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Bunker Hill was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on June 17, 1775 during the Siege of Boston. Although it is known as Bunker Hill, most of the action was on Breed's Hill.
British forces under General Howe drove the American militia from fortified positions on Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill.The battle was a Pyrrhic victory for Howe. His immediate objective was achieved, but the attack demonstrated the American will to stand in pitched battle, caused substantial British casualties, and did not change the status of the siege. After the battle, British General Thomas Gage is said to have remarked that "One more victory like that will destroy us."
Since May of 1774 Massachusetts had been under martial law under General Thomas Gage. After April 19, 1775 his forces had been besieged in Boston by 8,000 to 12,000 militia led mainly by General Artemas Ward. In May, the British garrison was increased by the arrival of about 4,500 additional troops and Major General Howe. Admiral Samuel GravesSamuel Graves ( 1713 † 1787) was a British Admiral who fought for the British in the American Revolution. Genealogy The family of Graves is one of the most ancient in England. This family is believed to have used the name De Grava in Bordeaux, Gascony. commanded the fleet elements within the harbor.
General Gage started work with his new generals on a plan to break the grip of besieging forces. They would use an amphibious assault to remove the Americans from the Dorchester Heights or take their headquarters at Cambridge2000 Cambridge is a city in the greater Boston area in Massachusetts, United States. It was named in honor of Cambridge, England, the town where its founding fathers had studied ( Cambridge University). Cambridge is perhaps most famous for three things: H. To thwart these plans, General Ward gave orders to General Israel PutnamIsrael Putnam ( January 7, 1718 (o. May 29, 1790) was a general in the American Revolutionary War. He fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Putnam was born in Salem Village (now Danvers), Massachusetts. In 1740 he moved to northeastern Connecticut. He died to fortify Bunker Hill.
(For a 1775 map of the battle see: Library of Congress map)
The CharlestownBoston neighborhoods Charlestown is now a neighborhood in the city of Boston which annexed it in 1874. Charlestown was founded in 1628 and was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Charlestown is located northeast of Boston proper on a penins Peninsula extended about 1 mile (1600 meters) toward the southwest into Boston Harbor. At its closest approach less than 1000 feet (300 meters) separated it from the Boston Peninsula. Bunker Hill is an elevation at the rear of the peninsula, and Breed's Hill is near the Boston end, while the town of Charlestown occupied the flats at the southern end.
On the night of June 16June 16 is the 167th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (168th in leap years), with 198 days remaining. Events 1487 Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses 1586 Mary Queen of Scots recognizes Philip II of Spain as her Colonel William PrescottWilliam Prescott ( 1726- 1795) was an American Colonel in the Revolutionary War who commanded the rebel forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was born at Groton, Massachusetts on February 20, 1726 to Benjamin Prescott (1696-1738) and Abigail Oliver Pres led 1,500 men onto the peninsula. At first Putnam, Prescott, and their engineering officer, Captain Richard GridleyRichard Gridley was an American soldier during the revolution. When the Continental Congress first created a Continental Army in 1775 he was named to head the engineers (artillery) since he had been engineer-in-chief at the reduction of Fortress Louisbour, disagreed as to where they should locate their defense. Breed's Hill was viewed as much more defensible, and they decided to locate their primary redoubt there. Prescott and his men, using Gridley's outline, began digging a fortification 160 feet (50 m) long and 80 feet (25 m) wide with ditches and earthen walls. They added ditch and dike extensions toward the Charles River on their right and began reinforcing a fence running to their left.
In the early predawn, around 4 am, a sentry on board the HMS Lively was first to spot the new fortification. The Lively opened fire, temporarily halting the Americans' work. Admiral Graves, on his flagship HMS Somerset, woke irritated by gunfire he hadn't ordered. He ordered it stopped, only to reverse himself when he got on deck and saw the works. He ordered all 128 guns in the harbor to open up on the American position. The broadsides proved largely ineffective, since the ships couldn't elevate their guns enough to reach the hilltop.
It took almost six hours to organize an infantry force, gather up and inspect the men on parade. General Howe was to lead the major assault, drive around the American left flank, and take them from the rear. Brigadier General Robert Pigot on the British left flank would lead the direct assault on the redoubt. Major John Pitcairn led the flank or reserve force. It took several trips in longboats to assemble Howe's forces on the northwest corner of the peninsula. On a warm day, with full field packs of about 60 pounds (30 kg), the British were finally ready about two in the afternoon.
The Americans, meanwhile seeing this activity, had also called for reinforcements. The only troops to get to the forward positions were two New Hampshire regiments of 200 men under John Stark. Stark's men took positions along the fence on the left or north end of the American position. Since low tide opened a gap along the Mystic River, they quickly extended the fence with a short stone wall to the north. Gridley or Stark placed a stake about 30 meters in front of the fence and ordered that no one fire until the regulars passed it.
But Prescott had been steadily losing men. He lost very few to the bombardment, but had ten volunteers to carry every wounded man to the rear. Others took advantage of the confusion to join the withdrawal. Two generals did join Prescott's force, but both declined command, and simply fought as individuals. One of these was Dr. Joseph Warren, the president of the Council and acting head of Massachusetts' revolutionary government. The second was Seth Pomery . By the time the battle started the total involved defenders numbered about 1,400 and they faced 2,600 regulars.
The first assaults both on the fence line and the redoubt were met with massed fire at close range and repulsed, with heavy British losses. The reserve, gathering just north of the town, was also taking casualties due to rifle fire from a company in the town. Howe's men reformed on the field and made a second unsuccessful attack at the wall.
The Americans had lost all fire discipline. In traditional battles of the 18th century, companies of men fired, reloaded, and moved on specific orders, as they had been trained. After their initial volley, the Americans all fought as individuals, and every man fired as quickly as he could reload and find a target. The British withdrew almost to their original positions on the peninsula to regroup. The navy, along with artillery from Crops hill on the Boston peninsula, fired heated shot into Charlestown. All 400 or so buildings and the docks were completely burned, but the snipers withdrew safely.
The third British assault carried the redoubt, due to a number of factors. The reserves were included. Both flanks concentrated on the redoubt. The Americans ran out of ammunition, reducing the battle to a bayonet fight, and most rebels didn't have one.