Historic leaves, volume 2, April, 1903 - January, 1904

[90] engineer, Colonel Gridley, accompanied the troops.’ General Seth Pomeroy, it may be stated, also went with them, and this was on the evening of June 16. As they reached the base of Bunker Hill, there was a memorable halt, when an animated discussion took place as to which height they should fortify, that or Breed's Hill just beyond it; or, in case they should intrench on both, which of the two they should begin with first. Contrary to the expectations of the Committee of Safety, they finally concluded to go on and occupy Breed's, ‘nearer Boston,’ doubtless having been instructed to do so by the Council of War, with permission to act as they should think best, as they drew near the place and considered all the circumstances of the situation. There, as they reached the summit, Putnam, Gridley, and Prescott laid out the ground and formed the plan for the historic earthwork or redoubt which the men with vigorous toil erected during the night on the spot where now Bunker Hill Monument stands. As the enemy saw early the next morning what had been done during the darkness, they began a lively fire at the fort from their ships on the river and from the opposite shore, while later they landed troops from Boston at Moulton's Point Moreton's or Morton's), the northeastern end of the peninsula, with the evident intent to march along the Mystic, and so, flank Prescott and his garrison at the redoubt. To intercept them, the provincials of the several states who had come upon the ground hastily made a barricade of a rail fence that stretched between the Mystic and Breed's Hill by stuffing it with new-mown grass that lay plentifully in the field near at hand, and here between the two points were lined, also, regiments, or parts of regiments, as they continued to arrive and to be assigned their places by General Putnam; Stark and Reed, with their brave men from New Hampshire, as the left wing by the Mystic, with Prescott and most of his detachment at Breed's as the right wing, while along the middle way were stationed General Pomeroy and Captain Knowlton, with their respective Massachusetts and Connecticut forces. As the proud and formidable column of the foe came on, the serried array of the patriot yeomanry met it in fiercest combat, and hurled it back under the lead of Putnam,