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 21
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 21
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 21
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Up to this time there appears to have been hesitancy in commencing intrenchments on the hills around Boston, but works were now prosecuted with great vigor and success.
General Putnam, on the night of the battle, took post on Prospect Hill, and commenced throwing up intrenchments. " I found him," his son says, " on the morning of the 18th of June, about ten o'clock, on Prospect Hill, dashing about among the workmen throwing up intrenchments, and often placing a rod with his own hands.' He wore the same clothes he had on when I left him on the 16th, and said he had neither put them off nor washed himself since, and we might
1 Ms. Memoirs by Daniel. Putnam, for the use of which I am indebted to Col. Swett.
211
WINTER HILL, CAMBRIDGE, AND ROXBURY WORKS.
well believe him, for the aspect of all here bore evidence that he spoke the truth." One half of eight of the Massachusetts regiments were ordered (June 20) to be drafted daily, to relieve the troops at work here. The regiments of Colonels Brewer, Nixon, Mansfield, Gerrish, Woodbridge, Scammans, Little, and Gardner, were ordered (23d) to encamp on, or near this hill; and the officers were directed not to leave their posts without the permission of the general.' Nearly four thousand troops were here on the 30th of June. It has two eminences, both of which were strongly fortified and connected by a rampart and fosse. The works were soon considered (letter, July 3) almost impregnable. The regiments above named, for the most part, continued here until the new arrangement (July 22) of the army was made. This fine hill commanded an extensive prospect, and both the British and American lines were in full view from it. It is called on some of the maps Mount Pisgah.
Winter Hill was also occupied on the night of the battle, where the New Hampshire troops stopped and began to throw up defences. Until this time, the only force posted here was a guard consisting of a subaltern, two sergeants, and twenty men. The New Hampshire forces, reinforced by Colonel Poor's regiment, continued here. The latter regiment, owing to a want of tents, was obliged to quarter in Medford. General Folsom arrived June 20, and took the command of them. The works were vigorously carried on. The fort on this hill is said to have been larger, and the intrenchments to have been more numerous, than those of any of the other positions of the army. The New Hampshire troops, joined, perhaps, by a regiment from Rhode Island, continued to defend this hill, until after the arrival of Washington.
At Cambridge the works commenced near the colleges, and ran towards Charles River. Here, however, as has been stated, works were thrown up before the battle of Bunker Hill. It continued to be the head quarters of the army during the siege.
On the Roxbury side works were also vigorously carried on
1 Fenno's and Ward's Orderly Books.
18%
212
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
under the direction of General Thomas. Samuel Gray, July 12, thus describes them : "On this side, we have a fort upon the hill, westward of the meeting-house; an intrenchment at Dudley House, including the garden, and extended to the hill east of the meeting-house. A small breastwork across the main street, and another on Dorchester road, near the bury- ing-ground. One on each side of the road through the lands and meadows, a little south of the George tavern. Across the road are trees, the top toward the town of Boston, sharpened, and well pointed, to prevent the progress of the light horse. A redoubt near Pierpont's, or Williams' Mill, and another at Brookline, the lower end of Sewall's Farm, to obstruct their landing; and another breastwork at Dorchester." On the 24th of June heavy cannon were planted at the works on the hill above Roxbury Workhouse, and on the 1st of July shot were thrown from them into Boston.
In preparing these works, there was a great call for engi- neers. The veteran Colonel Gridley acted as chief, and was aided by his son. Lieutenant-colonel Rufus Putnam, Captain Josiah Waters, Captain Baldwin of Brookfield, Captain Henry Knox, afterward General Knox, were actively and efficiently employed.1
An irregular warfare was kept up from the 17th of June until the 3d of July, when Washington took the command. Shot and shells were at intervals discharged from Boston, and the American camp was several times alarmed with the report that the British were making a sally. A company of minute-men, before the 19th of April, had been embodied among the Stockbridge tribe of Indians, and this company 2
1 Heath's Memoirs.
2 The Provincial Congress authorized this enlistment of minute-men. A letter of July 9, says : " Yesterday afternoon some barges were sounding the river of Cambridge, (Charles,) near its mouth, but were soon obliged to row off, by our Indians, (fifty in number,) who are encamped near that place."
