Battle of Bunker Hill
About the latter end of May a great part of
the reinforcements ordered from Great-Britain, arrived at Boston on May 25th,
1775. Three British generals, Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton, whose behavior in the
preceding war had gained them great reputation, also arrived about the same
time. General Gage, thus reinforced, prepared for acting with more decision, but
before he proceeded to extremities he conceived it due to ancient forms to issue
a proclamation, holding forth to the inhabitants the alternative of peace or
war. On June 12th He therefore offered pardon in the king’s name to all who
should forthwith lay down their arms, and return to their respective occupations
and peaceable duties, excepting only from the benefit of that pardon “Samuel
Adams, and John Hancock, whose offences were said to be of too flagitious a
nature to admit of any other consideration than that of condign punishment.”
He also proclaimed that not only the persons above named and excepted, but also
their adherents, associates, and correspondents, should be deemed guilty of
treason and rebellion, and treated accordingly. By this proclamation it was also
declared “that as the courts of judicature were shut, martial law should take
place, till a due course of justice should be re-established.” It was
supposed that this proclamation was a prelude to hostilities, and preparations
were accordingly made by the Americans. A considerable height, by the name of
Bunkers-hill, just at the entrance of the peninsula of Charlestown, was so
situated as to make the possession of it a matter of great consequence, to
either of the contending parties. On June 16th, orders were therefore issued by
the provincial commanders that a detachment of a thousand men should entrench
upon this height. By some mistake Breed’s-hill, high and large like the other,
but situated nearer Boston, was marked out for the entrenchments, instead of
Bunkers-hill. The provincials proceeded to Breed’s-hill and worked with so much
diligence, that between midnight and the dawn of the morning, they had thrown up
a small redoubt about 8 rods square. They kept such a profound silence that they
were not heard by the British, on board their vessels, though very near. These
having derived their first information of what was going on from the sight of
the work near completion, began an incessant firing upon them. The provincials
bore this with firmness, and though they were only young soldiers continued to
labor till they had thrown up a small breastwork, extending from the east side
of the redoubt to the bottom of the hill. As this eminence overlooked Boston
general Gage thought it necessary to drive the provincials from it. About noon
on June 17th, therefore he detached major general Howe and brig. general Pigot,
with the flower of his army, consisting of four battalions, ten companies of the
grenadiers and ten of light infantry, with a proportion of field artillery, to
effect this business. These troops landed at Moreton’s point, and formed after
landing, but remained in that position till they were reinforced by a second
detachment of light infantry and grenadier companies, a battalion of land forces
and a battalion of marines, making in the whole nearly 3000 men. While the
troops who first landed were waiting for this reinforcement, the provincials for
their farther security, pulled up some adjoining post and rail fences, and set
them down in two parallel lines at a small distance from each other, and filled
the space between with hay, which having been lately mowed, remained on the
adjacent ground.
The king’s troops formed in two lines, and
advanced slowly, to give their artillery time to demolish the American works.
While the British were advancing to the attack, they received orders to burn
Charlestown. This was not done because they were fired upon from the houses in
that town, but from the military policy of depriving enemies of a cover in their
approaches. In a short time this ancient town, consisting of about 500
buildings, chiefly of wood, was in one great blaze. The lofty steeple of the
meeting house formed a pyramid of fire above the rest, and struck the astonished
eyes of numerous beholders with a magnificent but awful spectacle. In Boston the
heights of every kind were covered with the citizens, and such of the king’s
troops as were not on duty. The hills around the adjacent country which afforded
a safe and distinct view, were occupied by the inhabitants of the country.
Thousands, both within and without Boston,
were anxious spectators of the bloody scene. The honor of British troops beat
high in the breasts of many, while others with a keener sensibility, felt for
the liberties of a great and growing country. The British moved on but slowly,
which gave the provincials a better opportunity for taking aim. The latter in
general reserved themselves till their adversaries were within ten or twelve
rods, but then began a furious discharge of small arms. The stream of the
American fire was so incessant, and did so great execution that the king’s
troops retreated in disorder and precipitation. Their officers rallied them and
pushed them forward with their swords, but they returned to the attack with
great reluctance. The Americans again reserved their fire till their adversaries
were near, and then put them a second time to flight. General Howe and the
officers redoubled their exertions, and were again successful, though the
soldiers discovered a great aversion to going on. By this time the powder of the
Americans began so far to fail that they were not able to keep up the same brisk
fire as before. The British also brought some cannon to bear which raked the
inside of the breast work from end to end. The fire from the ships, batteries,
and field artillery was redoubled—the soldiers in the rear were goaded on by
their officers. The redoubt was attacked on three sides at once. Under these
circumstances a retreat from it was ordered, but the provincials delayed, and
made resistance with their discharged muskets as if they had been clubs, so long
that the king’s troops who easily mounted the works had half filled the redoubt
before it was given up to them.
While these operations were going on at the
breast work and redoubt, the British light infantry were attempting to force the
left point of the former, that they might take the American line in flank.
Though they exhibited the most undaunted courage, they met with an opposition
which called for its greatest exertions. The provincials here, in like manner,
reserved their fire till their adversaries were near, and then poured it upon
the light infantry, with such an incessant stream, and in so true a direction as
mowed down their ranks. The engagement was kept up on both sides with great
resolution. The persevering exertions of the king’s troops could not compel the
Americans to retreat, till they observed that their main body had left the hill.
This, when begun, exposed them to new danger, for it could not be effected but
by marching over Charlestown neck, every part of which was raked by the shot of
the Glasgow man of war, and of two floating batteries. The incessant fire kept
up across this neck prevented any considerable reinforcement from joining their
countrymen who were engaged; but the few who fell on their retreat, over the
same ground proved, that the apprehensions of those provincial officers who
declined passing over to succor their companions, were without any solid
foundation.
The number of Americans engaged, amounted only
to 1500. [1775] It was apprehended that the
conquerors would push the advantage they had gained, and march immediately to
American head quarters at Cambridge, but they advanced no farther than
Bunker’s-hill. There they threw up works for their own security. The provincials
did the same on Prospect-hill in front of them. Both were guarding against an
attack, and both were in a bad condition to receive one. The loss of the
peninsula depressed the spirits of the Americans, and their great loss of men
produced the same effect on the British. There have been few battles in modern
wars, in which all circumstances considered, there was a greater destruction of
men than in this short engagement. The loss of the British, as acknowledged by
general Gage, amounted to 1054. Nineteen commissioned officers were killed, and
70 more were wounded. The battle of Quebec in 1759, which gave Great-Britain the
province of Canada, was not so destructive to British officers as this affair of
a slight entrenchment, the work only of a few hours. That the officers suffered
so much, must be imputed to their being aimed at. None of the provincials in
this engagement were riflemen, but they were all good marksmen. The whole of
their previous military knowledge had been derived, from hunting, and the
ordinary amusements of sportsmen. The dexterity which by long habit they had
acquired in hitting beasts, birds, and marks, was fatally applied to the
destruction of British officers. From their fall much confusion was expected.
They were therefore particularly singled out. Most of those who were near the
person of general Howe were either killed or wounded, but the general, though he
greatly exposed himself, was unhurt. The light infantry and grenadiers lost
three-fourths of their men. Of one company not more than five, and of another,
not more than fourteen escaped. The unexpected resistance of the Americans was
such as wiped away the reproaches of cowardice, which had been cast on them by
their enemies in Britain. The spirited conduct of the British officers merited
and obtained great applause, but the provincials were justly entitled to a large
portion of the same, for having made the utmost exertions of their adversaries
necessary to dislodge them from lines, which were the work only of a single
night.
The Americans lost five pieces of cannon.
