In the general plan it was concerted, that, should the enemy detach a large force to dislodge our men from Dorchester Heights, as had been done in the affair of Bunker’s Hill, an attack upon the opposite side of the town should forthwith be made by General Putnam. For this purpose he was to have four thousand picked men in readiness, in two divisions, under Generals Sullivan and Greene. At a concerted signal from Roxbury, they were to embark in boats near the mouth of Charles River, cross under cover of the fire of three floating batteries, land in two places in Boston, secure its strong posts, force the gates and works at the Neck, and let in the Roxbury troops. CHAPTER XVIII. THE AFFAIR OF DORCHESTER HEIGHTS—AMERICAN AND ENGLISH LETTERS RESPECTING IT—A LABORIOUS NIGHT—REVELATIONS AT DAYBREAK—HOWE IN A PERPLEXITY—A NIGHT ATTACK MEDITATED—STORMY WEATHER—THE TOWN TO BE EVACUATED—NEGOTIATIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS—PREPARATIONS TO EMBARK—EXCESSES OF THE TROOPS—BOSTON EVACUATED—SPEECH OF THE DUKE OF MANCHESTER ON THE SUBJECT—A MEDAL VOTED BY CONGRESS. The evening of Monday, the 4th of March, was fixed upon for the occupation of Dorchester Heights. The ground was frozen too hard to be easily intrenched; fascines, therefore, and gabions, and bundles of screwed hay, were collected during the two preceding nights, with which to form breastworks and redoubts. During these two busy nights the enemy’s batteries were cannonaded and bombarded from opposite points, to occupy their attention, and prevent their noticing these preparations. They replied with spirit, and the incessant roar of artillery thus kept up, covered completely the rumbling of waggons and ordnance. How little the enemy were aware of what was impending, we may gather from the following extract of a letter from an officer of distinction in the British army in Boston to his friend in London, dated on the 3d of March: “For these last six weeks or near two months, we have been better amused than could possibly be expected in our situation. We had a theatre, we had balls, and there is actually a subscription on foot for a masquerade. England seems to have forgot us, and we have endeavored to forget ourselves. But we were roused to a sense of our situation last night, in a manner unpleasant enough. The rebels have been for some time past erecting a bomb battery, and last night began to play upon us. Two shells fell not far from me. One fell upon Colonel Monckton’s house, but luckily did not burst until it had crossed the street. Many houses were damaged, but no lives lost. The rebel army,” adds he, “is not brave, I believe, but it is agreed on all hands that their artillery officers are at least equal to ours.”[52]