[This  poem  was  first  published  in  1875,  in  con-
nection with  the  centenary  of  the  battle  of  Bunker
Hill.  The  belfry  could  hardly  have  been  that  of
Christ  Church,  since  tradition  says  that  General
Gage  was  stationed  there  watching  the  battle,  and
we  may  make  it  to  be  what  was  known  as  the  new
Brick  Church,  built  in  1721,  on  Hanover,  corner  of
Richmond  Street,  Boston,  rebuilt  of  stone  in  1845,
and  pulled  down  at  the  widening  of  Hanover  Street
in  1871.  There  are  many  narratives  of  the  battle
of  Bunker  Hill.  Frothingham's  History  of  the
Siege  of  Boston  is  one  of  the  most  comprehensive
accounts,  and  has  furnished  material  for  many  pop-
ular narratives.  The  centennial  celebration  of  the
battle  called  out  magazine  and  newspaper  articles,
which  give  the  story  with  little  variation.  There
are  not  many  disputed  points  in  connection  with
the  event,  the  principal  one  being  the  discussion  as
<o  who  was  the  chief  officer.]
21


322  HOLMES.
9T  is  like  stirring  living  embers  when,  at  eighty,

one  remembers
All  the  achings  and  the  quakings  of  "  the  times

that  tried  men's  souls  ";
When  I  talk  of   Whig  and   Tory,  when  I  tell  the

Rebel  story,
To  you  the  words  are  ashes,  but  to  me  they  're

burning  coals.
