disobedience, 27th June, seems to be a poetic license. Ward orders the
court–martial at that time, without the slightest intimation of such
a charge. Fearing our readers’ incredulity, we have omitted hitherto
another of our author’s mistakes: he sometimes, like St. Patrick,
carries his head under his arm, instead of wearing it on his shoulders.
[6] For an interesting description of Putnam, see Appendix.
[7] Col. Putnam’s Letter.
[8] Frothingham says there was another anonymous general there. No
other army general was there; and, if a militia one was, though of no
importance, we should have heard of it, from some one of the mass of
witnesses who were present.
[9] Of Canterbury. All the names we give are of the highest
respectability: from their residences any one may inquire.
[10] Of Killingley.
[11] His pamphlet generally, especially page 13.
[12] Of Canterbury and Oswego.
[13] Shrewsbury.
[14] Gloucester.
[15] Letter of Capt. Holden, of Leicester.
[16] Warren was at Ward’s quarters; and, on the British coming out,
Ward called him from his bed, as he promised to do, to go to Bunker
Hill without any known restriction.
[17] The author says, Judge Prescott’s understanding and belief
was, that the order to his father was in writing,—a very natural
supposition for that eminent lawyer; but Ward had no adjutant–general
to make out orders. His order to Col. Scammans on the 17th June was
verbal: “Go where the fighting is.” And that to Prescott on the 16th
was probably not more formal, or in writing: it could be only, “Go
where the intrenching is.” (See Appendix.)
[18] June 15, ’75, a committee of Mass. Congress report Little’s
regiment to have eight companies, 509 men, 382 of them with bayonets,
and seven of the companies at Cambridge. Little’s orderly book is
extant.
The British fired without aim, holding their guns below the shoulder,
as, by reason of the recoil, they did in our war of 1812.
We conclude, as we commenced, with expressing our belief in the
intentional honor and honesty of the author.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:
—Obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected.