Memoirs of Major General William Heath

NYSILC

The Accounts of the Battle of Bunker Hill

MEMOIRS.

Immediately after the battle of Bunker Hill, the Ameri- cans began to erect works on Prospect Hill, a very com- manding height above Charlestown common, and at several other places. Several works were also constructed at Roxbury, and the British confined to Boston and Charles- town, within the Neck.

BUNKER HILL BATTLE.

SACO

But what was not to have been expected, is, that all the above accounts should be contradicted and attempted to be invalidated by the statement of a Col. John Small of the British army, related to Col. John Trumbull in London, and by Trumbull related to Col. Daniel Putnam, the son of Gen. Putnam, and published by the latter gentle- man in 1818, and is as follows : " In the summer of 1786, I became acquainted in London with Col. John Small, of the British army, who had served in America many years, and had known General Putnam intimately during the war- of Canada from 1756 to 1763. From him I had the two fol- lowing anecdotes respecting the battle of Bunker Hill ; I shall nearly repeat his words: Looking at the picture which I had almost completed, he said : " I do not like the situation in which you have placed my old friend Putnam; you have not done him justice.^ I wish you would alter that part of your picture, and introduce a circumstance which actually happened, and which I can never forget. When the Brit- ish troops advanced the second time to the attack of the redoubt, I, with other oi3[icers, was in the front of the line to encourage the men ; we had advanced very near the works undisturbed, when an irregular fire like a feu-de-joie was poured in upon us ; it was cruelly fatal. The troops fell back, and when I looked to the right and left, I saw not one officer standing; I glanced my eye to the enemy and saw several young men levelling their pieces at me ; I knew their