The provincial congress of Massachusetts was in session at Watertown, ten miles distant from Boston. On receiving intelligence of the battle, it took immediate measures to raise thirteen thousand and six hundred men, and chose for their general Colonel Ward, an officer of much reputation. This militia was designed to form the contingent of Massachusetts; the provinces of New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island were invited to furnish theirs, in order to complete an army of thirty thousand men, to be commanded by General John Thomas, an officer of great experience. Connecticut dispatched, immediately, a considerable corps, under the command of Colonel Putnam, an old officer, who, in the two late wars, had often given proof of courage and intelligence. The other provinces were not slow in causing their standards to move; and, in a short time, an army of thirty thousand men was found assembled under the walls of Boston. So great and so universal was the ardor produced among the inhabitants by the battle of Lexington, that the American generals were obliged to send back to their homes many thousand volunteers. Putnam took his station at Cambridge, and Thomas at Roxbury, upon the right wing of the army, to cut off entirely the communication of the garrison, by the isthmus, with the adjacent country. Thus, in a few days after the affair of Lexington, the capital of the province of Massachusetts was closely besieged; thus a multitude assembled in haste, of men, declared rebels and mean-spirited cowards, held in strict confinement, not daring to sally forth even to procure food, many thousands of veteran troops, commanded by an able general, and combating under the royal standard. [Illustration] FOOTNOTE: [31] Botta's War of the Independence. II. BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. AMERICAN Patriotism--American and British Forces--Fortification of Bunker's hill--Attacked by British Ships--Asa Pollard, the first Martyr--Preparations of the British--Warren--Prescott's Injunction to his Troops--British repulsed with terrible slaughter--Second Attack--Charlestown set on fire at the same time--Second Repulse--Putnam and Major Small--Death of Colonel Gardiner--Thrilling Incident--Third Advance of the British--Death of Major Pitcairn--Americans in want of Ammunition--Retreat--Death of Warren--Respective Losses--Results of the Battle.