which prevented the provincials from pressing upon their rear in a direct line. But the militia and minute-men were rapidly collecting from all quarters. The whole British column was obliged to renew their march or have their retreat cut off. Constant skirmishing continued, until the regulars reached Boston. The loss of the British was two hundred and seventy-three; of the Americans, eighty-eight. 247. Massachusetts raises an Army. The Provincial Congress at once resolved "that an army of thirty thousand men be immediately

raised and established; that thirteen thousand six hundred be from this province; and that a letter and delegate be sent to the several colonies of New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island." The military headquarters were fixed at Cambridge. General Artemas Ward was made commander-in-chief of the Massachusetts troops. General John Thomas commanded at Roxbury. Captain John

Derby, of Salem, received the first naval commission from Massachusetts, and sailed at once for England with despatches from the Provincial Congress to Dr Franklin, containing an account of the

Lexington fight and an address to the inhabitants of Great Britain. The war of the Revolution was begun, and it was now clear that there would be no peace, except by submission or independence.

248. Military Activity everywhere. Despatches giving an account of the battle were sent post-haste through all the colonies. Immediately military activity was displayed everywhere. Twenty thousand militia hastened to Boston. In Rhode Island a brigade of three regiments, with a train of artillery, was placed under command of General Nathaniel Greene. At Charleston, South Carolina, volunteers were armed from the arsenal. In Georgia the royal magazine was seized. The power of the royal governors - from Massachusetts to Georgia was gone. Committees of safety were appointed to provide for emergencies, and to call out the troops. Soon twenty thousand men were at work throwing up intrenchments around Boston to shut up the British in that city.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

TICONDEROGA AND BUNKER HILL.

249. From Connecticut to Vermont. - General Gage had set the example of seizing military stores. Retaliation appeared to be not only warrantable but necessary for self-defence. A secret expedition was planned by some leaders in Connecticut. A few sterling men, having procured a quantity of powder and ball, set off on horseback for Bennington, in Vermont, then called the New Hampshire Grants.

250. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. At Bennington they found Colonel Ethan Allen, a native of Connecticut. At Castleton they were joined by Colonel Benedict Arnold, who had been commissioned by the Massachusetts committee to raise four hundred men for the same purpose. It was agreed that Allen should take command, and at daybreak, May 10th, with eighty-three men, Allen and Arnold marched side by side to the entrance of Fort Ticonderoga, overpowered the sentinel, and demanded a surrender. The fort was commanded by Captain De La Place, to whom this attack was a complete surprise.

251. The Fort surrenders. The fort was out of repair; and as he had but about thirty effective men, La Place could do nothing but surrender. The boats, which had brought Colonel Allen and his men across the lake, returned at once for the remainder of the force, which was under command of Colonel Seth Warner. Ticonderoga had surrendered, however, before these men could cross.

WINTER HILL

BOSTON

Charlestown

Mystic River

252. Crown Point surrenders. Colonel Warner immediately set out for Crown Point, which he captured on the 12th. Warner was left in command at Crown Point, and Colonel Arnold at Ticonderoga. These two successes were of great importance to the colonies, because it gave them a large amount of military stores. Soon after, these brave officers captured a sloop of war which was lying at St. John's at the foot of the lake, and Isailed with it for Ticonde

roga. These successes gave

BUNKER

BREEDS
HILL

Cambridge Charlestown

BEACON
HILL

Boston

Neck

Roxbury

NOODLES

BOSTON
Long Wharf
HARBOR

FORT HILL

NOOKS HILL
DORCHESTER

HEIGHTS

CASTLE I.

the Americans full command of Lake Champlain and the surrounding country.

253. Bunker Hill.

And now we come to the first real battle of

the war. The Massachusetts Committee of Safety recommended to the Provincial Congress to occupy Bunker Hill and Dorchester Heights. The Congress therefore passed an order on the 16th of June, directing Colonel Prescott with one thousand men to take possession of the hill the following night, and fortify it. Breed's Hill, however, either because more directly commanding the landing or from inadvertence, was marked out for the intrenchment, instead of Bunker Hill. In silence the patriots pushed forward, carrying arms, shovels, and dark lanterns. Between midnight and the dawn of day they had thrown up a redoubt about eight rods square.

254. The British open Fire. The British ship "Lively" was stationed in the channel directly opposite. When its captain came on deck in the early dawn, June 17th, 1775, he discovered the breastworks, and about four o'clock opened fire. Soon after, the British

artillery on Copp's Hill began firing upon the Yankee fort. It was a hot morning, but the tired Americans continued the work with their shovels until noon, notwithstanding a heavy fire both from the ships in the channel and from Copp's Hill in Boston. During the forenoon the Americans had succeeded in throwing up breastworks from the east side of their redoubt to the bottom of the hill northward.

Although an incessant shower of shot and bombs was rained upon them by the batteries, yet but one man was killed.

255. British Troops transported to Charlestown. Between twelve and one o'clock the British forces to the number of about three thousand men were transported by boats and barges from Boston to Charlestown, under command of Major-General Howe and Brigadier-General Pigot. The regulars formed in two lines, and advanced deliberately towards the American works.

256. American Officers in Command. The patriots were under command of Colonel Prescott. Colonel Stark commanded the

New Hampshire troops, and General Putnam had selected Captain Knowlton to command the Connecticut company. General Warren, General Pomeroy, and General Putnam were all on the field, aiding and encouraging here and there as the case required. The Americans reserved their fire till the regulars were within ten or twelve rods, when they poured upon them a terrific discharge of musketry. 257. The British repulsed. The contest continued until the stream of American fire was so incessant, and did such execution, that the regulars retreated in disorder and with great precipitation toward the landing-place, where their boats still were. At length they were rallied by their officers, and a second time advanced with steady pace up the hill, marching with apparent reluctance toward the intrenchments. The Americans reserved their fire till the enemy were within five or six rods.

258. The British repulsed Again. The execution was fearful. Some of their officers declared it would be downright butchery to lead their men against such lines. But British honor was at stake. The fortifications must be carried. General Howe and his officers doubled their exertions for renewing the attack the third time. The ammunition of the Americans was exhausted. Meantime the town had been fired in several places; and one great blaze, burning with amazing fury, was rapidly sweeping from existence three hundred dwelling-houses, and nearly two hundred other buildings.

259. The Americans retreat. Reluctantly but unavoidably the provincials were ordered to retreat. They were forced by absolute necessity to withdraw. They, however, delayed, and for some time kept the enemy at bay. They finally withdrew in good order across the neck which joins Charlestown to the main land. While these brave men were retreating, General Warren was shot in the head. and died instantly.

260. The British Losses. The British held possession of the field, but the loss which they had sustained was fearful, amounting in killed and wounded to more than one thousand men, including sixty-nine officers. Some companies were almost all either killed or wounded.

261. The American Losses. The entire loss of the provincials was between four hundred and five hundred; the majority being wounded only, many of them but slightly. Each army lost about one-third of its force. The loss of General Warren, who only three days before