American Minute with Bill Federer
"Don't Shoot Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes!" -June 1775
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"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,
adjacent
Bunker Hill,
guarding the
north entrance to Boston Harbor.
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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 ...
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."
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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."
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At the beginning of the battle, a stray musket ball from a British gun killed an American soldier, resulting in other soldiers running away.
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To stop the confusion,
Colonel William Prescott
climbed on top of the the wall of the fortification, stood upright and walked back and forth, rallying his men.
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When
British General Gage
saw
Prescott
through his telescope, he asked a local loyalist if
Prescott
had enough courage to fight.
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The loyalist replied:
"Prescott
is an old soldier, he will fight as long as a drop of blood is in his veins."
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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."
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Providentially for Americans, the British brought the wrong size cannon balls - 12 lb cannon balls - which did not fit their 6lb and 9lb cannons!
As a result, British artillery was not successful in softening the resistance.
General Howe
disembarked
2,300 British soldiers,
ordered them to fix bayonets and charge up the hill.
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Twice the Americans repelled them,
but the third time they ran out of gunpowder.
Over
1,000 British were killed or wounded
in this
first major action of the Revolutionary War.
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There were nearly
500 American casualties,
including the notable
Dr. Joseph Warren.
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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 ...
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... 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 ...
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... 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!"
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The British then burned the nearby town of
Charlestown.
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."
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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.
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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."
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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."
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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."
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Less than a month after the
Battle of Bunker Hill,
the Continental Congress proclaimed a
Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer,
as
John Adams
wrote to his wife, Abigail, July 12, 1775:
"We have appointed a Continental fast.
Millions will be upon their knees at once before their
great Creator,
imploring
His forgiveness and blessing;
His smiles on American Council and arms."
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Georgia's Provincial Congress
also passed a motion, July 5, 1775:
"That this Congress apply to his Excellency the Governor ... requesting him to appoint a
Day of Fasting and Prayer
throughout this Province, on account of the disputes subsisting between America and the Parent State."
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Georgia's Royal Governor James Wright
replied July 7, 1775:
"Gentlemen: I have taken the...request made by ... a Provincial Congress, and must premise, that I cannot consider that meeting as constitutional;
but as the request is expressed in such loyal and dutiful terms, and the ends proposed being such as every good man must most ardently wish for, I will certainly appoint
a Day of Fasting and Prayer
to be observed throughout this Province."
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Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull
wrote to General Washington, July 13, 1775:
"The Honorable Congress have proclaimed
a Fast
to be observed by the inhabitants of all the English Colonies on this continent,
to stand before the Lord
in one day, with
public humiliation, fasting, and prayer,
to
deplore our many sins,
to offer up our joint supplications to
God,
for
forgiveness,
and for
his merciful interposition
for us in this day of unnatural darkness and distress.
They have, with one united voice, appointed you to the high station you possess.
The Supreme Director of all events
hath caused a wonderful union of hearts and counsels to subsist among us ...
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... Now therefore, be strong and very courageous.
May
the God of the armies of Israel
shower down the blessings of
his Divine Providence
on you, give you wisdom and fortitude, cover your head in the day of battle and danger, add success, convince our enemies of their mistaken measures,
and that all their attempts to deprive these Colonies of their inestimable constitutional rights and liberties are injurious and vain."
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On July 19, 1775, the
Journals of the Continental Congress
recorded:
"Agreed,
That the Congress meet here tomorrow morning, at half after 9 o'clock, in order to attend divine service at Mr. Duche's Church; and that in the afternoon they meet here to go from this place and attend divine service at Doctor Allison's church."
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On July 20, 1775,
General Washington
issued the order:
"The General orders this day to be
religiously observed
by the Forces under his 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."
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Schedule Bill Federer for informative interviews & captivating PowerPoint presentations: 314-502-8924
wjfederer@gmail.com
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