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American Revolution in Massachusetts

An overview of Massachusetts' history during America's Revolutionary Era.

June 17, 1775: Breed's Hill and Bunker's Hill


Boston, its environs and harbour, with the rebels works raised against that town in 1775... (Library of Congress)

The first major battle of the war took place on Breed’s Hill, at the southern end of the Charlestown peninsula.

After learning that the British were planning to send troops out from Boston to fortify the up until then unoccupied hills surrounding the city, 1,200 colonial troops led by William Prescott fortified Breed’s Hill and occupied Bunker Hill during the night of June 16th. The original plan was to fortify Bunker Hill. However, Prescott and the other Colonial leaders successfully argued that Breed’s Hill was more easily defensible.

The British became aware of the fortifications fairly quickly, and prepared for an assault on the Colonists' position the next day. Prescott became aware of these preparations and called for reinforcements.


An Exact View of the Late Battle at Charlestown, June 17th, 1775

By the afternoon of June 17th, more than 3,000 British soldiers had been gathered and were prepared to march on Breed’s Hill. Charlestown was burned to the ground in an effort to halt the constant sniper fire coming from the village. The first shot of the battle, supposedly fired in error by John Simpson of New Hampshire, came when the British were still too far away for their barrage to inflict any damage on the Colonists.

Colonial forces held off two assaults before they ran out of ammunition and were forced to fight hand-to-hand before retreating over Bunker's Hill during the third assault, thus allowing the British to take control of Charlestown peninsula.

Casualties
Colonists: 115 killed, 305 wounded, 30 captured
British: 216 killed, 828 wounded

Result
British victory


Battle of Bunker Hill, E. Percy Moran (1909)

Despite taking the hill and technically winning the battle, the British suffered far heavier losses than the Colonists, including a large number of officers. The frontal assault that had been employed by the British would be abandoned, and foreign mercenaries would soon be hired to strengthen their forces.

King George III, after receiving General Gage’s report of the battle, issued the Proclamation of Rebellion, declaring that the colonies were now in an “open and avowed state of rebellion” and ordering officials of the British Empire to do everything in their power to suppress it. He also removed Gage from his position and eventually replaced him with General William Howe.

Despite their own losses the Colonists had proved that they could put up a strong fight against the technically superior British army. When George Washington, having recently been made the commander of the Continental Army, heard about how the men had performed it gave him hope that the war might actually be won.


Bunker Hill Monument

Bunker Hill Day is a legal holiday in Suffolk County, and is commemorated with a parade every year on or near June 17.

The Bunker Hill Monument was erected on the summit of Breed’s Hill to commemorate the battle, finishing construction in 1843.  It was one of the first such monuments in the country. A statue of Prescott was added to the site in 1881.

Despite the fact that the majority of the battle took place on Breed’s Hill, Bunker's Hill is the hill the battle is named after and consequently the far more famous hill. Descendants of the Breed family of Charlestown, for whom the hill is named, are still somewhat sore about it.

 


Bunker Hill Flag