Bunker Hill Obelisk

The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17th 1775, 249 years ago on this day.

The Colonial Revolutionary forces learned that the British in Boston were planning to occupy the hills that would allow them to command Boston Harbour to keep it safe for the Royal Navy. In a stealthy move 1,200 colonials occupied Bunker hill and the adjacent Breed’s hill. They constructed a stout redoubt on Breed’s hill.

The British mounted an assault and were repulsed twice suffering heavy casualties. But on the third attempt they took the redoubt because the colonials ran out of ammunition. The Americans withdrew to Bunker hill and slipped away. The British claimed the ground and the victory. But they learned a hard lesson. American colonial militia were tough, and could shoot, and were able to stand up to a frontal attack by the British Army regulars.

Between 1825 and 1843 the 67 metre granite obelisk was erected, the Bunker Hill Memorial. It is located on Breed’s hill where the majority of the fighting took pace. The obelisk replaced an earlier wooden column erected to the memory of General Joseph Warren who fell during the battle.

The Marquis de Lafayette, on a 50 year anniversary tour of the war, laid the foundation stone. Built at the same time as the Wellington Monument in Dublin, the Bunker hill monument came in 5 metres taller making it the tallest obelisk in the world until the construction of the Washington Monument.

-o0o-

This site is available for free and I make no money from any ads you see here. If you would like to show your appreciation feel free to leave a comment or you can buy me a coffee! http://buymeacoffee.com/DonalClancy

Old Ironsides

USS Constitution

At this stage she is a Ship of Theseus!  The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned wooden warship still afloat.  Launched in 1797, her name was selected from a list supplied to George Washington himself.

She was laid down to fight protect American shipping from Algerian and Barbary piracy.  She served in a squadron under John Barry; the Irish Born “Father of the US Navy”.  Then she participated in the First Barbary war where the legend of the US Marines was born.

She was refitted in 1811, and when her hull was scraped 10 wagon-loads of seaweed and barnacles were taken from her copper plating.  In the war of 1812 Constitution ran into a squadron of 5 British vessels when they found themselves becalmed.  The Americans launched their boats and towed the ship, wetting the sails to gain any purchase from the breeze and dumping most of their drinking water to reduce weight.  For 57 hours in the heat of July the chase continued, with the British firing their bow cannon to try to wing the American Frigate.  But Old Ironsides escaped, probably thanks to her cleaned hull.

After decades of faithful service an article appeared in a Boston paper to say that the USS Constitution was to be retired and broken up.  In response Oliver Wendell Holmes, one of the Fireside poets, penned the verses below.  (Happy birthday today Oliver)  The baton was taken up and a popular campaign began to save the ship.  She was refitted (rebuilt really) and went on to serve as a training ship up to and during the Civil War.

Overhauled again in 1873 she attended the Paris Exposition in 1878 before the Eiffel tower was built.  After a return voyage plagued by problems she was declared unfit in 1881.  In the early 1900’s a number of attempts to raise money for her restoration failed and it was suggested she be towed to sea and used as target practice.  This raised sufficient publicity to generate funds for a partial restoration and she became a museum ship.  In the 1920’s further fundraising efforts helped to fun more of her restoration and repairs.

In 1931 she undertook a tour of 90 ports and a trip through the Panama Canal before returning to her station in Boston as a museum.  She re-entered military service in World War 2, serving as a brig (gaol) for officers awaiting court martial.

Restored again in the 1970’s for the Bicentennial celebrations.  Again in 1992 she was dry docked for “minor repairs” and what resulted was pretty much a complete reconstruction.  The ship was able to sail to her 200 year anniversary celebration.  She had a 3 year repair in 2010 and in 2015 had another 2 year restoration.

So as you see Old Ironsides is the Ship of Theseus.  Does a single timber or nail remain of the original vessel?  And yet she remains the USS Constitution and proudly carries all her history aboard.

Old Ironsides; by Oliver Wendell Holmes

Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
and many an eye has danced to see
that banner in the sky;
beneath it rung the battle shout,
and burst the cannon’s roar;
the meteor of the ocean air
shall sweep the clouds no more.
Her deck, once red with heroes’ blood,
where knelt the vanquished foe,
when winds were hurrying o’er the flood,
and waves were white below,
no more shall feel the victor’s tread,
or know the conquered knee;
the harpies of the shore shall pluck
the eagle of the sea!

Oh, better that her shattered hulk
should sink beneath the wave;
her thunders shook the mighty deep,
and there should be her grave;
nail to the mast her holy flag,
set every threadbare sail,
and give her to the god of storms,
the lightning and the gale!