Eye-witness report of the Battle of Bunker Hill, in a local newspaper...
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June 29, 1775
NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE or the ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 29, 1775 Over half of the front page is taken up with a letter titled: "The Crisis, Number IV" (not the Thomas Paine series) which makes comments on the cruel treatment of the Americans, including: "...The bloody resolution has passed the House of Commons...to give direction for enforcing the cruel & unjust edicts of the last parliament against teh Americans...immediate orders for carrying effectually into execution the massacre in America..." and further on comment on the concerns of the London merchants being hurt by the war in America: "...all the assistance in their power to their oppressed & injured fellow subjects in America. Let them heartily join the Americans..." with more.
Most of the remainder of the ftpg. is taken up with a lengthy letter: "To The Officers, Soldiers, & Seamen, Who may be employed to Butcher their Relatives, Friends, & Fellow Subjects in America" which continues in a future issue.
Page 2 begins with two Resolves from the Mass. Provincial Congress. Also over a full column is taken up with an address from Congress: "To the Oppressed Inhabitants of Canada" which was an attempt of the American to sway the Canadians to their cause (note the hyperlink includes a photo taken from this very issue). Page 3 also has a lengthy document from Congress declaring "...a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer..." in consideration of: "...the present critical, alarming, & calamitous state of these colonies..." which is signed in type by the President: John Hancock.
Page 3 has a report from Williamsburg of a break-in at the public magazine, with mention that the Virginia governor, Lord Dunmore, escaped to a ship as a result of this concern. Also a report which acknowledges from General Gage: "...the receipt of the King's order to apprehend Messrs. Cushing, Adams, Hancock, etc. & send them over to England to be tried; but that the second orders, which were to hang them in Boston, he said the General had not then received..." with more concerning the unease in Boston at that time. Plus a brief, yet very notable, report that: "Generals Washington and Lee are daily expected in this town from the southward." History tells us he would arrive in Boston on July 3 to take command of the army.
But certainly the most notable content is the pg. 3 report concerning the Battle of Bunker Hill. It notes that: "A man of reputation, whose name is King, was in Boston at the time of the battle of the 17th..." and as an eye-witness he observed: "...from sunset on the day of the battle until next morning wounded regulars were brought over in boats to the amount of at least 500; that 30 of them died before they arrived at the hospital; that 84 officers were killed & wounded; 30 of which were Field Officers; and that the whole of the killed & wounded amounted to 13 or 1400...conclude that the havoc among the ministerial troops was very considerable. The loss on our side is not yet ascertained but at the most is supposed to be from 150 to 200 killed & wounded. Major-General WARREN, late President of the Provincial Congress, is among the slain..." which is followed by a piece in honor of Joseph Warren (see).
Further on is: "Since the battle of the 17th instant, a considerable body of the army have been employed in fortifying Prospect Hill, winter Hill & other eminences near Charlestown. The former, which is a very fine situation & in full view of the enemy on Bunker Hill, is said to be now rendered almost impregnable..." with more (see).
Four pages, very nice, clean condition, minor loss at the blank spine margin. Terrific to have content concerning the Battle of Bunker Hill--with the death of Joseph Warren--in a local newspaper.
Most of the remainder of the ftpg. is taken up with a lengthy letter: "To The Officers, Soldiers, & Seamen, Who may be employed to Butcher their Relatives, Friends, & Fellow Subjects in America" which continues in a future issue.
Page 2 begins with two Resolves from the Mass. Provincial Congress. Also over a full column is taken up with an address from Congress: "To the Oppressed Inhabitants of Canada" which was an attempt of the American to sway the Canadians to their cause (note the hyperlink includes a photo taken from this very issue). Page 3 also has a lengthy document from Congress declaring "...a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer..." in consideration of: "...the present critical, alarming, & calamitous state of these colonies..." which is signed in type by the President: John Hancock.
Page 3 has a report from Williamsburg of a break-in at the public magazine, with mention that the Virginia governor, Lord Dunmore, escaped to a ship as a result of this concern. Also a report which acknowledges from General Gage: "...the receipt of the King's order to apprehend Messrs. Cushing, Adams, Hancock, etc. & send them over to England to be tried; but that the second orders, which were to hang them in Boston, he said the General had not then received..." with more concerning the unease in Boston at that time. Plus a brief, yet very notable, report that: "Generals Washington and Lee are daily expected in this town from the southward." History tells us he would arrive in Boston on July 3 to take command of the army.
But certainly the most notable content is the pg. 3 report concerning the Battle of Bunker Hill. It notes that: "A man of reputation, whose name is King, was in Boston at the time of the battle of the 17th..." and as an eye-witness he observed: "...from sunset on the day of the battle until next morning wounded regulars were brought over in boats to the amount of at least 500; that 30 of them died before they arrived at the hospital; that 84 officers were killed & wounded; 30 of which were Field Officers; and that the whole of the killed & wounded amounted to 13 or 1400...conclude that the havoc among the ministerial troops was very considerable. The loss on our side is not yet ascertained but at the most is supposed to be from 150 to 200 killed & wounded. Major-General WARREN, late President of the Provincial Congress, is among the slain..." which is followed by a piece in honor of Joseph Warren (see).
Further on is: "Since the battle of the 17th instant, a considerable body of the army have been employed in fortifying Prospect Hill, winter Hill & other eminences near Charlestown. The former, which is a very fine situation & in full view of the enemy on Bunker Hill, is said to be now rendered almost impregnable..." with more (see).
Four pages, very nice, clean condition, minor loss at the blank spine margin. Terrific to have content concerning the Battle of Bunker Hill--with the death of Joseph Warren--in a local newspaper.
Category: Revolutionary War
