A Brief History
After retreating from Lexington in April, 1775, the British Army
occupied Boston for several months. Realizing the need to strengthen
their position in the face of increasing anti-British sentiment in and
around Boston, plans were developed to seize and fortify nearby
Dorchester Heights and Charlestown peninsulas. The peninsulas offered a
commanding view of the seaport and harbor, and were important to
preserving the security of Boston. The Americans caught word of the
British plan, and decided to get to the Charlestown peninsula first,
fortify it, and present sufficient threat to cause the British to leave
Boston. On 16 June, 1775, under the leadership of Colonels Putnam, and
Prescott, the Patriots stole out onto the Charlestown Peninsula with
instructions to establish defensive positions on Bunker's Hill. For
reasons that are unclear, they constructed a redoubt on nearby Breed's
Hill. The next morning, the British were astonished to see the rebel
fortifications upon the hill and set out to reclaim the peninsula.
General Howe served as the commander of the British main assault
force and led two costly and ineffective charges against the Patriot's
fortifications without inflicting significant casualties on his
opponents. After obtaining 400 reinforcements which included sorely
needed ammunition for his artillery, Howe ordered a bayonet charge to
seize Breed's Hill. In this third attempt, the British were finally able
to breach the breastworks of the American redoubt and the Patriots were
forced to retreat back to the mainland.
This battle, though victorious, proved costly for the British. Of the
2400 British soldiers in Howe's command, the 1054 casualties accounted
for nearly forty percent of their ranks. The American casualties were
441, including 30 captured, with most being inflicted during the
retreat. The battle served to proved to the American people that the
British Army was not invinsible. It became a symbol of national pride
and a rally point of resistance against British rule.
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