 |
The Death of
General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775
Painting by John Trumbull |
I improve the interim of my suspense to record an authentic narrative of
the battle on Breed's hill, on the 17th of June.
Intelligence had been received that it was the intention of General Gage to
post a part of his troops, within a few days, on a promontory just at the
entrance of the peninsula at Charlestown, called Bunker's hill. It was deemed
important that our troops should possess themselves of this eminence, before
the enemy could occupy it. Accordingly orders were given to Colonel Prescott a
veteran of the last war, with one thousand men to march silently in the evening
of the 16th of June, and throw up some intrenchments on the height of Bunker's
hill. By some mistake they took possession of Breed's hill, which being about
one fourth of a mile nearer Boston, was less capable of being defended. From
some cause, the detachment was delayed in their labor, till 12 o'clock; but
such was their alacrity, that before day light they had formed a small redoubt
and some imperfect line of defence. About 4 o'clock in the morning the British
were astonished to behold the works which had been thrown up in a single night,
within a short distance of their vessels, without giving the least alarm. They immediately
commenced a tremendous cannonade from their shipping, their floating batteries,
and from all their fortifications, which could have a bearing on the American
works. Bombs and shot were incessantly rolling among the provincials during the
forenoon, till the royal grenadiers and light infantry could be prepared to
make their formidable attack; yet one man only was killed; and the Americans
courageously persevered in strengthening their works. They received in the
course of the forenoon a small reinforcement, which augmented their number to
about fifteen hundred, and this was not much exceeded during the day of battle.
It was by an unaccountable error that those people, who had been laboring all
the night, were not relieved by others, nor even furnished with provisions
before the battle. Generals Putnam, Warren and Pomeroy, animated and encouraged
the troops with their presence. At about 1 o'clock, 17th of June, the royal
forces were observed to cross the river from Boston, and land on the shore at
Charlestown; at the head of these veterans were Major General Howe and
Brigadier General Pigot; their force consisted of about three thousand men,
well provided with field artillery. They formed in two lines, their officers
haranging them probably in such language as this. "Those cowardly rebels
must and shall be put to flight. See the dastardly Yankees with rusty guns and
scarcely a bayonet among them. March on, my lads, march on, show them that you
are Britons; show them these dazzling arms, and bayonets bright and sharp, and
you shall soon see them take to their heels and run." Hear the voice of Putnam,
of Prescott and Warren. "See my brave soldiers that phalanx approaching;
these lines must and shall be defended; these are the cruel enemies to your
freedom; they have come to enslave you; remember their barbarous murders of our
friends at Lexington; fight manfully, and they shall be vanquished, reserve
your fire till their near approach; then with a sure aim cut them down, cut
them down, and the victory shall be ours." The regulars deliberately
advance to the attack, the grenadiers in front. The Americans reserve their
fire till the enemy are within eight or ten rods, that they may do effectual
execution; when, by a general discharge of musketry and field artillery,
several officers and men are seen to fall, "their ranks are thinned; see
the ground covered with the slain; see those wounded officers borne off the
field." The conflict becomes close, and such are the fatal effects of the
incessant and furious discharge of our musketry, that the regulars retreat in
disorder and many of them flee even to their boats. The officers greatly agitated
pursue their men and threaten them with their swords; with great difficulty
they are rallied, and commanded to advance again to the attack. The provincials
are prepared, and when sufficiently near, a deadly fire from their ranks puts
the enemy a second time to flight, leaving such numbers of dead and wounded
that several of their officers exclaim, "It is downright butchery to lead
the men on afresh against the lines." At this critical moment Major
General Clinton, who till now had been a spectator with General Burgoyne on
Copp's hill in Boston, passed over and entered the field, just in time to unite
his efforts with those of the other officers for the purpose of forcing the
regulars to renew the attack. The Americans still remain firm and courageous at
their posts; but unfortunately it was now discovered that their powder was
nearly expended, and another supply could not be procured. The enemy now change
the position of their cannon and place them in a situation to rake the inside
of our breast work in its whole course, which at length obliges the provincials
to retire within their little redoubt. The firing from the British ships, and
other armed vessels and batteries, is now pushed to the utmost extremity; the
regulars are impelled forward by their officers, and our redoubt is attacked on
three sides at the same time. Our brave men continue their resistance, and
actually confront the enemy with the butt end of their muskets after they had
entered the fort. A party of our men under command of Captain Knowlton had
taken up a post and rail fence, and placing it against another, filled the
vacancy with newly mowed hay, which served as a slight defence. The British
light infantry attempted to force this little party from their stand, and by
this means to cut off the retreat of our troops. In this they displayed the
greatest bravery, but their opposers poured forth their reserved and formidable
fire in such a manner as to produce astonishing execution, and to arrest their
progress, till the whole of the Americans could effect a retreat. The narrow
neck of land over which alone the provincials could retire, was so securely
guarded by a man of war and two floating batteries, as to render it extremely
hazardous to pass over; but notwithstanding their incessant firing, our loss
there was quite inconsiderable. The provincials were obliged to leave five
pieces of field artillery in the hands of the enemy, finding it impossible to
remove them. But a loss infinitely to be lamented, and which occasions
universal grief and sorrow, is that of Major General Joseph Warren.