The British complained, and with reason, of this mode of warfare. Lieut. Carter writes, July 2, 1775 : " Never had the British army so ungenerous an enemy to oppose ; they send their riflemen, (five or six at a time,) who conceal themselves behind trees, &c., till an opportunity presents itself of taking a shot at our advanced sentries; which done, they immediately retreat."
213
IRREGULAR WARFARE.
repaired to the camp. On the 21st of June, two of the Indi- ans, probably of this company, killed four of the regulars with their bows and arrows, and plundered them.1 On the next day the British fired from Boston.
The camp, on the 24th, was in alarm at the prospect of the regulars coming out. At noon the enemy commenced a heavy cannonade from Boston Neck, and threw shells into Roxbury. But through the alertness of the men, the town was saved, and no damage was done. "Such was the courage of our soldiers," a letter states, "that they would go and take up a burning carcass or bomb, and take out the fuse." ? Two Americans, attempting to set Brown's barn on fire, were killed. The next day, also, an attempt was made, without success, to burn the buildings on Boston Neck, when a firing took place between the parties. This day the Indians killed more of the British guard.
On the 26th there was a skirmish at Boston Neck. A party of the British, about day-break, advanced and fired on the American sentinels, near the George tavern. The picket guard turned out, and after sharp firing the British retreated. Two Indians went down near Bunker Hill, and killed a sen- try. On the 30th cannon were fired from Roxbury into Boston, which was returned. A twenty-four pounder, from the same place, (July 1,) struck on the British parade-ground, and occasioned some confusion.
On the 2d of July, (Sunday,) in the morning, the British ' commenced a brisk cannonade from the lines on Boston Neck, and threw shells into Roxbury. A carcass set fire to the house of Mr. Williams, which was consumed. But the dar- ing activity of the troops, working in the face of a constant and heavy fire from the enemy, prevented the flames from spreading.
In the mean time, the second General Congress, which assembled at Philadelphia on the 10th of May, had unani-
1 John Kettell's Diary. This commences May 17, and continues to Sept. 31, 1775. He was subsequently an influential citizen of Charlestown - its postmaster and town clerk.
2 Ms. Letters of Col. Miller, of Rhode Island, for which, and other favors, I am indebted to S. G. Drake, Esq.
214
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
mously resolved to put the country into a state of defence, had adopted, on the motion of John Adams, the army besieg- ing Boston, and had voted to raise ten companies of rifle- men in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. This was the origin of the far-famed continental army. Four major-gener- als were appointed; namely, Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Phillip Schuyler, and Israel Putnam; and eight brigadier- generals; namely, Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, and Nathaniel Greene. An adju- tant-general - Horatio Gates - was also appointed, with the rank of brigadier. On the 15th of June, Colonel George Washington was chosen commander-in-chief. A long contro- versy arose in relation to some of these appointments, and especially because Putnam was advanced over Spencer, and Pomeroy over Thomas. General Spencer left the army with- out visiting Washington, or making known his intention, and General Thomas consented to remain only after the urgent solicitations of his friends. At length these difficulties were, in a great measure, removed, by Spencer's consenting to return, and to take rank after Putnam, and Pomeroy's declin- ing to serve.
On the 21st of June General Washington set out from Phila- delphia to join the army. He was everywhere received on his route with the respect due to his station. At New York he heard of the battle of Bunker Hill, and this increased his anxiety to reach the camp. A committee of the Massachu -. setts Provincial Congress met him at Springfield. He reached Cambridge on the 2d of July, about two o'clock, escorted by a cavalcade of citizens and a troop of light horse. On the 3d he assumed the command of the army.
When General Washington reached Watertown, the Pro- vincial Congress, in session there, honored him with a con- gratulatory address. "While we applaud," they said, "that attention to the public good manifested in your appointment, we equally admire that disinterested virtue and distinguished patriotism, which alone could call you from those enjoyments of domestic life, which a sublime and manly taste, joined with a most affluent fortune, can afford, to hazard your life, and to
1
-
215
ADDRESS TO WASHINGTON.
