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 15
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 15
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 15
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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
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BUNKER HILL BATTLE.
rapidity. And now ensued one of the greatest scenes of war that can be conceived. To fill the eye, -a brilliantly ap- pointed army advancing to the attack and storming the works, supported by cooperating ships and batteries; the blaze of the burning town, coursing whole streets or curling up the spires of public edifices; the air above filled with clouds of dense black smoke, and the surrounding hills, fields, roofs and steeples, occupied by crowds of spectators : to fill the ear, -the shouts of the contending armies, the crash of the falling buildings, and the roar of the cannon, mortars and musketry : to fill the mind, -the high courage of men stak- ing not only their lives, but their reputation, on the uncertain issue of a civil war, and the intense emotions of the near and dear connections standing in their presence; and, on the other side, the reflection that a defeat of the regulars would be a final loss to British empire in America.1 And yet, in strange contrast to this terrific scene, the day was calm and clear, - nature in its beauty and repose smiling serenely upon it all, as if in token of the triumphant end of the great conflict.
The burning of the town neither intimidated the Americans nor covered the attack on their lines. The wind directed the
' Burgoyne's Letter : Hon. Daniel Webster, in N. American Review, vol. VII., p. 226. The descriptions of this terrific scene are numerous. " A complication of horror and importance beyond anything that ever came to my lot to witness." - Burgoyne. " Sure I am nothing ever has or can be more dreadfully terrible than what was to be seen or hcard at this time. The most incessant discharge of guns that ever was heard with mortal ears," &c. - Letter, June 24.
The eulogy on General Warren, already quoted, contains the following : -
" Amazing scene ! what shuddering prospects rise ! What horrors glare beneath the angry skies ! The rapid flames o'er Charlestown's height ascend, - To heaven they reach ! urged by the boisterous wind. The mournful crash of falling domes resound, And tottering spires with sparkles seek the ground. One general burst of ruin reigns o'er all ; The burning city thunders to its fall ! O'er mingled noises the vast ruin sounds, . : Spectators weep! earth from her centre groans ! Beneath prodigious'unextinguished fires, Ill-fated Charlestown welters and expires.
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SECOND RETREAT.
smoke so as to leave a full view of the approach of the British columns,1 which kept firing as they advanced. Colonels Brewer, Nixon, and Buckminster were wounded, and Major Moore was mortally wounded. In general, however, the balls of the British did but little execution, as their aim was bad, and the intrenchments protected the Americans. At length, at the prescribed distance, the fire was again given, which, in its fatal impartiality, prostrated whole ranks of officers and men. The enemy stood the shock, and continued to advance with great spirit; but the continued stream of fire that issued from the whole American line was even more destructive than before.2 General Howe, opposite the rail fence, was in the hottest of it. Two of his aids, and other officers near him, were shot down, and at times he was left almost alone.3 His officers were seen to remonstrate and to threaten, and even to prick and strike the men, to urge them on. But it was in vain. The British were compelled again4 to give way,
1 Mass. Com. Safety. 2 Prescott's Memoir.
3 Stedman, vol. 1., p. 127. General Howe was three times in the field left by himself, so numerous were the killed and wounded about him. - British officer, June 25. " They once ran and filled some of their boats, the fire was so hot." - Rivington's Gazette, Aug. 3, 1775.
4The British accounts acknowledge that their troops were twice driven back : " Twice were they stopped, and twice returned to the charge." - Stedman, vol. 1., p. 128. Again, p.127: " It required the utmost exertion in all the officers, from the generals down to the subalterns, to repair the disorder which this hot and unexpected fire produced." A British officer, June 23, says : "The king's troops gave way several times, and it required the utmost efforts of the generals to rally them." Burgoyne says: " A moment of the day was critical ; Howe's left was staggercd."
Judge Prescott writes of the American fire,. on the second assault, as fol- lows: "The discharge was simultaneous the whole length of the line, and though more destructive, as Col. Prescott thought, than on the former assault, the enemy stood the first shock, and continued to advance and fire with great spirit ; but before reaching the redoubt, the continuous, well directed fire of the Americans compelled them to give way, and they retreated a second time, in greater disorder than before. Their officers were seen remonstrating, threatening, and even pricking and striking the soldiers, to urge them on, but in vain. Colonel Prescott spoke of it as a continued stream of fire from his whole line, from the first discharge until the retreat. The ground in front of the works was covered with the dead and wounded, - some lying within a few yards."
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BUNKER HILL BATTLE.
