was invaded, we heard that our services were needed; and nothing more was wanted to fill the ranks of the army. I arrived at the camp the evening before the battle of Bunker Hill.c 12. "Though weary with the march of the day, I went to the hill, upon which our men were throwing up a breastwork in silence, and happened to reach the spot just as the morning was breaking in the sky. It was clear and calm; the sky was like pearl; the mist rolled lightly from the still water, and the large vessels of the enemy lay quiet as the islands. Never shall I forget the earthquake voice with which that silence was broken. A smoke like that of a conflagration, burst from the sides of the ships, and the first thunders of the revolutionary storm broke over our heads. The bells of the city spread the alarm, the lights flashed in a thousand windows, the drums and trumpets mustered their several bands, and the sounds, in their confusion, seemed like an articulate voice foretelling the strife of that day. 13. "We took our places mechanically, side by side, behind a breastwork, and waited for the struggle to begin. We waited long in silence. There was no noise but of the men at the breastwork, strengthening their rude fortifications. We saw the boats put off from the city, and land the forces on the shore beneath us. Still there was silence, except when the tall figure of our commander moved along our line, directing us not to fire till the word was given. For my part, as I saw those gallant forces march up the hill, in well ordered ranks, with the easy confidence of those who had been led to victory, I was motionless with astonishment and delight. I thought only of their danger, and the steady courage with which they advanced to meet it; the older officers moving with mechanical indifference, the younger with impatient daring. Then a fire blazed along their ranks, but the shot struck in the redoubt, or passed harmlessly over our heads. 14. “Not a solitary musket answered, and if you had seen the redoubt, you would have said that some mighty charm had turned all its inmates into stone. But when they had approached so near us, that every shot would tell, a single gun from the right was the signal for us to begin; and we poured upon them a fire, under which their columns seemed to reel like some mighty wall which the elements were striving to overthrow." When the smoke passed away, their line ap peared as if a scythe of destruction had cut it down;" the place where they had stood, being marked with a long line of now inanimate beings. 15. "Again they returned to the1 charge: again they were cut down; and then the heavy masses of smoke from the burning town, added magnificence to the scene. By this time my powder-horn was empty, and most of those around me had but a single charge remaining. It was evident that our post must be abandoned, but I resolved to try them once again. They came upon us with double fury. While engaged in personal conflict with a British officer, the enemy's line had passed me in pursuit of the flying Americans, and thus cut off my retreat: one of their soldiers fired, and the ball entered my side. I fell, and was beaten' with muskets on the head' until they left me for dead upon the field. 16. "When I recovered, the soldiers were employed in burying their dead. An officer inquired if I could walk; but finding me unable, he directed his men to drag me by the feet to their boats, where I was thrown in, fainting with agony, and carried with the rest of the prisoners to Boston. One of my comrades, who saw me fall, returned with the news to my parents. Not having heard any thing more from me, they doubted not but I was slain. They mourned for me as lost, and a rude stone was erected near the grave of my family in the burying-ground, to record the fate of one who was not permitted to sleep with his fathers. But their sorrow was in a degree mitigated by the reflection that one of their number was counted worthy to suffer death in the service of their country. if 17. "I was carried to the hospital in Boston; and never shall I forget the scene presented in that abode of wo. The rooms were small and crowded ; the regulars and provincials were thrown in together, to be visited, that is, looked upon, by chance they could catch his eye, once a day, by an indifferent physician, who neither understood nor cared for his duty. It was awful to hear the curses poured out by some dying wretch, upon the rebels, who had given him his death wound; but my heart sunk far more at hearing the last words of some of my countrymen, who entreated the surviving to tell their friends that in death they remembered them, and gave up their lives calmly and religiously, as brave men should. One youth of my own age, do I especially remember; his bed was next to mine. One night his gasping informed me that his death was drawing nigh. I rose upon my elbow and looked upon him, as a pale lamp shone upon his features. 18. "There was a tear in his eye, and his thoughts appeared to be far away, evidently returning to that home which was never to behold him again. Long time he lay thus, and I remained gazing on him, expecting myself soon to pass through the same change. At last the expression of his countenance altered; he raised his hands and clasped them as if in supplication; his eyes were turned upwards, and in that prayer, when sleep had happily sealed the eyes of the blasphemers around him, he gave up his soul to God. 19. "When the British were obliged to retire from Boston, I was taken to Halifax, with the rest of the prisoners, in the fleet.1 I was placed in a prison ship, but was soon removed to a prison in the town. The confinement grew intolerable, as my limbs recovered strength; and the prison door was hardly closed, before I resolved with my companions, that we would not rest until we had made one great effort to escape. Every day we were insulted by the wretches employed to guard us; our food was hardly sufficient