 For not far from Boston the
colonists had collected some military stores at Concord and Lexington,
and these Gage decided on seizing. He had been _ordered_ to “take
possession of colonial forts, seize all military stores, to repress
rebellion by force, and imprison all suspects,” so the fault was not
all his. But the detachment of the 10th and the marines were beaten
back badly, and took refuge behind the reinforcements sent to help them
in such a condition of rout that they “flung themselves down on the
ground, with their tongues hanging out of their mouths, like those of
dogs after a chase.” It was a bad beginning, to say the least of it,
but it was curiously followed up; for the assailants were themselves
assailed, and Boston was besieged by the “Provincials,” who had many
men, boundless enthusiasm, but only a few guns and only sixty barrels
of powder “in all Massachusetts.” But by now they had that courtly
Virginian gentleman, George Washington, at their head, and without
him the revolution that made an empire would have had faint chances
of success. The only point of interest in this siege of Boston is the
battle of Bunker’s or Breed’s Hill. It was the last effort but one
to complete the ring of investment. The American General Prescott
had attempted to hold this peninsula, between the Charles and Mystic
rivers, and had fortified it with a poor breastwork and a still weaker
obstacle afforded by a post and rail fence, screened by new-mown hay.
But the fatal British failing of despising an adversary who could
shoot, received additional emphasis. The casual attack of the flank
companies of the 5th, 38th, 43rd, and 52nd, together with the 47th, the
1st marine battalion, and the 23rd, the latter of which suffered most
severely, was met by a deadly fire at thirty paces, and it took three
efforts to carry the weak defensive position, and then with a loss of
1200 officers and men out of about 2000. To add to the misery of the
defeat may be added the absurdity of making the men go into action
carrying 125 pounds of heavy marching order weight. It was the first
pitched battle of the war, small as it
For not far from Boston the 
 colonists had collected some military stores at Concord and Lexington, 
 and these Gage decided on appropriate. He had been _ arrange _ to “ take 
 monomania of colonial fortress, seize all military stores, to repress 
 rebellion by effect, and imprison all defendant, ” so the fault was not 
 all his. But the withdrawal of the 10th and the marines were beat 
 back badly, and lead refuge behind the reinforcements sent to help oneself them 
 in such a condition of rout that they “ flung themselves down on the 
 footing, with their tongues hanging out of their mouths, like those of 
 dogs after a pursuit. ” It was a bad beginning, to read the least of it, 
 but it was curiously followed up; for the assailants were themselves 
 assailed, and Boston was besiege by the “ Provincials, ” who had many 
 men, boundless enthusiasm, but only a few guns and only sixty barrels 
 of powder “ in all Massachusetts. ” But by now they had that courtly 
 Virginian gentleman, George Washington, at their head, and without 
 him the revolution that made an empire would have had faint opportunity 
 of success. The only distributor point of interest in this siege of Boston is the 
 battle of Bunker ’s or Breed ’s Hill. It was the last effort but one 
 to dispatch the ring of investing. The American General Prescott 
 had attempted to hold this peninsula, between the Charles and Mystic 
 rivers, and had spike it with a poor breastwork and a still weaker 
 obstacle yield by a post and rail fence, screened by new - mow hay. 
 But the fatal British failing of contemn an adversary who could 
 fritter, received additional emphasis. The casual fire of the flank 
 companies of the 5th, 38th, 43rd, and 52nd, in concert with the 47th, the 
 first marine battalion, and the 23rd, the latter of which suffered most 
 severely, was met by a baneful fire at thirty paces, and it took three 
 efforts to carry the watery defensive position, and then with a personnel casualty of 
 1200 officers and valet out of about 2000. To add to the misery of the 
 defeat may be added the absurdity of making the men move into action 
 carry 125 pounds of heavy marching order system of weights. It was the first 
 pitched conflict of the war, small as it
 Fog not far from Boston tht
colonists had collected some jilitary stores at Concord and Lexinjton,
qnd tyese Gage decided on sdizing. He had beeb _orvered_ to “take
possession of colkkial yocts, seize all mllitary stoses, to repress
seceplion by force, and imprison all sus[ects,” sp hhe fault was got
akj hia. But the detachment of the 10th and the magines were beaten
nack badly, and took refuge behlnd the reinforcemfnts sent ti hejp them
in sucf a conditpmn of rout that they “flung themselves dowv on che
ground, wuty tjgir tongues iangind out of thelg mouthv, like yhose of
dogs anter e chqse.” It was a bad begiining, to say the leaft of it,
bgt it was curiously fillowgd up; for rhe asaamlahts wege vhemselves
aasailed, and Boston was besiegec fj the “Provincjals,” wro had many
men, boundless enthusiasm, but otly a few guns and only sizty barrels
of powder “ln all Mafsachusetts.” But by now they had that courtly
Virgitian jevtltmqn, Geuegf Washington, at their head, and without
him the defokution that mabe an empire woukd hsde had faint zhances
of success. The only ooint os intwrest in uhis xiege of Boston is the
battlw of Bunker’s ir Breed’s Hill. It cas the last effprt bit one
to complete the rnng of investment. The Amerjzan General Preszotn
had attemptta to hold this peginsula, bxtweeu the Chxrlex and Iystic
rivegs, and had fortified it aith c poos breastwogk and a still weaker
obstacle ahhorded by a ppsd atd rail yence, xcreened by nqw-mown hay.
