The Significance of Battle of Bunker Hill
American Culture-INT 110-01
May 8, 2013
The Significance of Battle of Bunker Hill The American Revolutionary War is the war that Americans overthrew the British colonial rule, won the independence and it is also the war that was conductive to the development of capitalism in the United States and helped the United States developed the capitalist economy. The Battle of Bunker Hill, as the early battle in this historical war, is also a significant battle during the war. The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed’s Hill. The leader of the colonial forces besieged Boston and learned that the British generals were planning to send troops out of the city to occupy the unoccupied hills that surrounding the city. As a result, colonial troops, which were under the command of William Prescott, stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. And also they constructed an earthen redoubt and built fortified lines on the hills. However, On June 17, some 2,200 British forces under the command of Major General William Howe (1729-1814) and Brigadier General Robert Pigot (1720-96) landed on the Charlestown Peninsula then marched to Breed 's Hill. When the Redcoats were within several dozen yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, throwing the British into retreat. After re-forming their lines, the British attacked again, with much the same result. Prescott 's men were now low on ammunition, though, and when the Redcoats went up the hill for a third time, they reached the redoubts and engaged the Americans in hand-to-hand combat. The outnumbered Americans were forced to retreat. However, by the end of the engagement, the Patriots ' gunfire had cut down some 1,000 enemy troops, with more than 200 killed and more than 800 wounded. More than 100 Americans perished, while more than 300 others were wounded. [1] General Clinton, echoing Pyrrhus of Epirus, remarked in his diary that "A few more such victories
May 8, 2013
The Significance of Battle of Bunker Hill The American Revolutionary War is the war that Americans overthrew the British colonial rule, won the independence and it is also the war that was conductive to the development of capitalism in the United States and helped the United States developed the capitalist economy. The Battle of Bunker Hill, as the early battle in this historical war, is also a significant battle during the war. The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed’s Hill. The leader of the colonial forces besieged Boston and learned that the British generals were planning to send troops out of the city to occupy the unoccupied hills that surrounding the city. As a result, colonial troops, which were under the command of William Prescott, stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. And also they constructed an earthen redoubt and built fortified lines on the hills. However, On June 17, some 2,200 British forces under the command of Major General William Howe (1729-1814) and Brigadier General Robert Pigot (1720-96) landed on the Charlestown Peninsula then marched to Breed 's Hill. When the Redcoats were within several dozen yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, throwing the British into retreat. After re-forming their lines, the British attacked again, with much the same result. Prescott 's men were now low on ammunition, though, and when the Redcoats went up the hill for a third time, they reached the redoubts and engaged the Americans in hand-to-hand combat. The outnumbered Americans were forced to retreat. However, by the end of the engagement, the Patriots ' gunfire had cut down some 1,000 enemy troops, with more than 200 killed and more than 800 wounded. More than 100 Americans perished, while more than 300 others were wounded. [1] General Clinton, echoing Pyrrhus of Epirus, remarked in his diary that "A few more such victories
Cited: [1] http://www.history.com/topics/battle-of-bunker-hill [2] Brooks, Victor (1999). The Boston Campaign. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Publishing. P183-184. [3]"Of The People”James Oakes, P186.