The death of Dr. Joesph Warren.
By Rolf Lindgren
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775. It was fought near Boston. Brave Patriot Dr. Joseph Warren died there. This is where brave American officers commanded “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
In front of Bunker Hill is a smaller hill called Breed’s Hill which also needed defending.
Bunker Hill is 110 feet high, and Breed’s Hill is 62 feet high
The official military instructions from the Continental Congress to the Continental Army were to defend Bunker Hill, so local military commanders moved most of the troops forward to defend Breed’s Hill as well.
At the famous Battle of Bunker Hill, the British charged three times against entrenched Americans on Breed’s Hill. The Americans didn’t have a lot of ammunition, so they waited until they could see the whites in the eyes of the British before they fired their first shots.
On the third charge, the Americans ran very low on ammo and retreated to Bunker Hill. Then they retreated from the area in good order. The battle proved the Patriots could stand up to the lobster-backs. The British lost over a thousand casualties to only 450 for the Americans. One of the American casualties was Dr. Joseph Warren, who was killed when he refused to retreat. Warren fought the British to the death.
The Battle of Bunker Hill was a strategic victory for America, boosting morale. And a month later General George Washington joined the Continental army!
By Rolf Lindgren is a student of history and frequent contributor to the WCD
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