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and they retreated even in greater disorder than before, - many running towards the boats. The ground in front of the American works was covered with the killed and the wounded.
So long a time elapsed before the British came up again, that some of the officers thought they would not renew the attack.' General Putnam was on Bunker Hill and in the rear of it, urging forward the reinforcements. Much delay occurred in marching these to the field. Indeed, great con- fusion existed at Cambridge. General Ward was not suffi- ciently supplied with staff officers to bear his orders; and some were neglected, and others were given incorrectly. Henry Knox, afterwards General Knox, aided as a volunteer during the day, and was engaged in reconnoitre service. Late in the day General Ward despatched his own regiment, Patterson's and Gardner's, to the battle-field. Col. Gardner arrived on Bunker Hill, when Putnam detained a part of his regiment to labor on the works commeneed there, while one company, under Captain Josiah Harris, took post at the rail fence. Part of a regiment, under Lieut .- col. Ward, arrived at a critical time of the battle. Other regiments, from various causes, failed to reach the lines. Major Gridley, of the artillery, inadequate to his position, with part of the battalion, marched a short distance on Cambridge road, then halted, and resolved to cover the retreat, which he thought to be inevitable. Col. Frye, fresh from the battle, urged him forward; but Gridley, appalled by the horrors of the scene, ordered his men to fire at the Glasgow and batteries from Cobble Hill. He also ordered Colonel Mansfield to support him with his regiment, who, violating his orders, obeyed. Captain Trevett, however, disobeyed his superior, led his company, with two field-pieees, to Bunker Hill, where he lost one of them, but drew the other to the rail fenee. Colonel Scammans was ordered to go where the fighting was, and went to Lechmere's Point. Here he was ordered to march to the hill, which he understood to mean Cobble Hill, whenee he sent a messenger to General Putnam to inquire whether his regiment was wanted. This delay prevented it from reaching the field in season to do any good.
1
'Joseph Pearce and others.
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THE AMERICAN REINFORCEMENTS.
A part of Gerrish's regiment, under Mighil, marched from Cambridge to Ploughed Hill, where Adjutant Christian Febi- ger, a gallant Danish soldier who had seen service, took the command, called upon the men to follow him, and reached the heights in season to render valuable service.1 Three additional Connecticut companies, at least, under Captains Chester, Clark, and Coit, arrived in time to take part in the battle; as did also Major Durkee, an old comrade of General Putnam's.2 Captain Chester marched on near the close of the engagement, while the British were coming up the third time. Three regiments were near him when he left Cambridge, which hastened forward in advance of his company; but when Chester overtook them, at Bunker Hill, there was hardly a company in any kind of order. The men had scat- tered behind rocks, hay-cocks, and apple-trees. Parties, also, were continually retreating from the field; some alleging they had left the fort with leave because they had been all night and day on fatigue without sleep or refreshment; some that they had no officers to lead them; frequently, twenty were about a wounded man, when not a quarter part could touch him to advantage; while others were going off without any excuse. Chester obliged one company, rank and file, to return to the lines.3
While such was the confusion on Bunker Hill, good order prevailed at the redoubt. Colonel Prescott remained at his post, determined in his purpose, undaunted in his bearing, inspiring his command with hope and confidence, and yet chagrined, that, in this hour of peril and glory, adequate sup- port had not reached him. He passed round the lines to encourage his men, and assured them that if the British were once more driven back they could not be rallied again. His men cheered him as they replied, "We are ready for the red coats again !" But his worst apprehensions, as to ammuni- tion, were realized, as the report was made to him that a few artillery cartridges constituted the whole stock of powder on
1 Scammans' Trial, in Essex Gazette, January, 1776; S. R. Trevett's Letter ; William Mardin's Letter ; various Ms. depositions. See, also, Swett's History, pp. 40, 41. 2 Article in Newspaper; Clark's Letter. 3 Chester's letter supplies these details.
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148
BUNKER HILL BATTLE.
hand. He ordered them to be opened, and the powder to be distributed. He charged his soldiers "not to waste a kernel of it, but to make it certain that every shot should tell." 1 He directed the few who had bayonets to be stationed at the points most likely to be scaled. They were the only prepara- tions it was in his power to make to meet his powerful antago- nist.
General Howe, exasperated at the repeated repulses of his troops, resolved to make another assault. Some of his officers remonstrated against this decision, and averred that it would be downright butchery to lead the men on again; but British honor was at stake, and other officers preferred any sacrifice rather than suffer defeat from a collection of armed rustics .? The boats were at Boston; there was no retreat ; - " Fight, conquer, or die !" was their repeated exclamation.3 A second reinforcement, of four hundred marines, under Major Small, had landed; and General Clinton, who had witnessed fromn Copp's Hill the discomfiture of the British veterans, and saw two regiments on the beach in confusion, threw himself into a boat, crossed the river, joined General Howe as a volunteer, and rendered essential aid in rallying the troops.4 The latter had lost their confident air, appeared disheartened, and manifested great reluctance to marching up a third time.5 The officers, at length, formed them for the last desperate assault. The British general had learned to respect his enemy, and adopted a wiser mode of attack. He ordered the men to lay aside their knapsacks, to move forward in column, to reserve their fire, to rely on the bayonet, to direct their main attack on the redoubt, and to push the artillery forward to a position that would enable it to rake the breastwork. The gallant execution of these orders reversed the fortunes of the day.6
1 Judge Prescott's Memoir. 2 Gordon, vol. I., p. 365. 3 Webb's Letter. 4 We should have been forced to retire if General Clinton had not come up with a reinforcement of five or six hundred men. - Conduct of War, p. 14. Clinton, from Copp's Hill, saw on the beach two regiments in seeming . embarrassment which way to march. - Burgoyne's Letter. 5 Committee of Safety Account ; Prescott's Memoir.
6 Stedman ; Winslow ; Swett ; Prescott. A letter dated June 20, 1775,
149
THE THIRD ASSAULT.
General Howe, whose fine figure and gallant bearing were observed at the American lines,1 led the grenadiers and light- infantry in front of the breastwork, while Generals Clinton and Pigot led the extreme left of the troops to scale the redoubt .? A demonstration only was made against the rail fence. A party of Americans occupied a few houses and barns that had escaped the conflagration on the acclivity of Breed's Hill, and feebly annoyed the advancing columns.3 They, in return, only discharged a few scattering guns as they marched forward.4 On their right the artillery soon gained its appointed station, enfiladed the line of the breastwork, drove its defenders into the redoubt for protection, and did much execution within it by sending their balls through the passage-way.5 All this did not escape the keen and anxious eye of Prescott. When he saw the new dispositions of his antagonist, the artillery wheeling into its murderous position, and the columns withholding their fire, he well understood his intention to concentrate his whole force on the redoubt, and believed that it must inevitably be carried. He thought, how- ever, that duty, honor, and the interest of the country, required that it should be defended to the last extremity, although at a certain sacrifice of many lives. In this trying moment, he continued to give his orders coolly. Most of his men had remaining only one round of ammunition, and few more than three rounds, and he directed them to reserve their fire until the British were within twenty yards. At this distance a deadly volley was poured upon the advancing columns, which made them waver for an instant, but they sprang forward without returning it.6 The American fire soon slackened for want of means, while the columns of Clinton and Pigot reached a position on the southern and eastern sides of the redoubt, where they were protected by its walls. It was now attacked on three sides at once. Prescott ordered those who
says : " In one of the attacks one of our people imprudently spoke aloud that their powder was all gone, which being heard by some of the regular offi- cers, they encouraged their men to march up to the intrenchments with fixed bayonets."
1 Prescott's Memoir. 2 Page's Plan. 3 Bernier's Plan, and Swett. 4 Prescott's Memoir. 5 Committee of Safety Account. 6 Prescott's Memoir.
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BUNKER HILL BATTLE.
had no bayonets to retire to the back part of it, and fire on the enemy as they showed themselves on the parapet. A soldier of noble bearing mounted the southern side, and had barely shouted, " The day is ours!" when he was shot down, and the whole front rank shared his fate.1 But the defenders had spent their ammunition, - another cannon cartridge furnishing the powder for the last muskets that were fired; and its sub- stitute, stones, revealed their weakness, and filled the enemy with hope. The redoubt was soon successfully scaled. Gen- eral Pigot, by the aid of a tree, mounted a corner of it, and was closely followed by his men, when one side of it literally bristled with bayonets. The conflict was now carried on hand to hand. Many stood and received wounds with swords and bayonets. But the British continued to enter, and were advancing towards the Americans, when Colonel Pres- cott gave the order to retreat.2
When the Americans left the redoubt, the dust arising from the dry, loose dirt was so great that the outlet was hardly visible.3 Some ran over the top, and others hewed their way through the enemy's ranks. Prescott, among the last to leave, was surrounded by the British, who made passes at him with the bayonet, which he skilfully parried with his sword. " He did not run, but stepped long, with his sword up,"4 escaping unharmed, though his banyan and waistcoat were pierced in several places.5 The retiring troops passed between two
1 Letter, June 22, 1775. A newspaper of 1775 states that young Rich- ardson, of the Royal Irish, was the first to mount the parapet. In Clark's Narrative it is stated that the remains of a company of the 63d regiment of grenadiers were the first that succeeded in entering the redoubt. After Cap- tain Horsford had been wounded, and Lieutenant Dalrymple had been killed, a sergeant took the command, made a speech to the few men left, saying, " We must either conquer or die," and entered the works. General Gage recommended the brave sergeant for promotion. - 2d Edition, p. 33.
