Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

“ [424] British, the water at least two feet deep. The British, seeing the spirit of the Americans, although they were very advantageously posted, made a precipitate retreat to their boats. Three or four Americans were wounded, one mortally. The British ship and floating-batteries kept up a brisk fire, but to little purpose.¹ Dec. 12. ‘A causeway was begun over the marsh to Lechmere's Point.’² For the next few days the ‘approaches were carried on briskly, nearly to the top of the hill.’ On the 17th, ‘the morning was foggy. A detachment of 300 men, under the direction of Gen. Putnam, broke ground on the top of the hill, on Lechmere's Point, at a distance of not more than half a mile from the ship. Between twelve and one o'clock, the fog cleared away, and the ship began to cannonade the Americans with round and grape shot, and some shells were thrown from West-Boston. One soldier was wounded, and the party driven from the works.’ On the next day, Gen. Heath ‘with 300 men’ renewed the work, and although severely cannonaded, held his ground without loss. The fortification was completed within a few days, during which the ‘cannonade continued, but to no effect.’³ This fortress rendered important service in the final attack, which resulted in the evacuation of Boston by the British army. Feb. 25, 1776, ‘some heavy cannon were mounted on the works at Lechmere's Point.’ March 2d, ‘at night a cannonade and bombardment began at the American works on Cobble Hill and Lechmere's Point on the Cambridge side, and at Lamb's Dam on the Roxbury side, against the British works; and a number of shells were thrown into Boston.’ March 4th.” There was an almost incessant roar of cannon and mortars during the night, on both sides. The Americans took possession of Dorchester heights, and nearly completed their works on both hills by morning. March 9th, ‘there was, during the evening and night, a continual roar of cannon and mortars, from the Castle and lines on Boston neck, south end of that town, as well as from the Americans at Roxbury, Cobble Hill, and Lechmere's Point at Cambridge.’ The position of Gen. Howe had now become utterly untenable, and on the 17th of