JUNE 16, 2025 – The Second Continental Congress authorized the creation of the Continental Army, June 14, 1775, and just three days later, the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought between British and Colonial forces in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which is now a neighborhood of Boston.
On that day, about 1,200 men of the Colonial force moved from Boston to the hilly Charlestown peninsula overlooking Boston and hastily set up barricades on Breed’s Hill. In response, about 2,200 British troops under Maj. Gen. William Howe were ferried across Boston Harbor and stormed the Colonial positions.
In the ensuing battle of Breed’s Hill, incorrectly named after Bunker Hill, which stands nearby, the British drove the Colonials away after three assaults. About 1,000 British soldiers were killed and wounded as compared to losses of approximately 400 dead and injured for the Colonial forces.
The so-called Battle of Bunker Hill was part of the larger siege of Boston, which started on April 19, 1775, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Those battles marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
Army Gen. George Washington took formal command of the besieging Colonial forces in the Boston area, July 3, 1775, devoting the next several months to building up troops and addressing their logistical difficulties.
On March 4, 1776, Washington installed artillery on Dorchester Heights and later on Nook’s Hill, positions that dominated Boston from the south. It was Washington’s first campaign as commander in chief of the Continental Army.
Recognizing the profound difficulty of his position, Howe evacuated Boston, March 17, 1776, and sailed to Halifax, Canada, with his 9,000 soldiers, along with many loyalists.
Today, Boston and surrounding communities celebrate March 17 as Evacuation Day.
The Battle of Bunker Hill is considered a British victory but a costly one. Not only were British casualties higher than those of the Colonial forces, but the battle and follow-on skirmishes led to the British later fleeing the city and never occupying it again.
British Army Maj. Gen. Henry Clinton, who was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill, wrote in his diary that “a few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America.”
The battle convinced the British to adopt a more cautious approach to planning and maneuvering in future engagements to minimize casualties. The heavy losses also persuaded the British to hire large numbers of soldiers from several German states to fight against the Continental Army. These forces eventually comprised about 25% of British land forces.
On June 17, 1875, the centennial year of the battle, a parade and celebration took place in Boston. Notable speakers included former Civil War Army Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and Vice President Henry Wilson.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the battle, several events in Boston are planned for June 17, 2025, including a tribute concert performed by the U.S. Army Field Band and its vocal complement, the Soldiers’ Chorus — collectively known as the Musical Ambassadors of the Army.
By David Vergun, DOD News