USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the commonwealth period. 1775-1820 v. III > Part 5
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many of them distinguished them- selves by their gallant behavior. The soldiers generally showed great spirit and resolution." It might be ob- served, however, in extenuation of the conduct of the persons referred to, that very little discipline had as yet been introduced into the camp, and that the lack of subordination which prevailed must have embarrassed even the best disposed, if it did not dis- hearten them. Yet if the charge of cowardice properly attaches to any who served on this occasion, it must rest there ; for no apology should be offered for such conduct.
39
CLOSE OF THE BATTLE.
General Ward.1 Prescott, whom nothing could subdue, re- CHAP. paired at once to head quarters, and offered to retake Bunker I.
Hill, or perish in the attempt, if three regiments of fifteen hun- dred men, well equipped with ammunition and bayonets, were placed at his disposal ; but Ward very wisely decided that the condition of his army would not justify so bold a measure.2
Thus ended the battle of Bunker Hill. The loss of the Americans, in the different engagements, was one hundred and fifteen killed, three hundred and five wounded, and thirty cap- tured - a total of four hundred and fifty men.3 The loss of the British was admitted in the official account to have been two hundred and twenty-six killed, and eight hundred and twenty-eight wounded - a total of ten hundred and fifty-four men ; but the Americans estimated their loss as high as fifteen hundred.4
1 Swett, in Life of Putnam, 254 ; Frothingham's Siege, 153.
2 Swett, in Life of Putnam, 256; Frothingham's Siege, 153.
3 Impartial Hist. of the War, 211; Stedman's Am. War, i. 127; Thacher's Jour. 30 ; Heath's Mems. 20; N. H. Hist. Coll. ii. 144-147; Gordon's Am. Rev. i. 357; Marshall's Washington, ii. 131; Sparks's Washington, iii. 38; Bradford, i. 386; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 58; Swett, in Life of Put- nam, 257; Frothingham's Siege, 192, 193.
4 Impartial Hist. of the War, 211; Stedman's Am. War, i. 127; Bissett's Hist. Eng. i. 430; Heath's Mems. 20; Thacher's Jour. 30; Essex Ga- zette for July 6 and Aug. 17, 1775 ; Gordon's Am. Rev. i. 355 ; Marshall's Washington, ii. 231; Sparks's Wash ington, iii. 36, 38; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 58; Bradford, i. 386; Swett, in Life of Putnam, 259 ; Froth- ingham's Siege, 194. The question has been raised, and discussed with some warmth, Who was the com- mander at Bunker Hill ? That Jo- seph Warren was not the commander is now generally admitted ; nor does he seem to have claimed or occupied any other position than that of a vol-
unteer. The honor, therefore, lies be- tween Prescott and Putnam. But if it is borne in mind that each colony, at this time, had an establishment of its own, and that no commander-in- chief had been appointed by the Gen- eral Congress, it will be evident that General Ward, who acted under the authority of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts alone, had no au- thority over Putnam, and, though he could advise with, could not ,direct, him. The intrenching party sent out by Ward was headed by Prescott ; and the command of that officer seems to have been principally limited to the redoubt. Putnam seems to have taken upon himself the charge of affairs without the redoubt, and was active throughout the engagement wherever his services were needed. There was, therefore, no one officer who had the sole and exclusive command ; and not only are Prescott and Putnam entitled to equal credit, - the former for his fidelity in executing the orders of his superior, and the latter for his zealous and effective cooperation, - but all who served on that day, and who made such a noble and gallant stand, should be remembered with gratitude.
1775. Jun. 17.
1
CHAPTER II.