endure the fatigues of war, in defence of the rights of man- kind, and the good of your country." After complimenting him on the despatch made in his journey, they remarked on the hurry with which the army was necessarily collected, and the want of discipline in the soldiers :- " The greatest part of them have not before seen service; and though naturally brave and of good understanding, yet, for want of experience in military life, have but little knowledge of divers things most essential to the preservation of health, and even of life. The youth in the army are not impressed with the absolute necessity of cleanliness in their dress and lodging, continual exercise, and strict temperance, to preserve them from diseases fre- quently prevailing in camps; especially among those who, from their childhood, have been used to a laborious life." In conclusion, Congress assured him that they would con- tribute all the aid in their power in the discharge of the duties of his exalted office. Washington replied to this address on the 4th of July. "In exchanging" he said, " the enjoyments of domestic life for the duties of my present honorable but arduous station, I only emulate the virtue and public spirit of the whole province of Massachusetts Bay, which, with a firmness and patriotism without example in modern history, has sacrificed all the comforts of social and political life, in support of the rights of mankind, and the welfare of our com- mon country. My highest ambition is, to be the happy instru- ment of vindicating those rights, and to see this devoted province again restored to peace, liberty, and safety."
A congratulatory address was also made to General Lee. It says-"We admire and respect the character of a man who, disregarding the allurements of profit and distinction his merit might procure, engages in the cause of mankind, in defence of the injured, and relief of the oppressed. From your character, from your great abilities and military experi- ence, united with those of the commander-in-chief, under the smiles of Providence, we flatter ourselves with the prospect of discipline and order, success and victory." The general made a neat reply, in which he remarked, -" Nothing can be so flattering to me as the good opinion and approbation of the delegates of a free and uncorrupt people."
1
216
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
On assuming the command 1 of the army, the commander- in-chief immediately visited its posts and reconnoitred the works of the enemy. In a letter dated July 10, he describes the lines as follows : "I found the latter (British) strongly intrenching on Bunker's Hill, about a mile from Charlestown, and advanced about half a mile from the place of the late action, with their sentries extended about one hundred and fifty yards on this side of the narrowest part of the Neck, leading from this place to Charlestown. Three floating bat- teries lie in Mystic River, near their camp, and one twenty gun ship below the ferry place, between Boston and Charles- town. They have also a battery on Copp's Hill, on the Bos- ton side, which much annoyed our troops in the late attack. Upon Roxbury Neck, they are also deeply intrenched and strongly fortified. Their advance guards, till last Saturday, occupied Brown's houses, about a mile from Roxbury meet- ing-house, and twenty rods from their lines; but, at that time, a party from General Thomas' camp surprised the guard, drove them in, and burned the houses. The bulk of their army, commanded by General Howe, lies on Bunker's Hill, and the remainder on Roxbury Neck, except the light horse, and a few men in the town of Boston.
"On our side, we have thrown up intrenchments on Win- ter and Prospect Hills, -the enemy's camp in full view, at the distance of little more than a mile. Such intermediate points as would admit a landing, I have, since my arrival, taken care to strengthen, down to Sewall's Farm, where a strong intrenchment has been thrown up. At Roxbury, Gen- eral Thonias has thirown up a strong work on the hill, about
1 From general orders, July 4, 1775 : - The Continental Congress having now taken all the troops of the several colonies which have been raised, or which may hereafter be raised, for the support and defence of the liberties of America, into their pay and service, they are now the troops of the United Provinces of North America ; and it is to be hoped that all distinctions of colonies will be laid aside, so that one and the same spirit may animate the whole, and the only contest be, who shall render, on this great and trying occasion, the most essential service to the great and common cause in which we are all engaged.
Thomas Mifflin was appointed aid-de-camp to General Washington, and Joseph Reed his secretary. Samuel Osgood was aid-de-camp to General Ward, and Samuel Griffin to General Lee.
-
THE LINE OF DEFENCES. 217
two hundred yards above the meeting-house; which, with the brokenness of the ground, and a great number of rocks, has made that pass very secure. The troops raised in New Hampshire, with a regiment from Rhode Island, occupy Winter Hill; a part of those of Connecticut, under General Putnam, are on Prospect Hill. The troops in this town are entirely of the Massachusetts; the remainder of the Rhode Island men are at Sewall's Farm. Two regiments of Con- necticut, and nine of the Massachusetts, are at Roxbury. The residue of the army, to the number of about seven hun- dred, are posted in several small towns along the coast, to prevent the depredations of the enemy."
