USA > New Hampshire > Colony, province, state, 1623-1888: history of New Hampshire > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
The whole force thus spread out to meet the British army was less than sixteen hundred men. Six pieces of artillery were in use at different times, but with little effect. The can- non cartridges were at last distributed for the rifles, and five of the guns were left on the field when retreat became inevitable.
Reference to a map will indicate the position thus outlined. It was evident that the landing could not be prevented. Suc- cessive barges landed the well-equipped troops, and they took their positions, and their dinner, under the blaze of the hot sun, as if nothing but ordinary duty was awaiting their leisure.
It was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon when the British army formed for the advance. General Howe was expected to break and envelop the American left wing, take the redoubt in the rear, and cut off retreat to Bunker Hill and the mainland. The light infantry moved closely along the Mystic. The gren- adiers advanced upon the stone fence, while the British left demonstrated toward the unprotected gap which was between the fence and the short breastwork next the redoubt. General Pigot with the extreme left wing moved directly upon the re- doubt. The British artillery had been supplied with twelve- pound shot for six-pounder guns, and, thus disabled, were ordered to use only grape. The guns were, therefore, advanced to the edge of an old brick-kiln, as the spongy ground and heavy grass did not permit ready handling of guns at the foot of the hill slope, or even just at its left. This secured a more effec- tive range of fire upon the skeleton defences of the American centre, and an eligible position for a direct fire upon the ex- posed portion of the American front, and both breastwork and redoubt.
326
HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1775
The advance of the British army was like a solemn pageant in its steady headway, and like a parade for inspection in its completeness. This army, bearing knapsacks and full cam- paign equipment, moved forward as if, by the force of its closely knit columns, it must sweep every barrier away. But right in the way was a calm, intense love of liberty. It was represented by men of the same blood and of equal daring.
A strong contrast marked the opposing Englishmen that summer afternoon. The plain men handled plain firelocks. Oxhorns held their powder, and their pockets held their bullets. Coatless, under the broiling sun, unincumbered, unadorned by plume or service medal, pale and wan after their night of toil and their day of hunger, thirst, and waiting, this live obstruc- tion calmly faced the advancing splendor.
A few hasty shots, quickly restrained, drew an innocent fire from the British front rank. The pale, stern men behind the slight defence, obedient to a strong will, answer not to the quick volley, and nothing to the audible commands of the ad- vancing columns, - waiting, still.
No painter can make the scene more clear than the recital of sober deposition, and the record left by survivors of either side. History has no contradictions to confuse the realities of that momentous tragedy.
The British left wing is near the redoubt. It has only to mount a fresh earthbank, hardly six feet high, and its clods and sands can almost be counted ; it is so near, so easy -sure.
Short, crisp, and earnest, low-toned, but felt as an electric pulse, are the words of Prescott. Warren, by his side, repeats. The words fly through the impatient lines. The eager fingers give back from the waiting trigger. " Steady, men." " Wait until you see the white of the eye." " Not a shot sooner." " Aim at the handsome coats." "Aim at the waistbands." " Pick off the commanders." "Wait for the word, every man, -steady."
Those plain men, so patient, can already count the buttons, can read the emblems on the breastplate, can recognize the officers and men whom they had seen parade on Boston
-
1775]
327
THE REVOLUTION.
Common. Features grow more distinct. The silence is awful. The men seem dead - waiting for one word. On the British right the light infantry gain equal advance just as the left wing almost touched the redoubt. Moving over more level ground, they quickly made the greater distance, and passed the line of those who marched directly up the hill. The grenadiers moved firmly upon the centre, with equal confidence, and space lessens to that which the spirit of the impending word defines. That word waits behind the centre and left wing, as it lingers at breastwork and redoubt. Sharp, clear, and deadly in tone and essence, it rings forth, - Fire !
From redoubt to river, along the whole sweep of devouring flame, the forms of men wither as in a furnace heat. The whole front goes down. For an instant the chirp of the cricket and grasshopper in the fresh-mown hay might almost be heard ; then the groans of the wounded, then the shouts of impatient yeomen who spring forth to pursue, until recalled to silence and duty. Staggering, but reviving, grand in the glory of their manhood, heroic in restored self-possession, with steady step in the face of fire, and over the bodies of the dead, the British remnant renew battle. Again, a deadly volley, and the shat- tered columns, in spite of entreaty or command, speed back to the place of landing, and the first shock of arms is over.
A lifetime, when it is past, is but as a moment. A moment, sometimes, is as a lifetime. Onset and repulse. Three hun- dred lifetimes ended in twenty minutes.
