action the crisis demanded.
Finding themselves, as regards government, in a state of nature, the people of Massachusetts, through their congress, made a formal application to the Continental Congress for advice in assuming and exercising the powers of civil government, the want of which was every day causing such embar- rassment. They also suggested the propriety of that congress taking the control of the army they had brought into the field.
The idea of a new nation was slowly germinating. On the 7th of June a resolve of the congress, directed to the people of the Twelve United Colonies, an- nounced that it was struggling into the light. On the 9th that august body, sitting at Philadelphia, re- plied to the application of Massachusetts, She was advised to elect a new representative assembly which should, when convened, choose a council ; the two bodies jointly to conduct the government " until a governor of his majesty's appointment will consent to govern the colony according to its charter." Ten companies of expert riflemen were ordered to be raised in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, to join the army at Boston, On the 15th of June George Washington was chosen commander-in- chief of the continental forces. On the 17th,
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PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE.
Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Israel Putnam were chosen major-generals, and Horatio Gates adjutant-general. This action re- lieved Massachusetts from the heavy load of respon-
sibility she had so bravely borne since the battle of Lexington. But before it could be known in New England her soldiers had again met the enemy in battle.
XIX.
PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE.
GENERAL ARTEMAS WARD received, on the 20th of May, a new commission as commander-in-chief of the Massachusetts forces.1 As such, his orders were obeyed and respected throughout the whole army. The generals of the troops of other colonies had been sent, not to command, but to reinforce, the army of Massachusetts; and in concert with the generals of that army laid out the work to be done by the united forces. Of course the obedi- ence thus yielded was voluntary ; but so long as it was loyally yielded, as it now indisputably was, it is futile to discuss the question whether General Ward lawfully commanded Generals Spencer, Put- nam, and Greene, or Colonels Stark and Reed; or whether the penalties of disobedience might or might not have followed their refusal to co-operate with the Massachusetts forces. No such refusal had occurred. On the contrary, the troops and officers of the other colonies had taken positions on the lines designated by the commanding general, who had now been given a suitable rank for properly exercising the chief command.
The Provincial Congress had, on the 13th of June, chosen John Whitcomb of Lancaster, and on the 14th, Joseph Warren of Boston, major- generals. Neither had received his commission. The former had served with distinction in the old wars, but advanced age forbade the idea of active service in the field. It was his wish to retire as soon as the army should be thoroughly organized, and this desire he communicated to congress on the 16th. Warren, it is believed, aspired to a command in the army he had more than any other helped not only to create, but to endow with mar- tial spirit and unify with a purpose. Without experience in the profession of arms, he was, never-
1 The commissions issned at this period are in the name of the "Colony of the Massachusetts Bay," and not of the province.
theless, an apt pupil in a school where men learn rapidly, -that of actual warfare. Only thirty- four years old when chosen major-general, he had already filled the more important stations of pres- ident of congress and chairman of the Committee of Safety with signal ability and intelligence, with unshaken courage and resolution. What the Rev- olution owed to him, and what it was felt it might still owe, were fully recognized in thus constituting him its head ; but Nature had meant him to be a leader of men, and now, since the sword must decide, he burned to distinguish himself in the field of battle. Henceforth this was for him the post of honor.
But the young citizen-general was too modest to assume command of veteran officers who had grown old and gray in war, until he had vindicated his title to do so by deeds. True, he had shown rare intrepidity at Lexington, and he had fought as a volunteer under the gallant Putnam in the affair of Noddle's Island ; still it is evident that he entertained a well-founded distrust of his ability to conduct a battle, and this determination to win his spurs before wearing them does him the greater honor.
Congress determined, on the 15th, to complete the organization of the army by appointing four brigadiers, two adjutant-generals, and two quarter- master-generals ; but action had not been taken on the 17th.
Notwithstanding the herculean efforts she was making, Massachusetts had not yet succeeded in raising the 13,000 men her congress had voted. The contingents of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut might swell the whole number to fourteen or fifteen thousand officers and men; but the want of proper returns renders it impracticable to fix the total force under arms with precision.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
It is, however, known that the twenty-four regi- ments commissioned by Massachusetts, up to the 16th of June, with two others (Heath's and Robin- son's) reported nearly full, but not then commis- sioned, did not have the requisite 13,000 on their muster-rolls. The troops of the other colonies numbered about five thousand men.1 But want of men was not the greatest obstacle in the way of organizing this army. Indeed, a committee of congress reported against increasing the number beyond the 13,000 originally called for. It was impossible to arm those regiments already in commission. Probably one third of the Massa- chusetts troops were without muskets on the 16th of June; and it was impossible to obtain them in the province. Hence some battalions were fully, some only partially, provided. Those without arms were, of course, not available for battle. There was also great want of tents to shelter the reeruits constantly arriving in eamp, many of whom, find- ing no provision made to cover them, went home. Rev. Mr. Gordon, historian of the Revolution, and at this time chaplain of the Provincial Congress, prints a return of the army present at Cambridge on the 10th of June, giving a total of 7,644 officers and men ; but he hastens to warn us of the untrust- worthy character of any and all returns made at this time. Some officers who desired commands borrowed men from regiments already mustered ; others made false returns of the number enlisted ; nor eould the vigilance of the mustering-officers prevent these disreputable praetiees.
