History of the Battle of Bunkers (Breeds) Hill on June 17 1775

THE reader of the following pages is supposed to be informed of the state of affairs in and around Boston at the time of the opening of hostilities at Lexington and Concord, between the provincials and the royal forces. The expedition sent into the country by the British commander on April 8th, to seize or desfray the military supplics which had been gathered at Concord, under the full prescience that they would be needed in the final rupture that could no longer be averted, was but partiaily successful in its objects, was inglorious in its whole character and results to the invaders, and decisive only in its effects upon the purpose and resolve of an outraged people. The Continental Consess at Philadelphia was still deliberating, averting a declaration which would break the last bond of allegiance to the mother country, and vainly hoping still to settle the strife by negotiation. Reinforcements of foreign troops and supplies were constantiy arriving in Bostan. Howe, Clintan, and Burgayne came, as generals, on the 25th of May. Bitterness, ridicule, and boasting, with all the irritating taunts of a mercenary soldiely, were freely poured on the patriots and on the mixed multitude which camposed the germ of their army yet to be. The British farces had cooped themselves up in Boston, and the provincials determined that they should remain there, with no mode of exit save by the sea. The pcar-shaped peninsula, hung to the mainland only by the stemcalled the Neck, over which the tide-waters sometimes washed, was equally an inconvenient position for crowding regiments in warlike array, and a convenient one far the extemporized army which was about to beleaguer them there. The islands in the harbar, which were, for the most part, covered with trees and groring crops of hay and grain, with horses, sheep, and cattle, were envied prizes for the soldiers, who lacked fuel, fodder, and fresh meat. The daring enterprise of those who lived in the settlements near on the mainland, attempting the ventures by night, or in the broad light of day, had stripped these islands of their prccious wealth, much to the chagrin of the invaders. The light-house in the barbor was afterwards burned. In the skirmishcs brought on by these exciting but perilous feats, especially in that attending the successful removal of stock and hay on Noddles Island, now East Boston, and on Hog Island, thc provincials obtained same valuable implements and muniments....