Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution

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Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution Page 55

by Nathaniel Philbrick


  53: The Honourable Sir William Howe, 1777 (colour mezzotint), Purcell, Richard (c.1736–c.1766) (after) / Brown University Library, Providence, Rhode Island, USA / The Bridgeman Art Library.

  57: Watching the Fight at Bunker Hill, illustration from ‘Colonies and Nation’ by Woodrow Wilson, pub. in Harper’s Magazine, 1901 (litho), Pyle, Howard (1853–1911) (after) / Private Collection / The Bridgeman Art Library.

  61: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.

  63: Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.

  64: John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) 1847 (daguerreotype), American Photographer, (19th century) / Private Collection / Peter Newark American Pictures / The Bridgeman Art Library.

  Index

  The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. To find the corresponding locations in the text of this digital version, please use the “search” function on your e-reader. Note that not all terms may be searchable.

  Abercrombie, James, 234

  Abercromby, James, 26, 351n

  Acton militia, 137–40, 142, 147, 151–52, 156, 330n

  Adair, Jesse, 123–24, 126

  Adams, Abigail, 236, 245, 252, 279, 289–91, 294

  Adams, John, 39–40, 70, 85, 112, 160, 305n, 313n, 336n

  and accused British soldiers, 4, 8

  on American Revolution, 302n, 345n

  on army commissions, 192

  on Benjamin Church, 252

  and Continental Congress, 45, 56, 74, 247, 294

  at council of war, 267

  illness of, 32–33, 68, 307n

  on patriots, 303n

  and Port Act, 36

  promotes Henry Knox, 270

  and Suffolk Resolves, 76

  and Joseph Warren, 194, 236, 307n, 337n, 345n

  Adams, John Quincy, 46, 292–95, 356n

  Adams, Joseph, 153, 157–58

  Adams, Samuel, 28, 52, 57, 90, 95, 123, 163, 190, 247, 322–23n

  on America’s future, 308–9n

  and Continental Congress, 44–48, 55–56, 73–74, 113, 130, 312n

  description of, 67, 130

  flees to Lexington, 111–12, 116, 118–19, 122

  and Josiah Quincy, 171–72

  and Lexington fight, 130–31, 325n

  moderates Boston town meetings, 33–34, 48, 96, 99–100, 130

  opposes Government Act, 41–42

  as political leader, 34, 38, 54–55, 66–67, 121

  and Port Act, 36–37

  and Joseph Warren, 81, 110, 180–81, 193–94, 235–36

  Administration of Justice Act, 53

  African Americans, 51, 65, 71, 121, 159, 324n, 331n

  in army, 165, 228, 241, 262–63, 351n

  casualties of, 128

  exclusion of, 251, 295

  See also slavery; specific names; Washington, George

  Allen, Ethan, 173–74

  American colonies

  British limit rights of, 44, 55

  desire peace, 98

  founding of, 33

  lack of aristocracy in, 193

  in open rebellion, 112

  rivalry among, 214

  and “salutary neglect,” 6

  and “the will of the people,” 193–94

  unity of, 76, 262, 265

  American navy, 245, 257–58

  Ames, Dr. Nathaniel, 101–2, 112, 177, 215–16

  ammunition

  bar shot, 212

  bullets, 66, 122, 135

  cartridges, 66, 124, 138, 183, 210

  from Fort Ticonderoga, 268–71

  hotshot, 218

  lack of, 148, 154, 226

  lead balls, 88, 124

  on the Nancy, 258, 268

  See also gunpowder

  Amory, John, 48

  amphibious assaults, 170, 183, 204, 250, 276, 282–83

  Andover, Mass., 147, 162

  Andrews, John, 48–49

  on Battle Road, 158, 330n

  on Boston, 88, 111, 311n, 315n, 318n, 321n

  on British army, 51–52, 62, 64, 80, 316n

  on Coercive Acts, 58

  on Gage, 60, 79, 87, 315n, 317n, 319n

  on Government Act, 312n

  on Haldimand, 317n

  on Massacre Day Oration, 100–1

  on patriots, 42, 53

  on provincial army, 71, 77–78

  on Samuel Adams, 56, 312n

  wife of, 113, 169, 286

  Andros, Gov. Edmund, 5

  Arlington. See Menotomy (Arlington)

