Bunker Hill, battle of definition of Bunker Hill, battle of in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Bunker Hill, battle of, in the American Revolution, June 17, 1775. Detachments of colonial militia under Artemas Ward Ward, Artemas (är`tĭməs), 1727–1800, American general in the American Revolution , b. Shrewsbury, Mass.
..... Click the link for more information. , Nathanael Greene, John Stark Stark, John, 1728–1822, American Revolutionary soldier, b. Londonderry, N.H. He fought in the French and Indian Wars . At the start of the Revolution he distinguished himself at Bunker Hill, and he served in the Quebec campaign and with George Washington at
..... Click the link for more information. , and Israel Putnam Putnam, Israel, 1718–90, American Revolutionary general, b. Salem (now Danvers), Mass. A farmer at Pomfret, Conn., he fought in the French and Indian Wars , seeing action at Montreal (1760) and at Havana (1762).
..... Click the link for more information. laid siege to Boston shortly after the battles of Lexington and Concord. However, Thomas Gage Gage, Thomas, 1721–87, English general in North America. He came to America (1754) with Gen. Edward Braddock and took part in the ill-fated expedition against Fort Duquesne (1755).
..... Click the link for more information. , British commander in the city, made no attempt to break the siege until he was reinforced (in May) by troops led by William Howe Howe, William Howe, 5th Viscount, 1729–1814, English general in the American Revolution; younger brother of Admiral Richard Howe.
..... Click the link for more information. , Sir Henry Clinton Clinton, Sir Henry, 1738?–1795, British general in the American Revolution, b. Newfoundland; son of George Clinton (1686?–1761). He was an officer in the New York militia and then in the Coldstream Guards.
..... Click the link for more information. , and John Burgoyne Sir John Fox Burgoyne, 1782–1871, served with distinction in the Peninsular War. In the Crimean War his advice was followed in attacking Sevastopol from the south—an action that led to a long and hard siege. He was created field marshal in 1868.
..... Click the link for more information. . The Continental forces learned of the British plan to take the heights of Dorchester and Charlestown, and William Prescott Prescott, William, 1726–95, American Revolutionary officer, b. Groton, Mass. He saw service in the French and Indian Wars . In the American Revolution , he fortified (1775) Breed's Hill for the colonists and was prominent in the subsequent battle that was
..... Click the link for more information. was sent to occupy Bunker Hill outside Charlestown. Prescott instead chose the neighboring Breed's Hill to the southeast, but the engagement that ensued has become known as the battle of Bunker Hill. Howe was ordered to attack the American position, and after two slaughterous failures a third charge dislodged the Americans, who had run out of powder. The British victory failed to break the siege, and the gallant American defense heightened colonial morale and resistance.

Bibliography

See T. J. Fleming, Now We Are Enemies: The Story of Bunker Hill (1960); R. M. Ketchum, The Battle for Bunker Hill (1962).