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
CHAP. THE immediate consequence of the battle of Bunker Hill II. was to establish a state of general hostility. The Americans, 1775. though defeated, were in effect victorious ; 1 and the courage they had displayed was such as caused even Washington to declare that " the liberties of the country were safe." 2 The lack of subordination was a serious evil ; and so sensible were all of the necessity of remedying this evil, that the subject was freely discussed by the officers, and urged upon the atten- tion of the proper authorities. The position of the army was somewhat alarming. The firing from the British cannon, commenced on Saturday, had not ceased on Sunday at three in the afternoon. That night it was rumored the British would leave Boston, and march out through Roxbury. In such case, it was expected "a dreadful battle must ensue ; " and the wife of John Adams wrote, " Almighty God cover the heads of our countrymen, and be a shield to our dear friends." 3 Gage, however, had no intention of removing his quarters ; Jun. 19. and, exasperated by his reverses, he issued a proclamation requiring all the inhabitants who had arms " immediately to surrender them at the court house," threatening that " all per- sons in whose possession any firearms might hereafter be found should be deemed enemies to his majesty's govern- ment." 4 The tories, to evince their loyalty, volunteered as
Impartial Hist. of the War, 214. Comp. Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 58, and Webster's Bunker Hill Ad- dress, 21.
2 Webster's Address, in Froth-
ingham's Siege, 157, note. Letters of Mrs. Adams; N. A. Rev. for Oct., 1840, 369 ; Frothing- ham's Siege, 207.
4 Frothingham's Siege, 208. (40)
41
AMERICAN INTRENCHMENTS.
patrols ; and a company of forty-nine was established, each CHAP. night, to relieve the troops.1 II.
The campaign had now opened ; and, as it was uncertain 1775. how soon hostilities might be renewed, it behooved both par- ties to fortify their positions as speedily as possible. Accord- ingly, General Howe, who had encamped on Bunker Hill, and who was promptly supplied with additional troops, commenced Jun. 17. a breastwork on the north-western declivity of the hill, upon which, for several days, his men labored with diligence.2 The Americans were equally active ; and General Putnam, who Jun. 18. had taken possession of Prospect Hill, marked out an in- trenchment, working with his own hands, to encourage his men ; and one half of eight of the Massachusetts regiments Jun. 20 were draughted daily to assist him.3 By the last of the month Jun. 30 nearly four thousand men are said to have been concentrated here ; 4 both the eminences forming the hill were strongly for- tified, and connected by a rampart and fosse ; and the works were prosecuted with such vigor, that early in July they were July 3. " almost impregnable." 5
The New Hampshire troops, on the night of the battle, oc- cupied Winter Hill ; and, being reënforced by Poor's regiment, intrenchments were thrown up of a size and strength exceed- ing those of any other position, which were held by about two thousand men, under General Folsom, until the arrival of Washington.6 The head quarters at Cambridge were likewise strengthened ; and, from the redoubt near the college, a complete line of circumvallation extended from the Charles to the Mystic River.7 The right wing, at Roxbury, was equally cared for ;
1 Frothingham's Siege, 208.
' Sparks's Washington, iii. 17; Frothingham's Siege, 208.
3 Heath's Memoirs, 22; Sparks's Washington, iii. 17, 18; Frothing- ham's Siege, 210, 211.
4 Frothingham's Siege, 211. Mar- shall, Life of Washington, ii. 241, says Putnam had under him but 1000 men.
5 Heath's Mems. 22; Essex Ga-
zette for June 29, 1775; Frothing- ham's Siege, 211.
6 Marshall's Washington, ii. 241; Sparks's Washington, ili. 17; Froth- ingham's Siege, 211. General Fol- som arrived at the camp on Tuesday, June 20. Letter in N. H. Hist. Coll. ii. 146.
7 Heath's Memoirs, 22; Frothing- ham's Siege, 211, 217.
42
ADDITIONAL FORCES RAISED.
