one of the ships that covered the attack on Bunker’s Hill, a which place the Americans had collected in great force under General Putnam, and thrown up some strong redoubts. General Gage, who commanded in Boston, ordered the Generals Howe, Clinton, and Pigot, with about 2000 troops, to attack the enemy’s works, which were carried at the point of the bayonet, after an obstinate resistance. It was, however, a dear bought victory; 226 of the British were slain, 19 of whom were commissioned officers, and upwards of 800 wounded. Only 30 wounded rebels and a few pieces of cannon were taken. This affair caused the flame of war to blaze over the whole continent of America[1].
We next find Lieutenant Thornbrough engaged in an attempt to bring off a schooner that had been chaced by the Falcon into Cape Ann Harbour, where she ran aground. On the boats boarding her, the Americans opened a heavy fire from the shore, by which 3 men were killed, and several wounded; among the latter was Lieutenant Thornbrough, who was conveyed back to the Falcon in the only boat that had escaped destruction from the enemy’s shot. The remainder of the party, 36 in number, having expended all their ammu-
- ↑ The battle of Bunker’s Hill, June 17th, 1775, rendered the power of Great Britain much less formidable in the eyes of the colonists, than it had been before; and the Congress proceeded formally to justify its proceedings, in a declaration, setting forth the causes, and the necessity of their taking up arms; in which they alluded to foreign aid, as being attainable; but affirmed, that they had no wish to dissolve the connexion with the mother country, unless they should be forced to do so, by continued hostility on her part. In the month of July, Georgia joined in the alliance, and sent its delegates to Congress, which now assumed the title of the Congress of the Thirteen United Colonies; and in compliance with the general wish, it appointed George Washington, Esq., a gentleman of fortune in Virginia, who had acquired experience in the command of different bodies of provincials during the French war, to be Commander-in-Chief of the American forces.
of 273 officers and men, killed, wounded, and prisoners. The loss of the rebels was stated at only 60.
This affair, which occurred on the 19th April, summoned the whole province of Massachussets to arms; upwards of 20,000 militia invested Boston; the highest indignation was excited hi the other colonies; and preparation for war became the general cry. The congress met a second time at Philadelphia on the 10th May, and their first measures were resolutions for raising an army, and for the issue of a paper currency for its payment, on the security of the United Colonies.
