DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

OO (2B) was the famous battle of Bunker’s Hill, near Boston, on the 17th June, 1775. When the British General, Gage, fortified Boston, he omitted to take possession of Bunker’s Hill, a mistake of which the insurgent commander availed himself. In the middle of the night a thousand of the insurgent troops stole silently to its summit, and fortified themselves. In the morning General Gage saw the error he had made, and instantly determined to take Bunker’s Hill by assault. About three that afternoon, the British General, Howe, crossed the river with 2000 men, and landing at Charleston, formed for the attack. Not until his men had advanced within a few yards of their redoubt did the insurgents fire, and with such deadly effect, that almost every man in the front line of the English force fell. They were driven back twice, with fearful car- nage, the dead lying, it is said, as thick as sheep in a fold. A third desperate attempt was made; the deadly fire of the insurgents was again poured out upon the English infantry; they staggered for an instant only, and then with a gallant rush carried the earthworks. The insurgent brigade was composed of husband- men, who wore no uniform, and who were armed with fowling-pieces only, without bayonets. They were a fair sample of the stuff out of which Washington had to make an army. As the campaign progressed, the