The Battle of Bunker Hill occurred on this day in 1775. It was a clear loss for the revolutionaries, who had to flee several rounds of attacks by the lobsterbacks. But the fight remains a staple of Revolutionary War history, due in large part to the courage of the outnumbered rebels and their effective tactics. What’s less known is that it didn’t actually take place at Bunker Hill.
Back then, the hilly area where the combat would take place sat outside the limits of the city of Boston. The British sought to control the high ground, so the rebels fortified Breed’s Hill to block them off. The British moved in with 2,200 men, enough manpower to easily overcome the base. Patriot Colonel William Prescott, whose 1,000 troops had a shortage of ammunition, instructed his troops to hold their fire, famously telling them not to fire “until you see the whites of their eyes!”
The British got extraordinarily close to the fortified line, a few dozen yards away from rebels, before the muskets let loose a coordinated wave of fire, battering the enemy and forcing their retreat. Another assault followed and was similarly pushed back. The third time was the charm for the king’s troops. They overtook the patriot forces and began battling them face-to-face, forcing a retreat.
The Americans were beaten but had accomplished much against overwhelming odds. Around 40 percent of the American troops were killed or wounded. Despite being outnumbered more than two to one, they had managed to kill 200 lobsterbacks and wound another 800, a very high casualty rate for a famously well-trained army serving the most powerful nation on the planet. It was a massive morale booster for the American cause, and remains a famous tale in the nation’s history — even if it took place on the wrong hill.
