BRITISH WIN AT BUNKER HILL BUT SUFFER HEAVY CASUALTIES
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) 251 years ago, on June 17, 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought between occupying British troops and American militiamen. While the outcome was in favor of Great Britain, there is much more to the story.
Americans, after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, occupied the high ground on Breeds Hill in the Charlestown section of Boston. There, under command of Captain William Prescott, they built a temporary fortress known as a redoubt.
British commander Thomas Gage ordered his 3000 troops to attack the redoubt. Capt. Prescott, all too aware of his ammunition shortage, told his men...
"Don't fire 'til you see the whites of their eyes."
During the last attack, the militiamen were out of ammunition and were forced to give up the position. They had 450 casualties.
The British, however, had lost 1000. Their victory was indeed costly. As for the Americans, they had proved that they were more than willing to stand and fight against the strongest military force in the world.
JFK+50 NOTE
The famous painting below, by Howard Pyle, appeared in Scribner's Magazine in February 1898. In 2001, the original painting was "presumed stolen" from the Delaware Art Museum.
SOURCES
"A Fledgling Nation Discovers Its Confidence at Bunker Hill," Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, www.bostonteaships.com/
"JFK Marches In Annual Parade Commemorating Battle of Bunker Hill," JFK+50, June 17, 2025, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/
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