Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, was a significant early engagement in the American Revolutionary War, primarily occurring on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts. British forces, under Major General William Howe, aimed to occupy a strategic elevated position across the Charles River from Boston. However, American troops, commanded by Colonel William Prescott, fortified Breed's Hill before the British could establish control over Bunker Hill itself. Despite initial American success in repelling two British assaults, the Americans ultimately ran low on ammunition during the third assault, leading to the British capture of the hill by nightfall.
The battle resulted in heavy casualties for both sides, with British losses totaling over 1,000 personnel, while the Americans faced 411 casualties. Although the British achieved their military objective, the high cost of the battle served as a rallying point for American resistance, fostering a sense of unity against British rule. The outcome highlighted the determination and resolve of the American forces, marking a pivotal moment in the struggle for independence.
Battle of Bunker Hill
Date: June 17, 1775
Location: Breed’s Hill (Charlestown, Massachusetts, British colonies)
Combatants: 1,600 American vs. 2,400 British troops
Principal commanders:American, Colonel William Prescott (1726–1795); British, Major General Sir William Howe (1729–1814)
Result: The British dislodged American troops from a redoubt on Breed’s Hill on Charlestown peninsula.
British regulars were ordered to occupy an elevated area on the Charlestown peninsula, across the river from Boston. Before the British could act, however, American forces, who had been instructed to seize Bunker Hill, instead fortified Breed’s Hill, also located on the peninsula. The commander of the American forces, Colonel William Prescott, chose Breed’s Hill because of its proximity to Boston and its especially steep slopes on two sides. The 1,600 Americans constructed a square redoubt on the top of Breed’s Hill.
Early in the afternoon of June 17, 1775, British major general William Howe ordered his troops to advance on Breed’s Hill. The Americans repelled the first and second assaults. On the third assault, the Americans ran out of powder and bullets. By nightfall, the British had seized the hill. The British military suffered 1,054 casualties, 226 dead and 828 wounded. The Americans endured 411 casualties, 140 killed and 271 wounded.
The Battle of Bunker Hill (more accurately Breed’s Hill) constituted the first major battle of the Revolutionary War. Although the British accomplished their objective, they did so at a heavy cost. This moral victory united the Americans in their opposition to the British.