- U z A M E. 
The engagement was kept up on both fides witli great re¬ 
solution. T he per/evering exertions of the king’s troops 
could not compel the Americans to retreat,, till they ob- 
ferved that their main body had left the hill,. This, when 
begun, expofed them to new danger, for it could not be 
effected but by marching over Charleftown Neck, every 
part of v. hich'was raked by the dipt of the Glafgow man 
of war, and two floating batteries. The incedant fire kept- 
up acrofs this- neck prevented any configurable reinforce¬ 
ment from joining their countrymen w ho were engaged ; 
but the few who fell on their retreat over the fame ground 
proved, that the apprehenfions of thole.provincial officers, 
who declined palling over to fuccour rli'eir companions, 
were without any folid foundation.. 
The number of Americans engaged amounted only to 
1500. It was apprehended that the conquerors would 
pufh the advantages they had gained, and march imme¬ 
diately to American head quarters at Cambridge, but they 
advanced no farther than Bunker’s Hill; there they threw 
up works for their own fecurity. The provincials did the 
fame on ProTpefl Hill in front of them. Both were guard¬ 
ing againft an attack, and both were in a bad condition to 
receive one. The lofs- of the peninfula deprelled the fpi- 
rits of the Americans, and their great lofs of men pro¬ 
duced the fame effect on the Britilh'. There have been 
few battles in modern wars, in which, all circumftances 
confidered, there was a greater definition of men than in 
this fhort engagement. The lofs of the Britifli, as ac¬ 
knowledged by "general Gage, amounted to 1054. Nine¬ 
teen commiffioned officers were killed, and feventy more 
were wounded. The battle of Quebec in 1759, which 
«ave Great Britain the province of Canada, was not fo 
deliruftive to Britilh officers as this affair of a flight en¬ 
trenchment, the work only of a few hours. ‘That the offi¬ 
cers buffered fo much, rauft be imputed to their being 
aimed at. None of the provincials in this engagement were 
riflemen, but they were all good markfmen. The whole 
of their previous military knowledge had been derived 
from hunting, and the ordinary amufements of fportfmeh. 
The dexterity which by long habit they had acquired in 
hitting beads, birds, and marks, was fatally applied to the 
deftruftion of Britifli officers. From their fall much con- 
fufion -was ex peeled ; they were therefore particularly 
tingled out. Moft of thofe who were near the perfon of 
general Howe were either killed or wqunded, but the ge¬ 
neral, though he greatly expofed himfelf, was unhurt. 
The light infantry and grenadiers loft three-fourths of their 
men. Of one company not more than five, and of another 
not more than fourteen, efcaped. The unexpected reflit - 
ance of the Americans was fuch as wiped away the re¬ 
proaches of cowardice, which had been caft on them by 
their enemies in Britain. The fpirited conduct of the 
Britifli officers merited and obtained great applaufe, but 
the provincials were iuftiy entitled to a large portion of the 
fame, for having made the utmoft exertions of their ad- 
verfarieS neccfl'ary to diflodge them from lines, which 
were the work,only of a Angle night. The Americans 
loft five pieces of cannon. Their killed amounted to 139.: 
The wounded and miffing to 314. Thirty of the former 
fell into the hands of the conquerors. They particularly 
regretted tire death of general Warren. 
This aftion at Breed’s Hill, or Bunker’s Hill, as it has 
been commonly called, produced many and very important 
confequences. " The fame determined fpirit of refnftan.ee 
j.ow every where appeared on the part of the Americans. 
