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Browsing named entities in a specific section of George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.. Search the whole document.

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Copp's Hill (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
line of circumvallation was already closed. As day dawned, the seamen were roused to action, and every one in Boston was startled from slumber by the cannon of the Lively playing upon the redoubt. Citizens of the town, and British officers, and tory refugees, the kindred of the insurgents, crowded to gaze with wonder and surprise at the small fortress of earth freshly thrown up, and the rebels, who were still plainly seen at their toil. A battery of heavy guns was forthwith mounted on Copp's Hill, which was directly opposite, at a distance of but twelve hundred yards, and an incessant shower of shot and bombs was rained upon the works; but Prescott, whom Gridley had forsaken, calmly considered how he could best continue his line of defence. At the foot of the hill on the north was a slough, beyond which an elevated tongue of land, having few trees, covered chiefly with grass, and intersected by fences, stretched away to the Mystic. Without the aid of an engineer, Prescott hims
Brookline (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
tantly on horseback or on foot, working with his men or encouraging them. The age and infirmities of Ward combined to increase the caution which the state of the camp made imperative. He was unwilling to hazard defeat, and inclined to await the solution of events from the nego- Chap. XXXVIII.} 1775. June. tiations of the continental congress. It was sometimes even suggested that the Americans could never hold Cambridge, and that they had better go back and fortify on the heights of Brookline. We must hold Cambridge, was Putnam's constant reply, and herepeatedly but vainly asked leave to advance the lines to Prospect Hill. Yet the army never doubted its ability to avenge the public wrongs; and danger and war were becoming attractive. The British forces gave signs of shame at their confinement and inactivity. Bloody work was expected, and it was rumored that they were determined, as far as they could, to lay the country waste with fire and sword. The secretary of state fr
Roxbury, Mass. (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
atal contests with one another. Of the soldiers from the other colonies, the New Hampshire regiments only had as yet been placed under the command of Ward. The arrival of Greene quieted a rising spirit of discontent, which had threatened to break up the detachment from Rhode Island; but some of their captains and many subalterns continued to neglect their duty, from fear of offending the soldiers, from indolence, or from obstinacy. Of the men of Connecticut, a part were with Spencer at Roxbury; several hundred at Cambridge with Putnam, the second brigadier; who was distinguished for bold advice, alertness, and popular favor; and was seen constantly on horseback or on foot, working with his men or encouraging them. The age and infirmities of Ward combined to increase the caution which the state of the camp made imperative. He was unwilling to hazard defeat, and inclined to await the solution of events from the nego- Chap. XXXVIII.} 1775. June. tiations of the continental co
Breed's Hill (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
by east of the town of Charlestown, it reappeared with an elevation of about seventy-five feet, which bore the name of Breed's Hill. Whoever should hold the heights of Dorchester and Charlestown, would be masters of Boston. About the middle of Mafor their earth works. The committee of safety had proposed Bunker Hill; but Prescott had received orders to march to Breed's Hill. Heedless of personal danger, he obeyed the orders as he understood them; and with the ready assent of his self-devot side that could be soonest reached. had they landed troops at the isthmus as they might have done, the detachment on Breed's Hill would have had no chances of escape or relief. The day was exceedingly hot, one of the hottest of the season. Aftets, but that intrenchments should be thrown up on the summit of Bunker Hill. He, therefore, rode up to the redoubt on Breed's Hill, where he did not appear again during the whole day, and asked of Prescott, that the intrenching tools might be sent o
Dorchester Heights (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
cannonade from Boston Neck. The operations, it was believed, would be very easy; and their execution was fixed for the eighteenth of June. This design became known in the American camp, and such was the restless courage of the better part of the officers, such the confidence of the soldiers, that it seemed to justify a desire to anticipate the movement. Accordingly, on the fifteenth of June, the Massachusetts committee of safety informed the council of war, that in their opinion, Dorchester heights should be Chap. XXXVIII.} 1775. June. fortified; and they recommended unanimously to establish a post on Bunker Hill. Ward, who was bound to comply with the instructions of his superiors, proceeded to execute the advice. The decision was so sudden, that no fit preparation could be made. The nearly total want of ammunition rendered the service desperately daring; in searching for an officer suited to such an enterprise, the choice fell on William Prescott, of Pepperell, colonel o
