The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill Part 31

he suggested. "I saw the like done at a small engagement in which I took part in Egypt."

This was eagerly seized upon; but the quant.i.ty secured was pitifully small.

"Don't waste a grain of it," cautioned Colonel Prescott. "Send every bullet to its mark."

But that their officers feared for the result of the day was hidden from the men. Both Prescott and Dr. Warren walked constantly up and down the parapet, talking cheerily with the defenders, and advising them how to meet any fresh onset.

"You have beaten them twice," cried General Warren, for that was the rank he now held. "Do it once more; and it will be the last."

While this was going on at the top of the hill, Howe was still raging at its foot.

"I'll conquer the rascals, or die trying," he declared repeatedly.

A reinforcement of four hundred marines had reached him from the fleet.

Also he had a distinguished volunteer in the person of his close friend, the very able General Clinton. The latter had twice seen Howe discomfited; so he threw himself into a boat at Copp's Hill and crossed to offer his services.

But some of the British officers strongly advised against another attack.

"It will be little less than butchery to lead the men upon that position again," they said.

But Howe thought otherwise. He sternly commanded that the men be put into a soldier-like formation; then with the crafty help of Clinton, he began to plan the third attack.

The British commander had, by this time, learned to respect the colonials.

"They told me that I had a rabble of peasants to fight," said he to Clinton. "If it's so, then there are the makings of fine troops among those villains on the hill."

In the forming of his last attack Howe had no doubt the sound advice of General Clinton; for it was better thought out and delivered with more wisdom than the others.

The rank and file were now commanded to lay aside their heavy knapsacks.

They had been burdened with these and other useless pieces of equipment during the entire afternoon, and this, perhaps, had had its effect in breaking their courage. Then they were formed into columns.

"Rely upon the steel," Howe commanded them. "Reserve your fire until you get within a dozen paces of them. They shall see that we, too, can fight after that fas.h.i.+on."

This attack was directed upon the redoubt above; only a sham advance was made against the rail fence, in order that Stark and Knowlton's men be forced to hold their position, and so not be able to come to the aid of Prescott's. Also the British artillery was now supplied with proper shot, and was wheeled forward to rake the breastworks.

As the British came on, Ezra Prentiss regarded their compact columns with an anxious eye. He had had but little experience in warfare; but something told him that there was a task coming much more formidable than what had gone before.

"It looks," said he to Nat and Scarlett, "as though this would be the test, somehow. This attack seems more deftly directed."

Gilbert Scarlett's black eyes were sparkling with antic.i.p.ation.

"Our friend, my Lord Howe, is increasing in wisdom as the day advances,"

he said. "As you say, it will be a test. If we can hold the breastworks against that," and he pointed to the King's artillery being pushed into its last murderous position, "we will beat them again. If not, we are at the end of the fight, and can only hope for a safe retreat."

On came the steady, sullen, silent columns. Some of the American riflemen had but one charge of powder; and this was poured in with deadly effect as the word was given. The grenadiers and light infantry shook under the shock, but came on at the urging of their officers. In a little while the left columns under Clinton and Pigot reached a position under the walls of the redoubt where they were sheltered from the scattering and feeble fire of the defenders. Then they deployed and with a rush the first flank had gained the parapet. A leaden hail; the last concentrated volley of the colonists swept this into eternity.

But on came the second rank of redcoats over the works with leveled bayonets; the Americans met them with clubbed rifles and the few bayonets that they possessed. Stones flew through the air, hurled by desperate hands; rifle barrel rang against sword and bayonet.

Desperately the colonists strove; but at this style of fighting they could not hope to hold their ground against the trained troops of Lord Howe. Step by step, Prescott saw them beaten back; their ranks were thinning fast, and hope was past; so with mercy in his heart, the gallant leader sounded a retreat.

So great was the dust thrown up by the rus.h.i.+ng feet of the contending forces that the retreating Americans had difficulty in locating the outlets in the redoubt. Some leaped over its top; the majority fought their way grimly through the British, leaving a track of killed and desperately hurt behind them. Colonel Prescott was among the last to leave. He parried countless bayonet thrusts with his heavy sword and his waistcoat was pierced more than once.

