Battle of Bunker Hill Facts
- Date — The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on Saturday, June 17, 1775.
- Location — The battle took place on and around Breed’s Hill on the Charlestown Peninsula, near Boston, Massachusetts.
- Opponents — The United Colonies and Great Britain.
- American Commanders — William Prescott, Israel Putnam, John Stark, and Joseph Warren.
- British Commanders — William Howe, Thomas Gage, Robert Pigot, James Abercrombie, Henry Clinton, John Pitcairn, and Samuel Graves.
- Winner — Great Britain won the Battle of Bunker Hill.
- Campaign — Boston Campaign and the Siege of Boston.
Key Moments
- On the night of June 16, American soldiers were sent onto the Charlestown Peninsula, north of Boston, to occupy Bunker Hill, but for reasons that are not entirely clear, they constructed their fortifications on neighboring Breed’s Hill.
- Rather than laying siege to the American forces on the peninsula by sealing off the neck, the British command opted for a frontal assault on Breed’s Hill on June 17, 1775.
- British troops assembled on the beach, out of range of the American muskets, and planned to attack the American redoubt — a small dirt fort — on Breed’s Hill.
- American forces led by John Stark reinforced the redoubt by taking positions along an old fence, that ran along the left flank of the redoubt — which is exactly where the British planned to attack.
- As the British advanced up the hill for the first assault, someone — most likely Prescott or Israel Putnam — told the Americans “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” When the British were close enough, the Americans opened fire and forced them to fall back.
- The British ships in the harbor opened fire on Charlestown — which was abandoned earlier in the day. Many of the homes and other buildings caught fire.
- Howe ordered a second assault on the hill, which was also pushed back by the Americans, who were running low on ammunition.
- The British tried to attack the left wing a third time, but Stark and his men pushed them back, forcing the British to attack the redoubt on the other side.
- The British overwhelmed the Americans, who ran out of ammunition and fled over the walls of the redoubt. There was intense, hand-to-hand fighting in the redoubt and the British used bayonets.
- The Americans evacuated and Stark and his men covered their retreat.
- The British pursued the Americans to Bunker Hill but stopped because they expected them to turn around and attack them. However, the Americans returned to their camps around Boston, ending the Battle of Bunker Hill.
- Dr. Joseph Warren was killed during the retreat, a significant loss to the Patriot Cause.
- Major John Pitcairn, who led British forces at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, was killed during the battle by a “black soldier named Salem.” This man could have been either Peter Salem or Salem Poor.
Battle of Bunker Hill Significance
The Battle of Bunker Hill is significant to United States History because it was the first large battle of the American Revolutionary War. Although it is known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill and the Charlestown Peninsula. Before the battle, there was hope that a peaceful resolution could be reached. However, afterward, it was clear to both American and British leaders that the war was going to carry on, making it one of the first turning points of the war.
Battle of Bunker Hill History
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought between the United States of America and Great Britain on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston.
Following the opening battles of the war that took place on April 19 — Lexington and Concord — Massachusetts militia followed British troops back to Boston. During the march, the Americans harassed the British, inflicting heavy casualties on them. When the British reached Boston, the Americans broke off the attack and surrounded the town.
Midnight Riders Raise the Lexington Alarm
The American Revolutionary War broke started on the morning of April 19, 1775. British troops marched toward Concord, with orders from Governor Thomas Gage to destroy weapons and ammunition that were being stored there by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.
To get to Concord, the British had to march through Lexington, where they were met by a small force of minutemen and militia that had been alerted the night before by Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott.
Battle of Lexington
The Americans were under orders from the Massachusetts Provincial Congress not to engage the British unless the British attacked them first. However, someone fired a shot and both sides opened fire. The Americans were routed at the Battle of Lexington and the British continued their march to Concord.
Battle of Concord
By the time the British arrived at Concord, most of the weapons and ammunition had been safely hidden or moved to other towns. Militia from all over the countryside gathered on the hills around the town and watched while the British conducted their search. When the British set fire to some of the supplies they found, the Americans thought they were burning the town and decided to attack. A skirmish broke out at the North Bridge and more shots were exchanged at the Battle of Concord.
British Return to Boston
When their business in Concord was finished, the British marched march back to Boston. The militia followed the British the entire way, firing on them from behind walls, trees, and buildings, and inflicted heavy casualties. Smaller battles took place, including Parker’s Revenge and the Battle of Menotomy.
Siege of Boston
Once they arrived in Boston, the British made their way into the town. The militia could not follow them, because of the warships in the harbor, which would be able to open fire on them with heavy cannons. Instead, the militia surrounded the city on the north, west, and south, and the Siege of Boston began. Over the next few days, militia forces from the neighboring colonies joined in the siege.
Artemas Ward Takes Command
Overall, the militia forces were disorganized, because they came from different colonies — Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. On May 20, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress named Artemas Ward commander-in-chief of all Massachusetts troops. Eventually, the militia units from the other colonies that were taking part in the siege were placed under his command. Collectively, the army was known as the Army of Occupation.
Parliament Sends Reinforcements
When word of the bloody encounters at Lexington and Concord reached England, the British government sent additional troops and officers to reinforce the Boston Garrison. The reinforcements arrived in May, including three Generals — William Howe, John Burgoyne, and Henry Clinton.
Washington Named Commander-in-Chief
In Philadelphia, on June 14, the Continental Congress voted to organize the New England Army that was laying siege to Boston into the Continental Army. On June 16, George Washington was named commander-in-chief of the new army. He began to make preparations to travel to Boston, where Artemas Ward would cede the command to him.
