Taylor+Broughton

Ashland, Ky

By: Taylor Broughton

“Don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes!”
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed Hill. On June 13, 1775, the leaders of the colonial forces learned that the British generals were planning to send troops out from the city to occupy the unoccupied hills surrounding the city. In response to this, 1,200 colonial troops under the control of William Prescott took place at Bunker Hill and Breed Hill. When the British were alerted to the presence of the new position the next day, they mounted an attack against them. When the Colonial troops caught eye of the British before the attack with authority William Prescott said “don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” by this he meant not to fire until there close so you will not miss and waist the ammunition. After two assaults on the colonial lines were repulsed with significant British casualties, the British finally captured the positions on the third assault, after the defenders in the redoubt ran out of ammunition. The colonial forces retreated to Cambridge over Bunker Hill, suffering their most significant losses on Bunker Hill. While the result was a victory for the British, they suffered heavy losses: over 800 wounded and 226 killed, including a notably large number of officers. This battle showed that our Colonial forces were able to stand up to regular army troops.

(British Redcoats marching up Bunker Hill only to soon get met with Colonial fire)