GENERAL HOWE'S ADDRESS.

137

Massachusetts reinforcements, as they came on to the field, appear to have marched to the redoubt, and were directed to take the most advantageous positions. In doing this, parts of regiments, and even companies, that came on together, broke their ranks, divided, and subsequently fought in various parts of the field, in platoons or as individuals, rather than under regular commands.

Meantime, the main body of the British troops, formed in brilliant array at Moulton's Point, continued to wait quietly for the arrival of the reinforcements. It was nearly three o'clock when the barges returned. They landed at the Old Battery, and at Mardlin's ship-yard, near the entrance to the navy-yard, the 47th regiment, the 1st battalion of marines, and several companies of grenadiers and light-infantry.' They, or the most of them, did not join the troops at Moulton's Point, but marched directly towards the redoubt. There had now landed above three thousand troops.2

General Howe, just previous to the action, addressed his army in the following manner :

“Gentlemen, —I am very happy in having the honor of commanding so fine a body of men: I do not in the least doubt but that you will behave like Englishmen, and as becometh good soldiers.

"If the enemy will not come from their intrenchments, we must drive them out, at all events, otherwise the town of Boston will be set on fire by them.

"I shall not desire one of you to go a step further than where I go myself at your head.

"Remember, gentlemen, we have no recourse to any resources if we lose Boston, but to go on board our ships, which will be very disagreeable to us all."3

Before General Howe moved from his first position, he sent

did not arrive until near the close of the battle. Similar confusion exists in the accounts of other regiments.

1 Stedman's History; Gage's Account; Letter, June 25, 1775. 2 Gordon says near 3000;" contemporary Mss. say 3300.

3 Clark's Narrative. Clark was a lieutenant in the marines. He says, after giving this address: "We then began to proceed to action, by marching with a quick step up the precipice that led to the provincial army."

our strong flank guards, and directed his field-pieces to play on the American lines. The fire from Copp's Hill, from the ships, and from the batteries, now centred on the intrenchments; while a furious cannonade and bombardment from Boston occupied the attention of the right wing of the American army, at Roxbury. The fire upon the lines was but feebly returned from Gridley's and Callender's field-pieces. Gridley's guns were soon disabled, and he drew them to the rear. Capt. Callender, alleging that his cartridges were too large for his pieces, withdrew to Bunker Hill. Here he met General Putnam, who ordered him to return. Callender returned; but soon left his post, and was soon deserted by his men.3 About this time, Capt. Ford's company, of Bridge's regiment, came on to the field, and, at the pressing request of General Putnam, drew the deserted pieces to the rail fence. Meantime Colonel Prescott detached Lieut.-col. Robinson and Major Woods, each with a party, to flank the enemy. Both behaved with courage and prudence. No details, however, are given of their service. Capt. Walker, with a few men, probably of one of these parties, met with the British near the navy-yard, and fired from the cover of buildings and fences. On being driven in, he passed with a few of the party to their right flank, along the margin of Mystic River, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. The greater part of his men, under a heavy fire, succeeded in regaining the redoubt.*

The general discharge of artillery was intended to cover the advance of the British columns. They moved forward in two divisions, General Howe with the right wing, to penetrate the American line at the rail fence, and cut off a retreat from

1

Page's Plan; Mass. Committee of Safety; Swett's History. Fenno's Orderly Book says: "The fire of three ships, three batteries, several fieldpieces, a battery on Copp's Hill, from six different directions, all centred on the intrenchments."

2 General Heath says, Memoirs, p. 20, "A furious cannonade and throwing of shells took place at the lines on Boston Neck against Roxbury, with intent to burn that town; but although several shells fell among the houses, and some carcasses near them, the balls went through some." One man only was killed.

3 Account of Callender, in the Boston Centinel, 1818; B. Pierce; Israel Hunt. Report, 1775. 4 James Varnum; E. Bancroft; Prescott's Letter.

