The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775. It was the first
major battle of the American Revolution (1775–83). It is also called the
Battle of Breed’s Hill for the actual site of the clash.
The Battle of Bunker Hill had its roots in the colonial siege of
Boston, Massachusetts. In an effort to get British soldiers out of the
area, the colonists took control of the city. When they learned of a British
plan to use troops to regain control, the colonists acted to stop them.
Nearly fifteen hundred troops marched to Charlestown, just across the
Charles River from Boston. There they embedded themselves on Breed’s
Hill, just below Bunker Hill, in the dark of night.
Barriers saved colonists
When the British discovered the colonists, they
set out to displace them with an army of twentytwo hundred men. The colonists, however, were
well protected behind barriers they had made.
The colonists successfully defended themselves
during two of the three British advances. During
the first two, the British suffered great losses.
During the third advance, the colonists were
running out of ammunition and retreated.
The colonists suffered approximately 450
soldiers captured, wounded, or killed. Though
the British pushed back the rebelling colonists,
they suffered nearly 1,000 casualties, about half of their army. The British claimed victory, but the great number of casualties
gave the colonists encouragement to continue fighting for their cause.