The inhabitants of Boston, and the reserve of the English army were gazing from the amphitheatre formed by the heights of the city, with equal anxiety upon the dreadful battle, with the results of which the destinies of each were equally connected.
On the 17th of June 1775, at one o’clock, the English army moved slowly to the fight, with shouldered arms, exhibiting that calmness, which is inspired by a long habit of military discipline. The Americans awaited them firmly, with the coolness and resolution that is always imparted by love of liberty. The English had already approached within thirty yards of the entrenchments, without a single gun being fired to break the ominous silence, under which their movements were made, when suddenly they received a volley of musketry so fatally aimed that their ranks were disordered, broken, and flying in confusion towards the shore, leaving behind them a great number of their officers killed and wounded. A second attack was followed by a similar result, and even at this time the English soldiers were thrown into such a panic that many of them sought refuge in the boats. Their officers could neither check their flight nor rally them except by resorting to the severest measures. Finally, a third attack, supported by some pieces of artillery, aided by the fire of several ships, and two floating batteries, was completely successful. The Americans, forced from their entrenchments, still defended themselves for a considerable time, fighting hand to hand, and giving blows with the butts of their guns in return for the enemy’s charges with the bayonet. Their retreat was more calm and regular than could have been anticipated from inexperienced militia. In this last attack, the royal troops showed great intrepidity, and a courage worthy of a better cause. They lost nearly 1,100 men killed and wounded, among which were more than 90 officers. The patriot army, which fought for a long time under cover, did not lose 500 men, but had to lament the death of one of its most estimable commanders, general Warren.
The English paid too dearly for this victory to follow up its advantages; they were on that day contented with the possession of the bloody field of battle.
The useless burning of Charlestown, which preceded the battle, was regarded by the Americans, as an act of the most shameful barbarity, and excited a general sentiment of horror and indignation. It was at Charlestown, that the English after their rout at Lexington had found succour for their wounded, and the most generous hospitality was displayed towards their stragglers. The loss of the position on Bunker’s Hill, did not prevent the Americans from keeping the royal army closely blockaded in Boston. The forces of the besiegers were daily augmented, and on the 2d of June, general Washington, in the name of the Congress assembled at Philadelphia, took the command. Nothing of importance, however was undertaken against the city during the rest of the year. The approach of winter rendered the condition of the besieged dreadful; the cold was extreme and fuel was deficient; the English could not obtain it but at the expense of the inhabitants whose houses were demolished for the sake of the wood. The situation of the inhabitants deeply affected Washington, who wished to profit by several days of severe frost, which would have allowed him to cross upon the ice, to make a general attack: but this plan was unanimously opposed by his council of war.
About the end of April 1776, having received some reinforcements, he resolved to occupy the heights of Dorchester, whence it would be easy to annoy the ships in the harbour and even the garrison in the town. He hoped moreover that this movement, by drawing the enemy from his inaction, would give an opportunity of bringing him to a general engagement, and he took his measures with great skill, to derive all possible advantage therefrom. The occupation of the heights of Dorchester was effected on the night of the 2d March, with so much activity, that at day-break the besieged beheld the Americans established and capable of sustaining an attack in their new position.
General Howe immediately perceived the critical situation into which he was thrown by this bold movement of the Americans, and after several fruitless attempts to dislodge them, he determined to evacuate Boston, while the sea still remained open to him. On the 17th of March he embarked with all his army, and his rear-guard might have heard the shouts of joy with which the triumphal entry of Washington was hailed in the city.
From that time, Boston, which is justly distinguished by the glorious title of Cradle of the Revolution, ceased to be the theatre of war. The town and province were forever freed from the presence of the enemies of liberty; but the citizens of Massachusetts did not display less ardour in the achievement of the great work, the liberation of the colonies; their contingents to the continental army were always furnished with exactness, and their troops sustained to the end of the war, their admirable reputation for courage and patriotism.
The news of peace arrived at Boston on the 23d April, 1783, and diffused among the people the most exhilarating joy; the entire abolition of negro slavery was proclaimed, and commerce and industry, under the protection of freedom, appeared with renewed lustre.
The state of Massachusetts since that epoch has constantly increased in wealth and happiness; it has regulated and determined its boundaries in a friendly manner with its neighbours, and at present it is bounded north by the states of Vermont and New Hampshire; east by the Ocean; south by the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut; and west by the state of New York. The face of the soil is infinitely varied, and its coasts are richly furnished with convenient bays, which are adorned with a great number of small islands. The soil of the sea board is generally arid, but the lands of the interior are very productive, and cultivated in such a manner as to impart to the whole country the appearance of a smiling garden. Elegant country houses, fine villages and large towns, amply attest the numbers of the population, in fact about 530,000 souls occupy a surface of 7,800 square miles. In 1790 the population was only 370,787 souls; this increase is certainly very rapid, but we shall find much more astonishing changes in the new states.
65,000 persons are employed in agriculture. 36,000 in the various manufactories of cotton, wool, cloth, glassware, paper, soap, in the foundries, &c.; and about 14,000 in commerce. A considerable number are also engaged in the fisheries, but of the exact amount we have been unable to procure information; however, this sketch will suffice to show to what degree public industry is carried in this state; for if we subtract the individuals employed in the various offices of government in public instruction, or engaged in particular business, such as carpenters, masons, tailors, &c. and then remove from the sum total of the population children still unfit for labor, and the aged who are disabled by their infirmities, we shall see how small a number of idle persons belong to this state. From this active industry a degree of general domestic comfort is produced, which strikes Europeans with astonishment when they first visit this country.