OF sto defend it, and dealing death around them with the butt end of their arms, until the redoubt was filled d with the enemy. While the ground at the redoubt and entrenchments was thus contested, vi and won, a detachment of the British right ordered to turn the left flank of the Americans, Jwas received by the defenders of that pass, where they sheltered themselves by hay and the rails of li a fence, hastily thrown together during the early part of the conflict, by equal coolness, firmatness, and precision of fire. There, too, the British troops staggered beneath the well-directed aim of the provincials, who retired only from To their post of danger when they saw the works on the hill abandoned by the main body. Then o they joined the retreat, and the British remained bmasters of the field of battle. But, though the of victory was theirs, the retreat of their enemy was bo unmolested, and they were allowed time to form, 91 for crossing, at their own convenience, the terrible Su passage, of the Neck, exposed to the double fire of the batteries, and Glasgow man-of-war. The British halted on Bunker's Hill, where they hastily threw up defences; and the Americans took their position immediately opposite them on Prospect Hill, and began that line of fortifications which was never more approached by the attacking army. The British encamped that evening about a mile in advance of their position in the morning; but dearly did they pay for the advantage. Nineteen of their bravest officers and 226 men lay dead in the disputed way, while 828 of the remainder were wounded; of the Americans, 11314 were wounded, and 139 slain. Among the latter was Doctor Warren, a man whom his country deeply loved and long mourned. He commanded that day for the first time, with the rank of major-general, a rank which he only held four days, and which was conferred on him for the purity of his patriotism and his eminent to abilities. The disproportion of killed and wounded will -[ appear still more strange on a comparison of the numbers actually engaged. Almost all accounts bagree in stating these numbers thus British, J3,000; Americans, 1,500. Perhaps, too, there was never an engagement where, for the number I "of men, so many officers had lost their lives, bowhich may be accounted for, first, by the brave stand they made in rallying their scattered and 20 disheartened troops, thus exposing themselves to every hazard; and, secondly, by the experienced elomarksmen among the American army singling aldout those whose valour and daring were alone retrieving the fortunes of their enemy. 10 Ju CHAPTER VII. Invasion of Canada-Arnold in the Wilderness-Storm. ing of Quebec-Montgomery's Death-Evacuation of the Province. ALL things considered, the battle of Bunker's Hill, as it has been invariably called, was one of the most bloody and destructive we find recorded in the annals of the war. But even still the voice of peace was heard amid the clang of arms. Congress did not abandon the hope, or at least the attempt, of effecting an amicable accommodation. Meanwhile, other daring enterprises were planned and executed by the Americans, and victory elsewhere crowned their arms. Colonel Arnold, of New Haven, repaired to Boston, with his company of militia, the moment he heard of the Lexington affair. He reported to the Committee of Safety the stores and value of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, two forts, on Lakes St. George and Champlain, on the Canada frontiers, then but feebly defended. He was directed to raise 400 men for their capture, and appointed commander of the expedition. At the same time, a small band of patriots of Connecticut planned a similar enterprise, and committed its execution to Colonel Allen, who was placed at the head of 270 men, summoned from the mountains around Castleton. Here Arnold joined them, accompanied only by his, servant, was associated in the enterprise, and made second in command. Arriving at Lake Champlain, May 9. opposite Ticonderoga, at night, Allen and Arnold, with eighty-three men, crossed over to the fort before dawn, surprised the sentinel, and summoned the commander, ere yet out of bed, to surrender. "In whose name ?" cried the astonished soldier. "In the name," replied Allen, "of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." Crown Point was taken possession of the same day; and a sloop of war lying at St. John's, at the northern extremity of Lake Champlain, was surprised by Arnold, and brought captive to Ticonderoga. Thus the possession of these important forts, of a sloop of war, and the command of Lake Champlain, were obtained without a blow. Intelligence of the enterprise and its success reached congress in a few days, which was pleased and surprised to hear of these advantages gained on the very morning of its first assembling. But, anxious to prove that this was an act of precaution rather than aggression, a resolution was adopted, directing "an invén tory of the stores to be taken, with a view of returning them as soon as harmony should be restored." Colonel Allen, having executed his commission, returned home, leaving Arnold in garrison 'at' Ticonderoga. The impetuous spirit of the latter? but ill brooked inactivity. He proposed the bold design of invading the Canadas, which he promised to reduce with 4,000 men. To this proposal congress refused then to accede. But the Governor of Canada, Sir Guy Carleton, 13th June. engaging ing active preparations for bretaking the forts, wasilit -and the qmilita was then and since asserted, 1 spirit of the colonies rising Iwith each successive events there invasion sof Canada was, in two months afterwards, voted Itodbes practicable, just, and necessary. Its spracticability was based upon the courage and success of the provincials; its justice on the preparations of Sir Guy Carleton, which, in the eyes of Congress at least, amounted torinbdications of aggressive war and invasion; and Dits necessity on the overruling law of self-preservation. The present writer feels no inclibnation to pause here, in order to canvass the ojustice of this invasion, or balance, by a narrow subtlety, the probabilities at one sides or the nother, which would cast the blame on invaders Jor invaded. He thinks it matters little whether Sir Guy Carleton's ambition and loyalty would be satisfied with the recovery of the places England had lost, or meditated a bolder enterprise. Blood had even then been profusely bshed; and if the provincials were justified in brisking life and fortune, to resist what they edeemed arbitrary oppression, surely they need bno vindication for now taking the hardiest preecautions to place themselves on an equality with their enemies, from whose victorious anger they would have everything to dread, whether for successful negotiation or the chances of a hazardeious strife. He, therefore, leaves this question, bto follow the tide of war as it rolled northward. awThesaresponsibility of the northern expedition devolved on General Montgomery, who, withɗa |