A private letter, also of July 10, gives a more particular view of the American works : "About two hundred rods below the college we have a redoubt, which begins the line ; then about sixty rods from that another redoubt, and lines continued near an hundred rods; then at Charlestown road, on the west side of the road, at the foot of Prospect Hill, another redoubt and strong fortification; then on Prospect Hill is Putnam's Post, a very strong fortification; then be- tween that and Winter Hill a strong citadel and lines over Charlestown road to Mystic; then in Mr. Temple's pasture (Ten Hills Farm) a strong redoubt that commands to Mystic River ; so that we have a complete line of circumvallation from Charles River to Mystic River." "On Roxbury side the enemy have dug across the Neck, and let the water through ; and our people in turn have intrenched across the outer end of the Neck, and are strongly fortified there, and on the hill by the meeting-house." 1
General Washington found himself at the head of a body of armed men,2 rather than of regular ranks of soldiers, - of
1 The town of Malden requested, June 23, that measures might be taken for its defence. The Provincial Congress appointed a committee to take the subject into consideration, who directed them to make the best use of artillery they could for their defence, and to apply to the general of the army. No works of importance appear to have been erected in Malden during the siege.
2 I found a mixed multitude of people here, under very little discipline, order, or government. - Washington's letter, July 27, 1775. The orderly books of this period attest the difficulty of reducing the men to the habits of
(
218
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
men grown rugged in the calls of labor, patriotic, true to the American cause, but with -high notions of independence, and hence impatient of the necessary restraints of a life of war. Discipline was lax, disorders were frequent, there was no general organization, and, worse than all, hardly powder enough in the camp for nine cartridges to a man. Washing- ton felt the difficulty of maintaining, with such material, a line of posts so exposed against an army of well-disciplined and well-supplied veterans. He was obliged to keep every part of his extended works well guarded, while the enemy could concentrate his force on any one point, and without an hour's notice could make a formidable attack. It was under such circumstances that he was obliged to remodel his army, and summon order to arise out of confusion.
General Washington called a council of war, (July 9,) con- sisting of the major-generals and brigadiers. They estimated the force of the British at 11,500, -too high an estimate, however, - and that at least an army of 22,000 was neces- sary to act successfully against it; whereas there were only 17,000 enrolled, including the sick and the absent, and only 14,500 fit for duty. The council decided unanimously to maintain the positions that had been taken, and adopt meas- ures to strengthen the army. The commander-in-chief was directed to apply to the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts for a temporary reinforcement, and steps were taken to increase the recruits. It was agreed that, should the army be attacked by the enemy and routed, the place of rendezvous should be Wales Hill, in the rear of the Roxbury lines ; and also, that it was neither expedient to take possession of Dor- chester Point, nor to oppose the enemy if they should attempt to take possession of it.
The army was arranged in three grand divisions, each con- sisting of two brigades or twelve regiments, in which the
the soldier's life. Offenders were frequent. Intoxication, peculation, false returns, disobedience of orders, disrespect to officers, want of soldier-like conduct, were the most common offences ; and the punishment administered consisted of pecuniary fines, standing in the pillory, riding the wooden horse, drumming out of camp, whipping at the head of the regiment, or in still more public places.
1
219
ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
troops from the same colony, as far as practicable, were brought together. The right wing, under Major-general Ward, consisted of two brigades, as follows : -
1. BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS.
Regiments.
Total.
Regiments. Total.
General Ward,
453
Mass.
Colonel Cotton, 500
Mass.
Thomas.
500
66
Davidson, 493
66
Colonel Fellows,
434
66
D. Brewer, 374
Learned,
489
2. BRIGADIER-GENERAL SPENCER.
Regiments.
Total.
Conn.
Regiments. Colonel Walker,
Total.
General Spencer,
491
Mass.
Colonel Parsons, 2333
J. Reed, 495
66
Huntington,
Independents, 239
66
This division of the army was stationed at Roxbury, and its southern dependencies.
The left wing was placed under the command of Major- general Lee, who had under him Brigadier-general Greene, stationed at Prospect Hill, and General Sullivan,1 at Winter Hill. These brigades were as follows : -
1. BRIGADIER-GENERAL SULLIVAN.
Total.
Regiments. Total.
Colonel Stark,
N. Hamp.
Colonel Nixon, 412
Mass.
Poor,
1664
66
Mansfield, 470
66
66
Reed,
2. BRIGADIER-GENERAL GREENE.
Regiments.
Total.
Regiments. Total.
Colonel Varnum,
R. Isl.
Colonel Whitcomb, 523
Mass.
