, Knowlton
chose a position some two hundred yards to the rear of the redoubt and
its breastwork. Here was a fence, the lower part of stone, the upper of
rails. The men brought forward from the rear another rail fence, leaned
it against the first, and wove in between the rails hay which they found
recently cut upon the ground. This, the "rail fence" mentioned in all
accounts of the battle, was their sole protection.

Now began slowly to come across the isthmus the first of the
reinforcements that strengthened the hands of the provincials. They
came partly as individuals, of whom the most noted was Warren, who but
the day before had been appointed general by the provincial congress. He
came as a volunteer, knew his risk, and was prepared to die.

Curiously James Otis, it is said, was also among the defenders of the
redoubt, coming, like Warren, as a volunteer. It was a strange fate
which sent him safely home, to live, still wrecked in intellect and
useless to his country, while Warren was to fall.

By this time a lively hail of shot and shell was falling on Charlestown
Neck, and to cross it was a test of courage. Seth Pomeroy,
brigadier-general, veteran of Louisburg, came on a borrowed horse, and,
sending back the animal, crossed on foot. Others, alone, in groups, or
in semi-military formation, followed him, to be directed by Putnam to
the rail fence, which needed defenders. At last came one who needed no
directions--Stark, at the head of his New Hampshire regiment. Although
requested to hurry his men across the Neck, Stark replied, "One fresh
man in action is worth ten fatigued ones,"[95] and would not change his
step. Marching down the slope of Bunker Hill, he quickly noted that
between the rail fence and the water the beach was unguarded. "I saw
there," he said afterward, "the way so plain that the enemy could not
miss it."[96] Before the attack could begin, Stark's men threw up a rude
breastwork of cobbles behind which they could find a little
shelter.--And now at last the American defences were completed, just as
the troops were in motion to attack them.

At this point Howe neglected a method of attack which would have made
his victory immediate. The rail fence, and Stark's defence upon the
beach, were open to attack from the river. We have seen that two
floating batteries ("large flat boats," says Lieutenant Barker, "sides
raised and musquet proof") were used to bombard the redoubt. These,
like the shipping and