41 
east of the redoubt, where the Americans had left too weak 
a defence, formed their columns, whilst the artillery in Boston 
set Charlestown on fire, and attacked the redoubt. This was so 
well defended, that the English were twice obliged to retreat 
with very great loss. In one of these unsuccessful attacks, the Eng¬ 
lish Major Pitcairn, who shortly before had commanded the Eng¬ 
lish advance guard at the affair of Lexington, was shot by an 
American sharp shooter, who still lives, at the moment when he 
shouted to his soldiers not to be a afraid of these d--d rebels, 
which were nothing but a crowd of grasshoppers.” 
But the English received reinforcements, and renewed the at¬ 
tack. The Americans, on the contrary, had expended their am¬ 
munition, and the shot sent to them from Cambridge, the head¬ 
quarters of General Lee, were too large for the calibre of their 
pieces. They could obtain no assistance, as an English man of 
war kept up a fierce fire upon the bridge, the only means of com¬ 
munication with the main land. They determined, therefore, to 
evacuate the redoubt, and they effected it, though with great loss. 
At this time an English officer shot Dr. Warren, one of the 
most distinguished American patriots, who shortly before had 
been appointed general, by congress. The English did not pur¬ 
sue the Americans farther than Bunker’s Hill, but returned dur¬ 
ing the night to Boston. The remains of the redoubt are still 
seen, and on the 17th of June last, the corner stone of a monu¬ 
ment was laid, which is to be an obelisk two hundred and ten feet 
high. One hundred and thirty veterans were present at this ce¬ 
remony, the last of the seventeen hundred Americans who had 
participated in this affair. 
Finally, Mr. Quincy introduced us, in Charlestown, to a ma¬ 
jor of militia, who devotes much of his attention to rural eco¬ 
nomy, and to the breeding of cattle and horses. His whole 
establishment was interesting. The major showed us, parti¬ 
cularly, a noble English bull, from which he had raised very 
handsome and strong calves, and also a fine English stallion, ten 
years old. 
In these peregrinations I made inquiries after Miss Wright, 
who, some years ago, published letters on America, which excit¬ 
ed much attention in Europe, as well as in America. I was told 
that this lady with her sister, unattended by a male protector, 
had roved through the country, in steam-boats and stages, that 
she constantly tagged about after General La Fayette, and when¬ 
ever the general arrived at any place, Miss Wright was sure to 
follow next day; as but little notice had been taken of this lady 
in Boston, a literary attack was expected from her pen. She 
is no longer young, and is of tall stature and masculine man- 
Vol. I. 6 
