First published in 1875 at the time of the centennial of the battle of
Bunker Hill.
The so-called battle of Bunker Hill was the first important engagement
of the Revolutionary War. On June 17, 1775, five thousand British
soldiers under Howe, Clinton, and Pigott attacked a smaller number of
Americans then stationed on Breed's Hill near Boston, under Colonel
William Prescott. They were twice beaten back, but captured the hill on
their third charge. The British loss was about twelve hundred men, while
the Americans lost only four hundred, among them, however, being the
patriot, Dr. Joseph Warren.
[328] 2. =Times that tried men's souls=; a quotation from the first of a
series of tracts called _The Crisis_ by Thomas Paine, 1776.
[329] 3. =Whig and Tory.= In the Colonies the Whigs were the
Revolutionists, while the Tories were the supporters of the King. The
Whigs were also called Rebels.
[330] 5. =April running battle=; the fight at Lexington and Concord,
April 19, 1775, when the British forces were led by Lord Percy.
[331] 16. =Mohawks=; one of the tribes of the Six Nations notorious for
their cruelty in the French and Indian War.
[332] 42. =Banyan=; a colored morning-gown.
[333] 67. =Dan'l Malcolm=; an allusion to an inscription on a gravestone
in Copp's Hill Burial Ground, Boston. The inscription is as follows:--
"Here lies buried in a
Stone Grave 10 feet deep
Capt. Daniel Malcolm Mercht
Who departed this Life
October 23, 1769,
Aged 44 years,
A true son of Liberty,
A Friend to the Publick,
An Enemy to oppression,
And one of the foremost
In opposing the Revenue Acts
On America."
[334] 147. =J. S. Copley= (1737-1815) was a distinguished American
portrait-painter.