139

ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH.

the redoubt, General Pigot with the left wing, to storm the breastwork and redoubt.' The artillery, after playing a short time, ceased, and General Howe was told that twelve pound balls had been sent with which to load six-pounders, when

he ordered the pieces to be charged with grape. In advancing, however, the artillery was soon impeded by the miry ground at the base of the hill, and took post near the brick-kilns, 1 Page; Bernier; Gage.

whence its balls produced but little effect. The troops moved forward slowly, for they were burdened with knapsacks full of provisions, obstructed by the tall grass and the fences, and heated by a burning sun; but they felt unbounded confidence in their strength, regarded their antagonists with scorn, and expected an easy victory. The Americans coolly waited their approach. Their officers ordered them to reserve their fire until the British were within ten or twelve rods, and then to wait until the word was given.3 "Powder was scarce, and must not be wasted," they said; "Fire low;" "Aim at the waistbands;" "Wait until you see the white of their eyes;' "Aim at the handsome coats;" "Pick off the commanders."

General Pigot's division consisted of the 5th, 38th, 43d, 47th, 52d regiments, and the marines, under Major Pitcairn. The 38th first took a position behind a stone wall, and being joined by the 5th, marched up the hill. The 47th and the marines moved from the battery where they landed directly towards the redoubt. The 43d and 52d advanced in front of the breastwork. The troops kept firing as they approached the lines. When Colonel Prescott saw the enemy in motion, he went round the works to encourage the men, and assured them that the red coats would never reach the redoubt if they would observe his directions. The advancing columns, how

1 Bernier. The letter in the Conduct of the War says: "The wretched blunder of the over-sized balls sprung from the dotage of an officer of rank in that corps, who spends his whole time in dallying with the school-master's daughters."

2 Stedman, I., 128. "Let us take the bull by the horns," was the phrase of some great men among us, as we marched on. - Conduct of the War. A British account states of the fences: "These posts and rails were too strong for the columns to push down, and the march was so retarded by the getting over them, that the next morning they were found studded with bullets, not a hand's breadth from each other."

3 Mass. Committee of Safety Account. 4 These phrases occur frequently in the depositions, the same one being often ascribed to different officers. Philip Johnson states of Putnam : "I distinctly heard him say, 'Men, you are all marksmen- don't one of you fire until you see the white of their eyes.'

D

I follow mostly Page's plan: Gage's account is confused as to the movements of his regiments; Bernier differs in some points from Page.

6 Judge Prescott's Memoir.

ATTACK ON THE REDOUBT.

141

ever, having got within gunshot, a few of the Americans could not resist the temptation to return their fire, without waiting for orders. Prescott indignantly remonstrated at this disobedience, and appealed to their often expressed confidence in him as their leader; while his officers seconded his exertions, and some' ran round the top of the parapet and kicked up the guns. At length the British troops reached the prescribed distance, and the order was given to fire; when there was a simultaneous discharge from the redoubt and breastwork, that did terrible execution on the British ranks. But it was received with veteran firmness, and for a few minutes was sharply returned. The Americans, being protected by their works, suffered but 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.2

General Howe, in the mean time, led the right wing against the rail fence. The light-infantry moved along the shore of Mystic River, to turn the extreme left of the American line, while the grenadiers advanced directly in front. The Americans first opened on them with their field-pieces (Callender's) with great effect, some of the discharges being directed by Putnam; and when the advancing troops deployed into line, a few, as at the redoubt, fired without waiting for the word, when Putnam hastened to the spot, and threatened to cut down the next man who disobeyed. This drew the enemy's fire, which they continued with the regularity of troops on parade; but their balls passed over the heads of the Americans. At length the officers gave the word, when the fire

2 The British account, in the Conduct of the War, says, "On the left Pigot was staggered, and actually retreated by orders: great pains have been taken to huddle up this matter."

3

4 Page's and Bernier's Plans. Hunt; Wade; Swett. 5 R. Kemp;

Swett.

"Our officers ordered our men not to fire till the word was given. Lieutenant Dana tells me he was the first man that fired, and that he did it singly and with a view to draw the enemy's fire, and he obtained his end fully, without any damage to our party."- Chester's Letter.