66 Hitchcock,
1085 66
Gardner, 417
66 J. Brewer, 301 66
Little,
472 66
The centre, stationed at Cambridge, was commanded by Major-general Putnam. These brigades were as follows : -
1. BRIGADIER-GENERAL HEATH.
Regiments.
Total.
Regiments.
Total.
General Heath,
483
Mass.
Colonel Phinney,
319
Mass.
Colonel Patterson,
409
66
Gerrish,
498
Scammans, 456
66
66 Prescott, 430 66
1 General Sullivan had succeeded General Folsom in the command of the New Hampshire forces.
19
66
Church,
66
66 Doolittle, 333 60
Regiments.
1
220
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
2. SENIOR OFFICER.
Regiments.
Total.
Conn.
Regiments. Colonel Bridge,
Total.
General Putnam,
470 Mass.
Colonel Glover,
454
Mass.
Woodbridge, 366
Frye,
406
Sargeant,
66
Of these regiments, General Heath's was ordered to take post at No.2, Colonel Patterson's at No. 3, Colonel Scammans' at No. 1 and the redoubt between that and No. 2, Colonel Prescott's at Sewall's Point, and Colonel Gerrish's to furnish the com- panies for Chelsea, Malden, and Medford.
The total of the above, as returned, without including Colonel Sargeant's regiment, which had not been completed, was 16,770. 'To this must be added the regiment of artil- lery, under Colonel Richard Gridley, of 489 men ; and Major Train's company of Rhode Island artillery, of 96 men.1
The environs of Boston presented at this period an animat- ing sight. Time had wrought out wonderful changes in their political condition. Hardly a century had elapsed since the two principal passes into the country - Boston Neck and Charlestown Neck - were fortified to save the infant Ameri- can civilization from the inroads of the savage; now the beautiful hills that surrounded them and commanded them were covered with all the pomp and pride of war, to protect the same civilization from being destroyed from without by the hand that should have protected it. The unrivalled natural scenery could not pass unobserved by a lover of nature. "The country," writes an officer in Boston, " is most
1 The following is the return of the army made pursuant to a general order of July 3, 1775 : -
Rank and file.
Colonies.
No. of regiments.
Commissioned
officers and staff.
Non-comm'sd
Present fit for
Sick present.
Sick absent.
On furlough.
On command.
Total.
Massachusetts,
789|13261
9396|
757| 450|
311| 774
11688
Connecticut, .
3
125
174
2105
212
2
14
2333
New Hampshire,
3
98
160
1201
'115
20
49
279
1664
Rhode Island,
3
107
108
1041
24
18
2
1085
35 1119 1768
13743 1108
490
376 1053
16770
officers.
duty.
221
THE AMERICAN CAMP.
beautifully tumbled about in hills and valleys, rocks and woods, interspersed with straggling villages, with here and there a spire peeping over the trees, and the country of the most charming green that delighted eye ever gazed on." 1 The beauty of nature was now intermingled, on the land, with white tents, glittering bayonets, and frowning cannon, while no small portion of the navy of England rode proudly in the harbor. Occasionally the scene was enlivened by a peaceful parade or a hostile skirmish. These sights were no less novel than interesting ; and thousands flocked to the neigh- borhood, either to greet their friends, or to witness the exciting scenes.
Among others, Rev. William Emerson has furnished a graphic description of the camp, after the arrival of Wash- ington. "There is great overturning in the camp, as to order and regularity. New lords, new laws. The Generals Wash- ington and Lee are upon the lines every day. New orders from his excellency are read to the respective regiments every morning after prayers. The strictest government is taking place, and great distinction is made between officers and sol- diers. Every one is made to know his place, and keep in it, or be tied up and receive thirty or forty lashes, according to his crime. Thousands are at work every day from four till eleven o'clock in the morning. It is surprising how much work has been done. The lines are extended almost from Cambridge to Mystic River, so that very soon it will be mor- ally impossible for the enemy to get between the works, except in one place, which is supposed to be left purposely unforti- fied, to entice the enemy out of their fortresses. Who would have thought, twelve months past, that all Cambridge and Charlestown would be covered over with American camps, and cut up into forts and intrenchments, and all the lands, fields, orchards, laid common, - horses and cattle feeding in the choicest mowing land, whole fields of corn eaten down to the ground, and large parks of well-regulated locusts cut down for firewood and other public uses ? This, I must say, looks a little melancholy. My quarters are at the foot of the famous Prospect Hill, where such great preparations are made
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