[Pamphlets. American history]

24
Gen. Winslow stated to me, he was informed by the British ofib
cers that the mistake as to the oversized cannon balls was rectified,
and a new supply sent over before the engagement. From subsequent evidence, however, it appears that they were not there in season to be employed on the first attack.
Dr. Jeffries informed me, that the mistake in sending over cartridges
too large for the British cannon was committed by a young son of
Master Lovell, who received his appointment in the ordnance department from old General Cleveland the head of it, who was in love
with his sister. This mistake perhaps, which rendered the first attack by their field pieces faint, was decisive of our success on their
two first attacks, and secured to us all the advantages of a victory
throughout the engagement. The very authentic and satisfactory
work we quoted above, "the Conduct of the War by Gen. Howe,
&c." observes on this subject, " The wretched blunder of oversized
"balls came from the dotage of an officer of rank in that corps, who
" spends all his time with the schoolmaster's daughters. God knows
"he is old enough; he is no Samson, yet he must have his Dalilah."
NOTE H.
We related in the first edition of our Sketch, a remarkable anecdote of a Clergyman, who was on the battle-ground at Bunker Hill,
and extremely desirous of saying prayers over the body of Asa Pollard, the first victim who fell. We did so on the authority of Col.
Prescott himself, and one of his Capts. as reported to us by Hon.
Wm. Prescott, of Boston, the only son of Col. Prescott, and who has
ever worthily supported the honour of his name. rTo those, who
have taken trouble to peruse the newspapers of that period, it is perfectly well known, that the Clergyman, who was present and highly
distinguished himself in Bunker hill battle, by valiantly fighting the
foe, was the Rev. John Martin.* He was justly rewarded for his gallantry by a chaplaincy in a Rhode Island Regt.; and soon after the
battle he preached a discourse from the following very appropriate
text. Neh. 4. 14. " And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers,
"and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember
"the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren,
"your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses." This
text and chapter were selected with peculiar happiness for the occasion, and the application was peculiarly congenial with the taste of
our ancestors.
P. S. The minute occurrences of Bunker hill battle have never been published. This will
be done by the author, if the Public can tolerate any further notes on the subject.
* N. H. Gazette, 18 July 1775.