Bunker Hill: "Very Fatal to the 1st Battalion of Marines"

Lieutenant John Waller wrote this letter a few days after the Battle of Bunker Hill, describing his role in the fight and what he experienced in the British lines. He was the adjutant of the 1st Battalion of Marines, commanded by Major John Pitcairn. 

Spelling and grammar is original. Paragraphs added for easier reading. 

Copy of a Letter from an Officer at Boston dated 21. June 1775.

I must refer you to the public papers for the particulars of an Action that has been very fatal to the 1st Battalion of Marines, as well as to most of the Corps concern'd in it. On the 17th. Instt. we were order'd to March to the North Battery in Boston, & there to wait till order'd to Embark for Charles Town side, & which was done as soon as the Grenadiers & Light Infantry of the Army had Landed & form'd in good order on the Plain, at a proper and safe distance from a Redoubt, that was render'd more formidable, by the difficult Access to it, as it stood on the summit of a Hill rising Gradually from its Base, cover'd with Trees stone walls, & Rails. 

As soon as our Battalion were in the Boats Major Pitcairn gave directions to be landed, as near the Redoubt as possible, as the Light Infantry had then (tho' at a great distance) began the Attack. we Landed accordingly where we were attack'd before I cou'd get those in the first Boat form'd, however, we soon form'd into tolerable order with the Loss of one Man only, and then March'd into a Field where we form'd in Line with the 43d. & 47th. Regts. and were then order'd to shelter ourselves by laying on the Grass. 

we were soon order'd to advance and attack the natural defences of the Redoubt and to storm that also at all Events. we gain'd Ground on the Enemy but slowly, as the Rails Hedges & stone walls, broke at every time we got over them and several Men were shot, in the Act of climbing them, we at length overcame these difficulties with very little loss till we came to the Talus of the Redoubt at the bottom of which was a Road with Hedges & Trees on each side besides a low stone wall, on the part we were Jumbled together. 

I say Jumbled, as the March over the Rails &c. had shifted the 47th Regt. (that was on our Right on leaving the low Ground) in such a manner as to divide the 2 Companies on the right of our Battalion from the other 6 on the Left; but as they were nearly in a Column of Files we were not far asunder: in this situation we received a Check (tho' without retreating an Inch) from the very heavy and severe Fire from the Enemy in the Redoubt, and in this Spot we lost a number of Men, besides the irreparable loss of poor Major Pitcairne, whose worth I never was sensible of till that day we remaind about Ten Minutes or near a Quarter of an Hour in this dangerous situation, where the poor Fellows were kill'd as I was directing the Files how to level their Fire, at length half mad with standing in this situation & doing nothing towards Reducing the Redoubt, I requested Colonel Nesbit to form upon our Left in order that we might advance to the Enemy with our Bayonets without firing: this was with difficulty perform'd and Captain Campbell coming up at this Instant, and forming upon our Right we mounted the Hedges without firing a Shot, and ran directly up the Talus, got into the Ditch and mounted the Parapet. 

Here let me stop and mourn for a Moment the loss of my dear, and amiable Friend Archy Campbell, for here he fell, poor Ellis also on this fatal spot perform'd his last services to his Country, Shea rece'd also his mortal wound here, and Chudleigh Ragg, & Dyer were also wounded in this Attack. I cannot pretend to describe the Horror of the Scene within the Redoubt, when we enter'd it, 'twas streaming with Blood & strew'd with dead & dying Men the Soldiers stabbing some and dashing out the Brains of other was a sight too dreadful for me to dwell any longer on; therefore I must now tell you that the Enemy retreated to a very strong breast work, where they had 3 pieces of Artillery but they were drove from it soon tho' with great loss on our part, particularly among the Officers, as you will see by the Papers. 

after the Enemy, (who were from 5 to 7000,) had retreated we took post on the Heights, set fire to Charles Town and other adjacent Houses and lay on our Arms all that Night, [ . . . ] we lay on the ground, and then Encamp'd on the Field of Battle or rather in the Front of it, where we are now strongly intrench'd and as the Post we occupy is a strong one, I do not think the Rebels, after their defeat, will attempt to insult us. I cannot pretend to describe any part of the Action, but what was immediately where we were concern'd. and I believe, and am almost certain that the 2 Companies of our right wing with Campbells Light Company, and part of the 47th & 43d Regts. were the first Troops that mounted the Parapet, and had we push'd at it sooner, in small Columns, without firing I am persuaded that our loss wou'd not have been any thing like what it is. Logan with his Grenadiers was on our Right and suffer'd very much. He is wounded, so is Brisbane, and Gardner, the other Officer of the Company is Kill'd. Avarnes Company of Grenadiers also suffer'd exceedingly poor Finnie Kill'd, & Avarne wounded David Johnston of the 1st Battalion is also much wounded. Jessy Adair was one of the first who mounted the Parapet and behaved very Gallantly. 

Tell Colonel Collins that as David has written to him, I suppose He has given him an account of this Matter therefore, as I have not a Moments time to myself I hope he will excuse my not writing him on this Occasion, And I wish you wou'd be so good as to send Macneal a Copy of this Letter as twill answer for him as well as for you pray do this and believe me &ca.