to sustain us; we were not permitted to know any thing of the success of our countrymen ; and as often as any favor was requested, it was denied with bitter scorn. We 20. "Our apartment, in which six were confined, resembled a dungeon; but this, though it added to the gloominess of our condition, aided our attempts at escape. I was fortunate enough to find an old bayonet upon the floor, with which I loosened the masonry of the wall. Long and wearily did we labor, relieving each other at the task, and thus keeping constantly at work, night and day, except when the grating of rusty hinges informed us that the turnkey was approaching our room. had hung up our clothes on the wall where we labored, as soon as we entered the jail; so that it was not suspected to be a screen for our labors. In the course of four long weeks we succeeded in penetrating through the wall, and never did my heart bound with such delight as when I saw the first gleam of a star through the opening. We waited for a night suitable to our purpose; and it seemed as if the elements had conspired against us; for seven days passed, and each night was as clear and as calm as possible. 21. "At last the night set in dark and stormy.c The wind, as it howled from the ocean, and sent the rain rattling against our little window, was music to our ears. We heard the toll of midnight from the bells of the town, and then began our operations. We took the stones of the wall and placed them in the dungeon, removing them silently, one by one. When the passage was opened, we saw it was not very highd above ground. We doubted not but the sentry would shelter himself in his box, from the storm; but lest he should discover us, each armed himself with a stone. He was sheltered, as we supposed, but hearing the sound we made in letting ourselves down from the breach, he came towards us. Before he could give his challenge, we threw our stones at the unfortunate man, and heard him sink heavily to the earth, his musket ringing as he fell. 22. "Four of our number were strong; but one, with myself, was infirm from the effect of wounds. They, therefore, at our request, left us behind, though with much apparent reluctance. It was an evil hour for them when they did so; for they were afterwards retaken, and committed to prison again, where ill treatment and depression put an end to their existence before the close of the war. I went with my companion into a swamp about a mile from the town, and we had hardly secured our retreat, and laid ourselves down to rest, when the roar of guns came floating upon the wind, a signal that our escape was discovered. It was followed by the martial sound of the bugle; but near as it was, we could go no farther, and could only quietly employ ourselves in gathering boughs of pine, to form a kind of couch and covering. 23. "Thus we lay sheltered till the day dawned, listening in no pleasing suspense to the sounds of alarm that reached' us from the town. In a few hours the sounds drew near1 us; we could even see our pursuers as they passed by. A small party employed a stratagem, to draw us from the swamp in which they thought it possible we had taken shelter. Suddenly crying out,e "here they are," they fired into the shrubbery; but though the balls fell all around us, we saw their motions, and were not frightened from our hiding places. 24. "We rose at night and went on our way, subsisting upon fruits and berries; together with a little miserable bread, which we had saved for this expedition; but we were tortured with hunger, and on passing a barn, my companion secured a fowl, which we ate, raw as it was, with delight. Thus we traveled for seven days, almost without food, and entirely. without shelter; but our strength began to give way. I deliberated with my companion, who was resolute, but still more feeble than myself, and we determined to throw ourselves on the mercy of some passing traveler.c 25. "This was our only chance of relief; and though it was hazardous, and almost hopeless, we resolved, if we met but one person, we would make ourselves known, and ask his protection. Soon after we had decided on this course, we heard the lingering tramp of a horse, and saw a venerable looking person, who reminded us of one of our New England farmers, going to market with a tempting load of poultry. I came out of the hedge, and requested him to hear me; but he looked at me in a manner that clearly evinced that he was extremely suspicious of my character and calling; his reply was, 'Can't stop," and began, with much clamor,e to urge his beast into a quicker step. e 26. "But the beast was my friend on this occasion, and absolutely refused to hasten his movements, without some better reason than he saw at that time. I took advantage of his obstinacy to state my condition to the old man, whose countenance changed at once, on hearing my story. 'Conscience !'4 said he, 'I thought you no better than a picaroon; but you look most starved.' So saying, he dismounted from his horse, and opening his panniers, he handed me the food he had provided for his journey. This I shared with my companion, who came forward and joined me. 'I was going to ask you to ride double,' said the farmer,e but the creature can't carry three; however, wait till I return in the evening, and I will lend you a helping hand.' 27. "The old gentleman, with much caution,e further observed, that he did not know as it was quite right, but he took a notion for the Americans himself, when he heard they were angry about the price of tea.1 But at all events,' said he, I can't see how I should help King George, by carrying you back to Halifax, to be hanged, may be, though I would do any thing for the old gentleman in reason. With many cautions and encouragements, he left us. We concealed ourselves through the day, and many suspicions came over us, that our friend might be induced by rewards to give us up to our pursuers. But we did him injustice. At night he came |