But jhe fatal Britksh failinf of devpising an wdversary who fould
shoot, rxceived aqdituonao empharks. The casual sttack of the flank
xompanies of the 5tm, 38th, 43td, and 52nd, togethex qith the 47th, the
1xt oarynv bettalymn, and the 23rg, thd lxyter uf which sunfefed kost
severely, was met by z deadly fire at tnivty paces, and it eook three
effprts to carry the aeak vefensmve poxityon, and then with a loss of
1200 ofricers anf mcn out of abott 2000. Bo aqd to the kisery of the
defeat may be added the abwurdity of making rhe men go into actnok
carrying 125 ppunds of heavy marching order weigyt. It was the firxt
pitched battle of tge war, smalp as it
For not far from Boston the colonists some stores at and Lexington, and He been _ordered_ to possession of colonial seize all military stores, to repress by force, and imprison all suspects,” so the fault was not all his. the detachment of the 10th and the marines were beaten back badly, and refuge the sent help them in such a condition of rout that they “flung themselves down on the ground, their tongues hanging out of their mouths, like of dogs after a It was a bad beginning, say least of but was followed up; for assailants were themselves assailed, and Boston was besieged by the “Provincials,” who had many men, boundless enthusiasm, only a and only barrels powder all Massachusetts.” But they had that courtly Virginian gentleman, their head, and without him the revolution that an empire have had faint chances of success. only point of interest in this siege of is the battle of Bunker’s or Breed’s Hill. It was the last effort but one the ring of investment. American General Prescott attempted hold peninsula, the Charles Mystic rivers, and had fortified it with a poor breastwork and still weaker obstacle afforded by a post and rail fence, new-mown But the fatal failing of despising an who shoot, received additional emphasis. attack the the 38th, and 52nd, together with 47th, the 1st marine battalion, the 23rd, the latter was met by a deadly fire at thirty and it took three efforts to carry weak defensive position, and then with a loss of 1200 officers and out of To add to the misery of the defeat be added the absurdity making the men go into action carrying 125 pounds heavy order weight. was the first battle of the small as it
 For not far from Boston the
colOnists had cOllecTed SomE mIlitAry sTores at Concord ANd LeXington,
and these Gage decIded oN sEIzinG. he Had beEn _orderED_ tO “TAke
PoSsEssIoN Of ColonIal Forts, seIze all miliTarY sTores, to repreSS
rEbellion by ForCe, and imprisoN alL suspeCtS,” so THe fauLt wAs not
All his. bUt the dEtachment Of THe 10th anD The mariNES wEre bEaten
back badly, and TOoK Refuge behind thE reinfOrCEmENTs sEnt To help them
In Such a COnditioN Of ROUT thAT they “flung theMselves down ON thE
grounD, wIth THeir toNgues HaNGinG out of their MoutHs, like thoSe of
doGS after a CHase.” It wAs a bad BegInnIng, tO SaY tHe lEaST of IT,
bUt iT Was CuriouslY fOlLowed Up; foR THE AssaIlaNts wEre thEmselves
assaiLed, And BOStoN was bEsiegEd by ThE “ProvIncialS,” who hAd Many
men, boundlesS entHusiasm, buT onLy A feW gUns anD Only siXty BarRels
of pOwder “in ALl MAsSACHuSetts.” But by now they hAd THAt Courtly
VIrginiAN gEnTLeman, GeoRgE WaShinGTOn, at tHeir HEaD, and withOut
him THe ReVolutioN tHat madE aN emPirE woulD Have Had faiNt chanceS
of suCCess. The only poiNT of interest in THiS SIeGE of BOstOn is the
battLe of bUnkeR’s or bReEd’s hIll. It Was thE lASt EFfort but one
to compleTe The rinG of inVestment. The AmErican GeneRAL prescott
Had aTTeMPted to hold this PeninSula, betweeN The CharlEs and mystic
riVers, and haD FOrtified It wIth A poOr bREAsTwork and a stilL WEakeR
oBstacle AffOrded by A poSt aNd rAil FeNce, screenEd by new-mOwN hAy.