 |
Joseph Warren Portrait by John Singleton Copley, c. 1765 |
This
distinguished patriot and hero was, but a few days before, appointed by
Congress to the rank of Major General in our army. Such was his zeal and ardor
that he rushed into the battle foremost in danger with his musket, and
encouraged the soldiers by his example, till near the close of the battle, when
he received a fatal shot and immediately expired. The loss at this crisis of a
man possessing so much public virtue and military ardor is almost irreparable.
But the valor with which he is signalized reflects glory on his memory. It yet
remains to mention that on this ever memorable day, just at the commencement of
the battle, General Howe ordered the handsome town of Charlestown to be set on
fire, that the smoke might conceal their manœuvres. The town consisted of
upwards of three hundred dwelling houses, some of them elegant, and about two
hundred buildings of other descriptions, which contained property and goods to
a large amount, belonging to the distressed inhabitants of Boston. Fire was
communicated to a number of houses, which, being wafted by the wind, soon
reached the sacred temple, when the flames issued from its lofty spire; while
from the conflagration and the embattled field, smoke mingled with smoke in
majestic columns, and ascended to the clouds. This, with the roaring of cannon,
sheets of fire from the musketry, and the awful slaughter, formed a spectacle
which for sublimity and grandeur has never perhaps been exceeded. This most
dreadful scene, with all its concomitant horrors, was within view of a vast
concourse of agonized spectators, posted on the tops of houses and steeples in
Boston, and on numerous surrounding hills, hundreds of whom were trembling for
the fate of a parent, a husband or a brother. Well might a devout person
exclaim, Good Heavens! what a scene do I behold! what carnage of the human
race! what sacrifice of precious life. My God! stay thy hand, restrain a
further effusion of human blood, spare the innocent, let punishment fall on the
heads of the guilty. Is there not some hidden curse in reserve for our
country's foes! At the head of the British army General Howe advanced with
undaunted bravery, continually pressing into the most exposed situation. It is
truly wonderful that he escaped with only a wound in his foot. The valiant
Major Pitcairn, who was so conspicuously active at Lexington, was among the
first who mounted our breast works, and at the moment when he was heard to
exclaim, "the day is ours," the fatal ball pierced his body and he
fell. His son, a Captain, received him in his arms, with all the ardor of
filial love and tender sympathy, and bore him to the boat where he expired. On
the American side, Generals Putnam, Warren, Pomeroy, and Colonel Prescott were
emphatically the heroes of the day, and their unexampled efforts were crowned
with glory. The incomparable Colonel Prescott marched at the head of the
detachment, and though several general officers were present, he retained the
command during the action. He displayed a native daring bravery altogether
unrivalled, and infused the conquering spirit of a soldier into the hearts of
all who were under his command, and crowned himself with immortal honor.
