ld see our works by daylight. The
division to which I was assigned, commanded by Col. Whitcomb, was
ordered onto the northerly hill, where in one hour's time we had a fort
enclosed, with fascines placed in shandelears; and we immediately
employed as many men at intrenching as could be advantageously used for
that purpose. A larger party was assigned to the high hill, where they
erected a larger fort, built much in the same manner as ours. There were
four other smaller forts and batteries erected this night on other
eminences on the Neck."[154]

It is not to be wondered that the British, on making the discovery,
"seemed to be in great confusion."[155] The labor that had been expended
appeared prodigious. Washington himself was satisfied with the works;
he knew them to be secure against the British cannon. To Howe the
achievement was amazing, and he is said to have exclaimed that his whole
army could not have done as much in a month. He wrote to Lord Dartmouth
that the rebels must have employed at least twelve thousand men, whereas
it was accomplished by two details of little more than two thousand men
each. But in those days the British soldier was a poor hand with a
shovel, while the Americans were all farmers. Nevertheless it is worth
noting the difference in organization displayed in the taking of
Dorchester and in the earlier seizure of Breed's Hill. Instead of a
small detachment sent to unsurveyed ground, and unaided during both the
work and the battle, Washington had his ground prepared,[156] his
detachments ready, and his cannon in reserve to send upon the Heights.
In the morning the redoubts, presenting the appearance of finished
fortifications, were manned with fresh men.

Howe called at once a council of war. To it the admiral was summoned,
and declared positively that his fleet was at the mercy of the rebels.
There was but one opinion as to the situation: the honor of the army was
at stake, and in addition the military reputation of the general. It was
promptly decided to storm the works.

For this purpose twenty-four hundred men were sent to the Castle, which
lay close under the Heights to the east, with but a narrow channel
between. The command of these men was given to Lord Percy, who hoped now
for the distinction which illness had prevented his achieving at Bunker
Hill. The attack was to be made at night. Within the lines at Boston
Neck was to be gathered another force of troops, which was to second the