[History] American Revolution - Battle of Breed's (Bunker) Hill

[Tacticalwithdrawal]

Author: Farnan
Original Thread: American Revolution - Battle of Breed's (Bunker) Hill

American Revolution - Battle of Breed's (Bunker) Hill

Battle of Breed's (Bunker) Hill

Commanders

British:


General William Howe: General Howe previously served in the Americas under General Wolfe were he distinguished himself during the Siege of Montreal. During that battle he led the first assault on the Plains of Abraham. He had arrived in Boston after the war had started leading a contigent of reinforcements. Howe was a great tatician, though his strategic accumen left a good deal to be desired.

American


General Israel Putnam: Israel Putnam was a folk hero from Connecticut known throughout the colonies for his wild adventurers. He was the Davey Crocket of his day, said to have killed the last wolf in Connecticut. He was also a commander in the French and Indian Wars, fighting at Montreal (a strange coincidence that the commanders at both sides were at the Siege of Montreal). He was a very charismatic man and could inspire his men, but lacked the tatical and strategic accumen to be an effective general.

Two other American generals fought at the battle, but they took no command and chose to fight as private soldiers.

Background

After the Battle of Lexington and Concord militia from throughout New England gathered at Boston and had put it under siege. As they chose commanders and set up the siege, General Gage, the British Commander sent to Britain for reinforcements. Four thousand reinforcements arrived from Britain at his request, including Generals Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton.

During the siege, the American commanders had decided to fortify Dorchester Heights. Dorchester Heights is on a pennisula near Boston, close enough that artillery positioned there could threatan the city. Because of the American commanders, who currently lacked artillery but were optimistic about acquiring some, decided to occupy the high height of Bunker Hill to keep the heights from falling to the British. Colonel William Prescott was sent to fortify Bunker Hill, but decided, with the approval of General Israel Putnam, to fortify the smaller, but steeper Breed's Hill.

The Plan

General Gage was well aware of the threat that artillery positioned within range of Boston presented, so when Howe arrived made plans to take the American works on Dorchester Heights. A plan, supported by General Clinton, was drawn up to shell the rebel position with the artillery on the ships in Boston Harbor and land British troops along the neck of the Pennisula to cut off the American retreat and attack Breed's Hill from behind. This plan was discarded by the other generals though who believed the American's were rabble and didn't deserve proper tactics. They also believed the propaganda bonus that launching a frontal attack on the American position outweighed what, they believed, would be slightly higher cost in soldiers. They in the end decided to launch a frontal attack on Breed's Hill supported by a flanking attack further down the beach.

The Flanking Attack

As the troops making up the flanking attack landed they were oppossed by entrenched American troops who repulsed this attack, meaning the British main assault had to go in alone.

The Attack on Breed's Hill

The British main assault under General Howe landed with the RN providing cover fire. The Americans, having been tipped off to the attack by a spy, were prepared and entrenched. General Putnam famously shouted, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" The British then formed into lines, fixed bayonets and, as if on parade, marched with complete discipline towards the American lines. It is unlikely that these troops were at all worried about the battle to come, as they probably believed the Americans would run upon seeing the regulars with fixed bayonets. They continued to advance, and the Americans, true to Putnam's orders, waited until the British got into point blank range and gave a terrible volley of musket fire with tore holes into the British lines. After that disciplined volley Americans fired as they loaded, lacking the discipline for further volleys. The British after the first volley and subsequent shooting were forced to retreat to the bottom of the hill. Once they reached the bottom they rallied, and with a courage far beyond normal men launched a second assault. Again the Americans waited till they were close and fire a volley at point blank range and again fired as they loaded. For a second time the fire was too much for the British troops and they were again forced to retreat. At this time General Clinton arrived with reinforcement and the British launched a third assault. This time though the Americans ran out of ammunition and the British troops reached the works. The melee was quick but brutal as Americans clubbed British soldiers with the butt of their muskets and the British applied the cold steel of the bayonet. The Americans then retreated and the hill was in the hands of the British.

Aftermath

Casaulties:

American: 140 dead (including General Warren who fought as a common soldier) 271 wounded 30 captured
British: 226 dead 828 wounded, interestingly all of Howe's staff, except Howe, were injured or killed.

Although the British had won the battle they were unable to break the Siege of Boston and were eventually forced to abandon Boston, and temporarily, the Thirteen Colonies. General Howe, once an aggressive general, was deeply affected by this battle and became far too cautious. This battle also decieved many Americans into believing militia was enough to win the war.

General Clinton said this about the Battle of Breed's Hill: "A few more such victories would have surely put an end to British dominion in America."