Colonel John Stark commanded a regiment from New Hampshire, and signalized
himself by his active bravery. His very valiant Major McClary was killed by a
cannon ball while recrossing Charlestown neck, which is lamented as a public
loss. On this never to be forgotten occasion a fair opportunity was presented
for the trial of the courage and prowess of the people of New England, when
contending for their constitutional freedom. They marched to the field as an
undisciplined, inexperienced body of yeomanry, rather than as professed
warriors; a large majority of them carrying ordinary fire arms, unprovided with
bayonets, and habited in the style of country laborers. It was their lot to
contend with an army of disciplined veterans, professedly experienced in the
art of warfare, uniformly clothed and armed, and commanded by generals whose
names, even in Europe, are little less than a host.
The comparative force of the two armies was about two to one, against the
provincials, besides the royal artillery ships, and other armed vessels. What
in fact is the result of this most unequal combat? Certain it is, that on the
first and the second onset, the veterans were fairly repulsed, and whatever
advantage was ultimately obtained, was at the expense of some of their most
valuable officers, and the flower of the British grenadiers and light infantry.
These two corps, at the moment of their first onset, lost three fourths of
their number; of one company five, and of another, fourteen only escaped. The
remarkable disparity of loss is a clear demonstration of the superior advantage
on our side. It is an ascertained fact, that of the enemy nineteen commissioned
officers were killed, and seventy wounded; and their total loss, according to
General Gage, was one thousand and fifty four. Of the provincials, the killed
and dead of their wounds, are one hundred and thirty nine. Other wounded, two
hundred and seventy eight. Prisoners by the enemy thirty six. Total four
hundred and fifty three. The provincials have much
being required to describe the mode of treatment in rheumatism, among
other remedies he would promote a sweat, and being asked how he would effect
this with his patient, after some hesitation he replied, "I would have him
examined by a medical committee." I was so fortunate as to obtain the
office of surgeon's mate in the provincial hospital at Cambridge, Dr. John
Warren being the senior surgeon. He was the brother and pupil of the gallant
General Joseph Warren, who was slain in the memorable battle on Breed's hill.
This gentleman has acquired great reputation in his profession, and is
distinguished for his humanity and attention to the sick and wounded soldiers,
and for his amiable disposition. Having received my appointment by the
Provincial Congress, I commenced my duty in the hospital, July 15th. Several
private, but commodious houses in Cambridge are occupied for hospitals, and a
considerable number of soldiers who were wounded at Breed's hill, and a greater
number of sick of various diseases, require all our attention. Dr. Isaac
Foster, late of Charlestown, is also appointed a senior hospital surgeon; and
his student, Mr. Josiah Bartlet, officiates as his mate; Dr. Benjamin Church is
Director General of the hospital.
I am informed that General George Washington arrived at our provincial
camp, in this town, on the 2d July; having been appointed, by the unanimous
voice of the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, General and Commander in
Chief of all the troops raised, and to be raised, for the defence of the United
Colonies, as they are now termed. They are, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. General Washington is a
native of Virginia; he was in General Braddock's defeat in 1755, and having had
considerable experience in the wars with the French and Indians on the
frontiers of that colony, in former years, he is supposed to possess ample
qualifications for the command of our army, and the appointment gives universal
satisfaction. Such is his disinterested patriotism, that he assured Congress,
on his appointment, that he should receive from the public, for his military
services, no other compensation than the amount of his necessary expenses. He
has been received here with every mark of respect, and addressed by our
Provincial Congress in the most affectionate and respectful manner. All ranks
appear to repose full confidence in him as Commander in Chief; it is the
fervent prayer of the religiously disposed, that he may be instrumental in
bringing this unhappy controversy to an honorable and speedy termination. He is
accompanied by General Lee and General Gates; two gentlemen who have held
commissions in the royal army. The former is now appointed Major General, and
the latter Adjutant General, by our Continental Congress. General Washington
has established his head-quarters in a convenient house, about half a mile from
Harvard College, and in the vicinity of our hospital. The provincial army is
encamped in various parts of this town and Roxbury, and some works have been
erected on Prospect Hill, and on an eminence near Roxbury church, within cannon
shot of Boston. The amount of our forces I have not ascertained; but we are
daily increasing in numbers, both of militia and enlisted soldiers. The
operations of the war have interrupted the progress of education at college;
the students have returned to their homes, and the college buildings are
occupied by our soldiery.
SOURCE: James Thatcher, M.D., A Military Journal during the
American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783, pp. 28-36
