The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, marked a critical moment in the American Revolution. It was part of the Siege of Boston, an early and bloody conflict between British forces and American colonists.

On the eve of the battle, British commanders realized the strategic importance of the Charlestown peninsula, which overlooked Boston and its harbor. General Thomas Gage and his officers decided to seize the high ground before colonial forces could. However, on June 15, colonial leaders learned of the British plan and mobilized troops to fortify the area. Colonel William Prescott was ordered to construct defenses on Bunker Hill but instead chose Breed’s Hill, closer to Boston.

Prescott and his men worked overnight, constructing an earthen redoubt on Breed’s Hill.

At dawn, British forces detected the fortifications, and artillery fire commenced. Despite relentless bombardment, the colonists continued building defenses. Massachusetts militiaman Peter Brown recalled the intense British fire, writing, “They began to fire pretty briskly … which caus’d many of our young Country people to desert.”¹ The fatigued and undersupplied men anxiously awaited reinforcements that failed to arrive.

By midday, over 2,000 British troops had landed and prepared for an assault. General William Howe led the main attack, advancing in columns toward the colonial positions. The defenders, ordered to hold their fire until the British were within close range, unleashed devastating volleys. British casualties mounted rapidly. One officer said, “Most of our Grenadiers and Light-infantry, the moment of presenting themselves, lost three-fourths … of their men.”² The initial assault failed, and Howe’s forces retreated in disarray.

A second attack met a similar fate, with colonial marksmen exploiting their fortified positions. Prescott later described the scene: “The Enemy advanced and fired very hotly on the Fort … but met with a warm reception. … They were obliged to retire.”³ Despite their success, the colonists faced a critical shortage of ammunition.

Determined to break through, Howe ordered a third assault, this time focusing on bayonet charges. By then, the colonial defenders were nearly out of ammunition and resorted to hurling rocks and debris. British forces eventually overwhelmed the redoubt, forcing the colonial soldiers to retreat. Joseph Warren, a prominent Patriot, was killed during the final clash.

The British technically won the battle, taking the ground but at a staggering cost: over 1,000 casualties, including many officers. General Henry Clinton observed, “A few more such victories would have shortly ended British dominion in America.”⁴ Colonial forces suffered around 450 casualties but proved their resilience and capability against the formidable British army.

This unexpected display of colonial resolve instilled a newfound confidence within the colonial ranks and strengthened their determination to resist British rule. General Gage was ultimately recalled to London to account for the costly victory. General Howe assumed command in his place. In July of that year, General George Washington arrived to take command of the army and orchestrate the ongoing campaign to liberate Boston from British control.

NOTES:

1 Letter from Peter Brown to Sarah Brown, 25 June 1775; “Peter Brown (U.S. National Park Service),” National Parks Service, accessed January 12, 2025, www.nps.gov/people/peter-brown.htm. 2 Richard Ketchum, Decisive Day: The Battle of Bunker Hill (New York: Owl Books, 1999), p. 161. 3 Letter from William Prescott to John Adams, August 25, 1775; “Founders Online: To John Adams from William Prescott, 25 August 1775,” National Archives and Records Administration, accessed January 12, 2025, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-03-02-0070. 4 Diary of General Henry Clinton, June 1775; “The Henry Clinton Papers,” UM Clements Library, accessed January 12, 2025, https://clements.umich.edu/exhibit/spy-letters-of-the-american-revolution/clinton-papers/.