The Battle of Bunker Hill

Summary

American History Hit: The Battle of Bunker Hill – Detailed Summary

Podcast Title: American History Hit
Host: Don Wildman
Episode: The Battle of Bunker Hill
Release Date: June 16, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of American History Hit, host Don Wildman delves into the complexities and significance of the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the earliest and bloodiest engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Joining him is Jonathan Bratton, an author, historian, and Major in the Maine National Guard, who provides expert insights into the battle's strategic and historical nuances.

---

Setting the Stage: Pre-Battle Context

Jonathan Bratton emphasizes the battle's pivotal role in shifting both American and British perspectives towards an inevitable and prolonged conflict.
“Bunker Hill is really such a pivotal moment because after Bunker Hill, there's not a lot of going back. This is the point of no return.” [05:33]

Prior to Bunker Hill, tensions were escalating, with debates within the Continental Congress about forming a unified army versus seeking reconciliation with Britain. The battle marked a decisive move away from potential peace, solidifying the colonies' commitment to independence.

---

Dispelling Myths

Don Wildman addresses common misconceptions surrounding the battle:

• Location Misnomer: “One, the battle did not happen on Bunker Hill. It happened on a different hill entirely nearby Breed's Hill.” [03:10]
• Famous Order: The iconic command, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes," was not actually uttered during the battle.
• Monument Inspiration: The battle's commemorative obelisk influenced the creation of the Washington Monument, not the other way around.
• Outcome Misinterpretation: Contrary to popular belief, the Americans did not win the battle; it was a British victory, albeit at a high cost.

---

The Battle Unfolds

On June 17, 1775, American forces fortified Breed's Hill with a hastily constructed redoubt. As the British naval ships fired upon them, the Americans braved cannon and gunfire in what was the first significant battle of the Revolution.

Jonathan Bratton describes the initial American defense:
“They build this about 9 foot by 9 foot square redoubt, a small earthwork, right, with earthen walls, and they put in positions for their few field guns.” [14:16]

Despite being outnumbered and under-equipped, approximately 1,200 to 1,500 American troops held their ground against British forces, inflicting significant casualties.

---

Leadership and Strategies

British Strategy:
General William Howe orchestrated a double envelopment strategy aiming to encircle and overwhelm the American positions. However, initial attempts were thwarted by effective American marksmanship and defensive preparations.

American Leadership:
Leaders like Colonel William Prescott and General Artemis Ward played crucial roles in organizing the defense. The bravery of figures such as Joseph Warren, who sacrificed his life during the battle, underscored the American commitment.

Notable Quote:
“It's very sad because he was so well respected and well liked even by the British that when they found him there, it was like this act of massive betrayal.” — Jonathan Bratton on Joseph Warren [27:00]

---

Aftermath and Significance

Although the British ultimately secured victory by taking the redoubt, they suffered heavy casualties—over a thousand compared to American losses of around a hundred dead and three hundred wounded. This disparity underscored the resolve and potential of the American forces, boosting morale and skepticism within British command.

Jonathan Bratton reflects on the battle's dual impact:
“It's a huge boost to American morale. It's this idea that, yes, we can stand and fight.” [31:29]

Conversely, the British recognized the fierce resistance they faced, leading to a more cautious approach in subsequent engagements.

---

The Monument and Legacy

The enduring legacy of the Battle of Bunker Hill is epitomized by the 221-foot obelisk erected in 1874, which today dominates the landscape. This monument was part of a broader 19th-century movement to commemorate American history through grand structures, reflecting emerging national and regional identities.

Jonathan Bratton discusses the monument's significance:
“The Bunker Hill monument forms as part of, as you say, this monumentalization movement inside America that already is showing the fissures, is showing the cracks and the divide in the United States.” [35:39]

The monument not only honors the bravery of the soldiers but also symbolizes the complex narratives and regional tensions that have shaped American history.

---

Washington's Arrival and Challenges

Three weeks post-battle, General George Washington assumes command of the Continental Army. His appointment brought significant leadership challenges, particularly in unifying diverse and often discordant regional militias into a cohesive fighting force.

Jonathan Bratton elaborates on Washington's struggles:
“How do I forge these quarrelsome people from across the colonies into one army? How do I instill discipline?” [37:24]

Washington's focus shifted towards building a disciplined and sustainable army, addressing logistical issues like sanitation, supply lines, and ammunition shortages—challenges that were evident during and after Bunker Hill.

---

Conclusion

The Battle of Bunker Hill stands as a testament to the early American struggle for independence, highlighting themes of resilience, strategic error, and the forging of a national identity. While tactically a British victory, the battle had profound implications for both sides, shaping the trajectory of the Revolutionary War. Jonathan Bratton's insights provide a nuanced understanding of the battle's complexities, making this episode a comprehensive exploration of a pivotal moment in American history.

Additional Resources:
Jonathan Bratton recommends his book, The Last Man, detailing the history of the Maine National Guard's 103rd Infantry Regiment during World War I, and mentions his co-authored work, Opening Shots in the Colonies, available through the Army Center of Military History.

---

Notable Quotes:

• “Bunker Hill is really such a pivotal moment because after Bunker Hill, there's not a lot of going back. This is the point of no return.” — Jonathan Bratton [05:33]

• “It's very sad because he was so well respected and well liked even by the British that when they found him there, it was like this act of massive betrayal.” — Jonathan Bratton on Joseph Warren [27:00]

• “It's a huge boost to American morale. It's this idea that, yes, we can stand and fight.” — Jonathan Bratton [31:29]

• “How do I forge these quarrelsome people from across the colonies into one army? How do I instill discipline?” — Jonathan Bratton [37:24]

---

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, providing listeners and history enthusiasts with an in-depth understanding of the Battle of Bunker Hill, its strategic intricacies, and its lasting impact on American history.