This badly armned, poorly officered, undisciplined soldiery, distributed along a line nine miles in extent, but mainly concentrated in two partially intrenched camps, was, as we have said, in daily expectation of being attacked by the well-armed, well-disciplined, well-officered army in Boston. When the actual fighting condition of the provin- eials is fairly considered, their superiority of num- bers does not outweigh the inferiority in every other important constituent of an army, except courage. Moreover, the traditions of the royal army had educated it to believe that one British soldier ought not to hesitate to attack two of any other nation on earth.
The following regiments constituted the Massa-
1 The New Hampshire troops were at Medford and Charles- town, the Rhode Island at Jamaica Plain, the Connecticut at Cam- bridge and Roxbury. Colonels Stark and Reed commanded the two New Hampshire regiments, General Greene the Rhode Isl- and brigade, Generals Spencer and Putnam the Connecticut forees.
chusetts army at this date ; namely, Whiteomb's, Ward's (General), Glover's, Frye's, Learned's, Nixon's, Fellows's, Bridge's, Thomas's (General), Bayley's, Cotton's, Walker's, Prescott's, Scam- mon's, Danielson's, Patterson's, Gardner's, Mans- field's, Gerrish's, Heatlı's (General), Robinson's, David Brewer's, Woodbridge's, Jonathan Brew- er's, Little's, Gerrish's, Doolittle's. Glover and the two Brewers were commissioned on the 16th of June. Woodbridge did not receive a commission until after the Battle of Bunker Hill. Glover's regiment was at Marblehead ; four companies each of Thomas's and Cotton's were at Plymouth, the rest at Roxbury ; part of Jonathan Brewer's at Brookline ; David Brewer's at Roxbury, Dorches- ter, and Watertown ; Learned, Fellows, Walker, Danielson, Robinson, and Heath were at Rox- bury ; Patterson was at the works near Leelmere's Point ; the others were in Cambridge. Besides infantry, the provincials had an incomplete regi- ment of artillery commanded by Colonel Richard Gridley, chief-engineer of the army.
By this time the reinforcements for the royal army in Boston were nearly all arrived. The whole force is estimated to number, at this period, ten thousand men, but it probably did not much exceed eight thousand effective soldiers. The army was displeased with its commanding general, but had the fullest confidence in the recently arrived major-generals. General Gage resolved to act. In concert with the other generals, he decided first to seize and oeeupy Dorchester Heights. This, it was believed, might be effected with but little loss. The attempt was fixed for the night of the 18th. Howe was to land a foree at one point on the shore, Clinton at another, while Burgoyne aided the movement by a vigorous can- nonade of Thomas and the approach to Dorchester, from the battery on Boston Neek.
Again the Americans had timely information of what was in agitation. On the 12th of June Colo- nel Reed's New Hampshire regiment was ordered to Charlestown Neck.1 On the 13th the Committee of Safety directed the army to be in readiness to repel the attack, which was considered imminent. On the 14th an injunction of secrecy was placed on the members. On the 15th the committee
1 " (General Orders.)
" Headquarters, June 12, 1775.
" That Colonel Reed quarter his regiment in the houses on Charlestown Neek, and keep all necessary guards between his barracks and the ferry, and on Bunker Hill."
FORCE's Amer. Archives.
ON
LIC
LIBRARY
Israel Putnam.
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PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE.
resolved to recommend the taking possession of Bunker Hill, to be " securely kept and defended by sufficient forces." The resolution also requested the council of war to take such steps respecting Dorchester Neck as to them might seem expedient. Both recommendations passed without a dissent- ing voice, and were immediately communicated to the generals of the army. The council of war, to whom the recommendation was addressed, de- termined to carry it into immediate effect.
Accordingly, on the evening of the 16th, about one thousand Massachusetts troops, drawn from Prescott's, Bridge's, and Frye's regiments, Samuel Gridley's company of artillery, with two field- pieces, and two hundred Connecticut men, under Captain Knowlton, of Putnam's regiment, were paraded on Cambridge Common. This force was placed under the orders of Colonel Prescott, and at nine o'clock marched for Bunker Hill. The commander and nearly all of the Massachusetts troops were from Middlesex.
It will be remembered that on the day after the first recommendation to fortify Bunker Hill, Gen- eral Putnam made his reconnoissance of Charlestown at the head of all the troops in Cambridge. On the 27th of May he commanded at the capture of the British armed vessel at Chelsea, when Warren ac- companied him as a volunteer. On the 6th of June he conducted, on behalf of the whole army, the exchange of prisoners at Charlestown. Thomas, Heath, Spencer, and Greene were at Roxbury, whence, if made at all, the movement on Dorches- ter Heights must begin. Imperative reasons for- bade the withdrawal of either these generals or their troops from their present positions. The movement upon Bunker Hill proceeded wholly from the grand division of the army at Cambridge. Of . the generals here, Ward commanded in chief; Whit- comb and Warren were yet without their commis- sions ; Pomeroy and Putnam were available for duty.
