The New York herald. [volume], June 08, 1875, Page 3, Image 3

About The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920

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no 11s ii rat
George E. Ellis* Letter on the Battle
9f Ranker Hill
Cclcnel Preacctt Entitled to
the Principal Hcncr.
THE ENGAGEMENT.
Why tho Commandant Oare an
Order to Retreat.
te rai ti.m?a or ra* Huti bi
?IIM u?? ot IN skirruuke - il UilutoB and
Ouaeore, <>? Apffu it, ink. ik*r* wer* ?.ouw Britisk
troops in Im iw. Mttul rancor, liMll ana rial*
?km latamed tue i**iib?s *r not a parties. it re
auirra i.at tilU* ior*agi.l u> pereeiv* teal tb*
aunt ef m ? rue* aud outrage oa tua part of ti>?
soldi* ry womd grow ratuer ti,r >uf a lbs tarn* ac
|Ui??e?Bce ikaa taroBjk <*? d*t*rmlnati*a ol re
iisianre ua tae pari of im Provincials. fa* royal
Uovernor kavia? di?oolv*d taa reguarly eooall
im?ti pruvit?i*i A-MNtiai>ir, tae p<-op.s organized,
Mtawiisbel auJ rtcojiilt* I on* of taalr owa,
srhich nodi provtaioa tor iifMUli** aud execu
tive i unction*. tevaral miuor act* of open de
late* war* boldly venturei. Taa people la lb*
eouuiry town* reiua.t rucied taalr aai:itla
eomi>aoiea. lortae* tneuselve* lata corp*
M "minute iu*b," cia?n?i ap their fowl
,ug piece*. and beat what Win at ed lead
ar lr<>a Utr ceuid Bad about ibalr fares*
or worasbops lot* ?lug* to aall lb* calibre ol
tkeirguBe, Iha pi nat au,bar.tie* meanwhile
Mi a n to drmr togttner sack !a*?ar?*a aa ihey
lad la ike shape of military ator**. lite*# war*
thought lo We la aala ?ad ceairal place*, at
Worreater and concord. It We* 10 deatroy Ikoee
la Coucord ikat Ike enterpri** 01 April It ?aa un
dertaken.
A deecripiloa of loadles la neceeary tor a
tall undemanding ol whet la Iw fo.l w by tkoee
who live at a dimaace iroia Ike acene aud even
by many wko live uear lo it, aa lie feaiurea have
Ween eeaemtaily ckauged. Any oa* wko a kaa
dred y*ara ago coutd bav* tlaea la a Walloon aoui*
two or tare* hundred feat above tk* waiera
of Boaton haibor would have looked down apoa a
vary atriklng configuration el lead beaeatk him.
Tb* eight woald bav* eoiu.waat r*e*mbi*d tk*
itreteti*d-out linger* of a gigantic kaad, aav*
that the flogera were ibick**t at taetr *xtr*aiti*a.
Tb* bottom of UaaaachuMtia Hay, la ta* o*atr*
ef wnick la BoetOd, pt*a*Bted a friag* of
promoBtoriea or peoiuauia*. attacked to tbe inaia.
laod by narrow and tide-wa?h<?d neck*. with a
broad margin of aait inar?k, with unduiauag
surfaces rising la tbeir centre* to con
sumable eminence*. of tnese tk* eltee
ol Boston and Cbarloaiowu resembled each otber
enough to bo twins. Tbe area of aolld laud la boa*
ton was tben a little more than l,0oo acrea: o,
Charieatowu u little lea*. Charles luver, wboliy free
from bridge* aud cau?eway?, aud more than
double ita present widtb, rolled Wet weeu tbam,
finding there Ita mouth. On tbe other aid* of
Cbarleatown flowed tae Myetie. making a junction
witb tne Charle*. One might atand on tue narrow
neck whlcb united Ckanoatown to tbe koiid land
leading to Cambridge aud Medford and to** a
atone into tbe water* ol aitk*r riv*r. la tb* ?am*
way Boaion waa uuited to tbe mainland o( H jx
bury by a alender n*ck a mil* long, over wbiea
btgn tide* washed, and which had a wlae border
on *Uo*r side of ooiy and impae*able marsh,
theae two pear-abaped peninaulaa, by their pecul
iar featnrea and configuration, bad q nto aa la
portent bearing on tne character ol tbe battle.
t THB HKITISH ABUT OF Futll THOl?i*D TkOOf*
and murine*, with traaaporra, armed ablps, gun
boata, gondolaa hh uatge* in foil aupply, kad
ehoaen B atoa tor it* flald 01 operati na. Tke aecc
attaching It to Roxoorg was atroagiy tortmed.
Tbe most oealraole object to tbe Proviaciai* waa, of
coarse, to we wboliy ill of tbe pre?enee of tkM
ovei awing reprebentkilvo or a bat* ui. despotic
authority. The next object to be secured was, if
tbey would not go off by tbe jrater, to prevent
their making an enlargement of ibeir cloae quar
ter* by an inroad into ibe country at any poiat.
