Battle+of+Bunker+(Breed's)+Hill

**By Gordy Bunker**
vs.



The temperature is between 55 and 65 degrees with wind blowing about ten knots. It's June 17th, in [|Charleston Massachusetts] and [|The Battle of Bunker Hill], otherwise known as the Battle at [|Breeds Hill], is about to take place. As far as the list of most important battles in the history of the American revolution goes, the Battle of Bunker Hill is near the very top. Although it concluded in a loss to the British, the Americans would be the real winners, as they gained invaluable confidence for the rest of the revolution. This battle showed that it was not going to be so easy for the British to win the war, and it was going to be a long, hard fought war for both sides. On the British side, there was more experienced soldiers and officers, as well as more ammunition, weapons, and the[|British naval fleet], which the Americans did not have. The common weapon used in the battle of Bunker Hill were the [|Flintlock muskets]. Although the Americans had such disadvantages, they were able to hold off three separate attacks during the Battle of Bunker Hill, but would eventually retreat. However this was not an easily won battle for the British, and this showed that the Americans were completely capable of fighting a war on their own.

This is a Flintlock Musket, the common weapon used in the Revolutionary War.

The Battle that took place on Breeds Hill took many soldiers lives. The British force had a total of 3,000 soldiers, greater than the force of the United States colonies that had only a force of 2,400 soldiers. The British would loose a total of 226 men, opposed to the Americans who lost a total of 115 men. There was a far greater amount of injured British soldiers compared to the United States Colonies soldiers as well, the British had 828 men injured, and out of the 2,400 Americans fighting, only 305 were injured. Among those dead or injured British soldiers were officers. There was one [|lieutenant] [| colonel]killed, two [|majors] killed, and three wounded majors. There was also seven [|captains] lives taken by the battle, nine [|lieutenants], fifteen [|sergeants] , and one [|drummer]. The British captured 30 American men however, and the United States Army could not capture a single soldier, due to the fact that they, in the end, lost the Battle of Bunker Hill and had to retreat. The statistics may show that the British forces came away with a victory, the Battle of Bunker Hill is invaluable to the victory of the Americans over the redcoats in the American Revolutionary War.

This is a picture of a reenactment of a battle in the Revolutionary war. The two men in the front are reinacting the drummers for the British Army.

media type="youtube" key="6MOfZ3_oWQQ" height="315" width="420"This video explains what occurred at Breeds Hill, and shows what the British soldiers looked like, as well as the United States Colonial Army.

The reason why this battle is so invaluable to the Americans in winning the [|American Revolutionary War] is because it raised their morale, and it showed the American people that the small, but mighty, colonial army did have a chance against what was the largest military power in the world, Britain. The Battle of Bunker Hill displays a example of the tactics used that would ultimately win the American Revolution. The Battle of Bunker Hill exemplifies the strategy of [|Guerrilla Warfare] used to win the American Revolutionary War. This tactic or idea was thought up by none other than [|George Washington]. Guerrilla warfare is somewhat spoken as hit and run tactics. Its sabotages, ambushes, or any kind of irregular warfare. It is exemplified in the Battle of Bunker Hill by the fact that the Americans would hold back three separate attacks, knock a large amount of [|Redcoats], or British soldiers down to their deaths, or injure them, and then would retreat. The damage taken by the British forces were far more worse than that of the American Army. This tactic would be used throughout the revolution and would succeed in bringing a victory to the United States of America, and claim independence from Great Britain, who would later on sign the [|Treaty of Paris] and end the Revolutionary War.

In the Battle of Bunker Hill, there were many significant people. One of the most important people in the battle was the general Sir William Howe. Sir William Howe was a British general who was commander-in chief in the British forces. Howe's record in the war was marked by the costly assault on Breed's Hill known as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the successful capture of [|New York City] and [|Philadelphia]. Howe planned to crush the American's position by massive assault. He was in command at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. Personally leading the left wing of the attack, Howe's assault gained the objective, but the cost was appallingly heavy. [|General Henry Clinton]called it "A dear bought victory, another such would have ruined us." While Howe was not injured in the battle, it had a pronounced effect on his spirit. Before the Battle of Bunker Hill, Sir William Howe was a aggressive and daring commander, but after the battle, Howe lost those qualities and became a slow moving commander on the battlefield, afraid of direct confrontation. William Howe however still won the Battle of Bunker Hill, and would go on to win other battles such as the [|Battle of Brandy-wine], and defeated none other than our nation's first president, [|George Washington]. and actually was never defeated. Sir William Howe, on April 14, 1778, received a letter from the British parliament granting his wish to retire.

Another very significant person in the Battle of Bunker Hill was William Prescott. William Prescott was a [|commander]for the United States Army, and his Battle strategies would help kill or injure over a third of the British Forces on Breeds Hill. Prescott's strategy against the British was to wait as long as possible to fire. "Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!" he told his men. In spirited battle, Prescott's men twice threw back British assaults on the redoubt. However on the third attempt, his troops were out of ammo, and could no longer hold the British army back. He was one of the last men to leave the redoubt, carrying out [|bayonet] thrusts with his blade at the end of his weapon. While the British successfully captured Bunker Hill, the poorly-organized [|colonial forces] inflicted significant casualties, and the British were unable to capitalize on their victory; Prescott is widely seen as having played a key role in the battle, keeping the relatively poorly-trained [|militia] under his command well-disciplined. William Prescott's leadership would help the American army greatly, and without his presence in the American Revolutionary War, America may never have claimed its independence over Britain. After the Battle of Bunker Hill, later in his life Prescott served in the [|Massachussets general court], and served in the militia called out to supress the [|Shay's Rebellion]in 1786. He died in 1795.

media type="youtube" key="E1o7BJ0Piu0" height="315" width="420" align="right"

This is a map displaying where the Battle of Bunker Hill took place, where the British forces were stationed, and dispalys the movements of the British at the Battle.