Posted on 06/20/2022 5:51:48 AM PDT by Perseverando
"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.
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."
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."
At the beginning of the battle, a stray musket ball from a British gun killed an American soldier, resulting in other soldiers running away.
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.
When British General Thomas Gage saw Prescott through his telescope, he asked a local loyalist, Abijah Willard, who happened to be Prescott's brother-in-law, if Prescott had enough courage to fight.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanminute.com ...
Thank you for the ping. An amazing battle to be sure. Such brave men.
Early photo of ZZ Top...
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