USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 12
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
1 Some of these were prisoners of war, taken on the 19th of April. See the list, p. 81.
113
GAGE'S PROCLAMATION.
they had received from their captors; the privates, who were all wounded men, expressed in the strongest terms their grateful sense of the tenderness which had been shown them in their miserable situation,-some of them could only do it by their tears. It would have been to the honor of the Brit- ish arms, if the prisoners taken from us could with justice have made the same acknowledgment."
On the 12th of June General Gage issued his memorable proclamation-arrogant in its tone, and grossly insulting to the people. It commenced in the following strain : " Whereas the infatuated multitudes, who have long suffered themselves to be conducted by certain well known incendiaries and trai- tors, in a fatal progression of crimes against the constitutional authority of the state, have at length proceeded to avowed rebellion, and the good effects which were expected to arise from the patience and lenity of the king's government have been often frustrated, and are now rendered hopeless, by the influence of the same evil counsels, it only remains for those who are intrusted with the supreme rule, as well for the pun- ishment of the guilty as the protection of the well-affected, to prove that they do not bear the sword in vain." It declared martial law ; pronounced those in arms and their abettors "to be rebels and traitors," and offered pardon to such as should lay down their arms or " stand distinct and separate from the parricides of the constitution,"-" excepting only from the benefit of such pardon Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose offences are of too flagitious a nature to admit of any other consideration than that of condign punishment." This document only served to exasperate the people. The Massachusetts Congress prepared a counter proclamation, which was not, however, issued. This paper war was stopped by the important operations of the field.1
The rumors that the British troops intended to make a sally
1 The indignation which this proclamation excited is well shown in one of Mrs. Adams' letters. She writes, June 15, 1775, to her husband, John Adams : " Gage's Proclamation you will receive by this conveyance. All the records of time cannot produce a blacker page. Satan, when driven from the regions of bliss, exhibited not more malice. Surely the father of lies is superseded. Yet we think it the best proclamation he could have issued."
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114
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
out of Boston were not without foundation. General Gage was advised to occupy Charlestown Heights and Dorchester Heights, - both of them military positions of the greatest importance ; and he postponed offensive operations only until he should receive the expected reinforcements. At length they had mostly arrived ; and also the Generals Howe, Clin- ton, and Burgoyne.1 His force, when concentrated, would amount to ten thousand men. It was in high spirits, in a high state of discipline,2 well provided with officers, and por- tions of it were inured to hard service. It continued to enter- tain a low opinion of its antagonists. Its commanders would hardly allow that they were in a state of siege by so ill- appointed a force as the raw militia that had gathered in their neighborhood. General Gage, however, but gave vent to wounded pride, when, in his proclamation - June 12 - he said that "the rebels" added "insult to outrage," as "with a preposterous parade of military arrangement, they affected to hold the army besieged." Hence they determined to enlarge their quarters, and no doubt intended to penetrate into the
1 These generals arrived in the Cerberus, May 25. The following appeared in the newspapers just before the battle of Bunker Hill : - When the three generals, lately arrived, were going into Boston, they met a packet coming out, bound to this place, (Newport,) when, we hear, General Burgoyne asked the skipper of the packet -" What news there was?" And being told that Boston was surrounded by 10,000 country people, asked - " How many regulars there were in Boston ? " and being answered about 5000, cried out, with astonishment, " What ! ten thousand peasants keep five thousand king's troops shut up ! Well, let us get in, and we'll soon find elbow- room." Hence this phrase, " Elbow-room," was much used all through the revolution. General Burgoyne is designated by Elbow-room in the satires of the time. It is said that he loved a joke, and used to relate, that after his Canada reverses, while a prisoner of war, he was received with great courtesy by the Boston people, as he stepped from the Charlestown ferry- boat ; but he was really annoyed when an old lady, perched on a shed above the crowd, cried out at the top of a slirill voice : " Make way, make way - the general 's coming ! Give him elbow-room ! "
2 A British general order, on the 14th of June, after minute directions as to drilling and firing, directs that non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates, shall " have their hair cut uniformly close in the front," leaving as much as " will appear the most becoming and smart, and to wear it uniformly clubbed behind ; and the commanding officer expects to see the men always exceedingly well and smoothly powdered." - Waller's Orderly Book.
