About three o'clock in the afternoon the attack commenced, and in this contest British valour and discipline were eminently displayed. The Americans were in great force, strongly posted, and entrenched up to the teeth. The King's troops had to advance in a hot summer's day, in the face of a sharp and well-directed fire, and to ascend a steep hill covered with grass reaching to their knees, and intersected with walls and fences of various enclosures: twice they were stopped, and twice they returned to the charge, and by their undaunted resolution and steady perseverance they eventually triumphed over thrice their own numbers, and carried the heights at the point of the bayonet. This proved one of the most sanguinary battles on record, and the superiority of the British troops was pre-eminently displayed. The two flank companies of the KING'S OWN had one serjeant and thirteen rank and file killed; Captains Balfour and West, Lieutenants Baron and Brown, one serjeant, one drummer, and twenty-nine rank and file wounded. [Sidenote: 1776] Although the valour and discipline of the small British force in North America were so conspicuous as to excite the admiration and applause of their country, yet the circumstances in which the army at Boston was eventually placed rendered it impossible for these excellent qualities to be exercised with the prospect of ultimate success. The immense superiority of numbers of the enemy, the great strength of the works thrown up on Phipp's farm, Dorchester heights, and other places, with the want of provisions, induced the commander of the troops, Lieut.-General Sir William Howe, to vacate the town, and proceed with the army to Halifax, in Nova Scotia. This resolution was carried into effect in the middle of March, 1776; and on their arrival at Halifax several regiments were landed. A reinforcement being expected from England, and the general being anxious to commence operations against the revolted Americans as early as possible, the fleet sailed from Halifax on the 12th of June, arrived at Sandy Hook on the 29th of that month, and on the 3d of July landed on Staten Island, near New York. Here the troops were disposed in cantonments for refreshment, and the head-quarters were established at Richmond.