2 Mass. Committee of Safety ; Judge Prescott's Memoir. 3 Rivington's Gazette. 4 Joseph Pearce.
" Judge Prescott writes : " The British had entered the redoubt, and were advancing, when Colonel Prescott ordered a retreat. He was among the last ; and before leaving it, was surrounded by the enemy, who had entered, and had several passes with the bayonet made at his body, which he parried with his sword, - of the use of which he had some knowledge." He wore a banyan during the battle. In a note, Judge Prescott writes : " My late
151
RETREAT OF THE AMERICANS.
divisions of the British, one of which had turned the north- eastern end of the breastwork, and the other had come round the angle of the redoubt; but they were too much exhausted to use the bayonet effectually, and the combatants, for fifteen or twenty rods from the redoubt, were so mingled together that firing would have destroyed friend and foe.1 The Brit- ish, with cheers, took possession of the works, but immediately formed, and delivered a destructive fire upon the retreating troops. Warren, at this period, was killed, and left on the field ; Gridley was wounded; Bridge was again wounded ; and the loss of the Americans was greater than at any previ- ous period of the action.2 Colonel Gardner, leading on a part of his regiment, was descending Bunker Hill, when he received his death wound. Still his men, under Major Jackson, pressed forward, and with Cushing's, Smith's, and Washburn's com- panies, of Ward's regiment, and Febiger's party, of Gerrish's regiment, poured between Breed's and Bunker Hill a well- directed fire upon the enemy, and gallantly covered the retreat.3
In the mean time the Americans at the rail fence, under Stark, Reed, and Knowlton, reinforced by Clark's, Coit's, and Chester's " Connecticut companies, Captain Harris' company, of Gardner's regiment, Lieutenant-colonel Ward, and a few troops, maintained their ground with great firmness and intre- pidity, and successfully resisted every attempt to turn their flank. This line, indeed, was nobly defended. The force here did a great service, for it saved the main body, who were retreating in disorder from the redoubt, from being cut off by
friend, Doctor O. Prescott, states the fact. He says that soon after the battle he was at his uncle, Colonel Prescott's house, in Pepperell, and that he shew him his banyan and waistcoat, that had several holes pierced through, and rents made in several places in them, which he told him had been made by British bayonets on Bunker Hill. I also recollect the same thing. Holes were perforated in several places in both banyan and waistcoat."
1 Gov. Brooks. 2 Brooks ; E. Bancroft ; Rivington's Gazette. 3 E. Ban- croft ; Swett; and Mss.
4 " We joined our army on the right of the centre, just by a poor stone fence, two or three feet high and very thin, so that the bullets came through." - Chester's Letter.
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BUNKER HILL BATTLE.
the enemy.' When it was perceived at the rail fence that the force under Colonel Prescott had left the hill, these brave men " gave ground, but with more regularity than could have been expected of troops who had been no longer under discipline, and many of whom never before saw an engagement." ? The whole body of Americans were now in full retreat, the greater part over the top of Bunker Hill.