CHAP. and, under the direction of General Thomas, who was at the II. head of two of the Connecticut and nine of the Massachusetts 1775. regiments, - in all, between four and five thousand men, - a fort was built upon the hill about two hundred yards west- ward of the meeting house ; an intrenchment at the Dudley House extended to the hill east of the meeting house ; a breast- work was thrown up across the main street, and another on the Dorchester road near the burial ground ; and redoubts and breastworks were planted at other points.1 The first heavy Jun. 24. cannon were mounted here a week after the battle ; and, a week later, shot were thrown from them into Boston.2
The Provincial Congress having appealed to the other colonies for additional troops, reinforcements for the army poured in daily, and at least one company of Stockbridge Indians repaired to the camp for service.3 The regiments from Connecticut and Rhode Island were placed under Gen- eral Ward; the troops were all in high spirits ; and they " longed to speak again " with his majesty's forces.4 "I wish," wrote Greene, "we could sell them another hill at the same price ; " 5 and this wish was cherished by all. Fears had, in- deed, been expressed by Congress that, "as soon as the enemy should have recovered a little strength from their amazing fatigues, and their surprising losses should have been made up by the arrival of new troops, which were shortly expected, they would direct all their force to some one point, and make the utmost efforts to force the American lines, destroy their magazines, and thereby strike a general terror and amazement
1 Essex Gazette for June 29, 1775'; E. Gerry, Sept. 26, 1775, in Austin's Frothingham's Siege, 212, 217. The Life of Gerry, i. 114. Dudley House, it is said, stood on the site of the present Universalist meet- ing house.
? Heath's Memoirs, 23; Thacher's Jour. 33 ; Frothingham's Siege, 212. The works at Roxbury are said to have been planned by " the ingenuity of Knox and Waters." S. Adams to
3 Jour. Prov. Cong. 387-389 ; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 35 ; Frothing- ham's Siege, 212, 213. For a sketch of the treaty with the Penobscot tribe, see Jour. Prov. Cong. 369-371.
4 Frothingham's Siege, 209, 210.
5 Frothingham's Siege, 210.
43
ARRIVAL OF WASHINGTON.
into the hearts of the inhabitants of the whole country."1 CHAP. But, whatever apprehensions were felt on this score, few were II. intimidated ; and though an irregular warfare was kept up for 1775. more than two weeks, and shots and shells were discharged by the British upon the American camp, and alarms of sallies were raised, no serious engagement occurred ; and these prel- udes served simply to occupy the attention of the Americans, and to incite them to vigilance to prevent a surprise.2
The arrival of Washington was awaited with anxiety. The Congress, as a mark of respect to his person, ordered a com- mittee to repair to Springfield to escort him to head quarters ; and a cavalcade of citizens and a troop of light horse accom- panied him on his entry. At Watertown, he was welcomed July 2. in a congratulatory address, to which he replied with his accustomed dignity ; and, having taken up his quarters at the house of the president of the college, which had been fitted up for his reception, he entered upon his duties as commander- in-chief.3
The first care of his excellency, immediately upon his arri- val, was to visit the American posts, and, as soon as the weather permitted, reconnoitre the enemy's works. The troops subject to his command consisted of "a mixed multitude of people, under very little discipline, order, or government ; " and their supply of powder, when examined, proved so mea- gre, that there was " hardly enough in the camp for nine car- tridges to a man." The difficulty of maintaining, with such materials, a line of posts so extensive and important, would have disheartened a general of inferior abilities. But, fertile in expedients, and possessing the confidence of all his subor- dinates, Washington devoted himself earnestly to the remod- elling of his army, and in a very short time was enabled to
1 Jour. Prov. Cong. 389; Froth- ingham's Siege, 210.
2 Frothingham's Siege, 212, 213.
3 Jour. Prov. Cong. 398-400, 438, 439; Essex Gazette for July 6, 1775 ;
Gordon's Am. Rev. i. 365, 366 ; Thacher's Jour. 31; Marshall's Wash- ington, ii. 239; Sparks's Washington, iii. 14, 484-486 ; Frothingham's Siege, 214, 215.
€
44
FORCES OF THE BRITISH.
