numerous musketry, but to the heavy fire of the battery on Copp’s Hill, four or five men-of-war, several armed boats or floating batteries in Mistick River, and a number of field-pieces; notwithstanding which, our Troops within the intrenchment, and at a breastwork without, sustained the enemy’s attacks with real bravery and resolution, killed and wounded great numbers, and repulsed them several times; and after bearing for about two hours as severe and heavy a fire as perhaps ever was known, and many having fired away all their ammunition, they were overpowered by numbers and obliged to leave the intrenchment, retreating about sunset to a small distance over Charlestown Neck. Our loss, from the best information we can obtain, does not exceed fifty killed, and about twenty or thirty taken prisoners.

The Town of Charlestown, supposed to contain about three hundred dwelling-houses, a great number of which were large and elegant, besides one hundred and fifty or two hundred other buildings, are almost all laid in ashes.

The enemy yet remain in possession of Charlestown, and have erected works for their defence on Bunker Hill. It is said they have brought over some of their Light-horse from Boston.

Our Troops continue in high spirits. They are fortifying a very high hill about a mile and a half from this Town, and within cannon-shot of the enemy on Bunker Hill.

GEN. FOLSOM TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Medford, June 22, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I arrived here Tuesday morning, and immediately waited on the Captain-General, who chose to fix the New-Hampshire. Troops in this quarter and Winter Hill; yesterday was taken up in providing barracks for the companies just come in.

I am informed our Troops behaved gallantly in the late engagement. The Continent has sustained a heavy loss in Doctor Joseph Warren, who is missing, and it is said was killed in the trench beyond Bunker Hill. Major McClary was killed by an accidental shot from one of the ships some time after our people had made their retreat. The whole loss sustained by the Provincials is about seventy-five killed and taken, and about one hundred and twenty-five wounded—about twenty-five of them mortally.

I enclose you an account of the loss sustained by Colonel Read’s Regiment, and request that the sufferers may be immediately supplied with their necessary clothing, &c. Colonel Stark was requested to make a like return of his Regiment, but he has not yet done it; he tells me he had fifteen men killed, and forty-five wounded. I shall send as many of Colonel Poor’s Regiment on duty to Winter Hill this morning, as intrenching tools can be found for; there is a great scarcity of those things here. It is highly necessary our Troops should have their tents as soon as possible; they have no shelter from the rain on Winter Hill. What tents are finished, if but few, should be sent forward as soon as possible, with as many spades, shovels, and pick-axes, as can be got in readiness, and some bullets and Hints. I can get no regular account of the loss the King’s Troops sustained. One Mr. Bradford writes to Colonel Lincoln from Hingham, the nineteenth instant; he says: “Yesterday I came out of Boston at two o’clock, A. M. I heard the officers and soldiers say that they were sure they had a thousand or more killed and wounded; that they were carrying the wounded men from four o’clock, Saturday, till I came away. General Howe commanded the Troops. They buried their dead at Charlestown. Among their dead was Major Pitcairn; a great many other officers are dead. There were five thousand soldiers went from Boston; the soldiers and officer exult very much upon taking our lines.

A messenger I sent to Head-Quarters for intrenching tools is just returned, and informs me he cannot get one; therefore must further urge the necessity of forwarding them immediately.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

NATHANIEL FOLSOM.

To the Committee of Safety at Exeter.

P. S. According to your directions I inquired at Head-Quarters the rank of the General Officers, and inform you that Mr. Ward is Captain-General, Mr. Thomas Lieut. General, and the other Generals are Major-Generals.

CHARLES CITY COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

June 23, 1775.

To the Gentlemen of the Committee and Freeholders of BUCKINGHAM County, VIRGINIA:

GENTLEMEN: Being fully sensible of the obligation we are under to you, by your generosity and humanity in offering us an asylum in the bosom of your friendship, at a time when all the evils of a civil war are precipitately approaching; and knowing we must be involved by our situation in much greater difficulties than you; how can we longer restrain the spring of gratitude within the compass of our own breasts?

We observe, gentlemen, in our papers, an address from you to the people in the lower part of the Country, inviting them to make use of your plantations for the safety and refuge of their wives and little ones, with all things, they think fit to carry with them for their support. Such an instance of tender and brotherly feeling must convey an idea of the noblest disposition, and unequalled affection in you; and such an example who would not, in every situation of life, anxiously endeavour to follow.

Permit us, then, gentlemen, in the fulness of our gratitude, to inform you how much we are obliged to you; and that if the unhappy differences between us and our Parent State should so increase as to compel us to the necessity of accepting your offer, we shall, with the risk of our lives, endeavour to secure your region from the tyranny now threatened. So shall yours and ours enjoy the same blessing—one safety—till our gracious. Sovereign is again pleased to communicate to all his people the generous language of unity and peace.

That you may long enjoy every blessing this little life can give, and that the impending dangers Almighty God may yet vouchsafe to avert, is the ardent and daily prayer of, gentlemen, your much obliged and most affectionate countrymen.

By order of the Committee of Charles City County.

WM. G. MUNFORD,
SAMUEL HARWOOD,
JOHN TYLER.

ALBANY COMMITTEE TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Albany Committee Chamber, June 23, 1775.

BRETHREN: We have received a vague and uncertain account from your Colony, of an engagement which your Troops have had with the enemies of our Country at or near Charlestown. As we feel ourselves deeply interested in every event affecting the general weal of America, it gives us great pleasure that (though with the loss of many brave men) you have been able, if our information be true, to drive, with considerable loss, the tools of tyranny and oppression back to their asylum. Strongly impressed with the warmest disposition to cultivate harmony with you, and, if necessary, to afford you all the assistance in our power, we have therefore sent you this by Mr. Price, in order to receive from you a circumstantial detail of the late engagement and its consequences.

May that God who has so often signally espoused our cause in the arduous struggle for liberty and humanity, still continue to you his gracious guidance and protection.

We expect daily an attack upon Ticonderoga from Canada.

We are at a loss to know what must be done with the donations collected in this City for the poor of Boston; and beg to be informed by you, as the chief of the contributions are in grain, whether we shall dispose of it here, and convert it into cash, or otherwise wait your directions.

We are, brethren, your very humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

SAMUEL STRINGER,
Chairman pro tempore.

To the Provincial Congress of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay if sitting, or otherwise to the Committee of War at Cambridge or elsewhere.

New-York, June 23, 1775.

MR. HOLT: The County of Cumberland, in this Province, having been represented as inimical to the proceedings of the late Continental Congress at Philadelphia, and to the several Provincial Congresses since held in the