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from The History of the Town of Danvers by J. W. Hanson. Refer to the book to compile a citation.

p. 92-

Capt. Gideon Foster's company was stationed at Brighton then called Little Cambridge.  He was ordered by Gen. Ward to escort a load of ammunition to Charlestown.  Capt. Foster obeyed and met the Americans when on their retreat.  Their powder was consumed, and he supplied them with ammunition in casks, for one more grapple with death.  Capt. Foster in his old age revived the reminiscence thus:  "We took the ammunition in casks, and conveyed it in wagons, and delivered it freely with our hands  and our dippers, to their horns, their pockets, their hats and whatever they had that would hold it.  I well remember the blackened appearance of those busy in this work, - not unlike those engaged in the delivery of coal on a hot summer's day.  At the same time, we were thus occupied, the enemy's shot were constantly whistling by; but we had no time to examine what might have been our condit9ion, had one of these hot shot unceremoniously come in contact with our wagons."

Captain Foster's company belonged to Colonel Mansfield's regiment which was stationed on Prospect Hill.  Gen. Putnam commanded there.  An order was issued calling all the captains together.  They were told that a captain was wanted to engage in a very arduous enterprise, and a volunteer was called for.  When Foster found no one willing to offer services, he presented himself and was accepted.  Several soldiers were drawn from each company, and properly armed, they repaired to Gen. Putnam's quarters to receive instructions.  After reviewing them, "Old Put" deprived them of their equipments and furnishing them with axes, sent them into a swamp, where they were engaged in cutting fascines (a long bundle of sticks of wood bound together and used for such purposes as filling ditches and making revetments for riverbanks) and in bringing it in on their backs.

"The men expected to gain honor by their exposure to unknown dangers; but their greatest danger was from the attack of mosquitoes and their greatest exposure to the mirth of their fellow soldiers."

The day of the battle was very sultry.  The season was far advanced.  Saturday, the 17th of June, was a warm, clear day.  "Farmers generally had commenced haying - the new mown grass was pressed between the rails to form a breast-work on Bunker Hill - green peas were common and plenty in the market; all of which indicate that the season was a fortnight earlier than it is on an average of years.