Lot 797
[Battle of Bunker Hill] Eyewitness Account Published in Philadelphia Newspaper. "The Pennsylvania Evening Post," 4pp, 10 x 8 in., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thursday, June 29, 1775. Printed by Benjamin Towne. An "Extract of a letter from Watertown, dated June 21" is published on the second page. Age toning with light soiling and foxing, else near fine. The Massachusetts Provincial Congress met in Watertown, about six miles west of Bunker Hill, from April to July 1775. The letter, in full:
"I arrived at this spot on Saturday last in good health, though much exhausted with a rapid and lengthy journey in so warm a season. The thunder of cannon reached my ears some miles before I got here; the army of Britain had sallied out, and were then engaging our people, who had attempted a lodgment on Bunker's Hill; the line of battle ships, one frigate, the batteries from Boston, a number of floating batteries, and the musquetry of 5000 British troops were discharging incessant torrents of shot, for the space of six hours on about 1200 Americans, without any artillery except three three-pounders. And what renders the matter more remarkable, the regulars were twice repulsed with excessive slaughter, and finally gained the lines with the loss of seventy officers killed and wounded, and 1000 men. Our men have entrenched on an eminence in Charlestown, about three quarters of a mile from the enemies encampment. We have lost sixty men, and upwards of an hundred wounded. Our troops are in high spirits, and eagerly wish for another trial. We have met with one capital loss; our worthy friend Doctor Warren was slain in the trenches, bravely struggling for the liberties of his country. We have lost a few brave officers. On the part of the British troops Major Pitcairn, and a number of capital officers are among the dead."
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on Saturday, 17 June 1775. The British army was victorious militarily in that it took possession of both Breed's Hill, where most of the fighting took place, and Bunker's Hill. After two unsuccessful assaults, the British force was successful in defeating the colonists in the first major battle of the Revolutionary War. It was generally agreed that stronger military leadership was needed to be successful in the war against the British. On Sunday, 2 July 1775, just four days after this newspaper was published, General George Washington arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and assumed his post as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,500.
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