General Putnam commanded the troops nearest to Charlestown, and covering Lechmere's Point. His own, and Sargent's New Hampshire regiment were at Inman's farm, with Patterson's Massachu- setts regiment half a mile beyond, on the road to Charlestown. Reed had been ordered to take a more advanced position and to patrol Charlestown. Considering that Putnam held this exposed position; that Whitcomb and Warren were not yet his supe- rior officers ; that he had been so prominently and so successfully identified with whatever the army had undertaken, it is not credible that one of the
colonels of that army should now be intrusted with operations the most important of any it had yet attempted.1 We cannot admit such a hypothesis to be probable ; since no other course, consistent with proper self-respect, would have remained for Generals Putnam and Pomeroy, but to have re- signed their commissions.
The detachment marching for Bunker Hill was accompanied by Colonel Gridley and followed by a number of carts containing intrenching tools. When it reached Charlestown Neck it was joined by General Putnam, and at about ten o'clock silently crossed the low and narrow neck without discovery. Without halting, the detachment moved cautiously on, up the slopes of Bunker Hill, and in about ten minutes stood on the summit. This eminence, the first reached after leaving the neck, was the highest on the peninsula, and of course commanded all the adjacent ground. A second eminence, called Breed's Hill, rose a short distance south of the first. The houses of Charlestown reached its lower slopes, and it was nearer Boston. On Bunker Hill the Americans would have entire command of Charlestown, effectually block the way from the peninsula into the country, and be nearer to their reinforcements. If the movement upon Charlestown was meant to be only so far aggres- sive as these objects implied, then Bunker Hill was the better position. On Breed's Hill, though the elevation was considerably less, even light guns would throw shot and shell into the north part of Boston, and, of course, set the town on fire with as much ease as the enemy's battery on Copp's Hill subsequently did Charlestown. The enemy's shipping, lying in the river between the two towns, would be compelled to move out of range, or be sunk at their anchorage. It is true that with heavy artillery the Americans would also be able to cannonade Boston and the shipping from Bunker Hill. While either was held by them, General
1 It is claimed, unfairly, we think, that hecause Prescott was ordered to Bunker Hill with the intrenching detachment and fonght at Breed's Hill the next day, he would be entitled to the chief command even when officers of higher rank came on the field with their troops and assumed command. The question for ns is not whether we would assign to Colonel Prescott higher credit than to any other officer in the field for his gallantry, but whether, in the face of the facts, and of military law and nsage, which alone must rule the decision, we can allow his title to be considered chief commander in the battle good and valid. The interested reader is referred to the arguments of Samuel Swett, of Rev. Increase Tarbox in his Life of Putnam, and of the editor in opposition, and of Hon. Richard Frothingham, Rev. George E. Ellis, and others in support of this view.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Gage could not consider himself master of Boston ; but the occupation of Breed's Hill was a defiance he could not pretend to misunderstand. It prom- ised to drive him from the town as soon as guns could be placed in position, and was therefore not only a menace, but a challenge.
The seizure by the Americans of cither of these heights must ever be regarded as audacious, and more than audacious. When it is considered that the enemy's frigates could anchor near enough to sweep Charlestown Neck with their fire; that this was the only way by which reinforcements could come, or retreat was open; that it offered no vantage-ground for protection or resistance, - it excites our wonder that so much was hazarded by the supreme military authority of the American army. Admitting that the proposed works would drive the enemy's vessels out of the river, it was leaving too much to chance not to do it before the movement was undertaken ; and this, as we have before pointed out, was entirely feasible by erect- ing batteries on Cobble Hill and Ploughed Hill.
The seizure of Charlestown Heights was, then, nothing less than an offer of battle to the British commander, with the alternative of evacuating Boston. Its possession was in no way vital to the Americans ; for, supposing the British general to have quietly occupied it, he might be blockaded on this side even more effectually than at Roxbury, so long as the heights on the mainland were held against him. Therefore, a movement which offered him no alternative except to fight or retreat was, we repeat, nothing less than a gage of battle.
Could it be believed at the American head- quarters that General Gage would quietly look on while works destined for his destruction were being built, or that he would make no effort to prevent the expulsion of his fine army from Bos- ton ? To make no further preparation than send- ing a strong fatigue-party to begin the intrench- inents admits of no other conclusion ; for it is incredible that these ten or twelve hundred men under Prescott were expected to labor through the night with the spade, and then to bear the brunt of any attempt to drive them from their intrenchments which the British general might make. The recommendation of the committee was that Bunker Hill " be securely kept and de- fended by sufficient forces posted there."
While the American detachment was drawn up on Bunker Hill a conference took place between those officers on the ground, at the end of which,
notwithstanding the order to throw it up where they then were, it was decided to begin the in- trenchiment on Breed's Hill. This being settled, Colonel Prescott immediately led his men down the hill and over the ridge between the two emi- nences, to the plateau of Breed's Hill. Guards were posted in the town; the intrenchment was marked out, and the men, laying their trusty fire- locks aside, went vigorously to work turning the first sods.
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