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On June 17, 1775 the Battle of Bunker Hill (actually it was Breed's Hill) took place. From the article:
"Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17, 1775, early in the Revolutionary War (1775-83), the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. Although commonly referred to as the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed’s Hill.
Battle of Bunker Hill: Yankees Prepare to Fight on Breed’s Hill
On June 16, 1775, having learned that the British were planning to send troops from Boston to occupy the hills surrounding the city, some 1,000 colonial militiamen under Colonel William Prescott (1726-95) built earthen fortifications on top of Breed’s Hill, overlooking Boston and located on the Charlestown Peninsula. (The men originally had been ordered to construct their fortifications atop Bunker Hill but instead chose the smaller Breed’s Hill, closer to Boston.)
Battle of Bunker Hill: June 17, 1775
On June 17, some 2,200 British forces under the command of Major General William Howe (1729-1814) and Brigadier General Robert Pigot (1720-96) landed on the Charlestown Peninsula then marched to Breed’s Hill. As the British advanced in columns against the Americans, Prescott, in an effort to conserve the Americans’ limited supply of ammunition, reportedly told his men, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” When the Redcoats were within several dozen yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, throwing the British into retreat.
After re-forming their lines, the British attacked again, with much the same result. Prescott’s men were now low on ammunition, though, and when the Redcoats went up the hill for a third time, they reached the redoubts and engaged the Americans in hand-to-hand combat. The outnumbered Americans were forced to retreat. However, by the end of the engagement, the Patriots’ gunfire had cut down some 1,000 enemy troops, with more than 200 killed and more than 800 wounded. More than 100 Americans perished, while more than 300 others were wounded.
Battle of Bunker Hill: Legacy
The British had won the so-called Battle of Bunker Hill, and Breed’s Hill and the Charlestown Peninsula fell firmly under British control. Despite losing their strategic positions, the battle was a significant morale-builder for the inexperienced Americans, convincing them that patriotic dedication could overcome superior British military might. Additionally, the high price of victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill made the British realize that the war with the colonies would be long, tough and costly."
"Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17, 1775, early in the Revolutionary War (1775-83), the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. Although commonly referred to as the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed’s Hill.
Battle of Bunker Hill: Yankees Prepare to Fight on Breed’s Hill
On June 16, 1775, having learned that the British were planning to send troops from Boston to occupy the hills surrounding the city, some 1,000 colonial militiamen under Colonel William Prescott (1726-95) built earthen fortifications on top of Breed’s Hill, overlooking Boston and located on the Charlestown Peninsula. (The men originally had been ordered to construct their fortifications atop Bunker Hill but instead chose the smaller Breed’s Hill, closer to Boston.)
Battle of Bunker Hill: June 17, 1775
On June 17, some 2,200 British forces under the command of Major General William Howe (1729-1814) and Brigadier General Robert Pigot (1720-96) landed on the Charlestown Peninsula then marched to Breed’s Hill. As the British advanced in columns against the Americans, Prescott, in an effort to conserve the Americans’ limited supply of ammunition, reportedly told his men, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” When the Redcoats were within several dozen yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, throwing the British into retreat.
After re-forming their lines, the British attacked again, with much the same result. Prescott’s men were now low on ammunition, though, and when the Redcoats went up the hill for a third time, they reached the redoubts and engaged the Americans in hand-to-hand combat. The outnumbered Americans were forced to retreat. However, by the end of the engagement, the Patriots’ gunfire had cut down some 1,000 enemy troops, with more than 200 killed and more than 800 wounded. More than 100 Americans perished, while more than 300 others were wounded.
Battle of Bunker Hill: Legacy
The British had won the so-called Battle of Bunker Hill, and Breed’s Hill and the Charlestown Peninsula fell firmly under British control. Despite losing their strategic positions, the battle was a significant morale-builder for the inexperienced Americans, convincing them that patriotic dedication could overcome superior British military might. Additionally, the high price of victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill made the British realize that the war with the colonies would be long, tough and costly."
