"Dearest Friend
The Day; perhaps the decisive Day is come on which the fate of America
depends. my bursting Heart must find vent at my pen...............
The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong -- but the God of
Israel is he that giveth strength & power unto his people. Trust in him at
all times ye people pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for
us. --Charlestown is laid in ashes. The Battle began upon our entrenchments
upon Bunkers Hill, a Saturday morning about 3 o'clock & has not ceased yet &
tis now 3 o'clock Sabbath afternoon."
Abigail Adams wrote to John Adams on Sunday June 18 1775
Today in 1775 American Patriot General William Prescott allegedly told his
men, "Don't one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" it was,
as every American schoolboy knows, The Battle of Bunker Hill. When the
Redcoats were within forty metres, the Americans let loose with a lethal
barrage of musket fire, cutting down nearly one hundred British troops and
throwing the British into retreat. . On .a redoubt on nearby Breed's Hill
the rebel fortifications were raised.General Howe the commander of the
British main assault force led two costly and ineffective charges against
the Patriot's fortifications without inflicting significant casualties on
his opponents. the Redcoats were dead game.They came again and again on
third attempt they engaged the Americans in hand to hand combat the
Americans were forced to retreat After obtaining 400 reinforcements which
included sorely needed ammunition for his artillery, Howe ordered a bayonet
charge to seize Breed's Hill. In this third attempt, the Redcoats were
finally able to breach the breastworks of the American redoubt. .
This battle, though victorious , proved costly for the British. Of the 2400
Redcoat soldiers in Howe's command, the 1054 casualties accounted for nearly
forty percent of their ranks. The American casualties were 441, including 30
captured, with most being inflicted during the retreat. The battle served to
proved to the American people and the ragtag band of farmers, tinkers,
tailors and merchants that the British Army was not invincible.
It is from the base of the monument on Bunker Hill that the earth that now
lays over Lafayette grave was obtained.
Sinclair----- Original Message -----
From: "John S. Quarterman" <jsq@quarterman.com>
To: <sinclair@quarterman.org>
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 9:04 AM
Subject: Sinclair Dates
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