A Famous Win (Loss)

Many people have heard of the Battle of Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War. However, many mistakenly believe that this battle which occurred just outside of Boston was an American win. Here are just a few facts about it.

1) The battle was fought on June 17, 1775, early in the war, and was a critical moment in the struggle for control of Boston.

2) The battlefield included Bunker Hill, but most of the fighting actually happened on nearby Breed's Hill.

3) Though the Americans inflicted enormous casualties on the British (over a thousand killed and wounded), they lost the battle. It was a close thing, but the British retained the better position in the field at the end.

4) Col. William Prescott, one of the American commanders, reportedly told his men, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." This line, which may be apocryphal (legendary rather than factual), has become quite famous. Historians have found versions of this statement that were much earlier than its use in this battle.

5) The loss meant that the British tightened their control of the major port city of Boston. They also captured five American cannon, a major acquisition. The Americans also lost about 450 men (killed and wounded).

6) The win was costly for the British, however. They lost an unusually high number of officers, whose expertise would be missed in later battles. The British also altered their strategy following this close battle, becoming more cautious—an attitude that the Americans would later exploit.