Thulr camp In Boaton waa overlooked by height*
en the north side. In Cbarleatown, and on the
Booth side, in Dorcaeater, while eevcral bias, ad
mitting effective atrengtnenlug, rose at a short
distance beyond their intrenchuiebts oa Hoxbary
Meek. None of these surrounding beigkte
bad been occupied by either party at tbe
time when tbe Bntiah acnt tbe detachment to
Concord to desiroy tke Provincial stores. Tb*
Oonuusntal Congress, than sitting in Fniiadel*
pi)la, bad not yet ruptured tbe bond of allegiance
to Britain, but waa still trifling over debatee on
remonstrances, supplications and pacificatory
meaaur *. When the demoralized Brltleu lorcaa
were straggling back, exbaasted by tbeir excur
sion to concord, fired on by tbe outraged larmera
and mecnaniea from behind walls, lence* and
' bushes, along to* whol* line of tbeir retreat, ta*y
made a temporary atand for the nigbt on tb*
Heights 01 c'baileatowa under tb* protection of
their armed veeaels. Perhaps, as tbe event
proved, It might have been wiser for tbem to
bave remained toere and held their poeition.
Some ol tnese rsdeoat*. however, were to reviait
the spot under a change of circumstances. The
txpedtiloo to Concord bad put tke matcb to tbe
train.
THB OUTRAGED PABUE1U AND MECHANIC*.
with their mimaters and local orator*, under
Ihelr spontaneous organization as minute men,
sane moled from all tne country town*, aud by
deapatoiies sent by post riders drew like sympa
thizers irom the hills of New Hampshire end the
meadowa of Rhode Island and Connecticut. An
extemporised army, a* yet unorganised, without
regularly comralnaloned and ranked officers,
volunteer* all of tbem. rushed to tbe scene, mak
ing Cambridge a central camp, and streicbing Its
wings nearly rounl tne arms of the bay. There
were among them a few ineu of aome military ex
perience and akin who hau served witb the Kn
gliati lorcea In the French and Indian wars but
fliteen years previously. 'Ihcsu were available
lor general and auhordinate oncers. Tbey
irere for tbe most part couiagoous, heroic
9 ind sternly-resolved men In their patriotio pur
pose. Tbe file of tbe >o-called Provincial Army
wai of such material, element* and character as
Bight be expected of "minute men." They were
men re.idy to rush loosely together to meet su
?mergeucy In their own way, measuring their
own responsibility by their own wl I aud means, not
yet enlisted, as Iree to leave any particular place
as tbey had been to come to It, wltuout accoutre
ment* or military supplies, bringing tbeir own
lood or having It sent to tbem from time to time
by their respective town*, and knowing that tbey
bad hurriedly lelt their farm*, workshops and
(kmlliee at the very season of the year when they
were most needed tor labor at tueir own homes.
Tne Provincial Congre** of Msssacnuoott* iikd
made a beginning in attempting to organize these
material tor its own army. UeuerU Art*ma*
Ward, an old soldier, had been tnad* Commander
in-Ciilef, other* had been appointed to general
tommand^among tbem tho patriot, Joseph War
ren, tnouah not yet corauils*ioned?and bad at
tempted to fid subordinate field poslt.obs with
deference to th* preferences and partialities of
tbe men, who had oceu woot to choo?e their own
officers. At tbe time of the battle in cbailestowa
there may bavo been *om* 16,000 of these Provin
cial soldiers stretched in tbe lines b?tws*n Box
sury and Chelsea. It a*' in* to have been under
stood that the alllea from Now llampanlr*. Con
necticut and Roodo Island, who bad their own
office: s, would, while within tkis province, be un
der tbe order* of it* Command?r-in-Obl*r. Tb*
^000 British troops In Boston at tu* time
of tb* affair at Coneord lu i lBor*k<*d t* at
least 10,000 at tk* tlm* of tk* batu* la Cuarl**
tawn. Many of these were still Id the transports
lu winch they had arrived, some, indeed, having
<<omo on the duy before tha engagement, aim
being landed for the first time to take part In It
found their grave* on tho soil where they ttrst
put iteir leet. The British General Gii{? nad
allowed such of tfte inhabitants of Boston as de
sired lo do ao to 1?ave It, without their arms, and
under a proioitf^ not to eugaire in hostilities
u?minst mm. Many, nowevo , remained to look
alter their affairs. Perhaps au equal number with
those who-left "it. having tory proclivities, went
Into it (or protection irom the surrounding coun
try." The population may have been 18,000, suffer
ing from heaw crowding ana the lack of fresh pro
visions. '
*BBrfl8B BLUNDERS.
At the close of the Kevolationary War it was
charged and admitted, alike on both sides 01 the
water, that the whole management of nearly
every action and campaign en the part of tho
British War Department ana its generals here
bad been a series of blunders. Ueproach, ridicule
and o(!U-lai investigations and censures were
visited on all the parties successively responsible
la the Baiter. These leproaches began with the
severest strictures upon Oeneral Gage in the
planning, method and couduct of the engage
ments at chariextown. Despatches hud just
been inclosed to him lor his future direction in
command hero wheo his returns or the affair in
Ctiar:e*town reached ibe Ministry, and additioual
de?patches were at once transmitted recalling
bun and trans cninir the command to General
llowc. who led the British forces in the assault
up a Breed's il111. It was very easy to subject
ti>e method and the disastrous results of
that affair on the part ot the British to
s itcmlc ami censorious crlticl.sm. But, however
much oi reason there may have been io charging
blunders ami mt?aiauagement upon the mode of
axsalling the Provincial works, it seemed as if
Gave had been uunardonably delinquent in not
hav ing anticipated the Provincials in the occupa
tion of the hills. As already nuirgestoa there had
been an opportunity to do this when the red coats
returned from their inglorious excursion to Con
e rd. The heights could at any moment have
been put under tne protection of their armsd ves
sel*. at the Provincials were so poorly
provided with artillery that they could
lave offered ittiu hindrances. Gage had,
It e<>eiua. waked np to the necessity
oi cn urging and extending the area of (us camp
anj of preventing the rebels irom having the ob
another lower summit, now marked b? tb? j
monumeut us tlia acene of tlio pnuctpal action, ?
the slope or which brought It tae ueareot to Bos. |
ton, the river flowing between it ?uu <'opp'? HM.
