[Pamphlets. American history]

NOTES
TO THE
SKETCH OF BUNKER-HILL BATTLE.
NOTE A.
Conduct of Gen. Putnam during the battle.
Gov. Brooks's statement. The author being in the staff ofl
Gov. Brooks and enjoying his friendship, received every assists
ance from him he could desire in writing an account of the
battle. This battle was probably never understood by any
one better than by him. Meeting the troops who went on,
over night, at the neck; continuing with them on duty as a
field officer till the forenoon following, when he was despatched to head-quarters at Cambridge, where he arrived at 10
o'clock and was retained till permitted to rejoin the troops at
the neck on the last of the retreat; solicitously inquiring at
the time, and ever after, into the occurrences, nothing important
could have escaped him: and the author is without apology
if, with the information derived from him, he has committed a
single mistake of the slightest consequence.
Gov. BROOKS stated? he was informed by Col. Webb, a distinguished Connecticut officer, who signalized himself in Bunker-HIill battle,
that Gen. Putnam (whose Aid he was afterwards) on the retreat,
remained in the rear by a cannon, with a serjeant, the only man he
could persuade to stand by him, till the enemy were just upon them
with their bayonets, when the serjeant was shot down and he was
compelled to retire. Gov. Brooks, going to Cambridge in the
forenoon, met Gen. Putnam riding toward Bunker Hill.
* This, and every other statement referred to by the author, were taken down in writing at the time; any person who pleases may have copies talien of any documents in hit,
possessionr