Americans Fortify Breed’s Hill
Meanwhile, American military leaders and the Massachusetts Provincial Congress knew that if they could gain control of some of the high ground around Boston they would gain a strategic advantage over the British. They chose to occupy the Charlestown Peninsula, north of Boston.
On June 16, American forces under the command of Colonel William Prescott of Massachusetts were sent onto the Charlestown Peninsula, with orders to occupy Bunker Hill. For reasons that are not entirely clear, they constructed their fortifications on neighboring Breed’s Hill, which was lower than Bunker Hill and closer to Boston.
Battle of Bunker Hill Begins — June 17, 1775
The next morning, the British woke to find the Americans had control of the high ground above Boston Harbor and would be able to fire on their ships. When the British saw the fortifications, some of the warships in the harbor opened fire on the Americans.
Gage and the other generals met and decided to attack the American position. General William Howe led the attack, which started around 3:00 in the afternoon.
The British launched two assaults on the American redoubt, and both failed. The Americans waited until the last possible moment to fire. Legend has it that one of the commanding officers — either William Prescott or Israel Putnam — told the men to hold their fire until they saw “the whites of their eyes.” The British suffered heavy casualties, but the Americans ran out of ammunition. The British reorganized for a third assault and routed the Americans.
After overrunning the fortifications, the British inflicted heavy damage on the Americans as they retreated to the main camp in Cambridge. The fighting lasted about two hours and resulted in 1,054 British casualties, compared with 441 American casualties.
Most of the American casualties came during the retreat and included Joseph Warren, who was shot and killed. Warren had played a key role in the revolutionary movement in Massachusetts up to that point.
Although the British won the battle, it served as an important moral victory for the Americans because they proved they could fight with the British and hold their own.
Battle of Bunker Hill Outcome
The outcome of the Battle of Bunker Hill was a British victory. However, the British suffered heavy casualties. The battle was a moral victory for Americans throughout the colonies, who now had real evidence that they could not only engage the greatest military force in the world but also inflict heavy casualties on it.
Battle of Bunker Hill Casualties and Statistics
- The Battle of Bunker Hill lasted about two hours.
- The Battle of Bunker Hill resulted in 1,054 British casualties and 441 American casualties. Most of the American casualties occurred during the retreat.
- The battle is notable for the heavy casualties suffered by British officers, including Pitcairn (killed) and Nisbet Balfour (wounded).
Battle of Bunker Hill Interesting Facts
- At the time, American forces were organized as the New England Army of Observation, on behalf of the United Colonies. Congress did not adopt the name “United States of America” until September 9, 1776.
- The battle is known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, despite the fact that the focus of the action was on the American fortifications on Breed’s Hill.
- The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first significantly large battle of the Revolutionary War.
- The outcome of the battle did not break the Siege of Boston and British troops were still trapped in Boston by American forces.
- The Battle of Bunker Hill was witnessed by thousands of civilians from neighboring hills, rooftops, and balconies in Boston. Abigail Adams and young John Quincy Adams could see the battle from their home in Braintree.
- Although the British were victorious at Bunker Hill, the battle was a moral victory for Americans throughout the colonies, who now had real evidence that they could engage and inflict heavy casualties on the greatest military force in the world.
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Battle of Bunker Hill Timeline
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place during the Boston Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. This list shows the main battles and events that took place before and after the battle.
- April 18–19, 1775 — The Midnight Rides of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott. Revere and Dawes warned Lexington and Prescott made it to Concord.
- April 19, 1775 — Battle of Lexington
- April 19, 1775 — Battle of Concord
- April 19, 1775 — Parker’s Revenge
- April 19, 1775 — Battle of Menotomy
- April 19, 1775 — Siege of Boston Started
- April 23, 1775 — Artemas Ward Placed in Command of the Massachusetts Militia Forces
- May 10, 1775 — Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- May 10, 1775 — Second Continental Congress Started
- May 25, 1775 — British Generals John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton, and William Howe arrived in Boston with reinforcements.
- May 27, 1775 — Battle of Chelsea Creek
- June 12, 1775 — Thomas Gage offered a pardon to all rebels except for Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
- June 14, 1775 — Continental Congress organized the Army of Occupation into the Continental Army.
- June 15, 1775 — George Washington was named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
- June 17, 1775 — Battle of Bunker Hill
- July 3, 1775 — George Washington took command of the Continental Army.
- October 10, 1775 — William Howe replaced Thomas Gage.
- November 9, 1775 — Skirmish at Lechmere Point
- November 17, 1775 — Knox Expedition Left Boston
- January 25, 1776 — Knox Expedition Arrived in Framingham
- March 3, 1776 — American Occupation of Dorchester Heights
- March 7, 1776 — Howe Decided to Evacuate Boston
- March 17, 1776 — Evacuation Day
Bibliography and Suggested Reading
- Blanco, Richard L. The American Revolution 1775–1783, An Encyclopedia.
- Boatner, Mark. Encyclopedia of the American Revolution.
- Ketchum, Richard M. Decisive Day: The Battle of Bunker Hill.
- Fremont-Barnes, Gregory and Ryerson, Richard. The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War.
- Nelson, James M. With Fire and Sword: The Battle of Bunker Hill and the Beginning of the American Revolution.
- Philbrick, Nathaniel. Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution.
- Ward, Christopher. War of the Revolution.