CHAP. infuse into every branch of the military service a portion of II. his own resolute spirit, so that the system of discipline and
1775. order which was established proved of infinite value to the American cause.1
The forces of the British, including seamen, probably con- sisted of from nine to ten thousand men ; 2 and as it was con- ceived that an American army of twenty-two thousand would be necessary to compete with them successfully, and but six- teen thousand had been enrolled,3 of whom but fourteen thou- July 9. sand five hundred were fit for duty, the council of war de- cided in favor of fresh levies ; and the troops already raised were arranged in three divisions, each comprising two bri- gades - the right wing, posted at Roxbury, being placed under General Ward; the left wing, towards Charlestown, under General Lee; and the centre under General Putnam, with Washington as chief, whose head quarters were at Cambridge.4
The appearance of the camp was remarkably grotesque. The lodgings of the soldiers were " as different in their form as the owners in their dress ;" and every tent was "a por- traiture of the temper and taste " of the occupants. "Some," writes one, "were made of boards, and some of sailcloth ; some partly of the one, and partly of the other. Again, others are made of stone and turf, brick or brush. Some are thrown up in a hurry ; others curiously wrought with doors and windows, done with wreaths and withes in the manner of a basket. Some are your proper tents and marquees, look-
1 Gordon's Am. Rev. i. 368; Ram- the losses then sustained.
say's Am. Rev. i. 222; Bradford, ii. 19; Sparks's Washington, iii. 17, 39; Frothingham's Siege, 218.
2 Washington, to his brother, July 27, 1775, says 12,000; the Jour. of the Prov. Cong. 389, says 10,000; and Marshall, Life of Washington, ii. 248, says 8000. The estimate in the text is probably correct, or nearly so, as there were but about 10,000 be- fore the battle of Bunker Hill, and that number was reduced 1000 by
3 Sparks's Washington, iii. 27, 39. 4 Jour. Cont. Cong. i. 162; Gor- don's Am. Rev. i. 367; Sparks's Washington, iii. 15, 19, 27, 33, 54, 488; Ramsay's Am. Rev. i. 223, 224; Bradford, ii. 17, 18; Frothingham's Siege, 219, 220. Of the 14,500 troops named in the text, 9000, it is said, belonged to Massachusetts, and the remaining 5500 were raised by the other New England colonies.
45
SCENERY AROUND BOSTON.
ing like the regular camp of the enemy. In these are the CHAP. Rhode Islanders, who are furnished with tent equipage, and II. every thing in the most exact English style." "However," 1775. he adds, "I think this great variety is rather a beauty than a blemish in the army." 1
The country around Boston has long been famed for its charming scenery ; and the amphitheatre of hills which encir- cles the peninsula affords, from a great number of points, mag- nificent views of the metropolis, and of the islands which gem the waters in front, while the more lofty eminences completely overlook the city, and command it from every quarter. The changes which have been made within the last fifty years have materially altered the aspect of the town ; and its area has been so enlarged by filling in vast tracts once covered with water, and so large a portion of its surface is now covered with buildings, that it is difficult to conceive how it must have appeared when it was a village of but a few thousand inhab- itants, in no part densely settled, and with here and there extensive openings either entirely unoccupied or improved as pastures.2 The neighboring towns have likewise changed, and, relatively, perhaps to as great an extent as the metrop- olis itself. Roxbury, Brookline, Cambridge, and Charlestown, together, contain at least three times the number of inhabit- ants that Boston did at the opening of the revolution.3 But beyond these towns the aspect of nature is less altered ; and one who views from the dome of the State House the splendid panorama spread before the eye can form some idea of the appearance of the landscape three fourths of a century ago. The same hills are there, crowned with trees. The same rocks are there, hoary with lichens. And occasionally a majestic
1 Letter of Rev. William Emerson, in Sparks's Washington, iii. 491, 492; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 65; Frothingham's Siege, 222.
2 Frothingham's Siege, 221.
3 The population of Boston, at the
opening of the revolution, was about 20,000 ; the population of the cities and towns named in the text, by the census of 1855, was not far from 60,000.
46
INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE IN JULY.
CHAP. elm or a decaying buttonwood marks the site of some old II. mansion, carefully protected from the ravages of time, and 1775. serving as a link to connect the present with the eventful past.
