that Pitcairn's horse and one man were wounded; seven of the militia killed, and nine disabled.

About seven o'clock the King's troops, leaving one hundred Light Infantry under Captain Laurie of the 43rd to guard the bridge, reached Concord and destroyed what stores they could find.

It was

Numbers of armed men now assembled, and it was noon when Colonel Smith began to retrace his steps, by which time the whole country had risen, and a shout was set up by the Americans that "the lobsters" had turned tail. The red coats then found themselves exposed to an incessant and galling fire from every available cover. in vain facing about, they could not induce their assailants to come to close quarters. Before reaching Lexington their ammunition began to fail, the wounded to drop, and the flanking parties to knock up. The Americans bore witness to the admirable behaviour of the British officers on this occasion; but had it not been that intelligence had reached Gage of the opposition first met with at Lexington, upon which he despatched Lord Percy with twelve companies, some marines and field-pieces, all their gallantry and efforts must have been abortive: they arrived just in time, finding Colonel Smith's men so fatigued as to be described "with their tongues hanging out of their mouths like dogs after a chase."

Having marched nearly thirty-six miles, weary and worn they reached Charleston, and passed on directly to Boston, minus 1 lieutenant, 1 sergeant, 1 drummer, and 62 rank and file killed; 2 lieut.-colonels, 2 captains, 9 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 7 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 157 rank and file wounded. The grenadiers and light companies of the 43rd lost Lieutenant Hull, wounded,—he was taken prisoner, and died of his wounds; 4 rank and file killed, 5 wounded, and 2 taken prisoners.

The Lexington event showed how erroneous was the

belief of home authorities, that the appearance of a regiment, or even the sight of a grenadier's cap would be sufficient to put an American army to flight. The whole province rose to arms. The militia, amounting to 20,000, surrounded Boston, fixed their headquarters at Cambridge, and formed a line of encampment, strengthened with artillery, from Roxbury to Mystick, a distance of thirty miles. Colonel Putnam, an old and brave provincial officer, with a large reinforcement from Connecticut joined. The Americans regarded Lexington as a glorious victory, and declared their intention of driving the King's troops from Boston. This caused a crisis.

Congress, which now assumed the appellation of "The United Colonies," adopted resolutions for raising an army, for the establishment of a paper currency, a post office, &c. So directly did they oppose the Government that General Gage, in a final effort at reconcilement, issued a proclamation, by which pardon was offered, in the King's name, to all who should lay down their arms and return. to their occupations-while those who refused should be treated as rebels and traitors.

Charleston had been neglected by both sides; but as the Provincials, on the 16th of June, sent a body of men to throw up intrenchments on Bunker's Hill, and by daybreak had constructed strong works (which being discovered by the men-of-war), a continual fire was opened upon them.

BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL.

Preparations were instantly made for landing ten companies of grenadiers, ten of light infantry, the 5th, 38th, 43rd, and 52nd battalions, with a proportion of field artillery, under command of Major-General Howe and Brigadier-General Pigott. It was past three o'clock in the afternoon when they landed without opposition, under

cover of guns of the fleet. The troops formed with the light infantry on the right, the grenadiers on the left, the 5th and 38th in the rear, and the 43rd and 52nd as a third line.

This was the first occasion upon which the 52nd acted in unison with the 43rd, afterwards honourably and fraternally linked during the Peninsular War, and singularly enough, in the early formation of the corps both had been numbered "the 54th," though eventually changed to "the 43rd" and "52nd."

The Americans in force were strongly posted on the heights, their right flank covered by a large body occupying houses in Charleston; their left by a cannonproof breastwork. The attack began by a heavy discharge of cannon and howitzers. The enemy did not return a shot until the troops approached close to the works, and evinced a resolution which would have done credit to old soldiers. They then opened with deadly effect. Nearly the whole front rank of the British fell at the first discharge, and volley after volley was poured into them until the bravest began to waver and fall back. Encumbered with their knapsacks, containing three days' provisions, advancing up a steep hill, knee deep in long tangled grass, and clambering over zigzag fences to attack brave men behind intrenchments, momentarily reinforced by hundreds, and under a burning sun, few soldiers but staunch British infantry could have been persuaded to renew the conflict-but again they returned to the charge, and were again, in spite of many heroic attempts of their officers, obliged to retire.

General Clinton, witnessing this state of things from Copt's Hill, took a boat and was ferried over as a volunteer, bringing a small reinforcement. A new mode of assault was then organised. General Howe, having discovered a weak point between a breastwork and a rail

fence, led the left wing and resolved to apply the main strength against the redoubt and breast work, and to rake the latter with artillery, which he disguised by a feigned show of force at the fence. The men took off their packs, some even their coats, being ordered to stand the American fire and rely on the bayonet alone.

The artillery then opened, raking the breastwork, and driving the enemy into the redoubt, where, after a ferocious hand-to-hand struggle (in which at one time General Howe was left alone), the Provincials, fighting desperately, were driven out and retreated over Charleston Neck. The loss on our side was :-Killed, 1 lieut.-colonel, 2 majors, 7 captains, 9 lieutenants, 15 sergeants, 1 drummer, 191 rank and file. Wounded, 3 majors, 27 captains, 32 lieutenants, 8 ensigns, 40 sergeants, 12 drummers, and 706 rank and file.

The 43rd sustained severe casualties. Major Spendlove, Captain Mackenzie, Lieutenants Dalrymple and Robinson, dangerously wounded; 2 sergeants, 10 rank and file, killed; 3 sergeants, 2 drummers, and 77 rank and file, wounded. Major Spendlove expired from the results. For upwards of thirty years he had served with unblemished character in the regiment. Four times previous he had been seriously wounded in action, and his bravery elicited especial approbation from the Commanderin-Chief. He had been nominated to a brevet majority in July, 1772, and became regimental major in February following.

Thus ended the sanguinary affair of Bunker's Hill, in which the bravery of the Provincials had been so conspicuous as to compel men present at the most remarkable actions of the last war to admit that the engagement was the hottest they ever witnessed. Even the battle on the Heights of Abraham, with all its glory, and the guerdon of half a continent, did not cost the lives of so many dis

tinguished and honourable officers as this attack of an intrenchment cast up in a few hours.

Dr. Warren, who had relinquished the medical profession to lead his countrymen, was killed fighting bravely at their head. He was greatly regretted by all who served under him. His costume de guerre was composed of a light coloured coat, white satin waistcoat lined with silver, and white breeches with silver loops.

The British troops kept possession of the peninsula, fortified Bunker's Hill, and had two garrisons to maintain. Surrounded and insulted by an enemy they had been taught to despise, cut off from fresh provisions, confinement and heat of climate added, soon filled the hospitals, and rendered their position truly critical.

The Provincials used every endeavour to foster discontent and cause desertion. Printed circulars found their way into our camp. One of these, addressed to the British soldiers, bore the following contrasted bills of fare :

PROSPECT HILL.

1. Seven dollars a month.

2. Fresh provisions in plenty. 3. Health.

4. Freedom, ease, affluence, and a good farm.

BUNKER'S HILL.

1. Threepence a day.

2. Rotten salt-pork.

3. The scurvy.

4. Starving, beggary, and want.

The arrival of a regiment of light cavalry from Ireland increased their wants. Such was the predicament of the camp that enormous quantities of provisions, even to vegetables, firewood, and minor necessaries, were shipped from England. Through contretemps and storms, only a few of the vessels, with their cargoes in the most miserable condition, reached Boston, and they had the mortification of seeing others taken at the very mouth of the harbour. The loss of coal ships added severely to their hardships, as they were obliged to lie in tents exposed to driving snow and cutting winds.