The Battle of Bunker Hill

The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the earliest major battles of the American Revolutionary War. On June 17, 1775, British forces attacked a group of colonists who had fortified themselves on top of Breed's Hill. (The site was later mistakenly identified as Bunker Hill, which was actually the next hill over, hence the battle's misleading name.)

The Battle of Bunker Hill is primarily notable because, despite their ultimate loss, the newly formed and generally inexperienced Colonial force was able to hold its own considerably well against the better equipped and more experienced British troops. The Colonial troops fended off two major assaults and inflicted a great number of casualties before they were defeated. More than 1,500 men died or were wounded in the battle—at least two thirds of them British soldiers. The British were rattled, not expecting such a close fight from the colonists, and the near win served as a source of encouragement to the fledgling Colonial forces.

Notable leaders in the Battle of Bunker Hill included Colonel William Prescott (often credited with saying "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes."), Colonel John Stark, and General Israel Putnam. A statue of Prescott stands on the site today in front of the Bunker Hill Monument.

The Bunker Hill Monument, a 221-foot granite obelisk, was constructed on the site between 1827 and 1843 to commemorate the battle. The completed monument was dedicated on June 17, 1843, the 68th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Bunker Hill Day, June 17, is a holiday celebrated in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Read about the Bunker Hill Monument.
Read about Bunker Hill Day.