Database: The Battle of Bunker Hill

Bloody battle in Charlestown!

Colonial Militia engages Crown forces on Breed's Hill. Many killed and grievously wounded.

It having become known that Crown forces intended to take positions dominating the whole of Charlestown, Gen. Artemas Ward put one thousand Militia troops into the field. Acting with bravura and dispatch, Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam and Col. Wm. Prescott worked through the night to erect a redoubt running the width of Breed’s Hill down to the Mystic River itself, said defences surprising the Royal troops at morning light.

The Colonial Militia continued to build breastworks even as they were bombarded by the ships in Boston Bay. Come afternoon, some two thousand soldiers, comprised of fusiliers, light infantry and regulars, landed on the Charlestown shore and assaulted the colonial defences. Militia snipers inflicted harm upon the Regulars from afar, and Gen. Howe responded in a most cowardly manner, ordering combustible shells to be fired upon the houses of Charlestown itself, setting the town on fire. The inhabitants fled to the fields.

The brave Militia, although short on rum and ammunition, held their ground and waited till the approaching line was well within range before unleashing a devastating volley into the Royal ranks. The Army fell back then attacked again. Again the New England volunteers inflicted great harm upon the soldiers. From across the Charles, citizens of Boston viewed the battle from their rooftops.

A third time, the Royal forces marched up the sloped of Breed’s Hill. Alas, the Militia reserves of ammunition were exhausted and the men fell back in disarray, leaving both Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill to the King’s troops.

The ground was hard won by Gen. Howe. In all he suffered some one thousand casualties, dead and wounded. Militia losses are tallied at four hundred.