CHARLESTOWN (ante), now part of Boston, formerly a city of Middlesex co., Mass. It is situated on the northern bank of the Charles river, and is connected with Boston by two free bridges. The Mystic; river, which unites with the Charles at this point, forms the boundary on the e. and north. The pop. in 1873, when the city was annexed to Boston, was 28,373. From the territory of Charlestown, originally very iarge, several towns have been taken on its northern side. The surface of the remaining portion is very uneven, two eminences, Bunker and Breed's hills, rising near the center, and affording many fine building sites. On Bunker bill was fought a celebrated battle of the revolution, June 17, 1775, commemorated, by a granite shaft erected on the summit and rising to the height of 220 feet. The corner-stone of this monument was laid in 1823 by gen. Lafayette, and the work was finished in 1843. The attempt of the Massachusetts committee of safety to fortify this eminence was the immediate occasion of the battle, in the course of which the town was burned by the British, being set on fire by shells from Copp's bill in Boston, and by men who were sent across the Charles for that purpose. C. is well built, having some fine
streets and residences. It has an abundant supply of water from Mystic lake, excellent schools, 15 churches of various denominations, a public library of 15,000 volumes, a fund of $23,000 for the benefit of the poor, and a home for aged and indigent women. The state prison was located here from 1805 to a very recent period, and the buildings used for that purpose are still standing. A navy-yard of the United States, covering more than 70 acres of ground and having all the appointments required for such an establishment, has existed here since 1708. C. is also a place of considerable business. It has manufactories of steam engines, boilers and machinery, of stone and brass-ware, gas fixtures, mechanics' tools, leather, draw-pipes, sugar, soap, etc.