intrepid courage, are the commencement of victory. These were the principles by which they were governed in these successful enterprises.

CHAPTER IV.

Investment of Boston continued-Scarcity of Provisions-Reinforcement of Troops under Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne-Two Plans to extricate themselves -Both defeated-Battle of Breed's Hill-Letter of General Gage-Observations in Opposition Papers in London-Eulogium on Dr. Warren.

"As the noise of the troubled ocean when roll the waves on high, as the last peal of thundering heaven, such is the noise of battle. Though Cormac's hundred bards were there, feeble were the voice of a hundred bards to send the deaths to future times; for many were the deaths of the heroes, and wide poured the blood of the valiant."

THE close investment of Boston by the provincials, and their exertions to intercept from the English all supplies of provisions, gave occasion to frequent skirmishes upon Noddle's and Hog Islands, both situated in the harbour of Boston, and to which the British frequently went in quest of provisions. These islands abounding in forage and cattle, the provincials resolved to destroy the one, and drive off the other. The royalists, who were fighting for subsistence, made a most vigorous resistance, but without any other effect than inspiring the Americans with greater confidence in themselves. The garrison of Boston, already suffering for want of food, felt the effects of these daring enterprises of the besiegers with peculiar severity.

The besiegers hoped that by such proceedings the governor would be compelled to consent to the departure of the inhabitants of Boston, who had no other resource but from the magazines of the king; but the governor considering the people as so many hostages for the safety of his garrison, would not even allow the women and children to leave the city; apprehensive that after their removal the Americans

might attempt to carry the place by assault. Pressed by necessity, however, General Gage at last acceded to an arrangement by which the citizens were allowed to retire from the city with their effects, provided they first deposited their arms in Faneuil Hall. They now commenced moving out of the city, but the governor, either unwilling to deprive himself entirely of hostages, or alarmed at the rumour that the insurgents intended to fire the city, soon began to refuse passes. It has been said that in granting passports to some and not to others, he studied to divide families; separating husbands from their wives, fathers from their children, brothers from each other. Such cruelty, if true, needs no comment. Those affected with small-pox were allowed to depart, as many supposed, with the barbarous intention of spreading the contagious disease among the rebels! We hope, however, for the sake of human nature, that the spreading of this formidable disease throughout the province, was rather the result of ignorance or culpable neglect on the part of the governor, than any malicious intention.

At the time of the battle of Lexington, the number of troops in Boston amounted to 4000, but about the end of May and beginning of June, the reinforcements expected by General Gage arrived at Boston, with the distinguished Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne, to command them; increasing the army to 12,000 men.

Encouraged by this accession of strength, burning with indignation at the thought that the soldiers of the king of England, renowned for their brilliant achievements, were now imprisoned in a city by those who had already made them turn their backs and seek safety in flight; and being moreover alarmed at the increasing scarcity of food, the English troops were exceedingly desirous of proving their great superiority over the herds of American militia. The provincials investing Boston, full of ardour and courage, inspired by a righteous cause and preceding successes, were no less eager for the hour of battle to arrive.

The English generals now began to deliberate upon the most expedient plan of extricating themselves from this dan

gerous position. The situation of Boston naturally suggested two ways by which they might issue from the city into the country.

But before we proceed, it will be necessary to aid the imagination of the reader by a brief sketch of the relative situations of Boston and Charlestown, in the latter of which was fought the sanguinary and ever-memorable battle of Bunker's Hill, as it is called, though the battle was really fought on Breed's Hill.

There are two peninsulas; on the one we have Boston, on the other, Charlestown. That of Charlestown has the shape of a pear, the stem uniting it to the mainland, while the end extends towards the harbour. Breed's Hill and Bunker's Hill swell out from its surface. The first of these overlooks Charlestown, and constitutes that part of the peninsula nearest to Boston, from which it is separated by the Charles river. Bunker's Hill is situated farther from Boston, towards Charlestown Neck. The Mystic or Medford river, on the north, washes the farther shore of this peninsula.

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brevity is very good

When we are, or are not understood."