Boston, distant about hair a mile. The peain-u.a
of Charlestown tern.tuat <-1 near the month of tae
Mystic, where tue inidge to Chelsea o?>w optni,
In a still lower elevation known um Motiltao'e Hill
and Moulton's I'oint. It woulil seem that *h .e
residents distinguished these three summit* by
taeir respective names they were culled by otier*
by the geueral designation of C'harleatowu lieixhta
or Bunker Lltii.
If the Provincials could have occupied and in
trenched both Bunker and Breed's litll. It would
o( course liavo beeu lor their advantage. But
evidently it waa essential that tho summit nearer
to Boston should have b*en first secured. It doea
not appear that the object of the enterprise was
to give the Provincials the means of assaulting
the enemy in Boston, but to prevent their attain
ing possession of the Heights. Mucu precious
time, however, was spent alter tne detachment
had crossed the Neck la deliberating at what ele
vation they should construct their first works.
JUUTJIWOKKS ON BIlICKb'8 III LI
Decision being reached, the lines were drawn
on Breed's Hill for a redoubt about eight rods
square, and the digging began at midnight. The
sally port, with its blind, waa on tho Mystic side,
and an earthen broastworn was begun on a line
with the Boston side of tho redoubt. This was
supplemented by an outwork ouo teet to the rear
of it ami with a trap o( 700 teet betwc n them
which there was not time to fill. The outwork
was a stone wall, abont two teet high, with posts
supporting two rails. Other fencing mutter was '
hastily gathered, and, being set parallel to this,
the space between was filled with the new mown
hay on tho ground. This ran down toward the
river, and proved of great service during the day,
ana also In aiding the final rctrettof the Pro
vincials when diiven from the redoubt. A few
straggling trees and one or two barns were also
turned to account. It is remarita'ilo how effective
these works were, considering how little time
and how scaut the material afforded for them.
Ttiey served for protecting tho legs, of wtiioU our
soldiers were especially thou?hr.iul.
H was even more remarkable than these prepa
rations should have been made on a qulei, star
light night, with a waning moon about midnight,
while the enemy had no Knowledge of what was
going on in such close proximity. At least four or
their armed vessels were floating lu the channel
NMtn *??# mm* ?b?uf? it vu not ml
after tbe ui< 11 itaa that uair 'ft * laaviag I. Br
w u ? i f with t MNr u i i m*n and tbeir
iMMilt anaaueata, ? t .? hartwr an J
? .4* ft iu4ti| at ll< alM1* Fatal. l<? a uluad?r
of ibelr t. <-t <ii i<r<*uai>c* ?. ? a -a- < wticn t>a
amt o\f waa '0* * ??? Oar tbeir eaaaoa. 11 *
tit r. wbtaa ??*? hi tactMad ia a?aa?a ta aul
tbair 0 ?t aesaalt. waa ol rrnt aarv ra ta t?.e
rrovtactai*. Tit t lata, aim uian WWI
.?aid?, v41 ica iat?rveti? i batata m- a ?# '* iliu
and ttia iDUaacotaau ia, ate a tup'-ae 1 thair sove
meata.
Ida ram ara, ta taa auuauar of about t?? taou
aand, wcra under tbe cwaiaaaa of Vaaeral Howa.
Alio a aa he perceived taa ttreagth at the Pro
vincial works aa 1 toe nature of the impediments
beiore bis be ? >nt a r-.-n'je t to um.rai Uaire lor
reinforcementa. Tlieaa lauded at ibe po--e*ialto
of tbe Itif Yard. Hurgotae aod eiiatoa, fraai the
buttery ou Copp's Hill, aided Hie Ore ir cu tne
snip*. Tua iattar. at a critka. polat la tba con
flict. mortlfled by what M bad a en in t?ro re
palaea oftba regular*. cam* over btaMeir aa a vol
unteer wlta mora reiBfurcemeaw. letting into
account with the rank aad Ola of tae Eagl ?<i army
011 the ground, the marines the rata in tba ara d
vessels aud tba battery n C?pp's filtl aa taa avail
able roicu of tba enetuy a - aaiiy an,'age l tbrougH
tire day, it la lair to a?*.gu 4 001 a? in estimate oi
their nunner*. Ibare certain:? ?ere not n.ore
thuu 3,000 serviceable men engaged on the Hide or
tbe Provincial*. We Dad bur nx pieces of artil
lery, and tbese wore poorly aervud and did but
little execution.
THE ACT I.J v.
Without going Into details, it la auffl tent to
make a general summary or tua even * of tne
duy. While the flrst detachment of tne
regulars were waiting tlw arrival or their
reinforcement*, they rested leisurely on
Moultou's 1111! and parook of a hearty lunch
with some comforting draughts. The airlit
was aa aggravation to the wearied men In tjio re
doubt, who bad no food and no water, under a
scorching sun. There bad been two barrel* or
wator In the redoubt, but tUe.ie aad been atovc by
a shot lrom one of the shirs. General Warren
arrived at the intreuebment* Just aa the action
wit* to commence and avowed bis purpose
U> serve as a volunteer. A noble aot, especially
as he hud thought tne enterprise nnadvisablc.
