1775 Battle of Bunker Hill. * 137 little; but their murderous balls literally strewed the ground with the dead and wounded of the enemy. General Pigot was obliged to order a retreat, when the exulting shout of victory rose from the American lines. The patriot volunteer saw the veterans of England fly before his fire, and felt a new confidence in himself. * * General Howe, in a short time, rallied his troops, and immediately ordered another assault. They marched in the same order as before, and continued to fire as they approached the lines. But, in addition to the previous obstacles, they were obliged to step over the bodies of their fallen countrymen. Charlestown, in the meantime, had been set on fire by shells thrown from Copp's Hill and by a party of marines. And now ensued one of the greatest scenes of war that can be conceived. To fill the eye, a brilliantly appointed army advancing to the attack. and storming the works, supported by co-operating ships and batteries; the blaze of the burning town, coursing whole streets or curling up the spires of public edifices; the air above filled with clouds of dense black smoke, and the surrounding hills, fields, roofs, and steeples, occupied by crowds of spectators. To fill the ear, the shouts of the contending armies, the crash of the falling buildings, and the roar of the cannon, mortars, and musketry. 22. At length, at the prescribed distance, the fire was again given by the patriots, which, in its fatal impartiality, prostrated whole ranks of officers and men. The enemy stood the shock, and continued to advance with great spirit; but the continued stream of fire from the whole American line was even more destructive than before. General Howe was in the hottest of it. Two of his aids, and other officers near him, were shot down, and at times he was left almost alone. His officers were seen to remonstrate and to threaten, and even to prick and strike the men to urge them on. But it was in vain. The British were compelled again to give way, and they retreated even in greater disorder than before." * * * 23. The third time, with the addition of some fresh troops, the assault was ordered; but the Americans, having expended every grain of powder, were obliged to abandon their works. Result of the battle. Slowly they retreated down the hill, vanquished men, yet leaving little cause for triumph to the victors. On both sides many fell; but the Americans lost one whom they could little spare, the noble pa triot, and brave soldier, Joseph Warren. Mrs. John Adams, in writing of Warren after the battle, said: "We want him in the Senate, we want him in his profession, we want him in the field. We mourn for the citizen, the senator, the physician, and the warrior." JOSEPH WARREN. 24. Though the British were successful, the victory to them was more disastrous and humiliating than an ordinary defeat. "Two more such victories," said the celebrated statesman at the head of the French cabinet," and England will have no army left in America." The Americans were not discouraged. They felt that they could contend successfully with the king's troops, however skillful and well-tried these were. The contest proved to them also that the Putnams, Starks, Prescotts and others, who had been trained in the school of the "French and Indian war," had been apt scholars, and were the men to make good use of their training and experience. The sympathy for Massachusetts, in her sufferings, was wide-spread; but no where was it more boldly manifested than in Virginia. There Patrick Henry's voice, with its thrilling effect, was again heard. One of his speeches is thus reported: 25. "Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of 1775 Washington chosen Commander-in-chief. The 139 of the war. liberty, and in such a country as this which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight necessity our battles alone. There is a just God, who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone: it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston. The war is inevitable-and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. * * * I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death." in-chief. 26. On the very day of the capture of Ticonderoga, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Its most important duty was to appoint a commander-in-chief of the patriot forces. "This was a task of more delicacy Washington and difficulty than might at first be supposed. chosen Many considerations were to be weighed besides commanderthe personal qualifications of any individual for that high station, either as to character, abilities, or military skill. While the discussions were going on respecting military preparations, John Adams, one of the delegates from Massachusetts, moved that the army, then besieging the British troops in Boston, should be adopted by Congress as a Continental army. In the course of his observations enforcing this motion, he said it was his intention to propose for the office of commander-in-chief a gentleman from Virginia, who was at that time a member of their own body. His remarks were so pointed, that all present perceived them to apply to Colonel Washington, who, upon hearing this reference to himself, retired from his seat and withdrew. 27. When the day for the appointment arrived, the nomination was made by Thomas Johnson, of Maryland. The choice was by ballot; and, on inspecting the votes, it was found that Colonel Washington was unanimously elected. As soon as the result was ascertained the House adjourned. On the convening of Congress the next morning, the president communicated to him the notice of his appointment, and he rose in his place and signified his acceptance in a brief and appropriate reply. Before the election, it had been voted that five hundred dollars a month should be allowed for the pay and expenses of the general. On this point Washington said: I beg leave to assure the Congress that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those, I doubt not, they will discharge; and that is all I desire.' 28. This appointment was made two days before the battle of Bunker Hill. There was no such thing as communication by telegraph in those days, and it took a week to travel from Boston to Philadelphia by the quickest mode then Washington takes known. Washington's preparations to assume the command. command of the army round Boston, were soon made; and, with Generals Charles Lee and Philip Schuyler (ski'-ler) as his companions, he set out on horseback, but had scarcely proceeded twenty miles when he was met by a courier with tidings of the great battle that had been fought. Washington eagerly asked for particulars, and when told that the militia stood their ground bravely, exclaimed: "The liberties of the country are safe!" Under an ancient elm at Cambridge, three miles from Boston, and in the presence of soldiers drawn up in line, and of a multitude of men, women, and children, from all parts of the country, he took formal command of the army. 29. To prevent the British from using Canada as a base of Expedition operations, Congress sent an expedition under Schuyler to gain possession of it. Schuyler had Canada. reached the outlet of Lake, Champlain, when sickness compelling his return, General Richard Montgom against 1775 Death of Montgomery. 141 ery, the next officer, assumed the command. Montgomery soon made himself master of Montreal and other places in Canada,' and then marched against Quebec, where, as had been arranged, he was joined by General Benedict Arnold, who had proceeded by the Kennebec river. 30. For three weeks they laid siege tc the city, and then resolved to make an assault. On the last day of the year, and during a fierce snow storm, Death of they advanced to the attack. Montgomery. "Push on, brave boys, Quebec is ours, cried Montgomery, as the column began "On they marched to within forty paces of the block-house. At that moment, a sailor who had fled from his post, surprised that the Americans did not advance, ventured back to discover the to move up the ascent. reason. Through one of the portholes of the block-house he saw the advancing party, and turned to run. away again; but as he turned, he performed an act which decided the fortunes of the day, and gave Canada back again to Britain. He touched off one of those grape-charged canForward fell the majestic form of Montgomery, never to rise again. Down went two of his aids, mortally wounded. The orderly sergeant, too, never again saw daylight. Every man that marched in front of the column, except Captain Aaron Burr and the guide, was struck down to death by the discharge of that twelve-pounder. The day was just dawning, non. GENERAL MONTGOMERY. 1 St. Johns, on the Sorel river, was besieged, and then captured. During the siege Colonel Ethan Allen, at the head of only eighty men, with great rashness forced his way to Montreal, but was defeated, captured, and sent to England in irons. |