115
REPORT ON FORTIFICATIONS.
country. The letters of the officers continued to be as boast- ful and as confident as ever: They regarded the idea that such a body of British veterans could be successfully resisted, to be as preposterous as the idea was that they were really besieged. They expected to be able to conquer their rustic enemies as easily as, at home, they could scatter a mob. Even the experience of the nineteenth of April was lost upon them. They expected to see the same minute-men, who fought so bravely from behind stone walls, run like sheep in the open field.
Reports of the designs of the British commander found their way to the American camp, and measures were planned to counteract them. The committee of safety and the council of war appointed a joint committee to reconnoitre, especially, the heights of Charlestown. Their report, May 12, recom- mended the construction of a breastwork near the Red House, near the road leading to the McLean Asylum; another oppo- site, on the side of Prospect Hill ; a redoubt on the top of the hill where the guard-house stood, Winter Hill, to be manned with three or four nine-pounders; and a strong redoubt on Bunker Hill, provided with cannon, to annoy the enemy either going out by land or by water. "When these are finished," the committee say, " we apprehend the country will be safe from all sallies of the enemies in that quarter."1 This report was referred to the council of war.
The council of war accepted the report so far as to author-
1 Journals of Provincial Congress, p. 543. This report was signed by Benjamin Church, chairman of the sub-committee from the committee of safety, and William Henshaw, chairman of a committee from the council of war. Colonel Henshaw, in a letter written to Governor Brooks, (in 1818,) gives the following relation : - "General Ward, the fore part of May, requested Colonel Gridley, Mr. Richard Devens, one of the committee of safety in Charlestown, and self, to view the heights from the camp in Charles- town. We did so, and made a written report as follows, viz : 1. To build a fort on Prospect Hill. 2. To proceed to Bunker Hill and fortify it. 3. To Breed's Hill and do the same." - Worcester Magazine, vol. II., p. 126. Colonel Henshaw, however, most probably refers to the written report in the text. He was not correct in his recollection. It was not Breed's Hill that he recommended, - but Bunker Hill, Winter Hill, and Prospect Hill. There was no guard-house at this time on Breed's Hill.
10*
116
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
ize the construction of a part of these works. But on the most important measure, that of occupying Bunker Hill, there was much difference of opinion. General Putnani, Colonel Prescott, and other veteran officers, were strongly in favor of it, and chiefly to draw the enemy out of Boston on ground where he might be met on equal terms. They urged that the army wished to be employed, and that the country was grow- ing dissatisfied with its inactivity.1 They felt great confidence in the militia. "The Americans," Putnam said, " were not afraid of their heads, though very much afraid of their legs ; if you cover these, they will fight forever."? Generals Ward and Warren were among those who opposed it, and chiefly because the army was not in a condition, as it respected can- non and powder, to maintain so exposed a post; and because it might bring on a general engagement, which it was neither politic nor safe to risk.3 It was determined to take possession of Bunker Hill, and also of Dorchester Heights, but not until the army should be better organized, more abundantly sup- plied with powder, and better able to defend posts so exposed.4.
The contemplated operations of General Gage, however, brought matters to a crisis. He fixed upon the night of June 1S, to take possession of Dorchester Heights. Authentic advice of this was communicated -June 13 - to the Ameri- can commanders. The committee of safety, on the same day, ordered the general to procure an immediate return of the state and equipments of the several regiments. On the 15th, it resolved to recommend to the Provincial Congress to pro- vide for an immediate augmentation of the army, and to order that the militia of the colony hold themselves ready to march on the shortest notice. Also, that it issue a general recom- mendation to the people to go to meeting armed, on the Lord's day, in order to prevent being thrown into confusion. The committee of safety then passed, on the same day, the follow- ing resolve : -
Whereas, it appears of importance to the safety of this colony, that possession of the hill called Bunker's Hill, in Charlestown, be securely kept and defended; and also, some
1 Ms. Memoir, by Daniel Putnam. 2 Gov. Brooks. 3 Daniel Putnam. 4 Gray's Ms. Letter, July 12, 1775.
117
POSITION OF THE AMERICAN ARMY.
one hill or hills on Dorchester Neck be likewise secured : therefore, resolved, unanimously, that it be recommended to the council of war, that the above mentioned Bunker's Hill be maintained, by sufficient forces being posted there ; and as the particular situation of Dorchester Neck is unknown to this committee, they desire that the council of war take and pur- sue such steps, respecting the same, as to them shall appear to be for the security of this colony.