There were two point* lor attack and defence
to divide the attention or tho Urltis't com
mander?ihe redoubt and tbe rail feace. Onr
more a?>grav.ited an-I tnorcirying. The burly
1 lieure ot Itunam on horseback haa been
tt ii cwor-.nu over me whole fljid, except
l>*rliapi at the redouut, during the aay.
rw.ce, at liMt, he rode between Cam
bridge ??*! ODarlestown. Ills consuming wish
I and p upoae wvra to have Jmuke" Hill mtrenebei
sn<i o*- upied, an i even alter the retr<*a fr im the
rrUoubi and rail leuce b ifati lie implored the men
to make a ?tan i <-n that Uigaer summit. Hut wfeu:
couiU ihejr buve iiuae iheref There was not at
Itte t.me j owder cuou 'h lu the Cfanbridge camp,
?anil/ even in tne i'roviuce, to hare euaoled the
inen to ho id that summit, tven liad it been lortl
13. !, -if aui.tt the regiments and the marines of the
I riu -h. Tbero were oiner hills closo by la
? :iar.estown, Cambridge and Medfora which
answered the purpose of the Provincials for their
f.i. her work as well or better tbau would
tiife been an exposed occupancy or Bunker
!l?.; after tney Uaa lost Breed'a Hill.
THI? CASL'ALTIKS
of the day's action on the aide of tbe Provincials
wi r -li6 kiil'0,3t)5 wounded and SO taken prison
er* in all 4A0. In lu* return to the British War
!?? p ruueni Qeneral Gage acknowledged a loss of
U** u?en, rnnoiij whom were 13 commlasioned of
ficer nill'-ti an l 70 wounded, ot course It was
too' gut bjr the Provincials that he would under
h .??? m- 1 sm, Which they estimated at 1,500. His
uiiii is un la tne ufl ur was in tbe prtvileue oioccu
p> lug and .lo .'ii'! ag CharlestowQ, as well as Bos
ton. Mioug formication* were raise 1* by him on
be tu bi n. During *.he beats of aumraer, while
tiio aumtier of tb" sick and wound d In Boston
aim *t bred a pestilence there, tbe enlarge
ment of bis quarters, to even so slight
a deare, wai a sain to him, but
tbe wtnt r'i cold and atorui.i wore an equivalent
oi:-"t. in the meanwhile the Provincials strenuth
eucd nbelr lines through their w&ole circuit,
w.i-jins'on arrive i at the c.irnp as the nation's
chief military officer on July 3, and superm
t. n led ail the m'-asurea lor organizing the army,
cli'tely oetewuerl g the enemy. in tne follow
ing March General Howe, who aucceeded Gai?e,
ua\ ing strangely ueglectotl to occupy the heights
of Dordn-ster, ttieae. after much secret prepara
tion, were deliberately securod by the Provincials,
many circuni nances favoring them. Howe was
then b 'ueath itieir guns, wtitch, however, could
no; ba turned upo:i Uost(>n without Injury to our
property, lime therefore waa allowed the un
welcome visitors to pack np and take to their
ships. GKOlvUE E. ELLIS.
! IIiirrl?hur<j by a long fmeeMMion of Speak?r? of
tllf l/},;lal.ltlir<- d >Wn HI ItlVSrtlN mm ttevoiu
tioiiary relic witii a pi-cular interest.
Tif k i.arTUH.
The lotluwiuif letter kivus the hiutory of ibtl
curiosity:?
To llli KxeHlener Jon* K II tKTmnrr. fJ.iveruort?
I lwve the lioWf to plsr-u in your liuod* an ancient
iuksluiid and Mild box. llio history ut wlueh i? a? lol
lown:?
In ilia year 1S41) then- was pi#' 1 in my custody a
iuiall silver tray, couiaiuiiiu hi nut .in ) nwm! holder of
tile ?line material. At that lime ira.iion held that
tin w.isille iiiksl.uid used Liy I ha freiidciit ol the Coir
ti Denial i oiitfrua* ut tlic time the UfCluriUim or Ameri
can Ij; ..? j.u . i?' ? I took . (???lit interest U
i obtain a? rnuc.i information us waj pu-sibiu t<> establish
It* IdeuUiy. ull l m?deitn|llir;e? ou ttic subject. iluriu|
several ji'iiib succeeduu 181U, iroui then aired publn
muu, una the remit ui my iuventitfatioiia re
suited in ooaviucilitf mu of the identity of thii
oue with that unoil by (lie tlmt i>>u.ru?s. im
; lato venerable '1 human U. Uurrows. ut.urward* -a
j puriuteiideut of < ominoa Schools, told me that ho had
uiiul< 111 i 11 utu inquiries rerf:?r?lt:iif this stand man v yean
previously. uiul iliak lie" had U) doubt ihat It was tli<
huiiio t!? ut bold the ink used b.v tliu signer* of the Declara
tion. 'lUu iu(u II,HI. . tioiuas McUoUon, who will oe re
membered una uiau who required the mow positive and
couolusive evidence to convince his mind, wan alien
thusiusuc believer in the tact that this was tbe "lude
peiitleuco InlutMiid." Due incident will show bow
mucu be lelt ou the subject. When llarrlsburir wai
thrcatenod by tliu rebel army in 18U.I i.e ami
per-on.illv to 1110 aud silid, "If the rcbell
come lino ilarrisbiiru bo Dure and hide Id i
?uiu place "Independence In&a and." ihls .laic
stand bail been in my custody uninterruptedly
ever since law. ami 1 can vouoli lor it being the ona re
ferred to by the gentlemen 1 have uaineil. It wait uaed
verv many year* prior to 1849 by speakers of the House
ol kvpro.ii-iit itl\ua. I have been particular in thu? en
tablislnii/ its i'lciitiiy in order that otuers who may
ha , information regarding it, irom I7rd to Idttf. uiar b?
assured that ilils is the same oue usetl to mv certain
knowledge ut lli.it period by the .-peakcr* ol the iioase.
and reputed ti> t>J trio 'ludepend ? nco lultsiuud.' The
near approach Ol ilin ( ciirennlal anniversary ut our in
dependence renders it jiarticul <rlv appropriate ihat
this interesting relic be placed in your custody lor aocti
disposttion as lour fcUcullcncy may doeiu proper. With
much respect! am yours, <*rc., JoH.N A. aMUJLi*
Haurisbcro, April I'J, 1575.