Transcript

[Verizon Representative]

Now at Verizon, we have some big news for your peace of mind. For all our customers, existing and new, we're locking in low prices for three years guaranteed on MyPlan and MyHome. That's future youe Peace of mind and everyone can save on a brand new phone on MyPlan. When you trade in any phone from one of our top brands, that's new phone peace of mind. Because at Verizon, whether you're already a customer or you're just joining us, we got you. Visit Verizon today. Price guarantee applies to then current base monthly rate. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.

[History Narrator]

If you work as a manufacturing facilities engineer, installing a new piece of equipment can be as complex as the machinery itself. From prep work to alignment and testing, it's your team's job to put it all together. That's why it's good to have Grainger on your side. With industrial grade products and next day delivery, Grainger helps ensure you have everything you need close at hand through every step of the installation. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Out here, we feel things the sore calves that lead to epic views, the cool waterfall mist during a hot hike, and the breeze that hits just right at the summit. But hey, don't just listen to us. Experience it for yourself. Alltrails makes it easy to discover the best of the outdoors, with more than 450,000 trails around the world, points of interest along the trail and offline maps for always on navigation. Download the free app today and find your next outdoor adventure.

[History Narrator]

June 17, 1775 the streets of Boston are unusually quiet this morning. Skittish locals mostly keep to their homes, doors barred. But other more intrepid residents, especially here in Copp's Hill, the highest point in Boston's North End, climb out of windows and onto their rooftops, eager for a vantage point. Poised on shingled pitches, leaning against brick chimneys, they'll have a front row seat for all the action about to unfold. Under the clear summer sky, these residents observe British naval ships on the Charles river firing upon the rebels. Positioned behind a hastily constructed barricade, they gawk as the British troops disembark, marching in ranks uphill, an undulating mass of red in ordered formation. Until suddenly it's not. And so many of the British fall in heaps, their comrades regrouping, then finally engaging the American colonists in hand to hand combat. In the days and years to come, these Bostonians will describe what they saw, but they'll also report the smell of cannon and gunfire on the wind, the distant sounds of shouts and screams. This sensory experience of war will be the first for most New Englanders in this, the first real battle of the American Revolution. The Battle of Bunker Hill.

[Don Wildman]

Hello, folks. Welcome. Don Wildman here. This is American history. Hit. The Battle of Bunker Hill, 17th of June, 1775, is a critical moment of revolutionary history. Confusing for so many. Let's straighten a few things out right away. One, the battle did not happen on Bunker Hill. It happened on a different hill entirely nearby Breed's Hill. It didn't really happen in Boston per se, but across the river in the town of Charleston, which was a century later, in 1874, annexed by Boston. The fabled order, supposedly shouted out in the heat of battle to American troops short on ammunition, don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes, was not actually said that day, though the Americans were trying to conserve resources, but all good armies do. And that 221 foot obelisk erected to seemingly commemorate a great victory, was not inspired by the Washington Monument. It was the other way around. And by the way, the Americans lost the battle. They didn't win it. Nonetheless, the Battle of Bunker Hill is indeed an important event, a moment of tremendous courage and valor vital to understanding the determined early days of our war for independence. That is utterly true. And we'll discuss it all today with a man whose name really is Jonathan Bratton, author, historian, and major in the Maine National Guard. Greetings, sir. Welcome.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Thank you so much for having me on today. Really excited to be here.

[Don Wildman]

I'm really looking forward to this. We've already corrected a few of the myths. Okay, but let's understand why they even came to pass. Why was this Battle of Bunker Hill so important and so famous that it became a fable?

[Jonathan Bratton]

Yeah, I feel like you took half of my job. Just myth busting right away. It was great. Yeah. So there's so many misconceptions about this famous event. One, it's this first major battle after the actions of Lexington Concord, which everyone was sort of thinking was, hey, this is a fluke, will never happen again. Yeah, sure, the British were beaten, but that definitely won't happen. It is a major test of Continental resolve and of British resolve of will they continue on to fight a conflict rather than go to the negotiating table. Talk about maybe, maybe some sort of reconciliation. Bunker Hill is really such a pivotal moment because after Bunker Hill, there's not a lot of going back. There are a few Attempts made of, hey, maybe we could try to resolve this. But everyone knows that those are overtures that really aren't taken seriously. This is the point of no return.

[Don Wildman]

It's true. Just the reading I did, reminding myself of so much. One of the subtler points that's so interesting at this point in the so called war, we've had a skirmish, essentially a series of skirmishes with Lexington, Concord. There is turning back at that point. And a lot of Americans, or so called Americans at that point are really thinking about, we want things to be like they were before 1760. You know, we want to have it be like it was before the taxations and the Stamp Act. All that stuff has come into play that makes us feel like we need to revolt. Had the British been willing to turn back the clock, they'd be good with that. Bunker Hill marks a moment when they realize, oh my gosh, they're, they're serious about fighting us on this account. And so the whole scale tips, doesn't it?