Battle of Bunker Hill
Posted from history.com
War of Independence
World History
American History
Military History
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
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American Revolution 1775 - The Battle of Bunker Hill
http://www.lionheart-filmworks.com A new American Revolutionary War Historical series featured only on this channel -- bringing to life with vivid recreation...
Thank you, my friend SGT (Join to see) for reminding us the Battle of Bunker Hill (actually it was Breed's Hill) occurred on June 17, 1775.
Image: Bunker Hill - Action at Breeds Hill on June 17, 1775
American Revolution 1775 - The Battle of Bunker Hill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rygvvu3ETww
Background from battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/bunker-hill
"June 17, 1775
After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, New Englanders from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and what would later become the state of Vermont streamed into the vicinity of Boston. Not really an army, this armed mob wanted the British out of Boston.
The sheer numbers of those gathered on the hills outside of Boston deeply troubled Military Governor Thomas Gage and his newly arrived subordinates, William Howe, Henry Clinton, and John Burgoyne.
On the evening of June 15/16, the patriots moved forward to Breeds Hill, a more prominent location closer to Boston on the Charlestown peninsula, where they prepared a fortified position that all but invited a British response. General John Stark from New Hampshire recognized that the left flank of the fortified position was exposed along the south bank of the Mystic River. He and his men assembled a makeshift split-rail barricade to blunt any flanking action employed by the British. When the British officers looked out at what had been erected in the short span of one evening they were stunned. Gage knew he had to take action.
On the sultry afternoon of June 17, 1775, Gage and his commanders ordered British regulars and grenadiers to be transported across Boston Harbor and disembarked in lower Charlestown. Gage would force the rabble’s hand with an assault.
As the British moved into position, the fatigued but spirited defenders took position inside their hastily thrown up fortifications. They could see what was coming. Amongst the defenders were several enslaved and free African Americans, most notably Salem Poor, who would play a pivotal role in the coming fight.
Led by the courageous General William Howe, King George’s troops climbed Breeds Hill in perfect battle formation. Allegedly, one of the American commanders of the improvised garrison, William Prescott, encouraged his men to “not fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” As British troops neared the redoubt, the patriots unleashed a withering volley, creating an absolute slaughter. One patriot said afterwards, “They advanced toward us in order to swallow us up, but they found a choaky mouthful of us.” It was a veritable bloodbath as the British retreated back to their lines. Once more they pushed up the hill, stepping over the bodies of their dead and wounded comrades, and once more they received the ire of a patriot volley. The heat and humidity did not take sides as patriots and regulars dripped sweat while the haze of gunfire blanketed the hill.
The British had underestimated the resolve of the patriots and their skill in crafting a fortified position. Regrouping for a third time, the British once more stepped off to assault the hill. This time they succeeded in breaking through as the patriots ran out of powder and shot. Intense hand-to-hand fighting broke out inside the fortification once British troops breached the patriot works. In the close-quarters fight, Salem Poor brought down British Maj. John Pitcairn, who had risen to infamy as a the result of the fighting at Lexington and Concord.
The patriots eventually retreated and returned to their lines outside of the perimeter of Boston. The butcher’s bill for the British had been lengthy, with 282 of the King’s troops dead and another 800 wounded. Patriot casualties were less than half of the British total. British General Henry Clinton was appalled at the carnage, calling it “a dear bought victory.”
Though defeated, the patriots were not demoralized. Those that chose to stay and keep the British bottled up in Boston became the nucleus of the Continental Army. The transformation of the mob into an army would fall upon the shoulders of the Virginian, George Washington, as the Continental Congress commissioned him to take charge of the rebels outside of Boston and mold them into a cohesive fighting force. Washington assumed command in Cambridge, Massachusetts within two weeks of the erroneously-named Battle of Bunker Hill. After June 17, 1775 reconciliation between England and her colonies was no longer possible."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
Image: Bunker Hill - Action at Breeds Hill on June 17, 1775
American Revolution 1775 - The Battle of Bunker Hill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rygvvu3ETww
Background from battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/bunker-hill
"June 17, 1775
After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, New Englanders from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and what would later become the state of Vermont streamed into the vicinity of Boston. Not really an army, this armed mob wanted the British out of Boston.