  Arnold, Benedict, 173–74, 245, 271, 332n

  artillery, 118, 135, 248, 284

  of British army, 78, 103–5, 140, 149, 210, 213, 218, 225, 273

  for continental army, 268–71

  lack of, 78, 234, 249–50, 267

  on the Nancy, 258

  officers of, 210–11

  regiments of, 197, 244, 246, 270–71, 276–77, 279, 290, 353n

  Attack and Defense of Fortified Places (Muller), 273, 353n

  Attucks, Crispus, 128

  Avery, David, 179

  Back Bay, 14, 15, 63, 170, 177, 264, 266

  Baldwin, Jeduthan, 271–72

  Balfour, Nesbitt, 86, 166–67

  Bancroft, Ebenezer, 205–6, 218, 220, 228–29, 337n, 339n

  Barker, John, 102, 116, 128, 148–49, 152, 181–82, 317n, 325n

  Barré, Isaac, 31–32, 94

  Barrett, Amos, 141, 143–44, 327n

  Barrett, James, 132–36, 138–40, 143–44, 148

  Barrett, Rebeckah, 135–36

  Bassett, Burwell, 278

  batteries, 168, 254, 264, 276, 279, 281, 340n

  battle at North Bridge. See Concord: battle at North Bridge

  Battle of Bunker Hill

  artillery failures at, 244, 270

  bloody carnage of, 293, 342n

  and breastwork, 217, 223, 225–26, 229

  British army/navy and, 213, 230, 256–57, 343n

  and cowardice, 222–23, 277

  map of, 196

  monument built for, 292–93, 295

  and the rail fence, 217, 219–20, 222–27

  retreat of provincial army, 222–23, 228–30

  spectators of, 206–7, 210, 217, 219

  as watershed event, 236–37

  wounded survivors of, 253, 255

  See also Breed’s Hill

  Battle of Chelsea Creek, 183–87, 190, 195, 199, 207, 336n

  Battle Road, 152–60, 223, 330n

  bayonets

  of British regulars, 124, 132, 157

  of infantrymen, 127, 147, 217

  of militiamen, 138–39

  of provincial army, 221, 226–27, 229

  surrendering of, 168

  Beacon Hill, 14, 15, 22, 30, 38, 116, 199, 229, 279

  Bedford, Mass., 122, 137–38, 147

  Belknap, Rev. Jeremy, 262, 322n

  Bernard, Gov. Francis, 68

  Beverly militiamen, 157

  Billerica, Mass., 99, 145, 201

  Bissell, Isaac, 167, 331n

  Black Horse Tavern, 118, 123, 150, 153

  Blanchard, Luther, 142

  Bliss, Daniel, 123

  Blockade of Boston, The (Burgoyne), 266

  Blood, Thaddeus, 134, 143–44

  blunderbusses, 168

  Bolton, Dr. Thomas, 100

  Boston

  1776 assault on, 278–79, 282–83, 287

  accents of residents, 99

  black community of, 24

  burned by the British, 256, 349n

  casualties arrive in, 233, 349n
<
br />   chaos reigns in, 283, 355n

  description of, 177

  economic misery of, 41, 48, 52

  evacuation of, 283–87, 290

  first settlers of, 285

  and food supplies, 88, 233, 256, 318n

  loyalists remain in, 284, 288–89

  maps of, 12–13, 15, 254

  under military occupation, 7, 38, 51, 79, 96–97, 161–62, 177

  poor of, 52, 57, 70, 233, 311n

  residents die in, 233–34

  residents flee from, 111, 113, 161–62, 164, 168–69, 246–47, 321n, 332n

  surrounded, 161, 199, 249–50, 351n

  as third-largest port, 31

  topography of, 14, 15, 170, 237

  town gates of, 20, 71, 76–77, 82, 264

  Boston Common, 60, 78–79, 152

  British soldiers encamped on, 42–43, 56–57, 64, 77, 80, 177, 227

  and Bunker Hill anniversary, 292

  description of, 42–43

  location of, 15, 19

  powderhouse on, 62, 71

  “Boston Declaration,” 35–36

  Boston Gazette, 22, 288

  Boston Harbor, 19, 26, 51, 234

  blockade of, 40–41, 87

  British control of, 161, 249

  and British evacuation, 283–85, 290

  description of, 170–71

  maps of, 13, 15, 63, 184, 196, 254

  military transports in, 169

  and the Port Act, 31, 40–41, 43, 70

  and the Powder Alarm, 64–65

  See also Boston Tea Party; British supply ships; warships

  Boston lighthouse, 13, 257

  Boston Massacre, 61, 80, 128, 163

  aftermath of, 4, 8, 129

  anniversary of, 96, 277

  events leading to, 7–8, 11, 24, 37

  loyalist account of, 171

  site of, 19, 39

  and trial for, 4, 8, 32

  See also Massacre Day Oration

  Boston merchants, 11, 41–42, 44, 48–49, 52, 183, 276, 285, 304n, 312n. See also specific names

