ty without proceeding to
extremities, issued a proclamation, offering a full pardon in the king's
name to all who would forthwith lay down their arms, excepting only
Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose offences were described as "being
too flagitious to admit of any other consideration than that of condign
punishment." The proclamation declared that all those who should not
accept the proffered mercy, or who should protect, assist, supply,
conceal, or correspond with such, were to be treated as rebels and
traitors. It also imported that as a stop was put to the due course
of justice, martial law should be established till tranquillity was
restored. This proclamation was considered by the Americans a prelude to
hostilities, and preparations were made by them for a final contest with
their mother country. And strange to relate they were still allowed
to act on the offensive. On the night of the 16th of June a strong
detachment of the blockading army passed unchallenged and unobserved
over Charles-town-neck, and occupied Bunker's Hill, which was situate at
the entrance of the peninsula on which that town stood, and overlooked
every part of Boston. In the morning General Gage saw this important and
formidable height, which he had entertained some thoughts of occupying
himself, covered with works which seemed to have risen as it were by
magic, and with troops that were beginning to fire on Boston-neck and
the shipping. The general now awoke from his slumbers. A battery of six
guns was opened upon the Americans from Copp's-hill in Boston, and about
the hour of noon a detachment from the English army was carried across
Charles River, which is about the breadth of the Thames in London, and
landed upon the peninsula of Charlestown. This detachment was under the
command of General Howe and Brigadier Pigott, who had orders, at all
risks, to drive the provincials from their works, and to occupy
the hill. The troops marched slowly, formed in two lines, but, on
approaching Bunker's Hill, Howe perceived that the works were of more
importance than had been imagined, and that fresh columns of Americans
were arriving every minute, and he therefore halted, and sent to Gage
for a reinforcement. New troops were sent, and the whole, amounting to
more than two thousand men, proceeded to the attack. In doing so Howe
seems to have adopted the very worst mode which could have ben devised
for attacking the provincials. Instead of leading the troop