It must have been, to our fathers, a painful thought, that the lands which they had redeemed and improved for tillage, cov- ered with orchards, cornfields, and grass, and upon the culture of which they had expended their toil as well as their treas- ure, were to be ploughed by the cannon of the enemy, and converted for a season into a desolate waste. But, with whatever regrets they submitted to the sacrifice, not a mur- mur escaped them ; and he was accounted the best patriot who submitted most cheerfully, and yielded his property at the call of his country. Nor should the generous spirit which animated them be forgotten by their descendants ; and may they be found ready, in the hour of need, to follow the exam- ple of their illustrious sires.
An occasional cannonade from Boston and Roxbury,1 the capture of stragglers from the enemy's camp,2 and the arrange- ment of the army into its several divisions constituted the incidents of the siege in July. The vigilance of Washington was constantly exercised to strengthen his own position, con- fine the enemy closely to their quarters, and cut off the sup- plies they were daily expecting. Partly for the latter purpose, and partly as a precaution against surprise, whaleboats were provided by the legislature of Massachusetts to transport flour to the camp, and were kept on the watch to give early notice of movements by water ; 3 and express horses, ready saddled, were stationed at several posts, to bring speedy intelligence of movements by land.4 The Provincial Congress, then in ses- sion, sanctioned by the authority of the Congress at Phila-
1 Heath's Memoirs, 22; Frothing- ham's Siege, 224-227.
2 Heath's Mems. 24; Force's Am. Archives, ii. 1650; Frothingham's Siege, 225.
3 Marshall's Washington, ii. 249; Bradford, ii. 44 ; Frothingham's Siege, 223.
4 Jour. Prov. Cong. 482 ; Marshall's Washington, ii. 249.
.......
47
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LEE AND BURGOYNE.
delphia, had previously arranged for the settlement of the CHAP. government of the province by calling an assembly,1 provided II. guards for the sea coast by establishing companies in the 1775. maritime counties,2 appointed surveyors for the army,3 and ordered an account to be taken of the powder in store.4
A correspondence between Generals Lee and Burgoyne, which occurred about this time, attracted much attention ; July 8. and an interview was proposed by the latter, " to induce such explanations as might tend in their consequences to peace ; " but as it was apprehended that such an interview "might cre- ate those jealousies and suspicions so natural in a people struggling in the dearest of all causes, - that of their liberty, property, wives, children, and future generations,"- at the suggestion of the Congress, and with the approval of the officers, it was wisely declined.5
Well would it have been had all acted as wisely as Lee. But, unfortunately, one in whom great confidence had been placed, and who had formerly been active in the cause of lib- erty,6 was, at a later date, suspected of holding a treasonable Oct. correspondence with the enemy ; and, after passing the ordeal
1 Jour. Prov. Cong. 359, 454 ; Im- partial Hist. of the War, 206; Bis- sett's Hist. Eng. i. 427 ; Bradford, ii. 41. This assembly, it should be ob- served, was a distinct body from the Provincial Congress, and was, in fact, the legislature of the province.
2 Jour. Prov. Cong. 422, 423, 425, 433 ; Bradford, ii. 49. At Plymouth, a company was ordered out for the defence of that town, and of the Gur- net at the entrance of the harbor. At Weymouth, Hingham, Braintree, and Cohasset, companies were likewise kept in service for several months ; and at Marblehead, Salem, and Gloucester, a portion of the citizens, at their own request, were employed in military service. See the rolls, at the State House.
Jour. Prov. Cong. 424, 449. ون
4 Jour. Prov. Cong. 428-430. Pro- visions were likewise made for the
erection of powder mills, at the ex- pense of the province, at Stoughton and Andover ; and establishments for the manufacture of firearms and can- non were encouraged in several places. Bradford, ii. 44, 45.
Jour. Prov. Cong. 481-483; Es- 5 sex Gazette for July 13, 21, 28, and Aug. 3, 1775; Sparks's Washington, iii. 498-500 ; Niles's Principles and Acts of the Rev. 206-210; Froth- ingham's Siege, 223, 224.
