all the orders and directions of the honourable Congress that they may receive, are, notwithstanding, of opinion, that the above order respecting the poor inhabitants of the Towns of Boston and Charlestown is of such importance, and requires such attention to carry it into execution, that this Committee presume, with permission, that it will better answer the purposes designed, should a special Committee for that purpose be appointed by the honourable Congress, the business already before this Committee being such as will not admit of their attending to this matter unless they should neglect other business of importance. The Committee therefore pray the honourable Congress would take this affair under consideration, and conduct therein as to them in their wisdom shall seem meet.

Attest:

WILLIAM COOPER, Secretary.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress.

July 18, 1775.

“Received of the Committee of Safety, for the use of my Regiment, two Fire-Arms, amounting, as by appraisement, to five Pounds, which I promise to account for unless lost in battle.

JOHN MANSFIELD, Colonel.”

July 20, 1775.

“Received of the Committee of Safety, for the use of my Regiment, two Fire-Arms, amounting, as by appraisement, to the sum of four Pounds, ten Shillings, which I promise to account for to the Colony, unless lost in the service.

“JOHN MANSFIELD, Colonel.”

“Received of the Committee of Safety, for the use of my Regiment, three Fire-Arms, amounting, as by appraisement, to the sum of six Pounds, eight Shillings, which I promise to account for to the Colony, unless lost in the service.

JOHN MANSFIELD, Colonel.”

“Received of the Committee, for delivering out Fire-Arms, for the use of my Regiment, seven Fire-Arms, amounting, as by appraisement, to the sum of twelve Pounds, thirteen Shillings, and four Pence, which I promise to account for to the Colony unless lost in the service.

“JOHN MANSFIELD, Colonel.”

July 25, 1775.

The following account of the late battle of Charlestown, prepared in obedience to a Resolution of the Provincial Congress, was presented, accepted, and ordered to be transmitted to Great Britain:

“In Provincial Congress, Watertown, July 7, 1775.

“In compliance with a Resolve of the Committee of Safety, recommending that a Committee be appointed to draw up, and transmit to Great Britain, a fair and impartial account of the late battle of Charlestown, as soon as possible,

“Ordered, That the said Committee of Safety be a Committee for that purpose, and that they likewise be a Standing Committee for that and like purposes.”

“A true extract from the Minutes:

“SAMUEL FHEEMAN, Secretary.”

In Committee of Safety, July 25, 1775.

In obedience to the above order of Congress, this Committee have inquired into the premises, and upon the best information obtained, find that the commanders of the New-England Army had, about the 14th ult., received advice that General Gage had issued orders for a party of the Troops under his command to post themselves on Bunker’s Hill, a promontory just at the entrance of the peninsula of Charlestown, which orders were soon to be executed. Upon which it was determined, with the advice of this Committee, to send a party, who might erect some fortifications upon said hill, and defeat this design of our enemies. Accordingly, on the 16th ult orders were issued that a detachment of one thousand men should that evening march to Charlestown, and intrench upon that hill. Just before nine o’clock they left Cambridge, and proceeded to Breed’s Hill, situated on the farther part of the peninsula next to Boston; for by some mistake, this hill was marked out for the intrenchment instead of the other. Many things being necessary to be done preparatory to the intrenchments being thrown up, (which could not be done before lest, the enemy should discover and defeat the design,) it was nearly twelve o’clock before the works were entered upon; they were then carried on with the utmost diligence and alacrity, so that by the dawn of the day they had thrown up a small redoubt, about eight rods square. At this time a heavy fire began from the enemy’s ships, a number of floating batteries, and from a fortification of the enemy’s upon Copy’s Hill in Boston, directly opposite to our little redoubt. An incessant shower of shot and bombs was rained by these upon our works, by which only one man fell; the Provincials continued to labour indefatigably till they had thrown up a small breast work, extending from the east side of the redoubt to the bottom of the hill, but were prevented completing it by the intolerable fire of the enemy.

Between twelve and one o’clock a number of boats and barges, filled with the Regular Troops from Boston, were observed approaching towards Charlestown. These troops landed at a place called Moreton’s Point, situated a little to the eastward of our works. This Brigade formed upon their landing, and stood thus formed till a second detachment arrived from Boston to join them. Having sent out large flank guards, they began a very slow march towards our lines. At this instant smoke and flames were seen to arise from the Town of Charlestown, which had been set on fire by the enemy, that the smoke might cover their attack upon our lines, and perhaps with a design to rout or destroy one or two Regiments of Provincials who had been posted in that Town. If either of these was their design, they were disappointed, for the wind shifting on a sudden, carried the smoke another way, and the Regiments were already removed. The Provincials, within their intrenchments, impatiently awaited the attack of the enemy, and reserved their fire till they came within ten or twelve rods, and then began a furious discharge of small-arms. This fire arrested the enemy, which they for some time returned, without advancing a step, and then retreated in disorder, and with great precipitation, to the place of landing; and some of them sought refuge even within their boats. Here the officers were observed by the spectators on the opposite shore, to run down to them, using the most passionate gestures, and pushing the men forward with their swords. At length they were rallied, and marched up with apparent reluctance towards the intrenchment. The Americans again reserved their fire until the enemy came up within five or six rods, and a second time put the Regulars to flight, who ran in great confusion towards their boats. Similar and superiour exertions were now necessarily made by the officers, which, notwithstanding the men discovered an almost insuperable reluctance to fighting in this cause, were again successful. They formed once more, and having brought some cannon to bear in such a manner as to rake the inside of the breastwork from one end of it to the other, the Provincials retreated within their little fort. The Ministerial Army now made a decisive effort; the fire from the ships and batteries, as well as from the cannon in the front of their Army, was redoubled. The officers in the rear of their Army were observed to goad forward the men with renewed exertions, and they attacked the redoubt on three sides at once. The breastwork on the outside of the fort was abandoned; the ammunition of the Provincials was expended, and few of their arms were fixed with bayonets. Can it then be wondered that the word was given by the commander of the party, to retreat? But this he delayed till the redoubt was half filled with Regulars, and the Provincials had kept the enemy at bay some time, confronting them with the but-end of their muskets.

The retreat of this little handful of brave men would have been effectually cut off, had it not happened that the flanking party of the enemy, which was to have come up on the back of the redoubt, was checked by a party of Provincials, who fought with the utmost bravery, and kept them from advancing farther than the beach. The engagement of these two parties was kept up with the utmost vigour; and it must be acknowledged that this party of the Ministerial Troops evidenced a courage worthy of a better cause. All their efforts, however, were insufficient to compel the Provincials to retreat, till their main body had left the hill. Perceiving this was done, they then gave ground, but with more regularity than could be expected of troops who had no longer been under discipline, and many of whom never before saw an engagement.