The brow of Bunker Hill was a place of great slaughter.3 General Putnam here rode to the rear of the retreating troops, and regardless of the balls flying about him, with his sword drawn, and still undaunted in his bearing, urged them to renew the fight in the unfinished works. "Make a stand here," he exclaimed ; "we can stop them yet !" "In God's name, form, and give them one shot more !"4 It was here that he stood by an artillery piece until the enemy's bayonets were almost upon him. The veteran Pomeroy, too, with his shattered musket in his hand, and his face to the foe, endeav- ored to rally the men. It was not possible, however, to check the retreat. Captain Trevett and a few of his men, with great difficulty and great gallantry, drew off the only field- piece that was saved of the six that were in the action. Colonel Scammans, with part of his regiment, and Captain Foster's artillery company, on their way to the field of battle, reached the top of Bunker Hill, but immediately retreated. The whole body retired over the Neck, amidst the shot from the enemy's ships and batteries, and were met by additional troops on their way to the heights. Among them Major Brooks, with two remaining companies of Bridge's regiment. One piece of cannon at the Neck opened on the enemy, and covered the retreat.5
The British troops, about five o'clock, with a parade of tri- umph, took possession of the same hill that had served them for a retreat on the memorable nineteenth of April. General Howe was here advised by General Clinton to follow up his
1 The Committee of Safety Account. Gordon, vol. I., p. 366. Heath says this line " was nobly defended."
2 Committee of Safety Account. 3 Gov. Brooks says " the principal place of slaughter." 4 Among those who state this are Elihu Wyman, Anderson Minor, and Colonel Wade. 5 Swett, pp. 47, 48.
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153
PRESCOTT AT CAMBRIDGE.
success by an immediate attack on Cambridge.1 But the reception he had met made the British commander cautious, if not timid; and he only fired two field-pieces upon the Americans, who retreated to Winter Hill, Prospect Hill, and Cambridge. Similar apprehensions were entertained on both sides respecting a renewal of the attack : the Americans at Winter and Prospect Hills lay on their arms, while the Brit- ish, reinforced by additional troops from Boston, threw up during the night a line of breastwork on the northern side of Bunker Hill. Both sides, however, felt indisposed to renew the action. The loss of the peninsula damped the ardor of the Americans, and the loss of men depressed the spirit of the British.3
Colonel Prescott, indignant at the absence of support when victory was within his grasp,' repaired to head quarters, reported the issue of the battle, already too well known, and received the thanks of the commander-in-chief. He found General Ward under great apprehensions lest the enemy, encouraged by success, should advance on Cambridge, where he had neither disciplined troops nor an adequate supply of ammunition to receive him. Colonel Prescott, however. assured him that the confidence of the British would not be increased by the result of the battle ; and he offered to retake the hill that night, or perish in the attempt, if three regiments of fifteen hundred men, well equipped with ammunition and bayonets, were put under his commaud. General Ward wisely decided that the condition of his army would not jus- tify so bold a measure.5 Nor was it needed to fill the measure of Prescott's fame. "He had not yet done enough to satisfy himself, though he had done enough to satisfy his country. He had not, indeed, secured final victory, but he had secured a glorious immortality." 6
1 Conduct of the War. 2 Brooks. 3 Gordon.
4 Judge Prescott writes : " Colonel Prescott always thought he could have maintained his post with the handful of men under his command, exhausted as they were by fatigue and hunger, if they had been supplied with sufficient ammunition, and with bayonets. In their last attack the British wavered under the first fire of the Americans, and if it could have been continued, he felt confident they would have been repulsed, and would never have rallied again." 5 Prescott's Memoir. 6 Colonel Swett's History, p. 49.
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154
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
CHAPTER VI.
Character of the Bunker Hill Battle. The Question of Command. Prescott. Putnam. Warren. Pomeroy.
No engagement of the Revolution possesses an interest so deep and peculiar, or produced consequences so important, as the battle of Bunker Hill; and no other engagement is involved in so much obscurity, perplexity, and controversy. It is remarkable on many accounts ;- in being the first great battle of the contest; in the astonishing resistance made by inexperienced militia against veteran troops; in the affecting character of its prominent incidents; in the sublimity of its spectacle ; and in its influence on the politics of the day, and the fortunes of the war. It proved the quality of the Ameri- can soldier, drew definitely the lines of party, and established the fact of open war between the colonies and the mother country. It was a victory, with all the moral effect of victory, under the name of a defeat. And yet, at first, it was regarded with disappointment, and even with indignation; and con- temporary accounts of it, whether private or official, are rather in the tone of apology, or of censure, than of exulta- tion. The enterprise, on the whole, was pronounced rash in the conception and discreditable in the execution; and a severe scrutiny was instituted into the conduct of those who were charged with having contributed by their backwardness to the result. No one, for years, came forward to claim the honor of having directed it; no notice was taken of its return- ing anniversary ; and no narrative did justice to the regiments that were engaged, or to the officers who were in command. Passing events are seldom accurately estimated. The bravery, however, of those who fought it was so resolute, and their self-devotion was so lofty, as at once to elicit, from all quar- ters, the most glowing commendation, and to become the
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