1776: "Our Orders are to Take Possession of Dorchester Hill"

Ebenezer Huntington wrote the following three letters to his father in March 1776, describing the action at Dorchester Heights, the British evacuation of Boston and the Continental Army arriving in that city. At the time these letters were written, Huntington served as a First Lieutenant in Colonel Samuel Wyllys's Regiment; he later served in other units and stayed with the Continental Army until 1783, despite his threat to resign in one of these letters. 

Spelling and punctuation is original; paragraphs added for clarity and easier reading.

Camp at Roxbury March 4th '76 

Hon'd Sir

This Night our Orders are to take Possession of Dorchester Hill under the Command of Brig'r Gen'l Thomas — Two thousand men including proper Officers to Parade at 6 o'Clock Past Dorchester to be Relieved at 3 o'clock to morrow morning by three thousand men including officers among which are the Col'o Maj Chester Maj Trumbull & Myself — 

we expect a warm Engagement at the same time think it uncertain as they must know that we shall go very strong & I hope strong enough to Repulse them should they dare to show their heads there — But the God of Battles along can determine who is able to save us — you will undoubtly hear before this reaches you some flying Report about our taken Possession there — 

that you may think I am not unmindful about the danger I am going into I can tell you that my cloaths & Papers are properly secured in case that my maker should in his great good Pleasure so ordain that I should not live to Come off the Hill I must beg your Prayers for us in every Difficult time and Pray that we may succeed as we trust that we are fighting the Lords Battle — 

from Gen'l Spencers Brigade there are going this night 9 Cap'ts 27 Subalterns, 42 Serg'ts 42 Corp'ls 700 Rank & file— at 3 o'Clock to morrow morning 12 Cap'ts 36 Subalterns 57 Serg'ts 57 Corp'ls 863 Rank & file — 

I had like to have forgot to Acknowledge a Letter Rec'd the night before Brother went from this — the reason was because I was unwell but am better now

I have no news to write further but remain your ever Dutiful Son 

Ebenezer Huntington

Respects to Mamma Love to Brothers & Sisters

Roxbury Camp 7th March 1776 

Hon'd Parent

Dorchester Hills are at last taken Possession of by our People who went on in the Even'g following the 4th March in a Party of 2000 men including Proper Officers under the Command of Brigadier Gen'l Thomas who began two forts, one on each of the high hills, and two small Redoubts just as you Pass the neck which Redoubts were built to Play upon the floating Batteries that should attempt to annoy our People Passing the Neck 

This party was reliev'd at 3 o'Clock next morning by a larger Party of 3000 men Including Proper Officers — the Party was increas'd from 2 to 3000 in Expections of an Attack as soon as they should discover us — but we were unhappily mistaken — I say unhappily, because I believe it would have Put an End to the War in the N England Colonies, Had an Action taken Place — We went on so well Prepar'd that had they came out with a number suff't to withstand us, the town would have been in the hands of our great & brave Gen'l Putnam in a little time after they had come out — 

I wrote you the 4th March intended to have sent you by Mr Hyde but he has not taken it & I now send it by Post — I should Lengthen the letter but the Post is waiting — I am your Dutiful Son

Eben Huntington

Camp at Roxbury March 21 '76 

Hon'd Sir

Since we have taken Possession of Dorchester Hill I have had the pleasure of receiving two letters from you the dates I have forgot and as the letters are both out of my Pocket you will excuse my acknowledging them otherways —

When Doctor Turner set out from this Place I was in Boston & could not write to you but desir'd him to inform you that I wanted a horse to be sent to me immediately as I then expected that the troops would march to N York very soon & that I should march with them — but since he went away, the Comp'y which I had the Care of has been fill'd up & the Captaincy given to Jed'h Hyde which has so much disoblig'd me & all my friends that this morning By good advise I shall wait on his Excellency to resign my Commission unless something can be done to Satisfaction tho' at the same time I request a horse to be sent —

Last Sunday our troops marched in & took Possession of the town of Boston after the Regulars had evacuated it which they did about four o' Clock Sunday morning after Plundering everything they wanted without respect to Persons they were in so great fear of our following them as they quitted the Neck that they had filled up the streets in several Places with old Casks to stop our Progress and ran with great Haste & all the signs of fear Possible to be shown — 

The town of Boston is not so much destroy'd as I expected tho' it is destroy'd more at the North & at the south End than any where Elfe — Mr Cutlers family are well I have din'd there breakfasted & drank — there in the afternoon — Maj'r Chester & myself got Lodgings at Mr Rowes the first night we entere'd town & had an Offer of a bed there as long as we should Chuse to stay in town besides we had an Offer of a bed at two other Places at any time when Convenient for us. —

I Expect to be with you before the next week is out & Can give you the particulars of three days adventures in town but at Present shall only Subscribe myself your ever dutiful Son

Eb Huntington

Source:

Ebenezer Huntington, Letters written by Ebenezer Huntington during the American Revolution (New York: C.F. Heartman, 1915), Pages 30-33.