The committee then appointed Colonel Palmer and Captain White to join with a committee from the council of war, and proceed to the Roxbury camp for consultation. Also to com- municate the above resolve to the council. To secure secrecy, this important resolve was not recorded until the nineteenth of June.
At this time but comparatively small progress had been made in building fortifications. Breastworks had been thrown up in Cambridge, but no works had been commenced on Pros- pect Hill, or on Winter Hill. A breastwork had been also thrown up on the Cambridge road, near the base of Prospect Hill. The army was posted nearly in the following manner. The right wing, under General Thomas, was at Roxbury, and consisted of about four thousand Massachusetts troops, the Rhode Island forces, under General Greene, at Jamaica Plains, and the greater part of General Spencer's regiment of Con- necticut troops. General Thomas had three or four artillery companies with field-pieces, and a few heavy cannon. Gen- eral Ward's head quarters were at Cambridge, where the centre division of the army was stationed. It consisted of fifteen Massachusetts regiments; the battalion of artillery, hardly organized, under Colonel Gridley; and General Put- nam's regiment, with other Connecticut troops. They were quartered in the colleges, in the church, and in tents. Most of the Connecticut troops were at Inman's Farm; part of Little's regiment was at the tavern in West Cambridge ; Pat- terson's regiment was at the breastwork, near Prospect Hill ; and a large guard was at Lechmere's Point. There were in Cambridge, it is stated, (probably incorrectly,) but four com- panies of artillery with field-pieces. Of the left wing of the army, three companies of Gerrish's regiment were at
C
118
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
Chelsea ; Stark's regiment was at Medford ; and Reed's regi- ment was at Charlestown Neck, with sentinels reaching to Penny Ferry (Malden Bridge) and Bunker Hill.1
The peninsula of Charlestown is situated opposite to the north part of Boston, and is separated from it by Charles River. It is about a mile in length from north to south, and
' The return nearest in date to the battle, that I have been able to find, of the troops at Cambridge, is the following, dated June 9, and entitled, " Return of the Army at Cambridge."
Regiments. Privates.
Regiments.
Privates.
Whitcomb,
470
Frye, ..
493
Brewer,
318
Scammon, .
396
Nixon, .
224
Prescott 456
Little,
400
Gerrish,
421
Mansfield,
345
Woodbridge, 242
Gridley, (artillery,) 370
Ward,
449
Bridge,
315
Gardner, 425
Doolittle,
308
Patterson, . 422
6063
Drummers, &c.,
1581
7644
A Return of Colonel Gridley's battalion, dated June 16, gives but an imperfect view of it. The captains and the number of men were : Edward Crafts, 44 ; Joseph Chadwick, 24; Edward Burbeck, 25; Thomas Wait Foster, 43 ; Thomas Pierce, 47; Samuel Gridley, 49 ; John Popkin, 49 ; Samuel R. Trevett, 37 ; John Wiley, 52 ; John Callender, 47. A large portion of their arms are returned as unfit for service. The cannon are not named.
The regiments stationed at Roxbury were those of Thomas, Learned, Fel- lows, Cotton, Walker, Read, Danielson, Brewer, Robinson - 93 companies, 3992 men.
Colonel Swett, in his history of the battle of Bunker Hill, mentions another regiment, under Colonel Sergeant, of New Hampshire. This officer took out beating orders, on the condition, that if he succeeded in raising a reg- iment, and the New Hampshire colony would not accept of it, that it should be established in the Massachusetts service. On the 9th of June he had but four companies at head quarters, but had a few more men enlisted in New Hampshire. A committee recommended that these companies should be dis- charged from the service of Massachusetts. Some of the companies enlisted by Colonel Sergeant appear in the rolls of Stark's and Reed's regiments. I do not find his name among the returns of the army until after the 17th of June, when he had the command of a Massachusetts regiment. It appears from his own letter, see Chapter VI., that he was on duty on the 17th of June.
