CHAPTER XIV
IN WHICH IS FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL
Bunker Hill, at the time of the siege of Boston, was a familiar place,but Breed's Hill was not so well known.
The surface of the latter was divided into tracts used as pastures; andthese were called after their separate owners. There was Russell'spasture, and Breed's pasture, further south, while Green's was at thehead of what is now Green Street.
The east and west sides of the hill were very steep. At the east basewere brick kilns, clay pits and much marshland.
At the top of Breed's Hill the men, at the command of their officers,threw down their packs, stacked arms and stood ready. In the dim lightof the masked lanterns held by Ezra and his comrades, Colonel Gridleymarked out the lines of the works; the tool carts came up, the toolswere distributed and the men set to work. And as this began, ColonelPrescott ordered a guard, under Captain Maxwell of his own regiment, topatrol the shore of the lower part of the town near the old ferry.
"We must know what the enemy is about," Ezra heard the colonel say toColonel Gridley. "His movements are most interesting to us to-night."
So near were they to the sentry-belted town of Boston that they couldhear, now and then, the cry of the guard at Copp's Hill battery. Alsothe sounds from the war-ships were carried to them on the quiet wind.
"Their vessels command our position very well," said Colonel Gridley, asthey stood looking out across the starlit waters. "That is the 'Falcon,'there off Moulton's Point. The 'Somerset' is at the ferry, and that shipnear to Craigie's Bridge is the 'Glasgow.' The 'Cerberus' and somefloating batteries are yonder where you see that tangle of lights."
"It will be a surprise to me if our work is not suspected beforedaylight," said Prescott. "However, the men are accustomed to handlingtheir tools, and may carry it through unnoticed."
And that is what happened. Diligently the thousand patriots cut into theearth. Perfect silence was maintained; and every little while theassuring cry that "All's well" came from Maxwell's patrol down along thewater's edge.
When dawn finally broke on that seventeenth of June, the works wereabout six feet in height, and the men were still laboring away on themwith a will. The entrenchments were first discovered by the watch uponthe twenty-gun vessel "Lively." Captain Bishop, her commander, did notwait for orders, but put a spring in her cable and at once opened fire.
The roar of the "Lively's" guns awoke the British camp, and soon allBoston was assembled, staring in wonderment at the fortifications whicha night had caused to arise upon Breed's Hill.
A little later a battery of six guns at Copp's Hill took up the firing,and soon the heavier vessels joined in.
A cannon-shot finally killed a man laboring on the platforms behind thebreastworks. At once the faces of his comrades went pale at the sight;but Colonel Prescott, who happened to be close at hand, stepped upon theparapet and leisurely paced around, examining it and speaking to theofficers. Noticing his intentions, Ezra Prentiss and Nat Brewster, whowere with him, awaiting his commands, did likewise. And seeing thesethree calmly ignoring the British fire, the raw soldiers took heart;indeed a little later they took to greeting each shot with shouts ofderision.
The sun came well up and the heat became oppressive. Some of the men,unaccustomed to warfare, had neglected to bring provisions, as ordered.Suffering for want of food and drink, they began to murmur.
Some of the officers became alarmed.
"We had better send word to General Ward at once, to relieve them withother troops," said he. "In a little while they will be beyond control."
"I will never consent to these men being relieved," said Prescott,promptly. "They have raised the works and are the best able to defendthem. They have suffered the labor, so let them have the honor of thefight."
Ezra stood with Ben and George a little later upon the slope of the hillnearest the water; he had been gazing across toward the city, andfinally said:
"There seems to be some sort of a movement in Boston. Governor Gage hasprobably thought it high time to act."
In this he was correct. Gage, after a council of war, in which his planshad been objected to by General Clinton, had finally issued the ordersthat brought the climax of the day. Artillery was wheeled into array,foot-soldiers and dragoons paraded in all the bravery of their uniformsand colors.
Ten companies of British grenadiers and light infantry and the Fifth andThirty-eighth regiments, with ammunition and supplies, were ordered tothe Long Wharf. The Fifty-second and Forty-third regiments, togetherwith the remaining companies of grenadiers and light infantry, wereordered to the North Battery. Other troops were held in readiness tomarch at a moment's notice.
At the earnest request of his officers, Colonel Prescott dispatchedMajor Brooks to Cambridge to General Ward for reinforcements. Thisofficer reached headquarters about ten o'clock, and after muchdiscussion, the regiments of Colonel Stark and Colonel Reed, both of NewHampshire, were sent to the aid of those upon the hill.
When, at last, the men at work upon the fortifications were exhausted bythe toil and the heat, General Putnam had a large force of men gather upthe tools, fall back with them to Bunker Hill and there begin a secondline of works.
"We don't expect to be beaten," said that seasoned officer, "but in abattle no one knows just what will happen; so it's best to havesomething to fall back on."
It was about twelve o'clock noon, when Ezra Prentiss' keen eyes detectedthe first of the British march to the boats.
"Here they come," he shouted to Ben Cooper, who was some little distanceaway. "We'll need the rifles now."
All of them, the Porcupine included, carried rifles strapped upon theirbacks; and their pouches were stuffed with ammunition. So now theyproceeded to get them ready. Locks were examined; old charges werewithdrawn and fresh ones rammed down. With Prescott's permission theyselected stations at the end of a line of riflemen whose positionpromised at least a fair share of action.
The Porcupine, as he stood leaning upon his rifle, the barrel of whichtowered above his head, excited much laughter among the men. But hegrinned good-naturedly and smoothed down his stiff crest of hair.
"Laugh away," said he, "if it'll do you any good. I don't mind it. Butremember, it won't take inches to shoot straight. You'll find theBritish dodging the bullets I send them, as nimbly as they do those ofthe tallest of you."
A laugh and the clapping of hands down the line greeted this.
"Truly spoken," said a huge farmer-like fellow who had performedprodigies in the entrenching, "and aptly said, too. Pointed properly,his bullet will lift a lieutenant-general out of his saddle, and morethan that you can't say for any of us."
As the British began preparing to embark, two more ships of war moved upthe Charles River to join the others in firing upon the American works.The roar of the cannonade was tremendous; the yellow smoke at timesalmost obscured the sun. The "Falcon" and "Lively" were sweeping the lowground at the foot of Breed's Hill to dislodge parties that might havebeen sent by Prescott to prevent a landing. And as General Howe, who wasin command of the attack, with Brigadier-General Pigot under him,embarked, the "Glasgow" frigate and "Symmetry" transport began rakingCharlestown Neck to prevent the crossing of any further Americanreinforcements.
As the signal, the hoisting of a blue flag, was given, the British hostbegan to advance across the river, their artillery in the leadingbarges. A breeze drove the smoke to the northward, and the lads, as theystood in the redoubt, had a clear view of the crossing. And Ezra, as helooked, drew in a deep breath.
"If splendor of appearance ever wins battles, surely this detachmentwill be the winner today," he said.
"But it never does," said Gilbert Scarlett, a rifle in the hollow of hisarm. "Accurate firing, steadiness and the resolve to stick to it untilthe very last shot, is what brings victory."
The brilliant scarlet coats, the white cross belts, the gleam of therifle barrels and brass guns formed a most dazzling and impressivesight. And the
boats came with the regularity of machinery; the heavyfrigates and brisker gunboats covered their advance with a continuousthunder of guns.
The Americans did little to halt the British progress. The time foraction, as their wise commanders had decided, had not yet arrived.
"And they are right," commented Gilbert Scarlett. "Our cannon are fewand of light weight, and to fire on the shipping would be waste ofpowder." Even the troop-barges, he pointed out, were difficult to hit,up to the moment of their landing.
This latter occurred just one hour after the start, and Moulton's Pointwas the place selected. Not a shot was fired at the British force asthey left their boats, and they immediately formed in orderly array.There was a long halt. General Howe, after examining the American works,seemed to think very well of them, for he at once sent back across theriver a demand for reinforcements. And while these were being sent theBritish officers, with the nonchalance that experience brings, veryquietly dined.
Prescott and Putnam and their force lay stubbornly behind the earthworkswaiting for the foe to make the first move. But beyond, at Cambridge,all was excitement and uproar. Bells clashed and swung in the churchtowers, drums beat to arms, and guns roared their warning that theBritish had crossed in force.
There was no need now for General Ward to withhold the regiments stillunder his command; all along he had been afraid to send too many men toBreed's Hill, thinking that the attack might be leveled at Cambridge.Now he reserved but Patterson's, Gardener's and part of Bridge'sregiments to protect the town; the remainder of the Massachusetts forceand what was left of Putnam's Connecticut men were hurried forward tothe point of attack.
Dr. Warren appeared at the earthworks at this time and was greeted withcheers. The men were exhausted and hungry, and for a time had beeninclined to suspect the good faith of their officers. But now with suchmen as Warren, Putnam, Prescott and, later, General Pomeroy, plain intheir sight, they were quiet and patient enough.
At about two o'clock the British began a movement along the Mystic Riverwith the intention of flanking the Americans and surrounding theredoubt. Putnam at once ordered two pieces of artillery, and CaptainKnowlton with the Connecticut troops, to leave the entrenchments,descend the hill and oppose the enemy's right wing.
While Knowlton was carrying out this command, Colonel Stark with his NewHampshire men began the crossing of Charlestown Neck. The guns of the"Glasgow" were trained upon them; shells screamed through the air; solidshot ripped great seams in the earth.
In the heart of the regiment a single drum tapped with regular beat; themen marched to this calmly, their long rifles over their shoulders. Nowand then a shot tore through them, but they never hurried their pace.
Stark's grim face was set like stone; it seemed as though he scarcelycast a look at the thundering ship of war. The command continued toswing slowly along to the tap of the drum. When part way over CaptainDearborn spoke to the colonel apprehensively:
"We are moving very slowly. Wouldn't it be well to sound the doublequick?"
But the heroic Stark replied, quietly:
"They are moving fast enough for men going into action. In a fight, onefresh man is as good as a dozen tired ones."
These troops, with Captain Knowlton's, took possession of a rail fenceat the foot of Bunker Hill; and they set about extending it by throwingup a stone wall on the beach. Later Colonel Reed's force joined those ofConnecticut and New Hampshire.
When Howe's reinforcements arrived, the British commander addressed hisarmy, now of about three thousand men; then he gave the order to advanceagainst the colonial force. At the same time a signal was given and thefrigates, the floating batteries and that upon Copp's Hill, all centredtheir fire upon the fortifications. At the same time other Britishbatteries in Boston began to throw shells into Roxbury in an effort toburn that town.
The British advanced under cover of this terrific fire. The Americanartillery was but feeble and soon silenced. General Howe moved with hisright wing, with which he hoped to burst through the Connecticut and NewHampshire men at the rail fence: General Pigot came on with the left,which aimed to storm the redoubt. At this point the attacking forcefound that twelve-pound shot had been sent to load six-pounder guns.Howe was all but frantic with rage; but he ordered that the pieces becharged with grape and that the force continue to push on.
The miry ground, the tall grass, the heat and their heavy equipmentburdened the British rank and file; but they regarded victory asassured; they felt nothing but contempt, in spite of Concord Bridge, forthe "peasants" who so stubbornly faced them.
Coolly the Americans awaited.
"Hold your fire," commanded Prescott, "until they are within tenrods--and then wait for the word."
"Powder is scarce," cried General Putnam. "Don't waste a charge."
"Aim low," directed Dr. Warren. "Then you can't miss them."
"Wait till you see the whites of their eyes!"