Dorchester, Mass. (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
of the town of Charlestown, it reappeared with an elevation of about seventy-five feet, which bore the name of Breed's Hill. Whoever should hold the heights of Dorchester and Charlestown, would be masters of Boston. About the middle of May, a joint committee from that of safety and the council of war, after a careful examinatiained; but delay would have rendered even the attempt impossible. Gage, with the three major-generals, was determined to extend his lines north and south, over Dorchester and Charlestown; and as he proposed to begin with Dorchester, Howe was to land troops on the point; Clinton in the centre; while Burgoyne was to cannonade from Dorchester, Howe was to land troops on the point; Clinton in the centre; while Burgoyne was to cannonade from Boston Neck. The operations, it was believed, would be very easy; and their execution was fixed for the eighteenth of June. This design became known in the American camp, and such was the restless courage of the better part of the officers, such the confidence of the soldiers, that it seemed to justify a desire to anticipate t
Middlesex Village (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
5. June. fortified; and they recommended unanimously to establish a post on Bunker Hill. Ward, who was bound to comply with the instructions of his superiors, proceeded to execute the advice. The decision was so sudden, that no fit preparation could be made. The nearly total want of ammunition rendered the service desperately daring; in searching for an officer suited to such an enterprise, the choice fell on William Prescott, of Pepperell, colonel of a regiment from the northwest of Middlesex, who himself was solicitous to assume the perilous duty; and on the very next evening after the vote of June 16. the committee of safety, a night and day only in advance of the purpose of Gage, a brigade of one thousand men was placed under his command. Soon after sunset, the party composed of three hundred of his own regiment, detachments from those of Frye and of Bridge, and two hundred men of Connecticut, under the gallant Thomas Knowlton, of Ashford, were ordered to parade on Cambr
Massachusetts (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
eed's Hill. June 16—17, 1775. the army round Boston, of which Washington in Chap. XXXVIII.} 1775. June. person was soon to take command, was a mixed multitude, as yet, under very little discipline, order, or government. The province of Massachusetts had no executive head, and no unity even in the military department. Ward was enjoined to obey the decisions of the committee of safety, whose directions were intercepted on their way to him by the council of war. Thus want of confidence muthe rail fence and the unfinished breastwork, the space was open and remained so; the slough at the foot of the hill guarded a part of the distance; nearly a hundred yards were left almost wholly unprotected. Brooks, afterwards governor of Massachusetts, one of Prescott's messengers, had no mode of reaching Headquarters but on foot. Having performed the long walk, he found the general anxious and perplexed. Ward saw very clearly the imprudence of risking a battle for which the army was tot
Connecticut (Connecticut, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
of offending the soldiers, from indolence, or from obstinacy. Of the men of Connecticut, a part were with Spencer at Roxbury; several hundred at Cambridge with Putngiment, detachments from those of Frye and of Bridge, and two hundred men of Connecticut, under the gallant Thomas Knowlton, of Ashford, were ordered to parade on Ca5. June 17. All is well. Putnam also during the night came among the men of Connecticut on the hill; but he assumed no command over the detachment. The few hourscanty force, ordering the train of artillery with two field pieces, and the Connecticut forces under Knowlton, to go and op- Chap. XXXVIII.} 1775. June 17. pose thws, and the grass lay on the ground in cocks and windrows. There the men of Connecticut, in pursuance of Prescott's order, took their station. Nature had provided army, engaged in a siege and preparing for a fight, no more than twenty-seven half barrels of powder, with a gift from Connecticut of thirty-six half barrels more.
Rhode Island (Rhode Island, United States) (search for this): chapter 39
er was reserved almost exclusively for the small arms, and used with great frugality. Confusion and disorder reigned in every department, which in a little time must have ended either in the separation of the army, or fatal contests with one another. Of the soldiers from the other colonies, the New Hampshire regiments only had as yet been placed under the command of Ward. The arrival of Greene quieted a rising spirit of discontent, which had threatened to break up the detachment from Rhode Island; but some of their captains and many subalterns continued to neglect their duty, from fear of offending the soldiers, from indolence, or from obstinacy. Of the men of Connecticut, a part were with Spencer at Roxbury; several hundred at Cambridge with Putnam, the second brigadier; who was distinguished for bold advice, alertness, and popular favor; and was seen constantly on horseback or on foot, working with his men or encouraging them. The age and infirmities of Ward combined to incr
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