[Jonathan Bratton]

It does. And you can even see it inside the Continental Congress. So you know what's happening in the run up to Bunker hill. You know, June 14th, June 13th and 14th, Continental Congress is meeting in session and debating this idea of should we even have an army? Should we create this continental army? And this is a hot topic. A whole bunch of people say, no, absolutely not. If we want to have any chance of reconciliation and peace, we can't have an army out there that is a Continental army that is united. You know, this is, this would really sink any chance of peace. So we really look at the actions of 1775 in the light of what happens in 1776. And we're going, oh, yeah, of course, everyone's driving for independence. No, right now there's a whole bunch of people who would really be chill if things would just go back to the status quo. Maybe we get some concessions out of Great Britain, but really, hey, we kind of like being part of the empire. It's, it's kind of cool. And then you've got some radicals are like, no, absolutely not. Like, we gotta go, we gotta take this thing real hard. And this is the situation entering the summer of 1775, with a bunch of people being like, what do we do? Where do we end up? And, you know, a lot of the action is forced by Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen. In May of 1775, they take those forts on Lake Champlain, which many Americans consider like, whoa, whoa, you went too far, like defending our homes. Election. Concord is one thing. Going and seizing Installations from the British? Absolutely not. So these are all the things that are sort of like informing the public sphere. And of course, across the colonies as well, there's this idea of, oh, maybe we should start training the militia. Maybe we need to start, you know, various ways of sort of solidifying the rebellion a little bit. But Bunker Hill and the actions that happen around Bunker Hill are what's going to cause a massive splash.

[Don Wildman]

Exactly. Well, it happens in mid June 1775, as you said. But the revolution at this point is really just centered on New England for all the reasons you've mentioned here. And importantly, the British think they can snuff out this rebellion right here and now. That's kind of their. Their skin in this game. We can get rid of this thing by telling these New Englanders to take a hike. And that's why it's so important for what they do here. Why Bunker Hill? What was the. Why this ground?

[Jonathan Bratton]

Yeah, so, I mean, it's. I think it's less the hill itself, it's more the Charlestown peninsula, and it's also the geography of the greater Boston area. So you have about. About 18 to 20,000 New England troops surrounding Boston, laying siege, attempting to lay siege to Boston. It's hard to lay siege to Boston when you don't really have a lot of artillery. Hard to lay siege to anything when you don't have a lot of artillery. But they're doing the best they can. They're cutting off the access, the land access routes to Boston. And there's two. There's Boston Neck and then there is the Charlestown peninsula, from where you can take a short boat ride over to. Over towards Boston. Also, the Charlestown peninsula overlooks sort of the inlet, the bay, wherein sits a lot of the Royal Navy. So if you're going to try to lay siege to a place and you've got a bunch of really amateur troops, this New England army of observation is mostly, you know, they're not the same troops that follow at Lexington and Conquer. They're not the. The alarm militia. They're. They're sort of levied for 30 days, 60 days, some of them to the end of the year. And the British are trying to figure out exactly, hey, what do we do about this? Do we. Do we let this sit. General Thomas Gage, the commander of British troops in North America, is sort of a little bit willing to let someone else make the decision. And a couple of people arrive in the May, June timeframe to sort of force that decision. Arriving at the Cerberus, which is Sort of great, you know, the three headed dog of myth. Well, it's got three generals on board. Oh, I see you've got Henry Clinton and you've got John Burgoyne and William Howe. And they all have opinions, as you would imagine, about how the war should be fought in North America. They also bring reinforcements and they sort of bring with them the sense of urgency, of like, hey, you cannot let the actions of Lexington and Concord go unpunished. We must do something. So they come up with a plan. And this plan is essentially, I mean, attempted, a double envelopment of the colonial, the New England army of Observation. And one of those routes is Charlestown, is through the Charlestown Neck. British operational security being about as solid as a leaky sieve, as usual in Boston. The colonials find out about this and go, what if we stop this before it begins by doing something, fortifying something. And this is about as far as the plan goes?

[Don Wildman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

You know, we need to enter into their decision loop and take action before they essentially can destroy us.

[Don Wildman]

Well, they're thinking strategy. This is all preemptive moves designed to sort of solidify their control of the town. You mentioned three leaders on the British side, all of whom are going to be operating from a boat, basically. Right. I mean, where is the British army at this point?

[Jonathan Bratton]

A lot of the British army is coming ashore at this point. They're all packed into Boston. We got about, around 9,000 troops and a bunch of Loyalist civilians. So that's another headache for Gage is I have to feed all of these people. Oh, I have to feed all these people and feed all my troops and I can't go overland. So he does absolutely reliant on the Royal Navy. Right. You've got three generals who are coming in and, and really coming up with this idea of you have to take action before the army starves, essentially. You know, you can't keep supplying yourself on raiding the coastline. And there's some raids that go well and some raids that don't go well that show that the colonists are really willing to fight. But it's General William Howe who's going to be the most aggressive one, who's going to come up with a plan of driving the colonists off this peninsula. Because what happens is the Americans, you have General Artemis Ward, who's the overall sort of commander, you have Richard Gridley, who is the colonial engineer, and William Prescott, who's a Massachusetts colonel, who get the mission from sort of the council of leaders in the army of Observation to move on to the Charlestown Peninsula to fortify it during the night of June 16th. And this is the sort of problem that is going to present itself to the British Army.

[Don Wildman]

Got it. They can see what's coming. They're going to. If they have it, they're going to put artillery up there. So we've got to take that hill. We've already mentioned the misnomer of this. Bunker Hill versus Breed's Hill. One is larger than the other. It's Bunker Hill. That's one of the confusing things, is why would they choose the smaller of the two hills? Because they choose Breed's Hill, which is not too far away. But why not the bigger hill?

