I have been sending you stories about absolute miracles from God concerning the founding of the United States. Here is another one of those amazing stories:
The Battle of Bunker Hill
“Don’t Shoot Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes!” commanded Colonel William Prescott, repeating the order of General Israel Putnam, JUNE 17, 1775.
Colonel William Prescott’s men were in the center redoubt located on Breed’s Hill, in front of Bunker Hill, guarding the north entrance to Boston Harbor.
Samuel Swett wrote in his History of Bunker Hill, that as the 2,300 British soldiers advanced:
“The American marksmen are with difficulty restrained from firing. Putnam rode through the line, and ordered that no one should fire till they arrived within eight rods. He even set up a stake in front of the patriot’s line and ordered that no one fire until the British had passed that stake.
Powder was scarce and must not be wasted. They should not fire at the enemy till they saw the whites of their eyes. The same orders were reiterated by Prescott at the redoubt.”
Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed March 20, 1942: “Our Army is a mighty arm of the tree of liberty.
It is a living part of the American tradition, a tradition that goes back to Israel Putnam, who left his plow in a New England furrow to take up a gun and fight at Bunker Hill.”
At the beginning of the battle, a stray musket ball from a British gun killed an American soldier, resulting in other soldiers running away.
To stop the confusion, Colonel William Prescott climbed on top of the wall of the fortification, stood upright and walked back and forth, rallying his men. Many of those involved considered it an act of God that he could be there going up and down on top if the redout in full view of the advancing British and never receive one wound.
When British General Thomas Gage saw Prescott through his telescope, he asked a local loyalist, Abijah Willard, who happened to be Prescott’s brother-in-law, if Prescott had enough courage to fight.
Willard replied: “Prescott is an old soldier, he will fight as long as a drop of blood is in his veins.”
Another recorded Willard’s statement as: “As to his men, I cannot answer for them, but Colonel Prescott will fight you to the gates of hell.”
Historian George Bancroft wrote that at the redoubt in the center of battle: “No one appeared to have any command but Colonel Prescott. His bravery could never be enough acknowledged and applauded.”
British General Gage had no respect for the rag-tag Americans, resulting in him pridefully committing the serious mistake of ordering a direct assault.
British General William Howe had intended to unleash an artillery bombardment from field pieces on the Americans prior to the British advance, but providentially for the Americans, the British brought the wrong caliber ammunition. They had six pounder cannons but nine-pound shot. As a result, British artillery was not able to soften the resistance. This was almost inconceivable for the highly trained British army. Again, most considered such an error to be a direct act of God on behalf of these Colonial patriots.
General Howe ordered some 2,300 British soldiers to fix bayonets, and in their wool uniforms, charge in the hot sun up the hill covered with fences and uneven rows of uncut grass. The high, thick grass had not yet been harvested for winter hay. There were all manner of uneven pieces of ground hidden by the grass as well as the old fences, too. Besides their hot, wool uniforms, the British soldiers were required to carry heavy backpacks.
The British intended to flack the Americans at Breeds Hill and attack them from the rear. However, when they tried the flanking maneuver, they ran into all the patriots dug in on top of Bunker Hill. So, they had to go back and use frontal attacks at Breeds Hill. Those long lines of Red Coats were just mowed down by the long hunting rifles of the patriots. Some regiments had only 8 or 9 men left alive out of their whole group. The Americans had built platforms inside of their over six foot high breast-works on which to stand and fire.
In their first assault many of the British ran all the way back to the boats that had carried them across the river.
The patriots tended to shoot first at the field officers. One British general had his whole staff wiped-out. Eventually the Red Coats were reassembled for a second assault. It too was repelled with great loss of life a second time.
General Howe was determined to overcome what he considered a rag-tag group of “untrained rebels”. This third time he attacked with his troops lined up in single files and without their heavy packs. Though they had to step over their fallen comrades, many still screaming for help.
By now, the Americans had run out of gunpowder and shot. They did not have those long black bayonets like the British, either. So, they were compelled to retreat. Most of the 500 American casualties happened during the retreat. However, the British generals wrote later that they were most impressed that the Americans did not just go running wildly away, but retreated in military order to the rear in units.
Over 1,000 British were killed or wounded in this first major action of the Revolutionary War.
There were nearly 500 American casualties, including the notable Dr. Joseph Warren.
Amos Farnsworth, a corporal in the Massachusetts Militia, made this entry in his diary immediately after the Battle of Bunker Hill, JUNE 17, 1775: “We within the entrenchment having fired away all ammunition and having no reinforcements were overpowered by numbers and obliged to leave. I did not leave the entrenchment until the enemy got in. I then retreated ten or fifteen rods. Then I received a wound in my right arm, the ball going through a little below my elbow, breaking the little shellbone. Another ball struck my back, taking a piece of skin about as big as a penny. But I got to Cambridge that night. Oh the goodness of God in preserving my life, although they fell on my right and on my left! O may this act of deliverance of thine, O God, lead me never to distrust thee; but may I ever trust in thee and put confidence in no arm of flesh!”
The British then burned the nearby town of Charlestown.
One of the Saff Officers under General Howe wrote after the battle: “We won the battle and we hold the ground, but a few more ‘victories’ like this one and there will be no more British Army left in the Colonies.”
Daniel Webster declared at the Bicentennial Celebration at Plymouth Rock, December 22, 1820: “In New England the war of the Revolution commenced. I address those who saw the burning spires of Charlestown; who beheld the deeds of Prescott, and heard the voice of Putnam amidst the storm of war, and saw the generous Warren fall, the first distinguished victim in the cause of liberty. It would be superfluous to say, that no portion of the country did more than the States of New England to bring the Revolutionary struggle to a successful issue.”
This same day as the Battle of Bunker Hill, 300 miles away in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress drafted George Washington’s commission as commander-in-chief, for which he refused a salary.
Washington wrote to his wife, Martha:
“Dearest … It has been determined in Congress, that the whole army raised for the defense of the American Cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take command I shall rely therefore, confidently, on that Providence which has heretofore preserved, and been bountiful to me.”
Washington ended: “I got Colonel Pendleton to Draft a Will the Provision made for you, in case of my death, will, I hope, be agreeable.”
Yale President Ezra Stiles wrote May 8, 1783: “Every patriot trembled till we had proved our armor, till it could be seen, whether (we) could face the enemy with firmness. They early gave us the decided proof of this, in the memorable Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775). This instantly convinced us, and for the first time convinced Britons themselves, that Americans both would and could fight with great effect. Whereupon Congress put at the head of this spirited army, the only man, on whom the eyes of all Israel were placed (George Washington). This American JOSHUA was raised up by God, and divinely formed by a peculiar influence of the Sovereign of the Universe, for the great work of leading the armies to liberty and independence.”
On July 20, 1775, General Washington issued the order: “The General orders this day to be religiously observed by the Forces under this Command, exactly in manner directed by the Continental Congress.
It is therefore strictly enjoined on all Officers and Soldiers to attend Divine Service; and it is expected that all those who go to worship do take their Arms, Ammunition and Accoutrements, and are prepared for immediate action, if called upon.”
True Texan Tales 