As the Americans fled from the works, General Warren threw himself desperately among them. He knew that unless the riflemen were stayed the retreat would become a rout. And it was here that this gallant gentleman met his heroic death. The British took possession of the redoubt with shouts of victory; with the instinct of trained troops they formed and poured a murderous volley into the Americans. Warren was seen to stagger and fall before this; and the rus.h.i.+ng ma.s.s of his countrymen pa.s.sed by and left him upon the field.

"I guess it's all over, boys," panted Nat Brewster. "We'd best make our way back with the others."

But at this point, when destruction seemed hovering over the flying Americans, Putnam succeeded in at last bringing up the reinforcements.

Between Bunker and Breed's Hills parts of the regiments of Ward, Gardener and Gerrish poured a continuous fire upon the enemy as they rushed forward in pursuit, and so checked them. Then the New Hamps.h.i.+re and Connecticut men at the rail fence, who had defended their position like heroes, saw that Prescott's men were in retreat. So with that they gave back like veteran troops, compelling their foes to keep their distance, and soon the entire American force, with their foemen held well in hand, were bearing back over Bunker Hill.

It was at the brow of this eminence that Putnam rode up upon a foaming horse, his face s.h.i.+ning like that of a son of battle. He had labored with the strength of a score of leaders upon the works here, but they were still unfinished. However, that never once caused his bold heart to falter.

"Make a stand here!" he shouted. "We can stop them yet! One shot more, men! One shot more!"

But the retreat was not to be stopped; the Americans had not yet been hardened to the desperate fighting in the face of defeat that comes to seasoned soldiery. And many of them had no more powder. And so they pa.s.sed over the hill and across Charlestown Neck amid the fire of the British s.h.i.+pping and batteries.

Then, with great parade, the British crossed the Neck and took possession of the hill that they had, only a few months before, staggered down in the retreat from Concord. But they dared go no further; upon Winter and Prospect Hills, and from Cambridge a desperate, smoke-blackened army of patriots faced them, once more supplied with ammunition and with the resolution to stand and fight until the sun set and rose again.

Ezra Prentiss, weary and covered with dust, cleaned his befouled rifle and sighed.

"And, after all, it was a victory for the British," he said.

But Scarlett, who sat at his side, likewise occupied, laughed grimly, and cast a look at the orderly but depleted array of the enemy.

"It was a victory for them-yes," said he, with the wisdom of experience.

"But another such victory would be fatal to General Gage. You have been beaten, but you have struck him a vital blow."

CHAPTER XV

SHOWS HOW EZRA CARRIED THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE, AND HOW HE MET GENERAL WAs.h.i.+NGTON BY THE WAY

After the desperate struggle upon Breed's Hill the two armies lay upon their different eminences, breathlessly regarding each other; they still held their arms ready, for they each dreaded what the other might do; but there was no movement to continue the battle upon either side; and so the last hours of daylight wore on.

Ezra Prentiss and Nat Brewster were with Colonel Prescott almost all the time since the retreat had ceased. Their hearts were heavy when they learned of Dr. Warren's death; for where would such another be found as he? That there were other great men in the colonies, they knew well; but none were quite so human, so entirely unselfish, so absolutely devoted to the public good as this patriot who still lay upon the hillside, his face turned to the sky.

They sat upon a settle in the wide hall of the house in which Prescott made his headquarters, and talked the sad news over in mournful undertones. Through an open doorway they could see the colonel pacing up and down, his face darkened with anger, his lips pressed tightly together.

"The result seems to set heavily upon him," said Nat, at length. "See how his hands are clenched; and he has not even brushed the dust of the fight from his clothes."

Ezra looked at the colonel's lowered head and burning eyes.

"I have no doubt," said the young New Englander, "that there is nothing in the world that he would welcome so much as a renewal of the engagement. He had the battle won, but for the lack of powder and the reinforcements that were so delayed and confused."

They continued to talk in low tones for a time; then suddenly Colonel Prescott's tramping ceased. He had paused in the centre of the room, and as the boys' eyes went to him once more, they found that he was looking toward them.

"Prentiss," said the colonel, with the manner of one who had finally made up his mind to something, "ask them to bring me my horse."