Their killed amounted to 139. Their wounded and missing to 314. Thirty of the
former fell into the hands of the conquerors. They particularly regretted the
death of general Warren. To the purest patriotism and most undaunted bravery, he
added the virtues of domestic life, the eloquence of an accomplished orator, and
the wisdom of an able statesman. Nothing but a regard to the liberty of his
country induced him to oppose the measures of government. He aimed not at a
separation from, but a coalition with the Mother Country. He took an active part
in defense of his country, not that he might be applauded and rewarded for a
patriotic spirit, but because he was, in the best sense of the word, a real
patriot. Having no interested or personal views to answer the friends of
liberty, confided in his integrity. The soundness of his judgment, and his
abilities as a public speaker, enabled him to make a distinguished figure in
public councils, but his intrepidity and active zeal, induced his countrymen to
place him in the military line. Within four days after he was appointed a major
general, he fell a noble sacrifice to a cause which he had espoused from the
purest principles. Like Hambden he lived and like Hambden he died, universally
beloved and universally regretted. His many virtues were celebrated in an
elegant eulogium written by Dr. Rush, in language equal to the illustrious
subject. The burning of Charlestown, though a place of great trade did not
discourage the provincials. It excited resentment and execration, but not any
disposition to submit. Such was the high toned state of the public mind, and so
great the indifference for property when put in competition with liberty, that
military conflagrations, though they distressed and impoverished, had no
tendency to subdue the colonists. They might answer in the old world, but were
not calculated for the new, where the war was undertaken, not for a change of
masters, but for securing essential rights. The action at Breed’s-hill, or
Bunker’s-hill, as it has been commonly called, produced many and very important
consequences. [1775] It taught the British so much
respect for Americans entrenched behind works, that their subsequent operations
were retarded with a caution that wasted away a whole campaign, to very little
purpose. It added to the confidence the Americans began to have in their own
abilities, but inferences, very injurious to the future interests of America,
were drawn from the good conduct of the new troops on that memorable day. It
inspired some of the leading members of Congress, with such high ideas of what
might be done by militia, or men engaged for a short term of enlistment, that it
was long before they assented to the establishment of a permanent army. Not
distinguishing the continued exertions of an army through a series of years,
from the gallant efforts of the yeomanry of the country, led directly to action,
they were slow in admitting the necessity of permanent troops. They conceived
the country might be defended by the occasional exertions of her sons, without
the expense and danger of an army engaged for the war. In the progress of
hostilities, as will appear in the sequel, the militia lost much of their first
ardor, while leading men in the councils of America, trusting to its
continuance, neglected the proper time of recruiting for a series of years. From
the want of perseverance in the militia, and the want of a disciplined standing
army, the cause for which arms were at first taken up, was more than once
brought to the brink of destruction. -
David
Ramsay’s
The History of the American Revolution
The Pennsylvania Gazette
Text Courtesy of:
Accessible Archives
June 28, 1775
WATERTOWN, June 19, 1775
Friday Night last a Number of the Provincials entrenched on Bunker Hill in
Charlestown; and on Saturday about Noon a large Number of Regulars from Boston
came across Charles River, and landed a little below the Battery near the
Point, when a bloody Battle commenced (many being killed and wounded on both
sides) The very heavy Fire from the Shipping, the Battery on Cop Hill, Boston,
together with the Train of the Enemy, obliged the Provincials to retreat a
little this Side of Charlestown Neck about Sunset, when the Enemy took
Possession of our Entrenchment; after which the Meeting House, and we hear
they have not left one Building unconsumed. The Engagement continues at this
Publication, 9 o'Clock with Intermissions. The Confusion of the Times render
it impracticable to give a particular Account of what has already occurred,
but hope to give a good one in our next. The Provincials are in high spirits.
Extract of a Letter from a gentleman in Providence (45 Miles from Boston) to
his Friend in this City, dated June 20, 1775.
"You doubtless have been alarmed with divers Accounts of the Contest
which happened on the 17th Inst. between the King Troops and our Army; shall
give you a Narrative in a few Words as the Post now waits.
"On the Evening of the 16th, Col. Putnam took Possession of Bunker Hill,
with about 2000 Men, and began an Entrenchment, which they had made some
Progress in. - At 8 in the Morning, a Party of Regulars landed at Charlestown
and fired the Town in divers Places. Under Cover of the Smoke, a Body of abut
5000 Men marched u to our Entrenchments, and made a furious and sudden Attack;
they were drove back three Times; and when they were making the third Attack,
one of our People imprudently spoke aloud that their Powder was all gone;
which being heard by some of the Regular Officers, they encouraged their Men
to march up to the Trenches with fixed Bayonets, and entered them; on which
our People were ordered to retreat, which they did with Speed, till they got
out of Musket Shot; they then formed, but were not pursued: In the mean Time
six Men of War, and four floating Batteries were brought up, and kept up a
continual Fire on the Causeway that leads on to Charlestown; our People
retreated through the Fire, but not without the Loss of many of the Men.
Our Loss is 60 Men killed and missing, and about 140 wounded. The brave
Dr. Warren is among the former, and Col. Gardiner among the latter. We left 6
Field Pieces on the Hill; our People are now entrenched on Pleasant Hill,
within Cannon Shot of Bunker Hill. The Loss of the King Troops must be very
considerable; the exact Number we cannot tell. If our People had been supplied
with Ammunition, they would have held Possession most certainly. They have
began firing on Roxbury with Carcases, to set it on fire, but have not yet
succeeded. Our People are in high Spirits, and are very earnest to put this
Matter on another Trial."
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