119
DESCRIPTION OF CHARLESTOWN.
its greatest breadth, next to Boston, is about half a mile, whence it gradually becomes narrower until it makes an isth- mus, called the Neck, connecting it with the main land. The Mystic River, about half a mile wide, is on the east side ; and on the west side is Charles River, which here forms a large bay, - a part of which, by a dam stretching in the direction of Cobble Hill, is a mill-pond. In 1775 the Neck, an artificial causeway, was so low as to be frequently overflowed by the tides. The communication with Boston was by a ferry, where Charles River Bridge is, and with Malden by another, called Penny Ferry, where Malden Bridge is. Near the Neck, on the main land, there was a large green, known as The Common. Two roads ran by it, - one in a westerly direc- tion, as now, by Cobble Hill, (McLean Asylum.) Prospect Hill, Inman's Woods, to Cambridge Common ; the other in a northerly direction, by Ploughed Hill, (Mount Benedict,) Winter Hill, to Medford, - the direct road to West Cambridge not having been laid out in 1775. Bunker Hill begins at the isthmus, and rises gradually for about three hundred yards, forming a round, smooth hill, sloping on two sides towards the water, and connected by a ridge of ground on the south with the heights now known as Breed's Hill. This was a well known public place, - the name " Bunker Hill " being found in the town records, and in deeds, from an early period. Not so with " Breed's Hill," for it is not named in any description of streets previous to 1775, and appears to have been called after the owners of the pastures into which it was divided, rather than by the common name of Breed's Hill. Thus, Monu- ment-square was called Russell's Pasture ; Breed's Pasture lay further south ; Green's Pasture was at the head of Green- street.1 The easterly and westerly sides of this height were
1 This hill is called Green's Hill in a British description of the town in 1775. It has been often remarked that Breed's Hill has been robbed of the glory that justly belongs to it. It should be remembered, however, that the rail fence was at the base of Bunker Hill, and if not the great post of the day, here a large part of the battle was fought. Besides, the name Breed's Hill will not do near so well for patriotic purposes. Thus, in the " Decla- ration of Independence," a poem, the author writes : -
Dun clouds of smoke ! avaunt ! - Mount Breed, all hail ! There glory circled patriot Warren's head.
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120
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
steep ; on the east side, at its base, were brick-kilns, clay-pits, and much slonghy land; on the west side, at the base, was the most settled part of the town. Moulton's Point, a name coeval with the settlement of the town, constituted the south- east corner of the peninsula. A part of this tract formed what is called, in all the accounts of the battle, "Morton's Hill." Bunker Hill was one hundred and ten feet high, Breed's Hill sixty-two feet, and Morton's Hill thirty-five feet. The principal street of the peninsula was Main-street, which extended from the Neck to the ferry. A highway from six- teen feet to thirty feet wide ran over Bunker Hill to Moulton's Point, and one connecting with it wound round Breed's Hill. The easterly portions of these hills were used chiefly for hay ground and pasturing; the westerly portions contained fine orchards and gardens.
1
CONCORD MONUMENT.
Karrow Part
1866€
Nmirow Pays
Broods Helt
Monltou's Point.
A VIEW OF CHARLES TOWN, AND THE BACK GROUND, AS FAR AS TILE NARROW PASS. Taken from the Beacon Hill.
121
PRESCOTT'S COMMAND.
CHAPTER IV.
Breed's Hill Fortified. Cannonade of the British. The Landing at Charles- town.
Ox Friday, the sixteenth of June, the commanders of the army, in accordance with the recommendation of the commit- tee of safety, took measures to fortify Bunker Hill.1 Orders were issued for Prescott's, Frye's, and Bridge's regiments, and a fatigue party of two hundred Connecticut troops, to parade at six o'clock in the evening, with all the intrenching tools in the Cambridge camp. They were also ordered to furnish themselves with packs and blankets, and with provisions for twenty-four hours. Also, Captain Samuel Gridley's com- pany of artillery, of forty-nine men and two field-pieces, was
1 The narrative of the Bunker Hill battle, in the text, is the result of as critical a collation of the authorities as I am able to make. A chronological notice of the principal of them will be found in the Appendix. All of them have been consulted. Great caution is necessary in using the material which controversy on this subject has elicited. It is but just to remark, however, that many of the depositions of the soldiers harmonize remarkably with each other, and with contemporary material.
I am much indebted to Colonel Samuel Swett, who permitted me to take copies of his manuscripts. The authorities cited as Gov. Brooks, Joseph Pearce, and Ebenezer Bancroft, are statements chiefly taken by Colonel Swett, whose high sense of honor is a guaranty of their fidelity. His patriotic labors saved many facts from oblivion.
A memoir of the battle, prepared by the late Judge William Prescott, the son of Colonel Prescott, and in his own hand-writing, is often quoted. The high character of the author, and his rare opportunity for obtaining informa- tion, unite to render this an invaluable authority. I am indebted to President Jared Sparks for this manuscript, and other material. Col. Prescott's account of the action, also an important authority, will be found in the appendix.