"Through the middle of their red coats!" advised a rifleman, to whom, soit seemed, the white cross belts upon the scarlet coats offered asplendid target.
Pigot's command advanced nearer and nearer; the fire of the shippingceased altogether, for the British were so close that sharp eyes in theAmerican lines could pick out individuals. Nat Brewster pointed out abody of marines.
"There is our old friend, Major Pitcairn," said he to George Prentiss.
Both Nat and George had had rather an intimate acquaintance with thatgallant and humane British officer, just previous to the Lexingtonfight.
"He is as smooth and unruffled as ever," laughed George, "and his menmove like clockwork."
As the redcoats came on, a scattering fire began at some points.
"Wait for the word," shouted Prescott. And Ezra, Scarlett and NatBrewster leaped upon the parapet and ran along, kicking up the leveledpieces. "Hold your fire, men."
The British, as they advanced, had kept up a continuous fire; and thismade it all the more difficult for the Americans to restrain themselves.However, they had not long to wait.
Step by step the brilliant array of British swung nearer. The sunsparkled upon their lines of rifle barrels; their faces were hard andscornful; the metal upon their harness shone like gold.
With an almost mystic sense of time Prescott caught the right moment.Sharp, clear, ringing, his voice went up:
"Fire!"
Along the redoubt, and the full length of the breastwork, there was alevel line of darting flame: like a shock of thunder the crash followed.
"Again!" rang the voice of Prescott as one line of his riflemen gaveplace to another. "Fire!"
Once more the flame points sprang outward; once more the crash followed;once more the bullets poured into the British.
The latter received the leaden hail with all the stoicism of theveterans that they were. Briskly they came on, sharply they answered,their ranks melting like wax all the time. But even they could not longface that awful rain; suddenly they wavered, furiously General Pigotsounded a retreat, and as the foe fell back a thunderous cheer went upfrom the colonials, behind the works.
"Good firing," commented Gilbert Scarlett, as he looked to his smokingrifle. "These countrymen of yours," he continued to Ezra, "needdisciplining--yes; but no one need teach them how to shoot."
While this was happening, the line of Stark and Knowlton at the railfence was grimly facing Howe and his oncoming force. The frightful riflefire littered the ground with the British veterans; they broke and fledin disorder.
When this was seen from the redoubt, a tempest of cheers went up. Ezramade out in the thick of the retreat the fine figure of General Howe, asthat gallant officer strove with his men, trying to get them into somesemblance of order.
"See," said the boy, pointing, "he's bringing them into shape. I haveheard that this General Howe is a very able officer; and his men seem tobelieve in him."
"His second attack will be warmer, I think," said Nat Brewster. "He'llknow what to expect, and will no doubt make his plans accordingly."<
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They watched, as did the entire American force, the reassembling of theBritish. And while this was going on the battery at Copp's Hill began tothrow shells into Charlestown; also a party of marines landed upon itseasterly side from the "Somerset" to fire the town.
Suddenly Ben Cooper cried out:
"Look there!"
A pall of smoke was rising above the town; then a fierce burst of flameascended.
"They have fired Charlestown," said George Prentiss, his face paling."They think to frighten us. But it will take more than that."
The buildings were mainly of wood and the fire swept among them,swirling and devouring; huge, far-reaching tongues of red flame curledoutward across the streets, from structure to structure, licking them upand leaving nothing but ashes behind.
In the midst of this terrifying disaster, General Howe ordered hissecond attack on the rail fence. This time his artillery got fairly intoservice; his men, as before, fired as they advanced.
The American officers, grown confident, cried out:
"Reserve your fire. Let them come within three rods!"
This command was followed. When the time once more arrived the Americanrifles spat their messengers of death at the enemy. Whole ranks of theBritish seemed to fall. In the midst of death General Howe cheered onhis soldiers. Two of his aides were shot down while receiving hisorders.