[Jonathan Bratton]

Man, that's a great question. It's one that, like historians love to argue about. If you go out there today, it's really hard urban sprawl, right? But you can definitely see Bunker Hill taller. You've got more distance from the Royal Navy, right? So you've got a little bit more standoff. You know, you kind of go there and you're like, well, why wouldn't you? Then you move like about half a mile forward and you're on Breed's Hill slightly lower down, and, man, you were exposed. You were right there. And part of the question that everyone asks is, was this a deliberate thumb in the eye of the British? Was this a decision by Prescott and Gridley and Rufus Putnam from Connecticut of maybe we just try to make this as much of an obvious insult to the British as possible. Look, we moved out here under cover of night and we built a fortress without you noticing, because they do. They move out during the night on June 16th, and they build this about 9 foot by 9 foot square redoubt, a small earthwork, right, with earthen walls, and they put in positions for their few field guns. And so, yeah, when the British wake up on the morning of June 17, there's a royal Navy ship that sees it, immediately opens fire. Admiral Samuel Graves of the British Navy actually tells them to try to sleep. And it tells him to shut up, stop firing, because he's trying to sleep. And someone says, hey, the Americans have put guns on Charlestown peninsula. And he goes, okay, never mind. Change my mind. Keep shooting. But it is, you know, it presents this. It's very insulting. It's very obvious. And if you're in Boston, everyone can see it.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah, they worked really fast on that surprise the British, how quickly that whole barricade had been put up, right?

[Jonathan Bratton]

Whole barricade put up in that. You've got. From just during the night, you suddenly have a fortified position because they don't just fortify. The Americans don't just fortify this square little fort. They start fortifying the areas along it. So as the morning goes on, right. And the Royal Navy's firing, some of it effective, some of it not, the British are trying to figure out what to do. And the Americans are like, okay, so what did we just do here? You know, how do we. Where do we go from here? And they make the decision to continue fortifying around the Charlestown peninsula. They put in fortifications that run to the left of the redoubt, down towards the. Down towards the Mystic River. And more troops arrive. So troops from Connecticut, troops from John Stark's New Hampshire regiment come in to reinforce it. So you got about 1200-15. It's very hard to figure out numbers.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Because a lot of people are coming and going. Because the British are bombarding the whole area with the Royal Navy is caught it in a crossfire. And it's very difficult to move troops up to it without people getting hit. These are raw troops. Someone goes down, the inclination to leave is very high, I would say.

[Don Wildman]

So, yeah. Hard to organize any kind of effort under, you know, the Royal Navy shooting at you. It's amazing that they couldn't just take it out with one gunboat.

[Jonathan Bratton]

That's what the Royal Navy is really hoping to do. Right. You know, maybe we can reduce this fortification with gunfire.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Surprisingly, they can't. I mean, there are casualties, you know, and it is demoralizing when, you know, one of your buddies loses their head when they're standing up on top of the radoubt or taking cover behind a wooden fence.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

But what you have by late morning, mid afternoon or early afternoon is you've got about 12 to 1500 troops who are dug in. And now for the British perspective, you have to do something about this. You know, they've only got a few. A few field guns. They're not well served, but something bigger up there. And then what if they threaten the fleet? And now you're looking at, what if they threaten my supply lines?

[History Narrator]

I'll be back with more American history after this short break.

[Verizon Representative]

Now at Verizon, we have some big news for your peace of mind. For all our customers, existing and new, we're locking in low prices for three years guaranteed on MyPlan. And my home. That's future, you peace of mind. And everyone can save on a brand new phone on MyPlan. When you trade in any phone from one of our top brands, that's new phone Peace of mind because at Verizon, whether you're already a customer or you're just joining us, we got you. Visit Verizon today. Price guarantee applies to then current base monthly rate. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.

[History Narrator]

If you're alignment in charge of keeping the lights on, Grainger understands that you go to great lengths and sometimes heights to ensure the power is always flowing. Which is why you can count on Grainger for professional grade products and next day delivery. So you have everything you need to get the job done. Call 1-800-granger clickgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Got a new puppy or kitten? Congrats. But also yikes. Between crates, beds, toys, treats and those first few vet visits, you've probably already dropped a small fortune. Which is where Lemonade Pet Insurance comes in. It helps you cover vet costs so that you can focus on what's best for you and your new pet. The coverage is customizable, sign up is quick and easy, and your claims are handled in a little as three seconds. Lemonade offers a package specifically for puppies and kittens. Get a'llemonade.com pet your future self will thank you. Your pet won't. They don't know what insurance is. We are so bad at treating ourselves the way we deserve to be treated, and especially when we are grieving. When we are at our potential worst, that's when we should love ourselves even more. Grief and loss are inevitable parts of life, yet few of us are taught to navigate them. That's why BetterHelp partnered with licensed therapist Jesu Jo to create Mind if We Talk, a new podcast that demystifies what therapy is really about. Mind if We Talk is here to offer a space for conversations we don't often have and to remind you that whatever you're going through, you're never alone. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don Wildman]

So this count is going to go very quickly because the battle does as well. But I want to ask one more question, if the audience will indulge me. Lexington and Concord was about those, in large part about the ammunition supply chain. You know, these various raids that the British were doing to get the gunpowder and so forth. Have those supply chains been built in these two months since then? Have the Americans really gotten themselves together in terms of how to do this siege?