The testimony on some points is perplexing and conflicting ; and though I have endeavored to frame the narrative without partiality or prejudice, yet I submit it with great diffidence; and will only add, that I feel incapable of intentionally disparaging the services of any of the patriot band who bore a part in this great work.
.
V
122
BUNKER HILL BATTLE.
ordered to parade. The Connecticut men, draughted from several companies, were put under the gallant Thomas Knowl- ton, a captain in General Putnam's regiment.1
The detachment was placed under the command of Colonel William Prescott, of Pepperell, who had orders in writing, from General Ward, to proceed that evening to Bunker Hill, build fortifications to be planned by Col. Richard Gridley, the chief engineer, and defend them until he should be relieved, - the order not to be communicated until the detachment had passed Charlestown Neck .? The regiments and fatigue party ordered to parade would have constituted a force of at least fourteen hundred; but only three hundred of Prescott's regiment, a part of Bridge's, and a part of Frye's under Lieut .- col. Bricket, the artillery, and the two hundred Connecticut troops, were ordered to march.3 Hence the number may be fairly estimated at twelve hundred.4 It was understood that reinforcements and refreshments should be sent to Colonel Prescott on the following morning.5
This detachment paraded on Cambridge Common at the time appointed; and after a fervent and impressive prayer by President Langdon, of Harvard College, it commenced, about nine o'clock, its memorable march for Charlestown. Colonel Prescott was at its head, arrayed in a simple and appropriate uniform, with a blue coat and a three-cornered hat.6 Two sergeants, carrying dark lanterns, were a few paces in front of him, and the intrenching tools followed in the rear. Col. Gridley accompanied the troops. They were enjoined to maintain the strictest silence, and were not aware of the object of the expedition until they halted at Charlestown Neck. Here Major Brooks joined them; and, probably, General Put-
1 The committee of safety account says: "Orders were issued that a detachment of one thousand men should that evening march," &c. Fenno's Orderly Book, June 16, says: " Frye's, Bridge's, and William Prescott's regiments to parade this evening, at six o'clock, with all the intrenching tools in this encampment." Chester's letter says 200 Connecticut men were called for. - Letter July 22.
2 Judge Prescott's Memoir ; Gordon, vol. I., p. 362; Martin's Relation. 3 Prescott's Letter. 4 This was the estimate of the Mass. Provincial Con- gress. 5 Brooks ; Swett. 6 Ellis' Oration ; Brooks; Prescott's Memoir.
123
CONSULTATION OF OFFICERS.
nam1 and another general. Here Captain Nutting, with his company and ten of the Connecticut troops, was ordered to proceed to the lower part of the town as a guard .? The main body then marched over Bunker Hill, and again halted for some time. Here Colonel Prescott called the field officers around him, and communicated his orders.3 A long consulta- tion took place in relation to the place to be fortified. The veteran Colonel Gridley, and two generals, one of whom was General Putnam, took part in it. The order was explicit as to Bunker Hill, and yet a position nearer Boston, now known as Breed's Hill, seemed better adapted to the objects of the expedition, and better suited the daring spirit of the officers. It was contended, however, that works ought not to be com- menced at this place until Bunker Hill had been fortified, in order to cover, in case of necessity, a retreat. The moments were precious, and the engineer strongly urged the importance of a speedy decision. On the pressing importunity of one of the generals, it was concluded to proceed to Breed's Hill.'
1 Judge Prescott states that General Putnam did not head the detachment from Cambridge to Bunker Hill, nor march with it. Some of the soldiers state that he rode up at the Neck.
2 Abel Parker ; Brooks ; Cleaveland. 3 Brooks says the troops halted at the foot of Breed's Hill.
"Colonel Prescott had determined never to be taken alive. A few months before the battle, while he commanded a regiment of minute-men, his brother- in-law, Colonel Willard, was at his house ; and endeavoring to dissuade him from the active part he was taking against the king's government, among other things suggested, that if he should be found in arms against it, his life and estate would be forfeited for treason. He replied : ' I have made up my mind on that subject. I think it probable I may be found in arms, but I will never be taken alive. The Tories shall never have the satisfaction of seeing me hanged.' He went on to the heights with that resolution."-Judge Prescott's Memoir.
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