swept by the British cannon, awed the raw recruits, and they held back. Colonel Gardner succeeded in leading three hundred men over to Bunker's hill, and these were immediately ordered to the lines by Putnam. On their march Gardner was mortally wounded by a musket-ball, when his men, thrown into confusion, fell back, and very few of them engaged in the contest. Other regiments failed to reach the lines; but a corps under the gallant Febiger, a Danish officer, greatly annoyed the left wing of the British. Putnam, meanwhile, was urging on reinforcements, but with little effect. Men were continually leaving the lines with a variety of excuses, and they were scattered all over the vicinity of Bunker's hill, in utter confusion.

Howe was exasperated at the repulse of his troops. He felt that his own reputation and the honor of the British army were at stake; and he could not brook the thought that undisciplined yeomen, feeble in numbers, should raise a shout of victory over his discomfiture. Like Cortez, he voluntarily cut off his own retreat. He sent his boats to the Boston shore, and the alternative for his men was to fight, conquer, or die.

Slowly and steadily the British moved to the third attack. From the flank their cannon completely swept the interior of the breastworks, destroying many of the provincials, and driving the remainder within the redoubt. Reserving their fire until a proper moment, the Americans again poured a deadly volley upon the advancing enemy. Three valuable officers and many privates fell. General Howe was wounded in the foot, but he continued fighting gallantly at the head of his men, cheering them on by word and acts. Each moment the fire from the redoubt grew fainter, and at last it ceased, for almost every cartridge was spent.

Eagerly the British now pressed forward, reserving their fire until nothing but a thin ridge of earth separated the combatants. This was soon scaled, when the assailants, who were led by a brave subaltern shouting, "Come on, boys! the day is ours!" were repulsed by a shower of stones hurled by stalwart hands, and by a few musket-shots which had been held in reserve for the occasion.

reinforcer sents, but with Led.

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Ceneral Howe wg wouded in the Sot, but he continued fighting gall wrty d ad of h's me, cheering them on by word are the fire from the redoubt prew Fah ter, and et list it ex. annost every cartridge was spout. i ger's the Pritsh pow 1 rosed forward, reserving their fre unti, a thug but a th ge of earth separated the combat ants, sco, se do, when die as bents, who were led by a brave Seming. More on, have! the day is quis" Were l stones vi by stelwart hans, and bea hot which had been held in re-erve for the pression