[Jonathan Bratton]

Oh man, great question. And yes, there are stockpiles of ammunition, of black powder and musket balls. Are they easily accessible and movable to resupply troops? No. And more importantly, is there a system of supply built into this new army of observation, this militia army? No, not really. And in fact, when Washington will come and take command after the battle, he's going to see the ammunition supply and go, oh my God, I've got like nine shots per soldier. Yeah, this is not great. And so this is going to be a thing that dogs the American army until really 1776, 77. The supplies of ammunition and gunpowder. So the initial troops who move out there are pretty well equipped with around 26 to 36 rounds per soldier. It's going to vary, but after you fire your basic load, as we call it today in the army, you're kind of sol. You're on your own there.

[Don Wildman]

Wow. So on the British side, we've primarily got William Howe running the show. On the American side, we've got Prescott. One personality. We should talk about a little bit Joseph Warren. Where does he land in this? He was fundamental to the whole Lights in the Steeple with Paul Revere and all that.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Yeah, Joseph Warren, major actor in the Committee of Massachusetts, Committee of Safety for everything surrounding Lexington. And Conke heard some historians posit, you know, he could have been a George Washington like figure. I mean, he was really beloved by so many different people. And he does. He is commissioned as a. As a general in the Massachusetts militia. But he shows up mid late morning to the readout to see Prescott and he shows up as a private soldier with a musket in hand and says, you know, put me where you. Where you need me. I'm here to serve, not to try to give orders. Which is indicative of his personality as well. He's a very giving person, a very open, loyal individual. And so you have this sort of remarkable guy who's been behind so many of the actions of moving this war towards really towards conflict or moving the colonies towards independence. And now he's caught up in this battle scene as well. So this is what's sort of taking shape on the American side. There's no central leader on the American side. No one's driving this fight. Instead you have leaders at each individual point. Prescott on the redoubt, Knowlton along the fence line, and Stark down by the water.

[Don Wildman]

Right. 6-15-16. All was the preparation for this. The fortification of that hill, the building of the barricade down towards the Mystic River. All of this is being observed by the British before they land their troops. All that happens on June 17th. So let's talk about the action. What time of day does it begin and what do we see first happen?

[Jonathan Bratton]

So it's a hot June day, around 75, 83 degrees, getting warmer throughout the day. And the British attack doesn't really kick off until around 2 or 3pm because they have to do an amphibious landing. They have to shuttle thousands of troops from Boston over towards Charlestown. Luckily, the Continentals don't have a lot of artillery, so the landing is mostly unopposed. And General Howe's plan is essentially to conduct a double envelopment. Everyone loves a double double envelopment. Ever since cannon, you know, everyone's trying to reproduce that. Never mind that the Carthaginians lost the war, but whatever is the tactic that everyone loves, right.

[Don Wildman]

It's a pincer move.

[Jonathan Bratton]

It's a pincer movement, yes. So he's going to try to send his light infantry around to the right, enveloping the left flank of the Americans along the Mystic River. He's going to send another body of troops under General Pigott to hit the American right through the town of Charlestown itself. While he is going to then lead the main body, the Grenadiers, the heavy hitters, right. The smashers, right up the middle. And then great victory. All is over. British honor has been redeemed and the threat to the Royal Navy is gone. And the Americans are running away. So it'll work great, right?

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

So that's his plan. Lands everyone, gets them in position, immediately runs into problems. Pigott comes back and says, hey, there's American skirmishers inside Charlestown. They're peppering my men. I don't feel like it's safe to go forward. And how will give the order to the Royal Navy and the his guns back in Boston to open fire on Charlestown with red hot shot or carcass shot, and set the town ablaze. So Charlestown becomes one of the early American towns to be torched in 1775. Several will follow. So that's sort of the first problem, Right. And then the second problem is he sends his light infantry around the flank and they run up against John Stark. John Stark is a wild figure. We could talk about him all day.

[Don Wildman]

He's a New Hampshire Ranger, right?

[Jonathan Bratton]

Yes, yes. With massive experience from the Seven Years War, as you said. You know, no one really says fire at the white of their eyes, but what he does is something very similar, but even more deadly. At around 30 yards out of his line, you know, the max, really, the effective range of a smoothbore musket wielded by an irregular. He puts these birch bark stakes into the ground. And he's got his men behind a stone wall. They're in double line. And he tells his men, when you see the British gators go by these birch bark stakes, aim at the gators and fire. And the idea is, if you're aiming low, the natural tendency of raw troops is to fire high. So if you aim low at the gators, their leggings, you are probably by the natural drift of the musket, going to hit around center mass right at that cross belt. And this is exactly what happens. So the first. The first British troops, these poor light infantry who are also, by the ones who bear the brunt of the fighting at Lexington and Concord, they're about to have an even worse day. Two months later, they come around, and the fourth, it's the fourth Foot Light Company, they take 85% casualties.

[Don Wildman]

Wow.

[Jonathan Bratton]

In the first minute, the light companies are decimated. This rolling fire, very accurate. They're taking World War I levels of casualties in one company. There's only a sergeant and several privates left. And rapidly, Howe realizes that this plan of double envelopment's not going to work. He still sends his grenadiers forward. The ground is rutted. It's got fences. It breaks up the formation. The day is hot. And his troops also stop to return fire. Rather than driving forward with the bayonet, which is the sort of heart and soul of 18th century tactics, they return fire when the colonists fire. It is accurate. It is heavy volleys. And all of a sudden, Howe realizes that, yeah, these guys can fight. They are going to fight. They're going to fight in open combat. They're not going to run away. And his first attack is driven back with heavy losses. He sort of resets everything, tries it again to very similar results. Two attacks with really no nothing to show for it other than a really nasty butcher's bill. And then General Clinton arrives with additional reinforcements. General Clinton's welcome to North America is coming off the boat, and a guy going down right next to him. Literally, he himself is almost shot.