  Boston Neck, 12, 15, 20, 63, 71, 76–77, 93, 102, 111, 118, 164, 170, 191, 254, 264

  Boston selectmen, 52, 55, 79–80, 87, 96, 175, 283, 287

  Boston Tea Party, 4, 9–11, 16, 22, 28, 30–31, 36, 41, 48, 55, 68, 137, 289, 304–5n

  Boylston, Mary. See Hallowell, Mary Boylston

  Braddock campaign, 28–29, 56, 238

  Braddock, Edward, 26

  Braintree, Mass., 12, 33, 183, 274, 279, 292

  Brattle, William, 62, 64–65, 69, 313n

  Brattle Street Meeting, 15, 46, 111, 310n

  Breed’s Hill, 69, 294

  army assembles on, 209, 223

  bloody carnage on, 201, 230, 234

  breastwork on, 196, 201–2, 205, 210, 213–14

  cannons on, 205–6, 210

  fighting on, 236, 249

  fortifications on, 198–206, 218, 224, 226, 337n

  location of, 196, 200

  rail fences on, 211, 213–14

  redoubt on, 196, 199, 201–6, 210–11, 337n

  Warren buried on, 287–88

  See also Battle of Bunker Hill

  Brewer, Jonathan, 180, 245

  Brighton, 162, 215

  Britannia, 184, 186

  British dragoons, 256, 285

  British goods, boycotting of, 7, 37, 41–42, 44, 47–48, 58, 75, 82–83, 85, 255

  British grenadiers, 115–16, 122, 128–29, 144, 146–47, 221–23, 226, 228

  British light infantry, 115

  and Battle of Bunker Hill, 196, 223–25

  at battle of North Bridge, 135, 143, 145–48

  at Concord/Lexington, 116, 122–24, 126–29

  established by Gage, 26

  as flank guards, 145–48

  important role of, 216–17

  at Lexington fight, 325n

  See also Welch Fusiliers

  British marines, 87, 123, 185–86, 317n

  British ministry, 7, 29, 34, 44, 80, 94, 113, 237, 262, 345n

  and account of Concord/Lexington, 188–89

  arrest patriots, 111–12, 115

  calls colonials’ bluff, 321n

  colonies’ opposition to, 6, 59, 190

  and Government Act, 41–42, 52–53

  military preparations of, 255–56

  repeals acts, 49, 112, 321n

  British navy, 31, 43, 61, 78–79, 89, 158, 256–58, 283–84. See also warships

  British officers, 87, 89, 93, 96, 99–100, 117, 128–29, 143, 208, 282–83. See also casualties; commissions; specific names