A WXfiM 0PTHX
mwnxMa urn.
on the 17* of June OT5.
MTWIE? HIS IfAJISTYS T"R0
TO3JIRTHI COUMAVD OrnVGEUEHALHD
AND THE REBEL FORCES,
IBy Lieu! PAGE of tfic Engine eta.
lr??<T* j?U Hunxtrt 1UI. VnuHnrfr Toiai.
TIIW OT CjUKLtaTOim 6c. TR0MBE1CCK rULI^BOSTOy. tgjm
?Ion* advaaiaga or poia*??|nr tM nciynu oa
fitter aid* of Klin. Watchful apw* and imortuera.
chiefly brtfffet ant at>nakv boys and a few ??r*1c*?
able wvati r*aaiBing ia Kixtoa, were alwaya oa
lb* n ert to watcn tee mov?ia?at* of inrni*my
tad to ooMBUBte^tr i'.t*iiig*iir* i,? ?uua.a or by
eroaaiBf th* rtfer In akllh, tad *t*a by *vta?i|
at nlffet. !? ibi< war it ??a*e to tar **< wt*<w* of
th* Provincial* thai th* Britlak iotc>* w*r* to
attempt th* ooeupatloa of ir r H* ght* of DorebM
taroi June 1* It wa* to aniuipaie thl* a vr
?eat that th* ProTiBctal* r*aa:?ed to f.v* th*
enemy t>a*tBM* on the oti.tr .it* 01 tb*ru t>? ana
lac apoa th* Height* 01 Caarleatova.
mi aaaaieaw ru?i
Tha? th* whole moremeut oa oar nart w <? a
hurried oao. aaproparad, * .i,i*ai? fiimi^r < ?<!,
wttBout opporinnlif lor deliberate arraageaeat
aad the ptwewwa ol moire**, and n or# ihaa
ail. It waa aot at proved ay ai. ?>t aar officer* aor
a l the member* af th* roaaitie* or aafety.
Warrea, ta* aioat roB?ptt-aon* uiiia oa ear ?ie*.
had Bot countenanced Ik I' ea. it aa<l Imam
were ardeativ ta i***' af It. I <? taci* are i*
It Kept ia view a* aroabilag iur and to a large
?xuatpauiauac. tb* lack ? 14 ucart, ia* m?
?iob, th* dleordir and dl.traetio* wai a ao *?eif
i aracterired t * coadaa* aad ?r ua** of UM a*y
?n our parr, not w t B* audi a j a* aer.t* acUoa 1
th* ai?a waa wroapai aa<l dt-rtaded tee latreaea j
arat* ob Breed <* mo. i her* baa a at aaaa ***?
one wh< i* i?r ior pr?p*r?uea.
ua th. afieraooa of iaa* u u*n*rai *erd i?mi
aa ord*r to Coioa*! Wuliaa frwmtt, of terwu*
wbo aad beea aa o?r#r la tae Preaea oar.?? ta*> !
wita bin a d*tet-aa*tit ai ao?u i ?. ?a*a *a>?
o. c n). tBireacb aad *w?d th* d.iili a af C *<???
town. Altar a pr.j*r from raa km mb?wf in*
college on t?abru:ge itiaoi b* a
*tari*d at aboat aln* a"clac?, nMdtag ta* ?eeraay
o: darkn **. Tb* a?a did a^t inn* ua wbai *r
r*Bd thei wi* Mat aatii taey iaai ?p w.ia ta*
cart* iaa*a wiih ta* tatrcac* ag teut* mm ta.rM
io?? d >e a. rn* order a. t?>* .. an > ?*?? ? f
watch had CllM ?d he *a erpria*, bad designate i
??UuBkcr Ull " a* ta* >pot far ib* ia'rea?eia*aia.
and ait*r th* *a?ac?a*a>, in ib* off. .a r*. ,n of
It, It Wa* Mid I hat tb* wcu,.!. :i 1 IM Otbai
summit. ria.. ar*ed'* Uai, *a? a a .take, in
r^aaon aud p*.ua*ncr of rb.a eper* ioa
do aot appear to aa. Of m* flt* *?*???.>. *
of laad wn*oh tn n ro?e oa ia reai-.au a o
cbariaatowa, tbr** *r* lavoir*d ia im ana t oa
Jau* IT, 1775. iho bighe.t oi title, aW*d i.uuter
Ilia, waa tarthMt from tloaton. A rat ey o( law
ground and aoa* paataraiaad Mparataa th ?ir*at
of tbe Charles. I'rescotl, with a guard, went
tfowa to tat ebore to ni.tke sure agamm a surprise,
lie beard rue cnea or the sentries, "AMU well,'*
end wot bick to keep hit in-.n vigorously at
w rk ou tli? limae oarlli of their defences. The
?uormnc Unlit oioke euriy on that, one of the
torijftat dan of the year.. Almost with its flrit
bfimi, which ?*; o?M the intrepid laborers on
Hrecd's II I and the nature of their midnight
work, a boming cun irorn on* of the vessels,
almost immediately followed by a volley, nroneed
the sleeping popu atlou of Boston. citisens and
aoMlara, to cc>a* lortb and e. nterai>late the acenc.