[Don Wildman]

Wow.

[Jonathan Bratton]

And it's just this very like, oh, wow. Okay. This is combat. General Howe, in fact, in the second assault, is left standing at the end with none of his staff around him. They're all dead and wounded. It's sort of a miracle that he himself is left unscathed. And this is really, really important for people to remember, if you're going to look at William Howe's career going forward in the Revolution, is that he's going to be very reluctant to attack fortified Positions after this, it's the third wave.

[Don Wildman]

That they start to break through. Right. And that's because Americans have begun to run out of their ammunition. I mean, that really did happen.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Run out of ammunition, and they are taking losses. You know, that Royal Navy gunfire, especially along the flanks, because, you know, this is. This is an isthmus. And so you've got gunboats and floating batteries on either side that are sweeping that isthmus, the neck, so trying to move across it. So trying to get reinforcements across, trying to get ammunition across. Not for the faint of heart.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

And ammunition is getting very low.

[Don Wildman]

It finally devolves into a hand to.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Hand battle, which is where the regulars have their supremacy. You know, what makes a regular soldier is that ability to take a bunch of casualties close with the enemy and then win in a bayonet fight. And that is something that the Americans are not prepared to do. One, they don't have the training. Two, they don't really have the bayonets. So Howe and Clinton, you know, they. They tell their men, drop their coats, drop their packs, go in light, urge them, you know, don't press on. After the first volley, their fire will slacken. Just get into the readout, which is what happens. And so you have British troops converging from three sides. At the readout, Major Pitcairn, who you might remember as the second in command at Lexington Concord, he jumps on top of the redoubt. Four soldiers shoot at him, including one. You know, it's always hard with all the myths and everything, but we do know that Salem Poor, who is a African American man, shoots one of the shots that kills Pitcairn. He's actually go on to serve in the Continental army, receive his freedom for his service. It's very, very, very deadly for those who are jumping up on the parapet. But as you say, the Americans running out of ammunition, the volleys are ragged, very weak. And now the British just pour into the redoubt and it's bayonet fighting. And Prescott orders his men, you know, save yourselves, get out of here as quickly as you can. And this is where Joseph Warren falls. He is trying to fight with his small sword, literally a very small, almost ceremonial sword goes down with bayonet wounds. It's very sad because he was so well respected and well liked even by the British that when they found him there, it was like this act of massive betrayal. And his body was just, I think, something like 17 to 40 bayonet wounds.

[Don Wildman]

Wow.

[Jonathan Bratton]

When they recovered him, it was very tragic. You know, it Shows the animosity of this, the Civil War, really.

[Don Wildman]

Right.

[Jonathan Bratton]

And so the British have taken the readout and the Americans have to fall back mostly in a lot of confusion. John Stark sort of provides a rear guard action and that, that ends it for the day. And it's a glorious victory for the British. Right?

[Don Wildman]

Yeah. Right.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Except, except British troop casualties are estimated at over a thousand. And if you look at, you know, that's, that's about a ninth of your force.

[History Narrator]

I'll be back with more American history after this short break.

[Verizon Representative]

Now at Verizon, we have some big news for your peace of mind. For all our customers, existing and new, we're locking in low prices for three years guaranteed on my plan and my home. That's future, you peace of mind. And everyone can save on a brand new phone. On MyPlan, when you trade in any phone from one of our top brands, that's new phone peace of mind. Because at Verizon, whether you're already a customer or you're just joining us, we got you. Visit Verizon today. Price guarantee applies to then current base monthly rate. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Oh, I'm not switching my team to some fancy work platform that somehow knows exactly how we work. And its AI features are literally saving us hours every day. Hey, we're big fans. And just like that, teams all around the world are falling for Monday.com with intuitive design, seamless AI capabilities and custom workflows, it's the work platform your team will instantly click with. Head to Monday.com the first work platform you'll love to use.

[Don Wildman]

So that's 282 dead, 800 wounded. The Americans are about a hundred dead, more than 100 dead, 300 wounded. It's a gigantic difference in the numbers of casualties. Massive, yeah, A gigantic. But it's even more so the perception of what they're against that we realize the British have taken this. It's a Pyrrhic victory is what you always see written about it. It's not a glorious day of triumph. It's a sobering experience of oh my Lord, this is what this is all about.

[Jonathan Bratton]

It is. And it is also one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution. You're in just second month of it. The Revolution, it goes on for eight years, but thankfully it's not as bloody as say the American Civil War or World War I or some of our later conflicts. The mortality rates are mostly due to disease that tear apart the armies. But yeah, Bunker Hill remains even through all the way to the end, you look at the casualty numbers and you go, good God, this is.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Especially with the numbers of troops engaged. This is actually one of the most savage and bloody contests. And it does a few things, some good, some bad one. It's a huge boost to American morale. It's this idea that, yes, we can stand and fight. So this, you know, this combined with the creation of the Continental army, it lends this. This idea that the untrained soldier can defeat the British regular, which is something that Washington is going to be fighting against his entire tenure. He's like, look, guys, yes, I get it. You had a good day. But in order to fight and win in an open terrain, we need to be trained as regulars. This is gonna be something that will dog the American army into the 19th century. The idea of, well, untrained soldiers won at Bunker Hill. Well, that exception does not prove the rule.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

The other aspect for the British is sobering. The officer losses are incredibly heavy. For Gage, it's the last straw. He's like, I'm out. I'm going home. I can't handle this anymore. And now it's William Howe's problem. And William Howe is never again going to order a direct frontal assault on an American position. He is always going to look for a flank. He is always going to look for some way to resolve the battle without immense casualties. And it's going to sort of set the tone for the war going forward. That the British do have this sort of wary respect now for the Americans, which definitely did not exist prior.