We are fully satisfied, after a careful examination of the singular location of Boston and Charlestown, that this short sketch is sufficient in a military point of view, and that a more minute account would only create confusion. If the reader ever visits Boston (if he has not done so already), let him go up into the tower of the State House. The janitor will furnish you with a very small map (that points out nothing), to enable you to understand the reality.

The two ways by which the British might leave Boston are now very obvious; one, to sally from Boston Neck and attack the American entrenchments at Roxbury; the other, was to cross the Charles river, traverse that peninsula, pass out by its isthmus or neck, and dislodge the enemy from the heights near the Mystic river. This will demonstrate the propriety of the Americans extending their encampment from Roxbury to this river.

General Gage had for some time intended to attempt the

first plan. By issuing from the strong fortifications of Boston Neck, he could calculate upon a safe retreat in case he was defeated. Secrecy, so essential to insure success in military movements, was, certainly, not favoured by the detention of the Bostonians in their city, especially as many carried news to the American army by swimming across the rivers, and in small boats. The plan of the general, by some means, was made known to the Americans, who strengthened their entrenchments with parapets and palisades; concentrated their artillery and reinforced this part of the army. These dreadful notes of preparation turned the attention of the English to the Neck of Charlestown. Again the secret was divulged, and strenuous endeavours were quickly made to defeat the new project of the enemy, who had intended to fortify Bunker's Hill, on the 18th of June.

On Friday, June 16th, General Ward issued orders to Colonels William Prescott and Bridge, and to the commandant of Colonel Frye's regiment, to have their men ready for immediate service. These were all farmers, habituated to hard

labour in the sun. A company of artillery, and 120 men from the Connecticut regiment, under the command of Captain Knowlton, were included in the order. Colonel Gridley was chief engineer. About 9 o'clock in the evening, a detachment of 1000 men moved from Cambridge, and passed silently over Charlestown Neck; but instead of fortifying the heights of Bunker's Hill, Colonel Prescott, with two sergeants carrying dark lanterns leading the way, advanced to Breed's Hill, where he entrenched himself by the rules of art.

Whether the colonel was determined to beard the lion in his den, or whether his fortifying Breed's Hill was really a mistake, as subsequently spoken of in an account of the battle, prepared by the Massachusetts Congress, we shall not attempt to decide. It is certain, however, that he placed the garrison of Boston in the most imminent danger, and reduced himself and the enemy to the necessity of coming to action without delay.

When the detachment had passed the neck, it was for some time undecided as to the position to be taken. Time, how

ever, was too precious for long deliberation. The engineer again and again most earnestly warned the officers that longer delay would defeat all their operations, and when the clock struck twelve the work was commenced on Breed's Hill, and carried on with the most astonishing ardour and enthusiasm. What is most surprising is, that although the peninsula was almost surrounded with ships of war and transports, the Americans worked so silently, that they were not heard. A guard was stationed on the Charlestown shore nearest to Boston to prevent surprise; and Prescott himself went there and heard from the enemy's sentries, when relieving guard, the cry," All's well." He returned to the hill, and, after a short interval, thinking it could not be possible that the enemy were so dull of hearing, he went to the shore a second time, and finding all quiet, withdrew the guard, to make use of their hands instead of their ears, and employed them on the works.

The entrenchments consisted of a redoubt and a breastwork, formed entirely of the earth thrown up by the spade. The redoubt was eight rods square, and the breast work nearly four hundred feet long.

About 4 o'clock in the morning, at break of day, the alarm was given at Boston, by a cannonade upon the American works from the ship of war Lively. The English generals could hardly credit their senses on finding that the provincials had anticipated them in an enterprise upon which they had deliberately decided; and their energies were, for a time, almost paralyzed with amazement. But no time was to be lost. The provincials were still at work with untiring industry; and as the height of Breed's Hill commands Boston, the city was no longer tenable, if they were allowed time to erect a battery upon this eminence.

A few moments before the action, Dr. Joseph Warren, a man of great authority and universally beloved, arrived with some reinforcements. He had been appointed general on the 14th, but had not yet taken his commission. He served, therefore, as a volunteer. General Pomeroy, old as he was, borrowed a horse from General Ward, at Cambridge, to has