The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the first and more important battles in the Revolutionary War because whoever controlled Bunker Hill controlled a strategic point, the Charlestown Peninsula would be able to resupply at the port it also proved to the British that the colonists were resilient and strong willed. The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775 and lasted only 24 hours. The colonies had been arguing with England about the treatment they had been getting and there had been many small fights between protesters and British soldiers. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle between the British and the colonies and the beginning of what would become the Revolutionary War. One year after the Battle …show more content…
The 6,000 British troops were stationed in the harbor on the boats but when the battle started they were ferried to Charleston so they could march up Breed's Hill. Many of the British Army stayed aboard the ships because they thought this would be an easy fight. But the British Army underestimated the colonists and a costly battle began. The British could not give up this fight because could not resupply until they took Bunker Hill that's why the British did not leave and Breed’s Hill to the colonial army. The British needed supplies so they could not leave until they raided and took Bunker Hill. Because the British underestimated the colonies this battle would represent a difficult challenge, and many lives would be lost in the process. This was one of the first battles and the first major battle in the Revolutionary War mainly because many lives were lost in the bloody fighting to get a hill that played such a big part in the Revolutionary …show more content…
General Howe, who was the senior officer present believed the hill was "open and easy of ascent and in short would be easily carried”. and General Burgoyne agreed, saying that the "untrained rabble" would be no match for their "trained troops" the British didn't attack the fort until the next day. Before their attack the British fired “Hot Shot” at Charleston setting the entire city on fire and forcing the snipers to flee. At 2:00 pm the British started to ferry over an army of 2,000 infantrymen to “scare them off”, but as we know that did not work. When the Brits landed on the beach they made a giant row and started to march up the hill. The rebel leader Colonel Stark placed a stake about 100 feet in front of the fence and ordered that no one fire until the regulars passed it. This is also where Colonel Prescott shouted the famous command “Don't shoot until you can see the whites in their eyes!” and with that it was silence except for the sound of the boots as they hit the ground, and the, all you could hear is the sound of musket shot singing through the air and British commander yelling “retreat!”, and once they are gone all you can hear is the screaming of wounded British soldier on the