[Don Wildman]

Exactly.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Did not exist prior to Lexington, Concord. It didn't even exist after Lexington and Concord.

[Don Wildman]

The upshot of this will be the Dorchester Heights when those cannon come later from Ticonderoga. Henry Knox makes his proud, you know, cold weather journey with the cannon, and they set those up. One wonders why the lessons learned from Bunker Hill weren't then, you know, let's grab all the hills around this town. Because they don't.

[Jonathan Bratton]

They don't. And part of that is just due to size. We look at Boston today, and the area looks small. We have to remember that that terrain and topography has changed massively. They filled in a lot of areas that were marsh or were water.

[Don Wildman]

Right.

[Jonathan Bratton]

So rather difficult to move troops around and not have them be in positions where they could be cut off.

[Don Wildman]

Yep.

[Jonathan Bratton]

In fact, they take the top 20 or 30ft off of Breed's Hill to go fill in some of the area in Back Bay, and then throw a big honking monument on the top of Breeds Hill.

[Don Wildman]

That's right.

[Jonathan Bratton]

So Breeds Hill isn't even Breeds Hill anymore. It's a little shorter. So the topography, the terrain is all different. Washington doesn't have the troops to cover the entire area. And so putting troops on Dorchester Heights doesn't make any sense until you, until you can actually put some cannon up there. And when the cannon do arrive, they do this masterful move and another movement in the middle of the night. They have pre made fortifications that they sort of plop into position, put the guns behind it. British wake up and they go, oh my God, there's 18, 20, 24 pounders looking down on us. You know how Howe actually plans a frontal assault because they're desperate. A storm comes in and it could have been Bunker Hill 2.0 if not for this storm. During the storm, Howe goes, wait a minute, what am I thinking? I can't throw away the British army on this. I'm going to get decimated. We got to leave. You know, it's not.

[Don Wildman]

There you go.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Austin ain't worth it.

[Don Wildman]

If nothing else that is the significance of the battle of Bunker Hill is that the later the siege has worked and the British take off. That's an episode we're definitely going to do later on about Knox's heroics. It's an extraordinary story about bringing those artillery in. I do want to talk about that monument which is fascinating from several different angles. First of all, it was put up eventually in 1843. It's a gigantic monument. It's so outsized as the hill that it's on. It's really amazing. But it was part of this whole Egyptian movement that is happening in the world, this interest in the ancients. And so obelisks have become very meaningful because they've discovered them in Egypt and become very familiar with them. 1825 is the famous tour through the United States by Marquis de Lafayette. He has come to mark 50 years since the revolution. And this is one of his big stopping points is Bunker Hill, because he recognizes the importance of it. And that's kind of what starts this whole movement towards, hey, let's put a new monument. They had one up there for Warren actually, but it wasn't really that glorious. So this is the beginning of really the monumental movement in America.

[Jonathan Bratton]

It is. And it's also the dedication in the 1840s is it coincides with this idea of the new American nationalism movement and also a new Southern nationalism movement. So during the events around, you know, the Massachusetts invites southern colonies to the Bunker Hill dedication. Monument dedication. And a bunch of bunch of the states, the Southern states go, why are we commemorating Bunker Hill? We should be commemorating Battle of Great Bridge in Virginia, which was the first. Which happens December 1775. They say that's the first American victory. Bunker Hill was a defeat. The real heart of the revolution is actually in the South.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Bratton]

And so you see these competing narratives, north and south, you know, both sides saying we are the true inheritors of the revolutionary legacy. Nevermind Great bridge was like four British companies versus like 2,000Americans. Like nothing on the scale of Bunker Hill. But when you're creating a narrative that doesn't always matter, the important thing to note is that the Bunker Hill monument forms as part of, as you say, this monumentalization movement inside America that already is showing the fissures, is showing the cracks and the divide in the United States that are happening through the 1840s and 1850s. Because monuments are inherently political and they're about messaging and always, always important to remember when, when someone starts talking about monuments and history.

[Don Wildman]

Right. Well, they, they build another even bigger mine, a bigger obelisk for George Washington later on. Very much based, as I mentioned before, on what Bunker Hill was all about. And let's, let's close out with Washington. So he arrives how long after the Bunker Hill battle and, and where does it leave him?

[Jonathan Bratton]

He's going to show up about three weeks later, July 3, arrives from Philadelphia where he's received his commission as Major General commanding of the, the Continental army, and he shows up to Boston. I just feel bad for the guy. He shows up and you've got 18,000 new Englanders and he's a Virginian. And they could not be more different. They are much more egalitarian. They're this leveling idea. Everyone's sort of equal. And Washington's this Virginia planter and he's like, why the hell are all. Why are the enlisted soldiers calling the officers by the first names? Like there's no discipline? Isn't even helped when his first compatriots from Virginia arrived. They're all from the western part of Virginia. All their. There's the riflemen. They drink, they fight. They're as much of a headache to him as the New Englanders and the Marylanders. And he's going, God, how do I forge these quarrelsome people from across the colonies into one army? How do I instill discipline? Puts his headquarters in near Cambridge, and he tries to. His first thought isn't even what do I do against the British? It's how do I keep this army intact? How do I keep it from dying of disease. Most of his general orders that are streaming out of his headquarters have to do with sanitation and hygiene. He has a great one of asking men to stop depositing excrement gratuitously around the landscape or something like. It's very flowery language to say, no, use the latrines, otherwise you're going to have disease. And trying to safeguard supply. Create supply lines. Right. Safeguard the ammunition. It's a giant headache. I don't think he slept for many weeks. And that's. In the situation that he faces is much more, I must create an army before I can even think about doing anything against the British. And he very much, very much wants to do something against the British. He really wants to lead an assault against the British, push them out of Boston, because he's got a whole bunch of people, you know, after a few weeks asking, well, why aren't you doing anything? Every new army commander ever, why aren't you doing something? And he's going, well, I'm trying. I'm trying to get all. Everyone to stop fighting each other so we can fight the British.

