Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/442

 436 BUNKER IIILL after sunset on Cambridge common, where prayers were offered up by Langdon, the president of Harvard college. About 9 o'clock they began their march toward Oharlestown, and near the isthmus called Charlestown neck were joined by Major Brooks and Gen. Put- nam, and by the wagons laden with intrench- ing tools. Prescott conducted them undis- covered up the ascent of Bunker hill, and thence, after a consultation, to Breed's hill, which was nearer to Boston, and had better command of the town and shipping. There the lines of a redoubt were marked out, and a little after midnight the first sod was thrown up. At dawn a strong redoubt about eight rods square, flanked on the left by a breast- work which extended northerly toward a piece of low land called the Slough, was already completed, and was espied from the ships in the harbor. These immediately brought their guns to bear upon it, and the cannonade awoke the citizens and occupants of the town. Amid an incessant shower of shot and shells, on one of the hottest days of the season, after having toiled all night, and possessing but scanty sup- plies, the Americans steadily pursued their work till about 11 o'clock. At that time the intrenching tools were removed by Putnam to Bunker hill, with the design of forming a new breastwork there. Prescott strengthened his right flank by some troops thrown into the village of Charlestown at the southern foot of the hill, and on the left, at the very moment of battle, a fortification against musket balls was completed by the intertexture of two rail fences and the new-mown hay of the meadows. "While the military din which reechoed from the streets of Boston announced an impending attack, Prescott repeatedly sent messages to Cambridge asking for reenforcements and pro- visions, and Putnam went in person to urge the exigencies of the case. Yet Ward hesi- tated to expose his stores and to risk a general engagement by weakening his main body, and it was not till 11 o'clock that orders from him reached Stark at Medford to advance to the relief of Frescott. This veteran was at the head of 500 New Hampshire troops, and wisely led them on slowly, determined to bring them fresh into battle. He appeared on the heights about 2 o'clock, and took his position on the left to maintain the rustic bulwark which reached toward the Mystic. At the same time Warren arrived, and after declining the com- mand, which was tendered to him by Putnam at the rail fence, and by Prescott on Breed's hill, entered the redoubt as a volunteer, and was cheered by the troops as he selected the place of greatest danger and importance. Al- ready the British army of assault had landed. Gen. Gage had decided, in opposition to a ma- jority of his council, to attack the Americans in front instead of in rear, in the conviction that raw militia would flee before an assault of veterans. About 1 o'clock 28 boats and barges, containing four regiments of infantry, 10 companies of grenadiers, 10 of light infantry, and a proportion of field artillery, in all about 2,000 men, bore away from Boston under cover of a heavy fire from the ships in the harbor, and landed without opposition at Moulton's point, a little north of Breed's hill. Gen. Howe commanded the right wing, which was to push along the bank of the Mystic river, and attempt to force the rail fence, and so to out- flank and surround the whole American party ; Gen. Pigot commanded the left wing, which was to mount the hill and force the redoubt. Reenforcements were on their way toward the American lines all day, but the whole number who arrived in time to take part in the action did not exceed 1,500 men. Prescott com- manded upon the redoubt, Knowlton and Stark on the left, and Putnam was active and effi- cient in various ways, now planning additional fortifications on Bunker hill, now scouring the whole peninsula to hurry up reenforcements, and now mingling with, encouraging, and threatening the men at the rail fence. The two columns of the British, after partaking of refreshments, advanced to a simultaneous as- sault a little after 2J o'clock. They present- ed a formidable appearance, and Gen. Pigot's division ascended the hill in good order, dis- charging their musketry, and galled only by a flanking fire from the Americans in Charles- town. The men in the redoubt, obedient to the strict command of Prescott, withheld their fire till the enemy had approached within eight rods, when a tremendous volley was discharged, and nearly the whole front rank of the British fell. The assailants, recoiling for a moment, again advanced, and were met by a second volley more effective than the first. The Americans were all marksmen, and for a few minutes an unremitting fire was kept up between the two armies, till the British staggered and retreated in disorder, some of them even to their boats. Gen. Howe's divi- sion had in like manner moved gallantly for- ward, been received at the distance of nine rods by a deadly fire from the whole line of the rail fence, and forced after a struggle into confusion and a precipitate retreat. The mo- ments following this first check were employed by the American officers in cheering and prais- ing the men. Meantime Charlestown neck, over which recruits were hurrying to the ac- tion, was raked by an unceasing discharge of balls and bomb shells from the neighboring British batteries and ships; the village of Charlestown, from which so much annoyance had been experienced in the first attack, was set on fire by shells thrown from Copp's hill, and its 500 wooden edifices burst into a blaze ; and amid the confusion of this scene the British began their second attempt to storm the re- doubt, firing musket shots as they ascended the hill. The Americans reserved their fire till the enemy was within six rods, and then a volley aimed with the skill of sharpshooters did its accustomed execution. The British, however,