PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER REPORTS ON BUNKER HILL
Historic content newspaper, "The Pennsylvania Ledger, Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser" (Philadelphia: printed by James Humphreys, Jr.), June 24, 1775, no. 22., 4pp. folio, containing several notable articles related to important events at the outset of the Revolutionary War, including a reprinting British General Thomas Gage's declaration of martial law in Massachusetts, a letter in turn condemning Gage's actions, an announcement of George Washington and Henry Lee's departure from Philadelphia to take command of the troops in Massachusetts, and a report of Patrick Henry's seizure of the powder magazine in Williamsburg, Virginia from the Governor, Lord Dunmore. Most interestingly, however, is a short article, based on information received in a private letter, describing the June 17th Battle of Bunker Hill. In part: "I understand by Mr. David Trumbull, that by an Express from Cambridge, his Honour our Governor, has advice, that our people attempting to take possession of Bunker's Hill and Dorchester Point, they were attacked by the [British] regulars, shipping &c. Five men of war haul'd up at Charlestown, cover'd the landing of a body of men who drove our people from Bunker's Hill: That three Colonels in our service were wounded, Col. Gardner, mortally; how many are slain on either side, is uncertain ... At Charlestown, when the post came away, our people kept their ground and made a stand, how they have fared at Dorchester, we do not hear; General [Israel] Putnam was safe when the Express came off; preparations were making for a general attack..." Bunker Hill became a Pyrrhic victory for this British, who suffered 1,054 men killed and wounded to the Americans' 450. Disbound, folds, very minor foxing, else very good to fine.