A PLAN OF THE ACTION AT on the 17th of June 1775. BETWEEN HIS MAJESTY'S TROOPS, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MY GENERAL HOWE AND THE REBEL FORCES. Who acted as Aide de Campto General Howe in that Action. Scale of Yards. VIEW OF CHARLESTOWN &c. FROM BEACON HILL BOSTON._ Frothingham? Siege Bos?. Job In the British Mip the nomes of Bunkers & Breal's Hills are reversed un emar which has been perpetuated. G.P. Putnam &C. MISTIC K Rver REFERENCES TO THE PLAN. A 10 Comp of Gren? 10D:of Light Inf&2 Batt: indLines. B Detachment behind a Stone Wall. C Light Infmoved forward coverd by a break in the Ground. The Batt? moved forward from the Stone Wall &joined by another from the Lines. G Redoubt & Intrenchment proof against our Field Reces. H. Situation of our Field Pieces with the direction of their fire. I Artillery moved forward, the direction of the Fire shewn in dotted Lines. 1. F Fire of the Artillery against the Hedge F. to cover the Attack upon their Left. K The Order our Troops would probably have Attackd in had our L. Inf?been able to penetrate. Light Infantry advancing to the Attack of the Point. MM Grenadiers taking Ground to the Left of the LInf which had not been able to force the Enemy. 0.0 The 43&52 Reg after having inclined to the Left to leave an Interval for the Artillery. The 47 Reg! & Battr of Marines disembarked near the Right of Charles Town after it. Note The part was first forced by the Grenadiers & Regiments immediately opposite to it RLE S Lively RIV LITH. OF SARONY & CP NY. 1775.] OPERATIONS AT NIGHT. 467 * the two they should proceed to fortify. Bunker's Hill was specified in the written orders given to Colonel Prescott by General Ward, but Breed's Hill was much nearer to Boston, and had a better command of the town and shipping. Bunker's Hill, also, being on the upper and narrower part of the peninsula, was itself commanded by the same ship which raked the Neck. Putnam was clear for commencing at Breed's Hill, and making the principal work there, while a minor work might be thrown up at Bunker's Hill, as a protection in the rear, and a rallying point, in case of being driven out of the main work. Others concurred with this opinion, yet there was a hesitation in deviating from the letter of their orders. At length Colonel Gridley became impatient; the night was waning; delay might prostrate the whole enterprise. Breed's Hill was then determined on. Gridley marked out the lines for the fortifications; the men stacked their guns; threw off their packs; seized their trenching tools, and set to work with great spirit; but so much time had been wasted in discussion, that it was midnight before they struck the first spade into the ground. Prescott, who felt the responsibility of his charge, almost despaired of carrying on these operations undiscovered. A party was sent out by him silently to patrol the shore at the foot of the heights, and watch for any movement of the enemy. Not willing to trust entirely to the vigilance of others, he twice went down during the night to the water's edge; reconnoitering every thing scrupulously, and noting every sight and sound. It was a warm, still, summer's night; the stars shone brightly, but every thing was quiet. Bos ton was buried in sleep. The sentry's cry of "All's well" could be heard distinctly from its shores, together with the drowsy calling of the watch on board of the ships of war, and then all would relapse into silence. Satisfied that the enemy were perfectly unconscious of what was going on upon the hill, he returned to the works, and a little before daybreak called in the patrolling party. So spiritedly, though silently, had the labor been carried on, that by morning a strong redoubt was thrown up as a main work, flanked on the left by a breastwork, partly cannon-proof, extending down the crest of Breed's Hill to a piece of marshy ground called the Slough. To support the right of the redoubt, some troops were thrown into the village of Charlestown, at the southern foot of the hill. The great object of Prescott's solicitude was now attained, a sufficient bulwark to screen his men before they should be discovered; for he doubted the possibility of keeping raw recruits to their post, if openly exposed to the fire of artillery, and the attack of disciplined troops. At dawn of day, the Americans at work were espied by the sailors on board of the ships of war, and the alarm was given. The captain of the Lively, the nearest ship, without waiting for orders, put a spring upon her cable, and bringing her guns to bear, opened a fire upon the hill. The other ships and a floating battery followed his example. Their shot did no mischief to the works, but one man, among a number who had incautiously ventured outside, was killed. A subaltern reported his death to Colonel Prescott, and |