ant-Colonel Buckminster; Nixon's, led by Nixon himself; Moore's,
from Worcester; Whitcomb's, of Lancaster, and others, promptly accepted
the opportunity to take part in the offensive, and challenge the British
garrison to a contest-at-arms, and well they bore their part in the
struggle.

THE AMERICAN POSITION.

The completion of the redoubt only made more distinct the necessity for
additional defences. A line of breastworks, a few rods in length, was
carried to the left, and then to the rear, in order to connect with a
stone fence which was accepted as a part of the line, since the fence
ran perpendicularly to the Mystic; and the intention was to throw some
protection across the entire peninsula to the river. A small pond and
some spongy ground were left open, as non-essential, considering the
value of every moment; and every exertion was made for the protection
of the immediate front. The stone fence, like those still common in New
England, was two or three feet high, with set posts and two rails; in
all, about five feet high, the top rail giving a rest for a rifle. A
zigzag "stake and rider fence" was put in front, the meadow
division-fences being stripped for the purpose. The fresh-mown hay
filled the interval between the fences. This line was nearly two hundred
yards in rear of the face of the redoubt, and near the foot of Bunker
Hill. Captain Knowlton, with two pieces of artillery and Connecticut
troops, was assigned, by Colonel Prescott, to the right of this
position, adjoining the open gap already mentioned. Between the fence
and the river, more conspicuous at low tide, was a long gap, which was
promptly filled by Stark as soon as he reached the ground, thus, as far
as possible, to anticipate the very flanking movement which the British
afterward attempted.

Putnam was everywhere active, and, after the fences were as well secured
as time would allow, he ordered the tools taken to Bunker Hill for the
establishment of a second line on higher ground, in case the first could
not be maintained. His importunity with General Ward had secured the
detail of the whole of Reed's, as well as the balance of Stark's,
regiment, so that the entire left was protected by New Hampshire troops.
With all their energy they were able to gather from the shore only stone
enough for partial cover, while they lay down, or kneeled, to fire.

The whole force thus spread out to meet the British army was less than
sixteen hundred men. Si