Putnam hastened to Bunker Hill to gather scattering parties in the rear, and urge coming reinforcements across the isthmus, where the fire from British frigates swept with fearful energy, but nothing could bring them in time. The men who had toiled all night, and had just proved their valor, were again to be tested.
The British reformed promptly, in the perfection of their discipline. Their artillery was pushed forward nearer the angle made by the breastwork next the redoubt, and the whole line advanced, deployed as before across the entire American front. The ships of war increased their fire across the isthmus. Charlestown had been fired, and more than four hundred
328
HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1775
houses kindled into one vast wave of smoke and flame, until a sudden breeze swept its quivering volume away and exposed to view of the watchful Americans the returning tide of battle. No scattering shots in advance this time. It is only when a space of hardly five rods is left, and a swift plunge could almost forerun the rifle flash, that the word of execution impels the bullet, and the entire front rank, from redoubt to river, is swept away. Again and again the attempt is made to rally and inspire the paralysed troops ; but the living tide flows back, even to the river.
Another twenty minutes, - hardly twenty-five, -and the death angel has gathered his sheaves of human hopes, as when the Royal George went down beneath the waters with its price- less value of human lives.
At the first repulse the thirty-eighth regiment took shelter by a stone fence, along the road which passes about the base of Breed's Hill; but at the second repulse, supported by the fifth, it reorganized just under the advanced crest of Breed's Hill for a third advance.
It was an hour of grave issues. Burgoyne, who watched the progress from Copp's Hill, says : "A moment of the day was critical."
Stedman says : " A continuous blaze of musketry, incessant and destructive."
Gordon says : "The British officers pronounced it downright butchery to lead the men afresh against those lines."
Ramsay says : "Of one company not more than five, and of another not more than fourteen, escaped."
Lossing says : " Whole platoons were lain upon the earth, like grass by the mower's scythe."
Marshall says: "The British line, wholly broken, fell back with precipitation to the landing-place."
Frothingham quotes this statement of a British officer: - "Most of our grenadiers and light infantry, the moment they presented themselves, lost three-fourths, and many nine-tentl:s, of their men. Some had only eight and nine men to a com- pany left, some only three, four, and five."
329
THE REVOLUTION.
17751
Botta says: "A shower of bullets. The field was covered with the slain."
Bancroft says : " A continuous sheet of fire."
Stark says : "The dead lay as thick as sheep in a fold."
It was indeed a strange episode in British history, in view of the British assertion of assured supremacy, whenever an issue challenged that supremacy.
Clinton and Burgoyne, watching from the redoubt on Copp's Hill, realized at once the gravity of the situation, and Clinton promptly offered his aid to rescue the army.
Four hundred additional marines and the forty-seventh regi- ment were promptly landed. This fresh force, under Clinton, was ordered to flank the redoubt, and scale its face to the extreme left. General Howe, with the grenadiers and light infantry, supported by the artillery, undertook the storming of the breastworks, bending back from the mouth of the redoubt, and so commanding the centre entrance.
General Pigot was ordered to rally the remnants of the fiftlı, thirty-eighth, forty-third, and fifty-second regiments, to connec- the two wings, and attack the redoubt in front.
A mere demonstration was ordered upon the American left while the artillery was to advance a few rods and then swing to its left, so as to sweep the breastwork for Howe's advance.
The dress parade movement of the first advance was not re- peated. A contest between equals was at hand. Victory or ruin was the alternative for those who so proudly issued from the Boston barracks at sunrise for the suppression of preten- tious rebellion. Knapsacks were thrown aside. British vet- erans stripped for fight. Not a single regiment of those engaged had passed such a fearful ordeal in its whole history as a single hour had witnessed. The power of discipline, the energy of experienced commanders, and the pressure of honored antecedents, combined to make the movement as try- ing as it was momentous.
The Americans were no less under a solemn responsibility. At the previous attack, some loaded while others fired, so that the expenditure of powder was great, almost exhaustive. The
330
HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1775
few remaining cannon cartridges were economically distributed. There was no longer a possibility of reinforcements. The fire from the shipping swept the isthmus. There were less than fifty bayonets to the entire command.
During the afternoon Ward sent his own regiment, as well as Patterson's and Gardner's, but few men reached the actual front in time to share in the last resistance. Gardner did indeed reach Bunker Hill to aid Putnam in establishing a second line on that summit, but fell in the discharge of the duty. Febiger, previously conspicuous at Quebec, and after- ward at Stony Point, gathered a portion of Gerrish's regiment, and reached the redoubt in time to share in the final struggle ; but the other regiments, without their fault, were too late.