Amassment and eoasternatlon s-lzed niton them,
aa from bou* to ??, frees and every height of
fr< an I mat admitted of a view they realised that
the day waa pregnant with eorao vital Usaes.
Ibe eartbwo ft* i>a?i neeo raiaed to between six
anirveo aat.aad already afforde so sufficient
? protection that the shot iro n the vea?ela had
bat ii'tie eR?ct. Ibe n.en en tinned to work en
li ? several inirearhmen is tin II near noon. They
1*1 ft>rne ij?i me grouatl t.ie previous mgnt
wild the andrrstaa nag or exp?c'aron that they
? ere 'a be rein' ..ced la the tutmlng. some of
teem aaemed to taia? that after their exnausiinj
|ui| they o (hi to an relieved br a fre?h furoe f. r
tae ii# ti re ai tae works. A portion 01 tbo officer*,
la a rauneti ca, e i i.y Prescott. wore of tlila
OJ iai-.?. and evea protested againat the exaction
sf IM
tV'T KIR I.ITT ?OB WtlBtlD HEX.
Bat Preacott wa? Arm la instating tnat tbo men
waa bad raieee tae works were beat otted and
? ell ? ttine i to -aa honor of deieading tbom. Uo
Imparted to ar?l * taeiu hie own ardent resolu
tttfb ana c ?araga ae-ttnag t iem that tlie enemy
wet. a a?t u* Itk i to attempt a direct aaaamt.
The ?oa.tt>t?a aa.i atfifaat.iH wlilea charadenacd
ai ;ae t.?eaMrit* ai la* Provincials ontooeoi
tae tf>treac &a ?, l-r tb remaiuder of tbe dar,
wefa r,er at rlMMMt t> a?abt and anxiety
?a aa par. o ueae ai Ward a-, to tbe protiaoie
p. >ie af tae i-aem>. am me r erme 1 ve*aeia tbey
rated tee a*< k a < Uarieeto-n and mace an com
aatnaiiSu * tie vamriige terribly natarduus.
ptruare tbey ai>cat lea> at ibat ne:t and cat off
ibe ?ie ecbeteu ? ?? t seriaae#w? Height*. Per*
a ape iae> ?.,at a*ta a ruafc lor be ceatra of
the Previa?al camp. to ll Wa* alike baa
ardoae t<i eau, eft reiak?rcmg i>>riie? to the
pent t ll? taaeaway and to retnee the
(urea n at atglti be aee iei at Cam .>ttdge. aa it
waa. tbe eaeaiy aept up tnr u^a tae dar a
ngoroaa ftoaaeereaeat af Ue?t?ary to engage at*
teauaa Mi tui aueeuea. i heir piepuiuesi ut
weak point was tb* uudefeoded crap between
them. Our main deficiency was the lack 01 am
munition and bayonets. The enemy made three
distinct assaults on both parts ot onr works, in
the first two tbey were repulsed with great loss,
our men, by direction and the stern oversight of
Prtacott and Stark, reserving their Are till tbe roe
waa within six or eight rods. After the second
sisault and Its repulse Howe sent over orders to
Bargojrne, on Oopp's Hill, to set Are to the town.
Uo was obe;ed, and the thickly settled part of
Ohsrleatowu, the houses of winch bad been moitly
deserted, was laid in ashes. The Uritlsu
officers were mortified and maddened
at seeing "the linen soldiery In the
world'* compelled twlcc to show tlnlr backs
to a haudiul of rustics whom tbey had represented
as mere poltroons, noico of the regular* were so
?trlcken with panic as even to make lor their
boats. Their officers were seen to itoa>l tricm on
and prick them witn their sworn* for the second
and tsird assaults.
The third assault was successful. There were
then less than two hundred men in the redoubt,
ti eir ammunition wa<* spent, and not fifty of tnem
hud oayonoie. But tliey made a gallant stand to
the last. Tbey clubbed their muskets and evea
tsrew the loose bioody stones around them at tbe
Invaders, Howe had discovered the weak point
In our defence*, and uy a vigorous rush ixjhind the
breastwork he carried it. Tno men leit in it, now
in effect unarmed, retreated Uy leave of Prescott.
A little longer deience at the ran icnce protected
tbia retreat, though Warren jell juat after ae )eit
tbe redoubt.
TUB HKRQIC PROVINCIAL COMMAS0Kit
of tbedar, though conspicuous v exposlug himself
and in peril during the whulj action, escaped uu
bartuou, bia apparel pierced and torn. Prescott
had been so undaunted by the sceue and its re
sult tnat, on his return to Camoriuge, he lm
plored Oeneral Ward to give bim two fesh rogu
meats, promising to retake tne around tnat
mgbu He complained bittetiy tsa: he bad not
6e?n mnioreeo, as ne had sent an urgent appeal
in the lorenoon by Major Brooks, afterward
Governor of tbo State, for such reil*C The c?r
cuiasiancea already referred to, wnlen left \?srj
so uncertain about tbe movements of the enemy
a ad tne extreme difficulty oi (assing any urge
companies of men a:rojs unariestown Neck, must,
at least, accoant lor the setmlug inefficiency of
tse Provincial Commanaer-iu-Coiei. as to
any blonder* commuted on either side
daring the wrote action It woold bo diffi
aait to say on wbieh aide they war* tno
NEW JERSEY AND THE CENTENNIAL.
