The Fighting Begins

Would you the see where the first major battle of the American Revolution took place? Even though it was called the Battle of Bunker Hill, don't go to Bunker Hill because most of the fighting was done on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, MA.

Visiting the Monument

Today on the top of Breed's Hill, you will find the Bunker Hill Monument. It is a 221 foot granite obelisk. Construction began in 1825 and it took 17 years to build. It was the first obelisk in America. Visitors can climb the 294 steps to the top and get a good view of Boston and the harbor.

About the Battle

A historic map showing the battle.

On June 16, 1775 the Patriots worked with rocks, wood and dirt to build a fortification on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, MA. The next morning, the British army saw the fortification so they prepared for a battle by gathering supplies and preparing food.

On June 17, 1775 the British warships fired canons at the fortifications. Then 2,300 British soliders marched up the hill in ranks. Since the Patriots didn't have a lot of ammunition, Colonel William Prescott told the minutemen, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." In other words, he didn't want them to shoot until the British got very close.

The British Army marching towards the Patriots.

The British marched up the hill three times. The first two times the Patriots shot and the British retreated. The third time, the Patriots ran out of ammunition, and they retreated. Even though the Patriots lost the battle, they killed or wounded nearly half of the British soliders.