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Page 41
"In the course of the night, the ramparts had been raised to the height
of six or seven feet, with a small ditch at their base, but it was yet
in a rude and very imperfect state. Being in full view from the northern
heights of Boston, it was discovered by the enemy, as soon as daylight
appeared; and a determination was immediately formed by General Gage,
for dislodging our troops from this new and alarming position.
Arrangements were promptly made for effecting this important object. The
movements of the British troops, indicating an attack, were soon
discovered; in consequence of which orders were immediately issued for
the march of a considerable part of our army to reinforce the detachment
at the redoubts on Breed's Hill; but such was the imperfect state of
discipline, the want of knowledge in military science, and the
deficiency of the materials of war, that the movement of the troops was
extremely irregular and devoid of every thing like concert--each
regiment advancing according to the opinions, feelings, or caprice, of
its commander.
"Colonel Stark's regiment was quartered in Medford, distant about four
miles from the point of anticipated attack. It then consisted of
thirteen companies, and was probably the largest regiment in the army.
About ten o'clock in the morning, he received orders to march. The
regiment being destitute of ammunition, it was formed in front of a
house occupied as an arsenal, where each man received a gill-cup full of
powder, fifteen balls, and one flint.
"The several captains were then ordered to march their companies to
their respective quarters, and make up their powder and ball into
cartridges, with the greatest possible despatch. As there were scarcely
two muskets in a company of equal calibre, it was necessary to reduce
the size of the balls for many of them; and as but a small proportion of
the men had cartridge-boxes, the remainder made use of powder-horns and
ball-pouches.
"After completing the necessary preparations for action, the regiment
formed, and marched about one o'clock. When it reached Charlestown Neck,
we found two regiments halted, in consequence of a heavy enfilading fire
thrown across it, of round, bar, and chain shot, from the Lively
frigate, and floating batteries anchored in Charles river, and a
floating battery laying in the river Mystic. Major M'Clary went forward,
and observed to the commanders, if they did not intend to move on, he
wished them to open and let our regiment pass: the latter was
immediately done.
"Soon after, the enemy were discovered to have landed on the shore of
Morton's Point, in front of Breed's Hill, under cover of a tremendous
fire of shot and shells from a battery on Copp's Hill, in Boston, which
had opened on the redoubt at day-break.
"Major-general Howe and Brigadier-general Pigot, were the commanders of
the British forces which first landed, consisting of four battalions of
infantry, ten companies of grenadiers, and ten of light infantry, with a
train of field-artillery. They formed as they disembarked, but remained
in that position until they were reinforced by another detachment.
"At this moment, the veteran and gallant Colonel Stark harangued his
regiment, in a short, but animated address; then directed them to give
three cheers, and make a rapid movement to the rail-fence which ran to
from the left, and about forty yards in the rear of the redoubt, towards
Mystic river. Part of the grass, having been recently cut, lay in
winnows and cocks on the field. Another fence was taken up--the rails
run through the one in front, and the hay, mown in the vicinity,
suspended upon them, from the bottom to the top, which had the
appearance of a breast-work, but was, in fact, no real cover to the men;
it, however, served as a deception on the enemy. This wag done by the
direction of the 'Committee of Safety,' as I afterwards heard. That
committee exerted itself nobly.
"At the moment our regiment was formed in the rear of the rail-fence,
with one other small regiment from New Hampshire, under the command of
Colonel Reid, the fire commenced between the left wing of the British
army, commanded by General Howe, and the troops in the redoubt, under
Colonel Prescott; while a column of the enemy was advancing on our left,
on the shore of Mystic river, with an evident intention of turning our
left wing, and that veteran and most excellent regiment of Welsh
fusileers, so distinguished for its gallant conduct in the battle of
Minden, advanced in column directly on the rail-fence; when within
eighty or an hundred yards, displayed into line, with the precision and
firmness of troops on parade, and opened a brisk, but regular fire by
platoons, which was returned by a well-directed, rapid, and fatal
discharge from our whole line.
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