Battle of Bunker Hill

As in many military clashes, this battle has been known by a number of names from the Battle of Charlestown, to the Battle of Breed’s Hill, to the Battle of Bunker Hill. So which Hill was it? Though it is most famously called the Battle of Bunker Hill, the majority was fought over the encampment on Breed’s Hill. This clash took place June 17, 1775, a few months after the clashes at Lexington and Concord, and thousands of Colonial militiamen gathering and surrounding the City of Boston. It was one of the major battles of the Siege of Boston.

Patriot militia and regiments built encampments at various sites around the City of Boston, Charlestown, Cambridge, and more. At this particular location, Colonial Soldiers were camped on Breed’s Hill in Charlestown. They set up this particular encampment to prevent Major General William Howe of Britain from taking complete control of Boston Harbor by seizing the high ground of the hills surrounding Boston. Colonel William Prescott ordered soldiers to build earthen defenses on the night between June 16-17, and the British attacked the next day.

How did it Start ?

This battle happened in three waves of British attack. Approximately 1,000 Colonists held out as long as they could against a British force of over 2,000. The militias had limited supplies and conserved ammunition as much as possible. This is where Prescott is quoted as saying “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

This battle happened in three waves of British attack. Approximately 1,000 Colonists held out as long as they could against a British force of over 2,000. The militias had limited supplies and conserved ammunition as much as possible. This is where Prescott is quoted as saying “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

The British were arrogant and somewhat reckless at first – had they used the navy to land men at Charlestown Neck, they could have cut off the Colonial Retreat, and likely won with far less casualties. On the other hand, the Continental Army was still not used to functioning as an army, and was made up of scattered militias. The soldiers were supposed to fortify Bunker Hill, but chose Breed’s Hill instead. It was less defensible, and more easily flanked, and this division made those soldiers camped on Bunker Hill resist reinforcing the soldiers on Breed’s Hill. Either of these things could have changed the outcome of this battle.

Technically, this battle was a win for the British. However, they had so many casualties, at a ratio of more than 2:1, that it could be argued that neither side truly was the victor. A Black colonial soldier by the name of Salem (either Peter Salem or Salem Poor) shot and killed the commander leading the last charge, preventing the British Army from capturing the remaining rebellious forces. On the other hand, bombardment from British artillery resulted in Charlestown burning.

A few weeks after the battle, General George Washington arrived and took over leading the Siege. He resupplied soldiers with munitions, and ultimately they drove the British out of Boston the next spring, after Henry Knox reinforced Dorchester Heights with cannon brought in from Fort Ticonderoga.

Preserved in Public Memory

Many people in New England are familiar with the large granite Obelisk in Charlestown commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill. This was not constructed until the 19th century on Breed’s Hill. There was an earlier wooden monument constructed honoring Dr. Joseph Warren, who died at the battle.

The Marquis De Lafayette himself set the cornerstone on the 50th anniversary of the Battle at a ceremony with 40 other veterans of the battle. The organization struggled to raise the money, fortunately, women’s groups stepped forward and raised the funds for the monument’s construction.

Battle of Bunker Hill

How did it Start ?

Preserved in Public Memory

Checks for Comprehension

Sources

Christine Hoffman

A Love of History