CAMBRIDGE, June 22.

Last Friday Night a Detachment from our Army began an In-
trenchment on an Eminence below Bunker-Hill, about a Mile to
the Northward of the Center of the Town of Charlestown. The
Enemy appeared to be much alarmed on Saturday Morning, when
they discovered our Operations, and immediately began a heavy
Cannonading from a Battery on Corps Hill, Boston, and from the
Ships in the Harbour. Our People, with little Loss, continued to
carry on their Works till 10' Clock, P.M. on Saturday, when they
discovered a large Body of the Enemy crossing Charles-River from
Boston. They landed on a Point of Land about a Mile Eastward
of our Intrenchment, and immediately disposed their Army for an
Attack, previous to which they set Fire to the Town of Charlestown.
It is supposed the Enemy intended to attack us under Cover of the
Smoke from the burning Houses, the Wind favouring them in
such a Design; while, on the other Side, their Army was extend-
ing Northward towards Mistick River, with an apparent Design
of surrounding our Men within the Works, and of cutting off any
Assistance intended for their Relief. They were however, in some
Measure, counteracted in this Design, and drew their Army into
closer Order. As the Enemy approached, our Men were not only
exposed to the Attack of a very numerous Musketry, but to the
heavy Fire of the Battery on Corps-Hill, 4 or 5 Men of War, seve-
ral armed Boats or floating Batteries in Mistick-River, and a Num-
ber of Field Pieces: Notwithstanding which, our Troops within
the Intrenchment, and at a Breast Work without, sustained the
Enemy's Attacks with real Bravery and Resolution, killed and
wounded great Numbers, and repulsed them several Times; and
after bearing, for about 2 Hours, as severe and heavy a Fire as per-
haps ever was known, and many having fired away all their Am-
munition, they were over-powered by Numbers, and obliged to
leave the Intrenchment, retreating about Sunset, to a small Dis-
tance over Charlestown Neck.

Our Loss, from the best Information we can obtain, does no
exceed 50 killed, and about 20 or 30 taken Prisoners.

The Town of Charlestown, supposed to contain about 300
Dwelling Houses, a great Number of which were large and elegant,
besides 150 or 200 other Buildings, are almost all laid in Ashes by
the Barbarity and wanton Cruelty of that infernal Villain ,
Thomas Gage.

The Enemy yet remain in Possession of Charlestown, and have
erected Works for their Defence on Bunker-Hill. It is said they
have brought over from Boston Part of their Light-Horse.

Our Troops continue in high Spirits. They are fortifying a very
high Hill, about a Mile and an half from this Town, and within
Cannon Shot of the Enemy on Bunker-Hill.

The following is a Copy of a Letter from a Person of Credit, and
is thought by many judicious Persons to contain Accounts not far from
the Truth.     "Hingham, June 19.
"Yesterday I came out of Boston at 2 o'Clock P.M. I heard
the Officers and Soldiers say that they were sure that they had a
Thousand or more killed and wounded; that they were carrying
the wounded Men from 4 o'Clock on Saturday until I came away.
General Howe commanded the Troops. They buried their Dead
at Charlestown. Among the Dead was Major Pitcairn. A great
many other Officers are dead. There were 5000 soldiers went
from Boston. The Soldiers and Officers exult very much upon
taking our Lines."     J.B.

The Account of the Number of Troops which came from Bost-
on, as mentioned in the above Letter, is corroborated by Ob-
servation of a Gentleman at Chelsea, who saw them in the Boats
and judged the Number to be near 5000.

It is reported that one of the Enemy's General Officers is among
the Slain, said to be either Howe or Burgoyne.