The commencement of hoftilities at Lexington determined 
the colony of New York, which had hitherto continued to 
waver, to unite with the reft ; and, as the lituation of New 
York renders it unable to refill an attack from the fea, it 
was refolved, before the arrival of a Britilh fleet, to le- 
cifre ihe military llores, fend off the women and children, 
and to let fire to the city if it was (till found incapable of 
defence. The exportation of provifions was-every where 
prohibited, particularly to the Britilh filhery on the banks 
of Newfoundland, or to fuch colonies of Americans fliouid 
RICA. 
adhere to the Britifli intereft. Cong.refs refolved on the 
eftablifliment of an army, and of a large paper currency 
in order to fupport it. In the inland northern colonies, 
colonels- Eafion- and Ethan Allen, without receiving any 
orders from congrefs, or communicating their delign to 
any Body, with a party of only 250 men, fur-prided the 
forts of Grown Point, Ticonderago, and the reft that form 
a communication betwixt the colonies and Canada. On 
this oecalion 200 pieces of cannon fell into their hands, 
belides mortars and a large quantity of military (tores, 
together with two armed veflels, and materials for the 
conftruiSlion of others. 
After the battle of Bunker’s Hill, the provincials eredled' 
fortifications on the heights which commanded Charlef¬ 
town, and ftrengthened the reft in fuch a manner that 
there was no hope of driving them from thence; at the 
fame time that their activity and boldnefs altonilhed their 
adverfuries, who had been accultomed to entertain too 
mean an opinion of their courage. 
The Britifli troops, thus Ihut up in Bolton, were foon 
reduced to diltrel’s. Their neceffities obliged them to 
attempt the carrying off the American cattle on the iBands 
before Bolton, which produced frequent Ikirtnilhes; but 
the provincials, better acquainted with the navigation of 
thefe Ibores, landed on the ifiands, deftroyed or carried off 
whatever was of any ufe, burned the light houfe at the 
entrance of the harbour, and took prifoners the workmen 
fent to repair it, as well as a party of marines who guarded 
them. Thus the garrifon was reduced to the neceliity of 
fending out armed veflels to make prizes indifcriminately 
of all that came in their way, and of landing in different 
places to plunder for fubliftence as well as they could. 
The congrefs in the mean time continued to aft' with all 
the vigour which its conftituents had expected. Articles 
of confederation and perpetual union were drawn tip and 
fiolenmly agreed upon ; and they proceeded formally to 
juHify their conduct, in a declaration drawn up in terms re - 
markably expreflive, and well calculated to excite attention. 
“Were it pollible,” Laid they, “for men who exercife 
their realon, to believe that the divine Author of our ex. 
iflence intended a part of the human race to hold an abfo- 
lute property in and unbounded power over others, marked 
out by His infinite goodnefs and wiSom as the objects of 
a legal domination, never rightfully relillable, however 
fevere and op p re (five the inhabitants of thefe colonies 
might at lead require from the parliament of Great Britain 
fome evidence.that this dreadful authority over them had 
been granted to that body : but a reverence for, our Great 
Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of com¬ 
mon fenfe, mult convince all thofe who reflect upon the 
fubjeCt, that' government was inftituted to promote the- 
welfare of mankind, and ought to be admini.ltered for the.- 
attainment of that end. 
“ The legiflature of Great Britain, however, flimulated. 
by an inordinate paffion'for power, not only.unjuftiliable, 
but which, they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the 
very conftitution of that kingdom ; and.defpairing of liic- 
cefs in any mode of eonteft where regard fliouid be had' 
to law, truth, or-right; have at length, defortin-g thofe, 
attempted to eff'eft their cruel and impolitic purpofe of 
enflaving thefe colonies by violence, and have thereby- 
rendered it neceffary for us to clofe with their laft-appeal 
from reafon to arms. Yet, however blinded that afleinbly 
may be, by their intemperate rage for unlimited domina¬ 
tion, fo to flight j u (lice in tiie opinion of mankind, weelteera 
ourfelves bound by obligations to the reft of.the world-to 
make known the juftice of our caufe.” 
After taking-notice of the manner in which their ancef- 
tors left Britain, the happinefs attending the mutual friend¬ 
ly commerce betwixt that country and her colonies,, and 
tire remarkable, fuceefs of the late war, they proceed as 
follows: “.The new miniftry finding the brave foes of 
Britain, though frequently defeated, yet (till contending,, 
tookup theunfortunate idea of granting them a hafty peace* 
and of then fubduing her faithful friends, 
“Thefe 