In the face of swift-coming death the soldiery faltered. The Britishofficers were seen to strike some of them with their swords, urging themon. But it was no use. Again they gave way, this time rushing to theirboats and leaping in as though frantic with the fear of it all.
The flames roared and the smoke billowed over Charlestown. At the footof Breed's Hill, the brilliant red-coated and white cross belted menhuddled and massed in seemingly hopeless confusion. The sun glinted upontheir tall brass-fronted hats, their musket barrels threw off countlessdancing reflections. Their officers raved among them in efforts toreform them; swords were drawn, and pistols were presented at the headsof the more stubborn.
Because of this panic among the British and because Howe wascommunicating with the Boston shore, the third attack was delayed. TheAmericans were thankful for this, and spent the time trying to bring upthe further reinforcements sent to them. It was also discovered aboutthis time that the ammunition was all but exhausted.
George Prentiss and Ben Cooper, mounted upon swift horses, were sent tobear this news to General Putnam, who had gone back to bring up the newmen.
"Tell him to send us some powder, or we are lost," was Prescott's lastand secret word with them.
When the two had raced furiously away, some artillery cartridges werepointed out by Gilbert Scarlett.
"Broken open, they would supply quite a few charges for the small arms,"he suggested. "I saw the like done at a small engagement in which I tookpart in Egypt."
This was eagerly seized upon; but the quantity secured was pitifullysmall.
"Don't waste a grain of it," cautioned Colonel Prescott. "Send everybullet to its mark."
But that their officers feared for the result of the day was hidden fromthe men. Both Prescott and Dr. Warren walked constantly up and down theparapet, talking cheerily with the defenders, and advising them how tomeet any fresh onset.
"You have beaten them twice," cried General Warren, for that was therank he now held. "Do it once more; and it will be the last."
While this was going on at the top of the hill, Howe was still raging atits foot.
"I'll conquer the rascals, or die trying," he declared repeatedly.
A reinforcement of four hundred marines had reached him from the fleet.Also he had a distinguished volunteer in the person of his close friend,the very able General Clinton. The latter had twice seen Howediscomfited; so he threw himself into a boat at Copp's Hill and crossedto offer his services.
But some of the British officers strongly advised against anotherattack.
"It will be little less than butchery to lead the men upon that positionagain," they said.
But Howe thought otherwise. He sternly commanded that the men be putinto a soldier-like formation; then with the crafty help of Clinton, hebegan to plan the third attack.
The British commander had, by this time, learned to respect thecolonials.
"They told me that I had a rabble of peasants to fight," said he toClinton. "If it's so, then there are the makings of fine troops amongthose villains on the hill."
In the forming of his last attack Howe had no doubt the sound advice ofGeneral Clinton; for it was better thought out and delivered with morewisdom than the others.
The rank and file were now commanded to lay aside their heavy knapsacks.They had been burdened with these and other useless pieces of equipmentduring the entire afternoon, and this, perhaps, had had its effect inbreaking their courage. Then they were formed into columns.
"Rely upon the steel," Howe commanded them. "Reserve your fire until youget within a dozen paces of them. They shall see that we, too, can fightafter that fashion."
This attack was directed upon the redoubt above; only a sham advance wasmade against the rail fence, in order that Stark and Knowlton's men beforced to hold their position, and so not be able to come to the aid ofPrescott's. Also the British artillery was now supplied with propershot, and was wheeled forward to rake the breastworks.
As the British came on, Ezra Prentiss regarded their compact columnswith an anxious eye. He had had but little experience in warfare; butsomething told him that there was a task coming much more formidablethan what had gone before.
"It looks," said he to Nat and Scarlett, "as though this would be thetest, somehow. This attack seems more deftly directed."
Gilbert Scarlett's black eyes were sparkling with anticipation.
"Our friend, my Lord Howe, is increasing in wisdom as the day advances,"he said. "As you say, it will be a test. If we can hold the breastworksagainst that," and he pointed to the King's artillery being pushed intoits last murderous position, "we will beat them again. If not, we are atthe end of the fight, and can only hope for a safe retreat."
On came the steady, sullen, silent columns. Some of the Americanriflemen had but one charge of powder; and this was poured in withdeadly effect as the word was given. The grenadiers and light infantryshook under the shock, but came on at the urging of their officers. In alittle while the left columns under Clinton and Pigot reached a positionunder the walls of the redoubt where they were sheltered from thescattering and feeble fire of the defenders. Then they deployed and witha rush the first flank had gained the parapet. A leaden hail; the lastconcentrated volley of the colonists swept this into eternity.
But on came the second rank of redcoats over the works with leveledbayonets; the Americans met them with clubbed rifles and the fewbayonets that they possessed. Stones flew through the air, hurled bydesperate hands; rifle barrel rang against sword and bayonet.Desperately the colonists strove; but at this style of fighting theycould not hope to hold their ground against the trained troops of LordHowe. Step by step, Prescott saw them beaten back; their ranks werethinning fast, and hope was past; so with mercy in his heart, thegallant leader sounded a retreat.
So great was the dust thrown up by the rushing feet of the contendingforces that the retreating Americans had difficulty in locating theoutlets in the redoubt. Some leaped over its top; the majority foughttheir way grimly through the British, leaving a track of killed anddesperately hurt behind them. Colonel Prescott was among the last toleave. He parried countless bayonet thrusts with his heavy sword and hiswaistcoat was pierced more than once.
As the Americans fled from the works, General Warren threw himselfdesperately among them. He knew that unless the riflemen were stayed theretreat would become a rout. And it was here that this gallant gentlemanmet his heroic death. The British took possession of the redoubt withshouts of victory; with the instinct of trained troops they formed andpoured a murderous volley into the Americans. Warren was seen to staggerand fall before this; and the
rushing mass of his countrymen passed byand left him upon the field.
"I guess it's all over, boys," panted Nat Brewster. "We'd best make ourway back with the others."
But at this point, when destruction seemed hovering over the flyingAmericans, Putnam succeeded in at last bringing up the reinforcements.Between Bunker and Breed's Hills parts of the regiments of Ward,Gardener and Gerrish poured a continuous fire upon the enemy as theyrushed forward in pursuit, and so checked them. Then the New Hampshireand Connecticut men at the rail fence, who had defended their positionlike heroes, saw that Prescott's men were in retreat. So with that theygave back like veteran troops, compelling their foes to keep theirdistance, and soon the entire American force, with their foemen heldwell in hand, were bearing back over Bunker Hill.
It was at the brow of this eminence that Putnam rode up upon a foaminghorse, his face shining like that of a son of battle. He had laboredwith the strength of a score of leaders upon the works here, but theywere still unfinished. However, that never once caused his bold heart tofalter.
"Make a stand here!" he shouted. "We can stop them yet! One shot more,men! One shot more!"
But the retreat was not to be stopped; the Americans had not yet beenhardened to the desperate fighting in the face of defeat that comes toseasoned soldiery. And many of them had no more powder. And so theypassed over the hill and across Charlestown Neck amid the fire of theBritish shipping and batteries.
Then, with great parade, the British crossed the Neck and tookpossession of the hill that they had, only a few months before,staggered down in the retreat from Concord. But they dared go nofurther; upon Winter and Prospect Hills, and from Cambridge a desperate,smoke-blackened army of patriots faced them, once more supplied withammunition and with the resolution to stand and fight until the sun setand rose again.
Ezra Prentiss, weary and covered with dust, cleaned his befouled rifleand sighed.
"And, after all, it was a victory for the British," he said.
But Scarlett, who sat at his side, likewise occupied, laughed grimly,and cast a look at the orderly but depleted array of the enemy.
"It was a victory for them--yes," said he, with the wisdom of experience."But another such victory would be fatal to General Gage. You have beenbeaten, but you have struck him a vital blow."