At this time Putnam seemed to appreciate the full gravity of the crisis, and made the most of every available resource to concentrate a reserve for a second defence, but in vain.
Prescott, within the redoubt, at once recognized the method of the British advance. The wheel of the British artillery to the left after it passed the line of the redoubt secured to it an enfilading fire, which insured the reduction of the redoubt and cut off retreat. There was no panic at that hour of supreme peril. The order to reserve fire until the enemy was within twenty yards was obediently regarded, and it was not until a pressure upon three faces of the redoubt forced the last issue, that the defenders poured forth one more destructive volley. A single cannon cartridge was distributed for the final effort, and then, with clubbed guns and the nerve of desperation, the slow retreat began, contesting man to man and inch by inch. Warren fell, shot through the head, in the mouth of the fort.
The battle was not quite over, even then. Jackson rallied Gardner's men on Bunker Hill, and with three companies of Ward's regiment and Febiger's party, so covered the retreat as to save half of the garrison. The New Hampshire troops of Stark and Reed, with Colt's and Chester's companies, still held the fence line clear to the river, and covered the escape of Prescott's command until the last cartridge had been expended, and then their deliberate, well-ordered retreat bore testimony alike to their virtue and valor.
331
THE REVOLUTION.
1775]
Putnam made one final effort at Bunker Hill, but in vain, and the army retired to Prospect Hill, which Putnam had already fortified in advance.
The British did not pursue. Clinton urged upon General Howe an immediate attack upon Cambridge ; but Howe de- clined the movement. The gallant Prescott offered to retake Bunker Hill by storming if he could have three fresh regi- ments ; but it was not deemed best to waste further resources at the time.
Such, as briefly as it can be clearly outlined, was the battle of Bunker Hill.
Nearly one third of each army was left on the field.
The British loss was nineteen officers killed and seventy wounded, itself a striking evidence of the prompt response to Prescott's orders before the action began. Of rank and file, two hundred and seven were killed and seven hundred and fifty- eight were wounded. Total, ten hundred and fifty-four.
The American loss was one hundred and forty-five killed and missing, and three hundred and four wounded. Total, four hundred and forty-nine.
Such is the record of a battle which, in less than two hours, destroyed a town, laid fifteen hundred men upon the field, equalized the relations of veterans and militia, aroused three millions of people to a definite struggle for National Indepen- dence, and fairly opened the war for its accomplishment.
The hasty organization of the command is marked by one feature not often regarded, and that is the readiness with which men of various regiments enlisted in the enterprise. Washing- ton, in his official report of the casualties, thus specifies the loss : -
Colonel of Regiment.
Killed.
Wounded.
Missing.
Frye,
10
38
4
Little,
7
23
-
Brewer,
12
22
-
Gridley,
-
4
-
Stark,
15
45
-
Woodbridge,
-
5
Scammon.
-
2
332
HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1775
Colonel of Regiment.
Killed.
Wounded.
Missing.
Bridge,
17
25
-
Whitcomb,
5
8
2
Ward,
1
6
-
Gerrish',
3
5
-
Reed,
3
29
I
Prescott,
43
46
-
Doolittle,
6
9
-
Gardner,
7
-
Patterson,
I
I
Nixon,
3
-
-
1 At the opening of hostilities a large number of the citizens of New Hampshire had assembled at Cambridge. They were without organization. Many were destitute of either arms or provisions. The New Hampshire civil authorities had not yet moved. The Massachusetts government felt the necessity of providing the means of defence, and employing men for that purpose. Her rulers organized forthwith her own regiments and companies, and issued commissions to her officers.
It appears they extended their patronage beyond their own limits, as proved by the following record. "The Committee of Safety for Massachusetts, on the 26th of April, 1775, issued the commission of colonel to John Stark, with beating orders. Under this commission he enlisted 800 men from the tap of his drum. Captain James Reed of Fitzwilliam, Cheshire county, also Paul Dudley Sargent of Amherst, Hillsborough county, re- ceived commissions as colonels, which were accepted upon the condition that they should continue until New Hampshire should act."
Stark soon enlisted fourteen companies, Reed and Sargent only four each. Afterwards, New Hampshire gave commissions to Stark and Reed, -Stark's regiment to be No. I. The other commission was assigned to Colonel Enoch Poor, as belonging to that part of the State where he resided. Early in May the New Hampshire assembly voted to raise and equip two thous- and men, to be divided into three regiments of ten companies each, Poor's regiment to be second in rank, Reed's third. Colonel Sargent retired to Massachusetts, and during the siege
I Hon. George W. Nesmith.
