Revolutionary War

Battle of Bunker Hill
Military History » Revolutionary War » Great Battles »

Battle of Bunker Hill

by Andrew Curry

Make Every Bullet Count

One of the colonial officers gave an order that would later become famous: "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes."

In June 1775, the battle for America’s independence wasn’t even two months old. After colonial militias battled British forces at Lexington and Concord near Boston in April, the British found themselves isolated in Boston. To complete the entrapment, rebellious colonists needed to seize some high ground. On June 14, they headed to Breed and Bunker Hills north of the city, hoping to grab a high spot to bombard British positions in Boston.

By the time the British realized the colonist’s plans, the militia had set up fortifications on top of both hills. The people of Boston, just half a mile away across the still waters of Boston harbor, could see the bright red coats of the British infantry – carrying 60 pound packs full of food, blankets and ammunition as if heading off into the wilderness -- gather slowly at the base of the hill.

Continuing reading about the Battle of Bunker Hill with Don't Shoot Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes!