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Collo
Prescotts, Frys, and Nicksons Regiments -- after tarrying on parade till
Nine at Night, we march'd down, on to Charleston Hill against Copts hill
in Boston, where we entrench'd & made a Fort, ten Rods long, and eight
wide, with a Breastwork of about eight more, we work'd there undiscovered
till about five in the Morning, when we saw our danger, being against
Ships of the Line, and all Boston fortified against us, The danger we
were in made us think there was treachery and that we were brought there
to be all slain, and I must and will say that there was treachery oversight
or presumption in the Conduct of our Officers, for about 5 in the morning,
we not having more than half our fort done, they began to fire (I suppose
as soon as they had orders) pretty briskly for a few minutes, then ceas'd
but soon begun again, and fird to the number of twenty minutes, (they
killd but one of our Men) then ceas'd to fire till about eleven oClock
when they began to fire as brisk as ever, which caus'd many of our young
Country people to desert, apprehending the danger in a clearer manner
than others who were more diligent in digging, & fortifying ourselves
against them. We began to be almost beat out, being fatigued by our Labour,
having no sleep the night before, very little to eat, no drink but rum,
but what we hazzarded our lives to get, we grew faint, Thirsty, hungry
and weary. --The enemy fir'd very warm from Boston, and from on board
their Ships till about 2 oClock when they began to fire from Ships that
lay in Ferry way and from a ship that lay in the river against us, to
stop our reinforcement, which they did in some Measure one cannon cut
three Men in two on the neck, Our Officers sent time after time for Cannon
from Cambridge in the Morning & could get but four, the Captn of which
fir'd a few times then swung his Hat three times round to the enemy and
ceas'd to fire, then about three o Clock there was a cessation of the
Cannons roaring, soon after we espied as many as 40, boats or barges coming
over, full of troops it is supposed there were about 3000 of them, and
about 700 of us left, not deserted, besides 500, reinforcement
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