[Don Wildman]

Where is he living? Where is he operating from?

[Jonathan Bratton]

He's at this beautiful. I'm trying to. It's the. It's the Longfellow. It's a Longfellow. There's so many Longfellow houses, but it's a beautiful house that the Longfellow family will later own in Cambridge. Huge house over where you can overlook, really, all. You can see Boston from it. You know, he could go to the top of the house, look out and see through a spyglass. He could probably see his opposite numbers. But most importantly, he can also see where most of his troops are, a very good visible position.

[Don Wildman]

It will be a long time before this siege is over. I mean, months and months pass before the Dorchester is equipped and the British leave.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Almost a year and almost a year of fuming that he wants to do something, that he wants to attack. He comes up with all these attack plans. They try different stratagems, but their hands are bound by logistics. You can't commit to a major offensive when you've got nine rounds per soldier.

[Don Wildman]

Yeah, but just.

[Jonathan Bratton]

It's unfair. It's unfeasible. So he's fighting a lot of things. He's fighting the Continental Congress, he's fighting the colonies, he's fighting his own soldiers. He's dealing with subordinates. He's got people like Benedict Arnold showing up and saying, hey, boss, I want to lead an invasion of Quebec through the main Wilderness.

[Don Wildman]

Oh, and that goes well, doesn't it?

[Jonathan Bratton]

Can I please have 1200 troops? Which. Which he gives him. He's trying to deal with, you know, quarrelsome subordinates who are trying to fight duels and arguing over precedents. And he's. Yeah, I just feel for the man. Just what a headache.

[Don Wildman]

It's a chaotic year. But you started by saying, you know, 75 is always confused with 76. And it's really important to understand what happens in that first year. 75 if you're going to understand how things progress from then. And this is doing me a big favor in figuring that out. So I thank you. Jonathan Bratton is a major in the Maine National Guard. He's also an author and recommend the book to the Last Man. It is a history of the Maine National Guard 103rd Infantry Regiment during World War I. What's new on your horizon, Jonathan?

[Jonathan Bratton]

So I've got a new workout that I've co authored. It's called Opening Shots in the Colonies. Talking about, well, you guessed it Exactly. This topic, 1775, this comes from the army center of Military History. It is the first of in their monograph series covering the American Revolution. It's 13 different monographs, about half of which are out now. They're 80 pages each. So it's a very quick read. It's a very good primer for those seeking to learn, hey, what was this about? What were the major actions? I don't want to pick up a big book. You can access that online at Armyhistory mil and you can check out the Revolutionary War to 50th section of that website for a lot more great information on the army in the American Revolution as we commemorate 250 years.

[Don Wildman]

I have a feeling we're talking again soon, Jonathan, and I'm glad for it. Thanks a lot.

[Jonathan Bratton]

Real pleasure.

[History Narrator]

Hey, thanks for listening to American History hit. You know, every week we release new episodes, two new episodes dropping Mondays and Thursdays. All kinds of content from mysterious missing colonies to powerful political movements to some of the biggest battles across the centuries. Don't miss an episode by hitting like and follow. You help us out, which is great, but you'll also be reminded when our shows are on. And while you're at it, share it with a friend. American History hit with me, Don Wildman. So grateful for your support.

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Mic check, one, two. Are we recording? Hi, I'm Michelle Bernstein, an award winning chef, restaurateur and mom. I have a lot on my plate, including my psoriatic arthritis symptoms. That's why I was prescribed Cosentyx. It helps me move better.

[History Narrator]

Cosentyx Secukenumab is prescribed for people 2 years of age and older with active psoriatic arthritis. Don't you use if you're allergic to Cosentyx? Before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. An increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. Like tuberculosis or other serious bacterial, fungal or viral infections. Some were fatal. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough had a vaccine or planned to, or if inflammatory bowel disease symptoms develop or worsen, serious allergic reactions and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Learn More more at 1-844-cosentix or cosentix.com.

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Ask your rheumatologist about Cosentyx.

[F]

This message is brought to you by Apple Pay. If you've ever stood in the middle of a Tokyo convenience store fumbling for coins while a queue behind you grows dangerously long, you'll understand why. I now use Apple Pay for basically everything. It's already on my phone, which is usually in my hand anyway, and you just tap with Apple Pay wherever you see the contactless symbol. From Bento boxes to bullet trains to booking hotels on the fly, it just works. What surprised me most, though, is how genuinely seamless it is. It makes paying feel less like a transaction and more like a tap and go. Superpower security is built in with face ID so your card number is always secured. Even if I somehow lose my phone, my Apple Pay information stays protected, which is great because I can't even keep track of my umbrella, let alone a wallet. Set up Apple Pay now and enjoy an easy one way to pay Whether you're picking up groceries or on the go, pay the Apple way. Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payment Services, llc, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Any card using Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer. Terms apply.