tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post2420234096656958079..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: A Solid Source for the “Whites of Their Eyes” Tradition Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-47061809159806542252014-02-18T09:03:01.063-05:002014-02-18T09:03:01.063-05:00It is a poetic line, with assonance and a metaphor...It is a poetic line, with assonance and a metaphor. (No one really waited that long to fire.) <br /><br />Focusing on that order also turned a battlefield loss into a personal victory. The Americans couldn't remember "Hold this hill!" with pride, for example. But they could remember not firing till the redcoats were close. <br /><br />As it happened, the Battle of Bunker Hill won the siege of Boston for the Americans by inflicting so much damage on the British army that its commanders quickly started to advocate pulling out of the town and starting over somewhere else. But Americans didn't know that for a long time. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-85959067525140283062014-02-18T05:59:52.267-05:002014-02-18T05:59:52.267-05:00Thanks. I'm not a historian, simply an enthusi...Thanks. I'm not a historian, simply an enthusiast, but as for why modern Americans remember that command, I'd guess it's because of how it rolls like poetry, with three rhymes.<br /><br />And those who were there might've remembered it best because the order would've underscored a fear they all had - that they didn't have enough ammunition.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-66936054557025574382014-02-17T09:26:13.419-05:002014-02-17T09:26:13.419-05:00In a quick search, the earliest source for the sto...In a quick search, the earliest source for the story of John Stark telling his men not to fire until they could see the redcoats' gaiters was Headley's <i>Washington and His Generals</i> from 1847. <br /><br />I agree that shooting at the body provides a bigger target, and most of the orders refer to that. But in this case I'm considering what orders Americans most <i>remember</i> from this battle. It was the bloodiest battle of the war in North America, and the most famous quotation involves <i>not</i> firing one's gun. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-67537926568590790802014-02-17T05:10:01.170-05:002014-02-17T05:10:01.170-05:00What I love about history is how it always surpris...What I love about history is how it always surprises. I'd heard the "gaiters" version as a debunking of the "eyes" version. Is it known that Stark give his own command about that?<br /><br />Also, aiming directly for the eyes wouldn't be wise 'cause the body would give a much larger target. And when shooting downhill, one should aim lower than normal.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-36020703900600048252014-02-15T20:20:22.264-05:002014-02-15T20:20:22.264-05:00Yes, there's never been any doubt that the New...Yes, there's never been any doubt that the New England officers told their men to hold their fire until the British were close enough to be good targets. But the "whites of their eyes" phrase was the one that became iconic. <br /><br />Interestingly, that phrase wasn't "aim for the whites of their eyes," which might have felt too violent. <br /><br />Paul Lockhart titled his recent history of Bunker Hill <i>The Whites of Their Eyes</i>, but he too stated that phrase rested on tradition. One wouldn't expect to find the earliest publication in a footnote to an obscure lecture about a commander who wasn't even at the battle. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-71908869113752221452014-02-15T19:02:19.422-05:002014-02-15T19:02:19.422-05:00Philbrick talks about this myth in his book on Bun...Philbrick talks about this myth in his book on Bunker Hill. His conclusion is that while the phrase may not have been uttered, it certainly fits other advice that was given by the leaders there that day such as Prescott's command to "aim at their hips", or Stark's command to "aim at the half-gaiters".John Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768771014487413321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-24656489706132943312014-02-15T10:40:13.988-05:002014-02-15T10:40:13.988-05:00The anecdote about Col. Stark and the stake appear...The anecdote about Col. Stark and the stake appears in many books, but the earliest source I've found (so far) is from an 1874 letter. The writer said that Washington often repeated the anecdote, but offered no source for that information. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-86076249338181963632014-02-15T10:18:22.465-05:002014-02-15T10:18:22.465-05:00I'm so skeptical most of the time that it'...I'm so skeptical most of the time that it's refreshing to find a tradition with a solid foundation. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-91742159963744754182014-02-15T10:17:14.902-05:002014-02-15T10:17:14.902-05:00John
I recall reading somewhere (can't recall...John<br /><br />I recall reading somewhere (can't recall where) that New Hampshire's Stark placed a stake some fourth yards in front of the rail fence. He cautioned his men not to fire until the regulars had advanced past it.Jim Padiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-15511364618131841542014-02-15T06:34:19.912-05:002014-02-15T06:34:19.912-05:00Outstanding work. Wonderful to not only debunk my...Outstanding work. Wonderful to not only debunk myths but to also verify would-be myths. Well done!Hugh Harringtonhttp://www.hughharrington.comnoreply@blogger.com