333
THE REVOLUTION.
1775]
of Boston had command of a small regiment of Massachusetts troops. Stark had some collision with General Folsom, Hobart, and others about his rank and supplies. Yet he had early in June a large regiment of men ready for active service.
Two of his companies were ordered to be detached, and to be joined to Colonel Reed's regiment to make up his quota of ten companies,- still leaving to Stark ten companies, exceeding Reed's regiment in numbers, as will appear by the following statement. Prior to the 17th of June, 1775, Stark's regiment was stationed at Medford. Reed's regiment was located near Charlestown Neck. On the 14th day of June, the effective men fit for duty, belonging to Reed's regiment, according to Adjutant Stephen Peabody's return, amounted to four hundred and eighty-eight men. Several of the men who had enlisted had not then joined. Others were furloughed, some were sick, some were on guard. The regiment of Stark, as returned, amounted to six hundred and thirty-two men, including rank and file.
Colonel Reed returned his highest number of killed and wounded in the battle of the 17th as five killed and twenty- seven wounded. We have been able to ascertain the names of these men, with much certainty, at the expense of some labor.
Rockingham county furnished one company of 44 men to James Reed's regiment. It was commanded by Captain Heze- kiah Hutchins of Hampstead ; First Lieutenant, Amos Emer- son, Chester ; Second Lieutenant, John Marsh. This company was enlisted from Hampstead, Chester, Raymond, Atkinson, San- down, and Candia. Candia suffered the greatest loss. Parker Hills of Candia was mortally wounded and not heard from after the battle. John Varnum and Samuel Morrill, both of Candia, were severely wounded, and received afterwards invalid pensions from the United States Government, as did Nathaniel Leavitt of Hampstead, who was also then and there wounded.
Second company, 44 men. Captain, Josiah Crosby of Am- herst ; Lieutenant, Daniel Wilkins, Amherst; Ensign, Thomp- son Maxwell. This company was from Amherst, which then
334
HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1775
embraced Milford and Mont Vernon. John Cole and James Hutchinson were both mortally wounded. Hutchinson died June 24, 1775.
Third company, 46 men. Captain, Philip Thomas, of Rindge ; Lieutenant, John Hooper; Ensign, Ezekiel Rand, Rindge. This company was from Rindge and Jaffrey. There were returned three killed, viz: George Carlton, S. Adams, and Jona- than Lovejoy, of Rindge; three wounded : John Thompson of Rindge (received half pay from the State) ; B. Parker of Swan- zey, mortally wounded ; Edward Waldo of Alstead, severely.
Fourth company, 44 men. Captain Levi Spaulding, who represented Lyndeborough in 1781-82; Lieutenant, Joseph Bradford ; Ensign, Thomas Buffee. This company was chiefly from Lyndeborough, Temple, and Hudson. David Carlton and Jesse Lund were both mortally wounded, Carlton dying June 18. Lund was from Dunstable. Jacob Wellman of Lyndeborough was wounded in the shoulder while employed in fixing a flint into his gun. He afterwards was an invalid pen- sioner.
Fifth company, 59 men. Captain, Jonathan Whitcomb, Swanzey; Lieutenant, Elijah Cloyes, Fitzwilliam, who was killed in Sullivan's expedition among the Indians; Ensign, Stephen Carter. This company was from Keene, Swanzey, and Fitzwilliam. Joshua Ellis of Keene was wounded ; Josiah Barton wounded in the side, his cartridge box being shot into pieces.
Sixth company, 54 men. Captain, Jacob Hinds, Hinsdale ; Lieutenant, Isaac Stone; Ensign, Geo. Aldrich, Westmore- land. This company was from Hinsdale, Chesterfield, and Westmoreland. John Davis of Chesterfield, killed, Lem. Went- worth, wounded.
Seventh company, 52 men. Captain, Ezra Towns of New Ipswich ; Lieutenant, Josiah Brown, New Ipswich ; Ensign, John Harkness, Richmond. This company was made up from recruits from New Ipswich. Also, Captain Wm. Scott of Peterborough furnished about half of his men and served as a volunteer himself. Josiah Walton of Chesterfield was wounded,
1
335
THE REVOLUTION.
1775]
as was, also, Captain William Scott, who fought bravely and was severely wounded, made prisoner and conveyed to Boston, from thence to Halifax. He escaped after a confinement of some months, and returned home. He in 1776 commanded a company in Colonel Jackson's regiment of Massachusetts. David Scott of Peterborough was wounded.
