And after the battle conditions were much
the same. Putnam commenced independ-
ently to fortify Prospect Hill. On Winter
Hill the New Hampshire troops made a re-
doubt, and at Roxbury General Thomas
hastily strengthened his position. Even at
Cambridge Ward began to fortify. Word
had been sent out to summon the militia,
and as on the 19th of April these responded
with alacrity and in great numbers. It was
hourly expected that the British would sally
from Boston, and the provincials kept them-
selves in a confused readiness. In the mean-
time the British cannon played steadily on
the American fortifications, and the thunder
of the artillery spread apprehension in the

1 One Massachusetts colonel, who had urgently
applied to Ward for permission to go to the Hill,
but was refused, three times ignored the order of
Putnam to come to his assistance — Putnam being
from Connecticut. See Frothingham's "Siege," 168,
note.
290 The Siege of Boston

neighboring country. Abigail Adams wrote
from Braintree : "The battle began upon our
intrenchments upon Bunker's Hill, Saturday
morning about three o'clock, and has not
ceased yet, and it is now three o'clock Sab-
bath afternoon. It is expected they will
come out over the Neck to-night, and a
dreadful battle must ensue." * Yet the
British did not come out, quiet gradually
fell on the two armies, the militia returned to
their homes, and the conduct of the siege
entered on a new phase.