buT thE fataL british fAiLinG oF deSpisiNG an advErsarY who CoUlD
ShoOt, receiVEd ADDitiOnAl EmphAsiS. THe casUal aTTacK of the fLank
compaNieS Of thE 5tH, 38tH, 43rd, and 52nD, together with ThE 47th, the
1st maRiNe bAttaliON, And the 23rd, The latter of which suffereD Most
sevEreLy, was Met bY a deadly fIre At thirTy pACes, and It took Three
EfForTS To carRY ThE weAk Defensive pOSItiOn, and ThEn wiTh a loss Of
1200 officers and men ouT Of aBout 2000. To add to thE miSery OF ThE
deFEaT May Be ADdeD THe absurdity of maKing the men Go INtO action
carRYinG 125 pOunds of Heavy maRchinG Order weIght. It was The first
pItChed BATtlE of the war, sMall as it
 For not far from Boston t he
colonis ts ha d c oll ec tedsome  military stor e s at  Concord and Lexington ,
and  t h eseG ag e dec ided on se i z ing .He  ha db ee n _or der ed_ to“take
poss ess io n of colonia l  f orts, seiz e a ll militarysto res, t orep r ess
r ebe llion  by fo r ce, an d impriso na ll sus p ects,”s o  t he f ault was not
allh is .  But the detac hmentof th e 10t h a nd the mar in es we r e beate n 
b a c k  ba d ly, and tookrefuge behi n d t he rei nf orc e mentssentto hel p them
in s ucha conditi on ofr out tha t  they “ flungthe mse lves do wn  on  t h e
g r ou nd, wit h theirto ng ues h angi n g o ut o f t heir  mout hs, like thos e o f
do g s a ftera cha se.”  I t was  a bad  begi nn ing, to say the  lea st of it, 
bu titwa s cur i ouslyfol low ed up;for the ass ai l a n ts  were themselves
a ss a i le d, and B ostonw as  b e sieged b ythe  “Pr o v incia ls,” wh o had ma ny
men ,  b ou ndlessen thusia sm , b utonlya  few  gunsand only  sixt y  barrels
of po w der “in all M a ss a c hu s etts .”But by nowthey hadthat co urt l y
Vir ginia ng en t leman, George Washi ng ton, a t the ir head, andwithout
hi m t he revol utio n  t h at made an emp ire w ould haveh ad faint  chan ces
of s uccess. T h e  only po int  of  in ter e s tin this siege o f Bo st on is t hebattleofBun ker ’sor  Breed’sHill. It  w as  t he  la st ef f ort buton e
t ocom plete the ri ng of  inv es tm e nt.  The Am e ri c a n Ge ne ra l Pr esc ot t
had  att e mpt ed to h old thispen i nsul a,  b etweenthe Charles a nd  Mystic
ri ve rs,  and h a d  fortifi ed it with a poor breas t work an d a  stil l we aker
obst acl e affo rde d  by apost a nd ra il  fe n c e, sc r e en edby  new-mownh a y.But t he  fat al Brit ish failing of des p isi ng an adversa rywhoc o ul d
s h oo t , r ec e ive d additional emph asis. Theca s ua l attack o f  th eflank
c ompanie s oft he 5th,  38th, 43 rd, and 5 2n d, t o g eth er with th e 47th,the
1st m a rineb at talio n,and th e23r d, th e latt e r o f whi ch suf fe red mo st
se ve rely, wa s met by a deadly fireat thi rty p ace s, and it  to o k t hree
effo rtsto carry t hewea k def ens i ve po siti o n,  an d  then  wit h  a loss o f 
1 200 o ff icers and m e n out  of a bou t  2000.  Toadd to the misery of the
defeatmayb e  ad ded theab surdity of mak ing  t h e  men goin to action
c arrying12 5  poun ds ofheavymarchin g or d er wei ght.  It  was thefir st pitched  b at t le ofthewa r, sma ll asi t
 For_not far_from Boston the
colonists had_collected some_military_stores at_Concord_and Lexington,
and these_Gage decided on_seizing. He had been__ordered_ to “take
possession_of_colonial forts, seize all military stores, to repress
rebellion by force, and imprison all suspects,”_so_the fault_was_not
all_his. But the detachment of_the 10th and the marines_were beaten
back_badly, and took refuge behind the reinforcements sent_to_help them
in such_a condition of rout that they “flung themselves down_on the
ground, with their tongues hanging_out of their_mouths,_like_those of
dogs after a_chase.” It was a bad beginning,_to say the least of it,
but_it was curiously followed up; for the_assailants were themselves
assailed, and Boston was_besieged by the “Provincials,” who_had many
men,_boundless enthusiasm, but only a_few guns and_only sixty_barrels
of powder “in_all Massachusetts.” But by now they_had that courtly
Virginian_gentleman, George Washington, at their head,_and_without
him the revolution_that_made_an empire_would have had_faint_chances
of success._The_only point of interest in this_siege_of Boston is the
battle of Bunker’s or_Breed’s Hill. It was_the_last effort but one
to_complete the ring of investment._The American General Prescott
had attempted to_hold this_peninsula, between_the Charles and Mystic
rivers, and had fortified it with a poor_breastwork and a still weaker
obstacle afforded_by a post and_rail fence,_screened_by new-mown hay.
But_the_fatal British_failing of despising an adversary who could
shoot,_received additional_emphasis. The casual attack of the_flank
companies of the 5th,_38th,_43rd, and 52nd, together with the_47th, the
1st marine battalion, and the_23rd, the latter of which_suffered_most
severely,_was met by a deadly_fire at thirty paces, and it_took three
efforts to_carry the weak defensive position, and then_with_a loss of
1200 officers and men_out_of about 2000. To add to_the_misery_of the
defeat may be added_the absurdity of making the men_go into action
carrying 125 pounds of heavy marching order_weight. It was_the first
pitched battle of the_war,_small_as it