  British regular army

  abandons Boston, 237

  arrival of, 7, 42–43, 49, 51

  and Boston Massacre, 7–8, 11

  bravery of, 225

  defeats of, 186, 190

  difficulties faced by, 219, 221–23, 227

  encamped in Boston, 57, 86, 161–62, 169, 177, 183, 189, 249, 255, 257, 332n

  evacuation of, 283–87, 290

  fires first shots, 141–43, 168

  graveyard for, 80, 126

  growing unrest of, 89

  quarters for, 79–80, 87

  steals valuables, 145, 147, 158, 284

  supplies for, 87, 249, 257–58, 283, 317n

  and tensions with Bostonians, 86, 126

  during winter of 1775–76, 255–56, 258–59

  British supply ships, 87, 245, 249, 258, 268, 290

  broadsides, 22, 25, 50, 248, 264–65

  Brookline, Mass., 63, 158, 254

  Brooks, Joshua, 142

  Brooks, John, 202, 204, 338n

  Brown, Abijah, 180

  Brown, David, 142

  Brown, John, 140

  Brown, Jonas, 142

  Brown, Peter, 200, 202, 210, 224

  Buckman’s Tavern, 119, 121–22, 125, 127–29

  Bunker Hill, 69, 260

  battle named after, 199

  and British army, 182, 215, 234, 249, 265

  fortifications on, 197–98, 205, 213–14, 234, 286

  and gunpowder supplies, 174, 332n

  location of, 196–97

  and Percy’s brigade, 159, 197

  and provincial army, 208, 210, 212–13, 215, 218–19, 222–23, 225, 230

  See also Battle of Bunker Hill

  Burbeck, William, 172–73

  Burdoo, Eli and Silas, 324n

  Burgoyne, John, 189–91, 203, 206–7, 217, 219–20, 234, 266, 340n

  Burke, Edmund, 255–56

  Buttrick, John, 136, 140–44, 342n, 343n

  Byles, Rev. Mather, 288

  Cambridge, Mass., 14, 67, 116–18, 122, 183

  and Battle of Bunker Hill, 202, 204, 208, 214–15

  and Battle Road, 158

  boatbuilding in, 170, 276, 332n

  bridge leading to, 102–3, 150, 243, 330n

  British plan to attack, 191, 197, 208

  council of war meets in, 164, 272

  description of, 179

  headquarters in, 161–65, 168, 172, 175, 186, 191, 208, 250, 287

  maps of, 12, 63, 114, 254, 269

  militiamen in, 168–69, 173, 175–76, 178–79, 181–82, 236, 246

  and taking of Dorchester, 276–77

  Tory Row in, 63, 65, 72, 240–41, 252

  See also Powder Alarm

  Cambridge Common, 63, 65, 69–70, 195, 197, 215, 254

  Canada, 5–6, 26–27, 53, 201, 229, 249, 284, 289. See also Quebec, Canada

  cannons, 93, 99

  of British army, 76, 78–79, 154, 168, 191, 198, 200–3, 205–6, 212, 218–21, 225–26,
249, 339n

  and British marines, 186

  embrasures for, 205–6

  firing of, 209–10, 218, 223, 270, 278

  at Fort Ticonderoga, 173

  and fortifications, 205–6, 275

  and grapeshot, 219, 225, 280

  and hotshot, 218

  lack of, 78, 172–73, 195

  for new Continental army, 268–72, 276–77, 352n

  of provincial army, 115–17, 135, 139, 205–6, 209–10, 213, 223, 290

  and siege warfare, 248

  and “spiking the guns,” 284

  stolen by patriots, 78–79, 84, 115, 315n

  and taking of Dorchester, 276–79

  Captain, 39–40

  Carlisle militiamen, 138

  Carpenter, Richard, 246

  Castle, 10, 12, 22, 30–31, 37, 62–63, 65, 68, 234, 254, 279–81, 283, 285–87

  Castle William. See Castle

  casualties

  of African Americans, 128

  of British officers, 226–27

  of British soldiers, 148, 157, 189, 221–25, 227–30, 233–35, 279, 316n, 342n

  of Continental army, 283

  of militiamen, 128–29, 140, 142, 148, 156–58, 168, 189

  of provincial army, 157, 223, 229–30

  Catholic Church, 11, 53, 121, 289

  Cerberus, 184, 189

  Charles II, King, 5

  Charles River, 12, 14, 15, 63–65, 69–70, 103, 116, 118, 122, 150, 165, 209, 243, 266, 282

  Charlestown, 23–24, 52, 64, 67, 116, 118, 150, 153

  and Battle of Bunker Hill, 195, 197–200, 205, 208–9, 214–15, 217, 292

  and Battle Road, 158–60

  during British evacuation, 285–86

  British march on, 182–83, 198

  British plan to attack, 191, 197–98, 206, 208

  burned by the British, 218–20, 224, 227, 255, 286, 340n

  commons of, 69, 197

  description of, 198, 200, 211

  location of, 14, 15, 63, 184

  raided by Continental army, 266

  rail fence built in, 211, 213–14

  Charlestown Neck, 196–97, 203, 205, 212–13, 216, 235, 249

  Chatham, 258

  Chatham, Lord, 94

  Cheever, David, 204

  Chelmsford militiamen, 138

  Chelsea, Mass., 12, 63, 183–85, 191, 218, 254, 312n

  Chester, John, 208–9, 222–23

  Christ Church, 15, 116, 322n, 349n

  Church, Benjamin, 91–92

  Church, Dr. Benjamin, 90, 96, 100, 166, 171, 173, 176, 182, 192

  court-martial of, 251–53

  personality of, 82, 91

  and Provincial Congress, 318n, 321n

  punishment of, 288

  as spy, 91–92, 101, 105, 113, 115, 318n, 321n, 322n

 

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