Breed's Hill: The Battle Of The American Revolution

The American Revolution was filled with important and spectacular battles; each having their own significance. Despite the fact that the colonists lost The Battle of Breed’s (Bunker) Hill, it was a huge victory for the colonists, and could have been one of the most important battles of the American Revolution. Despite being out numbered and unseasoned fighters, the colonists were able to inflict heavy casualties on the British regular army. Even though they were able to inflict such casualties upon the British Army, they were forced to surrender when they ran out of gunpowder. The significance of this battle was not that the colonists won or lost, but what was learned in the process. It also established a high level of morale among the colonies and demonstrated to the Americans the power of fighting from behind rocks and trees against better trained British formations. It also showed that Americans desperately needed allies to supply ammunition. According to the book “Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News” by Todd Andrlik, The Continental
General Gage immediately went into action dispatching Major General William Howe along with 2500 soldiers to eradicate the Americans. As Admiral Samuel Graves (commander of the British fleet in the Boston harbor) fired upon the Americans on Breed’s Hill, Major General Howe gathered his men aboard twenty eight large barges and set forth across the harbor. It took until after lunch for the British to muster their forces and cross the harbor. They landed on Moultons Point unopposed by the Americans. Major General Howe comprised a two part plan of attack; he would send the majority of his men straight up the hill to the redoubt while the remainder circled the hill to cut off the Americans retreat. Major General Howe’s disregard for the capabilities of the Americans was a fatal