The Centennial Commissioners of New Jersey
hare issued ttj<* following circular under the date
of June 10, 1874:?
ftrit?Toe In eraailocal Centenniul Exhibition
to be fteM next year, in Philadelphia, will ?>e
op ne<i on J J .1 y 10, 1.H76, and continue f?r six
aaoutus, closingNovemoer loor tne aame veaV.
Seoon l?l'hia Kxnibition win brine tcoosands of
visitors daily, not only nom all oi our < wn
country, but irura every part ol tne civiluee
world, offering a rare o. portunity of snowtog
good I.
Third?\i is Import?nt, therefore, that New Jer
sey nuouid be re. relented in every depurtnent >f
productive industries, as well ai her choice nat
ural p>o'lnets, and by this means open new mar
ker ior fit;? multiplicity of niauuiactured urticiet.
ID ? id r to ti*e mil auvautege oi tnu
uueqtiaile chance ol displaying goods. it u of u.e
ut iioaL importance that application* ;or apaej i>e
ma i<! at tne earnest possu >le moment.
fi.fih?A pampnlet civing mil directions about
th?- L'.uMit!. uiion of goo is for exhsi itlon will oe
matieo t<> ui! applicant* frnrmtms office.
Sixth?Xin- exhibition of blooded stock and hor
ticultural "to .ii i* will take place durinir the
moutns of September ;<ud Oct?i>er, ts7e. Pall di
rections for these will i>e sunt out oftiua oillce at
an euriy .ate. Cereals inieuoeu 10r eJthib.Uon
Must ii.- grown in is; >.
&eventh? rue reception ol goods for exhibition
at tlia ouilding# wn begin on January 6, 1(178, a; 4
close taree moutha later. April 5. All s.'sce not
occupied bj April y will be lolleiied.
Eighth?AUoieaa tne secretary, at Centeonlol
commisswn Ortlco. irentousor box 10 Newsrk
Post office. Any communications ma. alao ua
forward ;d through the District i omiutailoners.
3 v.Vil'KL c. Uituwtf. president.
P. r. QL'ink, secretary.
A REVOLUTIONARY ECLIC.
BESTOBiTION TO INDEPENDENCE itAI.L OF THB
INK .k'.aI) USED BT THE BIQMEXa OF i HI
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
PniLADKLnii%, June 7, 117).
An Interontin* ceremony took plaoe at Inle
peidence Hall thia moruitig. standing beside the
table on winch :ne Dec<aration of lndepea ience
we" signed Mayor stogiev received from the hamu
or Major i iing. the indoiatiga < e gentleman woo
baa > harge of the restoration ol tne o;d hell *n
ancient ailvar luKstand, which taere la every
toascn -or believing waa the one use! by the in
mortal signets on toe 4th of July, 1776. Tats in
valuable and authenticated redo o insists oi a sil
ver tray, with a ?a-;d o >x in the middle and an
mktio dor on own aide, it was made by Philip
Byng, silversmith, and coat atAi 16a. Its nse, first
by tn ? Oeuerai Assembly, t .en by the President of
< ongma, tien by the signers ot the Declaration,
tutu by Qsimal Washington and eiteiward at
WEST POINT.
A BAINSTOBM AND A CAVALBT DRILL?A
KIFICEST SCENE AMONG THE CLOLD8.
JUNE 7, 1875.
it was quite a stormy day today in the Iligl*
lands, a storm day of mat kind which can only l*
witnessed lu tlie Old Cro' nest Gorge. The great
bUck clouds swept fro.u tne northward, rushing
down the hills, urged on by a roaring wind, wblcii
ruriled the waters of the river Into a period
seethiu;r mass or intU-like foam. Wnen the wind
struck tne hotel the tiecs about bent almost
double, and the building seemed to fairly quiver
under
THE MIGHTY WEIGHT.
The clouds us driven fought savagely lor mastery
over one another, and durme the struggle there
went up mnall fleecy clouds, liguter in appearanco
tiisu tne great ones beneath. Por a moment the
darkness was Intense, but suddenly the ram
came down in torrents, and there went up on all
?ides bright
U0LI)-KI>GKD CLOUDS,
which seemed to dance wutijoy iur tho brightness
thrown upon them. I'hen in >re ?as a calmness
or t.ie waters lar to the north, and tne straugf
sight ? as seen ot a rainstorm ut one place ami S
clear sky wr ii the ?un sinning brightly at aiiomei
simultaneously. The Hoard 01 Visitors were do
lighted witu
THE STK A.N GENE 88 OF TUB SKltlT.
Owing to the storm the drill was a cavulry drllL
anil, of course, clicited the ap; lausu of even the
ladles, wuo had been driven beiore tbj wind on
th<> plains in a niucu less graceiul way thau had
the \ussar girls before me bayonets of the cadets.
The wind iu its capers had one advumuue
over tho women thai the c.tdefs had not?it did
not caro whetner it wji talked at or uot. The ex
amluations are sun progressing finely.
TH? V AS SAB LADIES AT WEST POINT?CADETS
INDIGNANT? UNF.VIB CBITIC1SMS BT "ON* Ot
DENNY HAVENS' DOTS" AND "A OBAY CADET.*
Wasr Point, N. Y., Juue 6, 1S7S.
To the Editor of tuk Uehalu: ?
We ask me privilege of a lew words concerning
the articles lately published In your columns,
signed "Oue ot Benny Havens' boys" and "A Gray
Cadet." There is general indignation among
cadets at tho tone nssumed lu ttiese communica
tions; and we feel sure that no one of our number
Is tne ungailaut author of them. Ii we cannot
disown them, we will at least their sentlmanta.