6 Dr. Benjamin Church. In Dra- per's Gazette for Sept. 21, 1775, ap- peared the following notice, which probably alludes to this affair : " We hear a certain person of weight among the rebels hath offered to return to his allegiance, on condition of being pardoned and provided for ; what en- couragement he has received remains a secret."
48
INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE.
CHAP. of the General Court, before which he was summoned, he II. was sentenced by the Continental Congress, to which his case 1775. was referred, to be imprisoned in Connecticut, and remained 1 in confinement until the ensuing spring, when he was released on the ground of declining health, and afterwards obtained 1778. permission to take passage in a brigantine bound to Marti- Jan. 9. nique ; but the vessel in which he sailed was never again heard from, and he is supposed to have perished at sea.1
It would be tedious to enumerate the incidents of the siege with the minuteness of detail which the newspapers afford. The army in Boston was speedily strengthened by the arrival July 29. of troops and provisions ; 2 and, towards the last of July, a 1775. bomb battery was planted on Bunker Hill, the guard on Charlestown Neck was advanced farther into the country, and an abatis was thrown up for its protection, formed of trees felled for the purpose.3 Yet the inhabitants of the beleaguered town, and even the soldiers, owing to the absence of fresh pro- visions and the oppressive heat of the summer weather, were " very sickly and much dejected ;" and General Gage, tired of the presence of so many who acted as spies upon his move- ments, and succeeded, in spite of his vigilance, in conveying July 24. intelligence without the lines, gave orders for all who were disposed to depart by water to return their names, and they should have liberty to leave.4 The principal encouragements
1 On the affair of Church, see Trum- bull, MS. Letter Book B., 221; Thacher's Jour. 34; 1 M. H. Coll. i. 84-94 ; Force's Am. Archives; Al- mon's Remembrancer, ii. 156 ; Boston Gazette for Jan. 8, 1776; Sparks's Washington, iii. 115, 502-506; Rced's Reed, i. 123; Gordon's Am. Rev. i. 410, and ii. 303 ; Bradford, ii. 76, 77 ; Frothingham's Sicge, 258-260. It is difficult to clear the doctor of all blame in this matter; and although he personally repudiated the charge of a traitorous design, and no ex- pressions were found in his letter de- cidedly prejudicial to his country's
cause, the council were not satisfied with his defence, nor was the pure- minded Washington fully persuaded of the honesty of his intentions.
2 Heath's Mcms. 24. The Assem- bly of Connecticut voted, on the 1st of July, to raise two regiments, of 700 men cach, to augment the army, and marching orders were sent to them on the 25th.
3 Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 5, 10 ; Frothingham's Siege, 229.
4 Sparks's Washington, iii. 54; Frothingham's Siegc, 229, 237. In the Essex Gazette for Aug. 10, 1775, the number of residents of Boston is
49
PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICANS.
received by his forces, for nearly a month, consisted in the CHAP. success of a plundering expedition in the neighborhood of II. New London,1 and the capture of an American vessel laden 1775. with stores ; and " with these trophies of victory," on their arrival in Boston, " the bells were set to music - to the no small joy and comfort of the poor, half-starved tories." 2
The Americans, in the mean time, after calling upon God July 20. for assistance in their trials,3 forwarded with all diligence July 24. their works on Winter Hill,4 and performed gallant exploits in the harbor and at Roxbury.5 The rifle companies from the south had arrived - stout, hardy men, dressed in their white shirts and round hats, and skilled as marksmen ; 6 but the stock of powder in the camp was exceedingly small, and Washington pressed upon Congress the necessity of supplies.7 Nor was he without suspicion that a surprise was intended upon his camp; for detachments of the enemy rowed about the harbor daily, or paraded with their light horse on Charles- town Common, where their brilliant appearance and scarlet uniforms contrasted strongly with the homely garb and simple frocks of the continentals. Being plentifully supplied with powder, likewise, they diverted themselves with cannonading daily the American lines ; but, except when the soldiers care- lessly exposed themselves, very little damage was done, and few were killed.8
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