Eighth company, 46 men. Captain, Wm. Walker, Dun- stable ; First Lieutenant, James Brown, Dunstable ; Second Lieutenant, William Roby. Enlisted from Dunstable, Merri- mack, Hudson, and Amherst,. Joseph Greeley, son of Doctor Greeley, wounded ; Paul Clogstone of Dunstable wounded, died July 15, 1775 ; Jonathan Gray died of his wounds ; Asa Cram, wounded.
Ninth company, 49 men. Captain, Benjamin Mann of Mason ; First Lieutenant, James Brewer of Marlborough : Second Lieutenant, Samuel Pettengill. This company com- posed largely from men of Mason, Wilton, Marlborough, and Temple. Joseph Blood of Mason killed ; Ebenezer Blood, jun., was mortally wounded, not afterwards heard from. Their father drew their back pay. Both sons marked killed on company rolls.
Tenth company, 48 men. Captain, John Marcey of Wal- pole ; First Lieutenant, Isaac Farewell of Charlestown ; Second Lieutenant, James Taggart of Peterborough. This company was enlisted from Walpole, Charlestown, Acworth, and Cornish. Joseph Farewell of Charlestown was killed, and J. Patten and John Melvin were mortally wounded and not afterwards heard from. Marked both killed on rolls in Adju- tant-General's office.
The biographer of the town of Charlestown says that N. Parker of Charlestown was killed at Bunker Hill, but we have not been able to find his name on the company rolls of Marcey. Probably to be found elsewhere. The aforesaid list of the killed and wounded is believed to be nearly authentic and gen- erally fortified by record testimony. The seventh volume of Dr. Bonton's State Records embraces a statement of the property lost by the men of both Reed's and Stark's regiments,
336
HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1775
as inventoried, appraised, and paid for by the State. Reed's regiment suffered most severely. The statement is, as the two regiments marched on to the hill, Reed's men deposited their packs and extra clothing, etc., in a building located near Charles- town Neck, and the building and contents were burned by a shot from the enemy's shipping, while our troops were engaged .. in the battle on the hill.
We here furnish the names of the several company officers attached to Colonel John Stark's regiment, together with many of the killed and wounded in each company, in the battle of Bunker Hill. The list is not perfect, but as accurate as we can make it from the materials at our command. We also furnish the number of enlisted men according to the rolls or returns in June, 1775. The whole number of enlisted men was 632; the number of killed, as returned by Colonel Stark, 15 men ; also, of the wounded, by Colonel Stark, 45 men. Major Andrew McClary of Epsom, was of the staff killed. We give the com- panies in order of the numbers in each :
First company, 77 men. Captain, George Reid of London- derry ; First Lieutenant, Abraham Reid of Londonderry ; Sec- ond Lieutenant, James Anderson, Londonderry. This company was enlisted from Londonderry. We have the authority of Matthew Dickey to sustain the statement that a part of Captain William Scott's company joined the Derry company, and that Randall McAllister of Peterborough was severely wounded in the shoulder while rashly standing upon the stone breastwork located in front of the men. Also, George McLeod and John Graham of Peterborough, and Martin Montgomery of London- derry, were all slightly wounded. Thomas Green, afterwards of Swanzey, was also severely wounded. The Peterborough men were enrolled by Captain W. Scott. The other part of his company were in Captain Town's company.
Second company, 69 men. Captain, Daniel Moor, then of Deerfield, afterwards of Pembroke; First Lieutenant, Ebenezer Frye of Pembroke; Second Lieutenant, John Moore. This company composed largely from Pembroke, Deerfield, Allens- town, and Bow. Nathan Holt and J. Robinson, both of Pem-
337
THE REVOLUTION.
1775]
broke, were wounded, as were Josiah Allen of Allenstown, and J. Broderick.
Third company, 67 men. Captain, Elisha Woodbury of Salem ; First Lieutenant, Thomas Hardy of Pelham ; Second Lieuten- ant, Jonathan Corliss of Salem. This company was from Salem, Pelham, Windham, and vicinity. Moses Poor and Thomas Col- lins were both killed; Abner Gage of Pelham, afterward of Acworth, was severely wounded in the foot, and made lame permanently ; John Simpson of Windham lost a portion of one of his hands by a cannon ball, so certified by his captain, and Isaac Thom, his surgeon. Both Gage and Simpson received invalid pensions. Ephraim Kelley of Salem, and Seth Cutter of Pelham, were also slightly wounded.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.