We hope the fair students of Vassar win not
for a moment believe us guilty of toein
aud will allow no outside scribblers to
affect in any way the friendly feeling
which we are sure exiats between them
and the corps of cadets. The writer, being ?
member ol the Bachelor Clab, is not personail]
interested except to see fair play, and desires ti
remove toe fuse impressions conveyed by tnt
articles reerred to. Pirat, with respect to thi
charge. -*006 of Benny Havens' Boys" wishes 11
understood that the young laaiss ran and wers
'?scared to deatn."
have heard their conduct spoken ol
with admiration by many cadets, and, moreover,
It was our lortune to be In their Immediate viow'
lty duriug the hottest of the firing. Altliougl
nearly surrouuded aud almost deafened or tm
110 se we did nut ses a tingle youutt lady run,
but many ol them were laughing and aiw
parent!/ enjoying the adventure. We did see two
oi the sterner sex seeking shelter as lam as their
legs could carry iitin. u occurs to us that poasi*
bly they were tne gallant so-siyi?d "One of Beuny
Haveus Boys" aud "A Gray Cadet," lor such con
duct only could be expected of thoso so unaener
ous as tne at>ove nave snown themselves to be if
their communications. We know the ladies were
surprised at the suJden charg-, as anybody natu
rally would have been under similar circutu.
stances, but we believe the fair students did not
lor au instant entertain any Idea of oelng harmed
by the charging battuiion. We were sorry, ludved.
to place them in such a trying position, but
tae command to cnarge was given, and foi
us there was no alterua'lve. Nat a piece wai
nted until we were assured that Vassar was saf?
iron harm. The officer wuo complimented tsets
on their conduct was no nollday soldier, out Knew
waereof be spoke, and, moreover, is not given t?
, empty compliments. *
"A Gray Ca<iet" complains aboot extra dati
imposed upon as for the benent of onr guests,
rms is one reason why we believe him to be ns
caiet at all. No one of our number would have
| been so contemptioie as to make such complaint
uuder any circumstances; out the truth is we
> simply went througn our regular routine of drill
I ana parade. lhe?j eveS did not seein
as tedious as u-nal, owing to the belief
that we were affording entertainment" to our
tair visitor". \v nat he sija about "compulsory
flirtation is simply aosurd and unworthy of no
tice, except ti) say that the dignified and becom
deportment of our Vassar neighbors was s
subject a common remark in the corps, and
parti's n0 opportu,":y lwr criticism by ootsids
i hat we were disappointed at not belnar Invite#
??.. ?.u Powell Is auother production
of a ii brilttftiii liuu^inutloti. We had so rets 11 to
expi ct sue a invitation, and the idea ol It never
occurred to us. We would not nave been allowed
to accept it had such ueeu given. We wi>m<f
to laK? Ul) lD the othei
utikiiHi remarks cont&iue<l in the two oorumu
rwcati.ius, out lear trespassing on your vat
uaule space, .mi would simply add a word ai
to the Intimation that the Vassar students na<
received no Invitation to visit us. We are sar
pnsed that ?n.n an ungallantry should comi
ir. m one who has lakta tao liberty to sign him
self --one ot Benny Haven*' Boys." in tne first
place, we are not aware tnat any invitation in
sucn a case is necesiary, and moreHver, we know
that there was no foundation (or ibis charge.
\ 44sar witi never lail lu its anoual visit to West
Point ior vant of mntation irom the corpc ol
cadets. We nope that hen-alter any parties try.
lug to eow dissensions between us will confine
thvmss.ves to stiacks on us, and not rely m
largely on their imaginations when aJdresaina
ti e Iichald. la this case we promise to haa"
with mem patiently and remain anon t.
_ A CAOIT,
TUB COLLEGE OF l'HABMACY.
r*n Ei.ecno* or a it* hoard of rrrabmacy.
The ?t*te law oi mt?. Teg mating the .raotioo
of pharmacy and tae salt of poisons," require*
that the members of tho col.ego ol I'tiarmaey m
the city oi Mew Ten shall, oa the first Monday ta
June ol each period ol ttroe years alter UTi, at i
special meeting beid for that purpooa, elect in
:omi?etent pharmacists, three of whom snail tM
Ugailyeonstituted ,-oiiogo o
tae city or Wo* tor?, to form a Board of Phao
ma.-y.
w,** r,f6 * last night. Tho Prott
deut. W. UailuO, was la the etiair, and M L m
u* **tretnry. ln?-re were ooi
t??n y-oi?e members ure?eni out of a cvrooratios
Iff1?**' l l0v "distsred oru#
fUitikTM secretary ie?<i hie report, irosa waich
it appeared that the college re: reaea a L17S re*>a
toreu d, uggis.s. us Sn aaUt.TL
(list en.mg cti,e to ?ver l.uoo.ooo o tH-onso is
im'.ti?" ?1>,,r4l,* ,t# ,?-t three ye-rs ?o totd
amount received nom a I eovrers we? l> iu ?ns
tne sum expended |i.71*. An eieotso ?i th!
Board lOtloweti tho roadiug of this ?i?<?tt itii
~iri luiiiiiliwi ?
?i ! i ^a" *' oaliwU?Br. u. t
Jlil- \Benjamin h. Mays. ur. \Tilu?a MnUot
Messrs. t. Hvkssli and u. K?aaeperg*?.
FATAL fai t. ~
To. esa Murray, aged seventooo month* seet
deutnily tell Mat night out ol tke auth stuff
dow of Ho. ii*4 merry meet to tM Udevntt mt
?aa mmvst Distant./ aiueo.