Breed's Hill Fortified. Cannonade of the British. The Landing at Charles town. On Friday, the sixteenth of June, the commanders of the army, in accordance with the recommendation of the committee of safety, took measures to fortify Bunker Hill.1 Orders were issued for Prescott's, Frye's, and Bridge's regiments, and a fatigue party of two hundred Connecticut troops, to parade at six o'clock in the evening, with all the intrenching tools in the Cambridge camp. They were also ordered to furnish themselves with packs and blankets, and with provisions for twenty-four hours. Also, Captain Samuel Gridley's company of artillery, of forty-nine men and two field-pieces, was 1 The narrative of the Bunker Hill battle, in the text, is the result of as critical a collation of the authorities as I am able to make. A chronological notice of the principal of them will be found in the Appendix. All of them have been consulted. Great caution is necessary in using the material which controversy on this subject has elicited. It is but just to remark, however, that many of the depositions of the soldiers harmonize remarkably with each other, and with contemporary material. I am indebted to Colonel Samuel Swett for permission to take copies of his manuscripts. The authorities cited as Gov. Brooks, Joseph Pearce, and Ebenezer Bancroft, are statements chiefly taken by him. He states (Notes to his History, p. 3) that any person may take copies of any documents in his possession. A memoir of the battle, prepared by the late Judge William Prescott, the son of Colonel Prescott, and in his own hand-writing, is often quoted. The high character of the author, and his rare opportunity for obtaining information, unite to render this an invaluable authority. I am indebted to President Jared Sparks for this manuscript, and other material. Col. Prescott's account of the action, also an important authority, will be found in the Appendix. The testimony on some points is perplexing and conflicting; and though I have endeavored to frame the narrative without partiality or prejudice, yet I submit it with great diffidence, and will only add, that I feel incapable of intentionally disparaging the services of any of the patriot band who bore a part in this great work. ordered to parade. The Connecticut men, draughted from several companies, were put under the gallant Thomas Knowlton, a captain in General Putnam's regiment.1 The detachment was placed under the command of Colonel William Prescott, of Pepperell, who had orders in writing, from General Ward, to proceed that evening to Bunker Hill, build fortifications to be planned by Col. Richard Gridley, the chief engineer, and defend them until he should be relieved, the order not to be communicated until the detachment had passed Charlestown Neck. The regiments and fatigue party ordered to parade would have constituted a force of at least fourteen hundred; but only three hundred of Prescott's regiment, a part of Bridge's, and a part of Frye's under Lieut.-col. Bricket, the artillery, and the two hundred Connecticut troops, were ordered to march. Hence the number may be fairly estimated at twelve hundred. It was understood that reinforcements and refreshments should be sent to Colonel Prescott on the following morning.5 This detachment paraded on Cambridge Common at the time appointed; and after a fervent and impressive prayer by President Langdon, of Harvard College, it commenced, about nine o'clock, its memorable march for Charlestown. Colonel Prescott was at its head, arrayed in a simple and appropriate uniform, with a blue coat and a three-cornered hat. Two sergeants, carrying dark lanterns, were a few paces in front of him, and the intrenching tools followed in the rear. Col. Gridley accompanied the troops. They were enjoined to maintain the strictest silence, and were not aware of the object of the expedition until they halted at Charlestown Neck. Here Major Brooks joined them; and, probably, General Put 1 The committee of safety account says: "Orders were issued that a detachment of one thousand men should that evening march," &c. Fenno's Orderly Book, June 16, says: "Frye's, Bridge's, and William Prescott's regiments to parade this evening, at six o'clock, with all the intrenching tools in this encampment." Chester's letter says 200 Connecticut men were called for.-Letter July 22. 2 Judge Prescott's Memoir; Gordon, vol. 1., p. 362; Martin's Relation. 3 Prescott's Letter. This was the estimate of the Mass. Provincial Congress. Col. Prescott says, "about one thousand." 5 Brooks; Ellis' Oration. CONSULTATION OF OFFICERS. 123 nam' and another general. Here Captain Nutting, with his company and ten of the Connecticut troops, was ordered to proceed to the lower part of the town as a guard. · The main body then marched over Bunker Hill, and again halted for some time. Here Colonel Prescott called the field officers around him, and communicated his orders. A long consultation took place in relation to the place to be fortified. The veteran Colonel Gridley, and two generals, one of whom was . General Putnam, took part in it. The order was explicit as to Bunker Hill, and yet a position nearer Boston, now known as Breed's Hill, seemed better adapted to the objects of the expedition, and better suited the daring spirit of the officers. It was contended, however, that works ought not to be commenced at this place until Bunker Hill had been fortified, in order to cover, in case of necessity, a retreat. The moments were precious, and the engineer strongly urged the importance of a speedy decision. On the pressing importunity of one of the generals, it was concluded to proceed to Breed's Hill.* 1 1 Judge Prescott states that General Putnam did not head the detachment from Cambridge to Bunker Hill, nor march with it. Some of the soldiers state that he rode up at the Neck. 2 Abel Parker; Brooks; Cleaveland. 3 Brooks says the troops halted at the foot of Breed's Hill. "Colonel Prescott had determined never to be taken alive. A few months before the battle, while he commanded a regiment of minute-men, his brotherin-law, Colonel Willard, was at his house; and endeavoring to dissuade him from the active part he was taking against the king's government, among other things suggested, that if he should be found in arms against it, his life and estate would be forfeited for treason. He replied: "I have made up my mind on that subject. I think it probable I may be found in arms, but I will never be taken alive. The Tories shall never have the satisfaction of seeing me hanged.' He went on to the heights with that resolution."-Judge Prescott's Memoir. 4 * The order was explicit as to Bunker Hill, and the committee of safety account says, "by some mistake," Breed's Hill was marked out for the intrenchment. In Gray's letter, July 12, 1775, it is stated, "that the engineer and two generals went on to the hill at night, and reconnoitred the ground; that one general and the engineer were of opinion we ought not to intrench on Charlestown Hill (Breed's Hill) till we had thrown up some works on the north and south ends of Bunker Hill, to cover our men in their retreat, if that should happen; but on the pressing importunity of the other general officer, it was consented to begin as was done." That the best posi |