The sheer numbers of those gathered on the hills outside of Boston deeply troubled Military Governor Thomas Gage and his newly arrived subordinates, William Howe, Henry Clinton, and John Burgoyne.
On the evening of June 15/16, the patriots moved forward to Breeds Hill, a more prominent location closer to Boston on the Charlestown peninsula, where they prepared a fortified position that all but invited a British response. General John Stark from New Hampshire recognized that the left flank of the fortified position was exposed along the south bank of the Mystic River. He and his men assembled a makeshift split-rail barricade to blunt any flanking action employed by the British. When the British officers looked out at what had been erected in the short span of one evening they were stunned. Gage knew he had to take action.
On the sultry afternoon of June 17, 1775, Gage and his commanders ordered British regulars and grenadiers to be transported across Boston Harbor and disembarked in lower Charlestown. Gage would force the rabble’s hand with an assault.
As the British moved into position, the fatigued but spirited defenders took position inside their hastily thrown up fortifications. They could see what was coming. Amongst the defenders were several enslaved and free African Americans, most notably Salem Poor, who would play a pivotal role in the coming fight.
Led by the courageous General William Howe, King George’s troops climbed Breeds Hill in perfect battle formation. Allegedly, one of the American commanders of the improvised garrison, William Prescott, encouraged his men to “not fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” As British troops neared the redoubt, the patriots unleashed a withering volley, creating an absolute slaughter. One patriot said afterwards, “They advanced toward us in order to swallow us up, but they found a choaky mouthful of us.” It was a veritable bloodbath as the British retreated back to their lines. Once more they pushed up the hill, stepping over the bodies of their dead and wounded comrades, and once more they received the ire of a patriot volley. The heat and humidity did not take sides as patriots and regulars dripped sweat while the haze of gunfire blanketed the hill.
The British had underestimated the resolve of the patriots and their skill in crafting a fortified position. Regrouping for a third time, the British once more stepped off to assault the hill. This time they succeeded in breaking through as the patriots ran out of powder and shot. Intense hand-to-hand fighting broke out inside the fortification once British troops breached the patriot works. In the close-quarters fight, Salem Poor brought down British Maj. John Pitcairn, who had risen to infamy as a the result of the fighting at Lexington and Concord.
The patriots eventually retreated and returned to their lines outside of the perimeter of Boston. The butcher’s bill for the British had been lengthy, with 282 of the King’s troops dead and another 800 wounded. Patriot casualties were less than half of the British total. British General Henry Clinton was appalled at the carnage, calling it “a dear bought victory.”
Though defeated, the patriots were not demoralized. Those that chose to stay and keep the British bottled up in Boston became the nucleus of the Continental Army. The transformation of the mob into an army would fall upon the shoulders of the Virginian, George Washington, as the Continental Congress commissioned him to take charge of the rebels outside of Boston and mold them into a cohesive fighting force. Washington assumed command in Cambridge, Massachusetts within two weeks of the erroneously-named Battle of Bunker Hill. After June 17, 1775 reconciliation between England and her colonies was no longer possible."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
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The bunker Hill Monument with the statue of Colonel William Prescott in front of it. Don't forget His famous order "Don't Fire until You see the whites of their eyes !" Notice on the approach on the street and sidewalk the red line, just follow that line through Boston and it brings You to all the sites on the Freedom trail. It is made very easy for visitors to find and follow the trail to Boston's Historic sites. Near Bunker Hill and in that neighborhood also and open to Visitors is Paul Reveres's house. It should also be noted that on June 11th 1825 the cornerstone for the monument was lad and the ceremony was performed by the Marquis de Lafayette who had served as a General on the staff of George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
The statute of Colonel William Prescott, the Commander of the defenders of Bunker Hill who had issued that famous order, "Don't fire until You see the whites of their eyes" to insure kills and conservation of ammunition and no just wild firing.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Have walked the Freedom Trail several times. Got to plan on eating at Faneuil Hall if you walk the trail.
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