Memorial Day 2026
The Battle of Bunker Hill
It had been over two months since the start of the Siege of Boston. While maintaining superiority over the ocean to the east, the British had been contained on land since the battles of Lexington and Concord. Boston was surrounded on three sides by colonial militiamen.
General Gage was the British Commander of the American Colonies. He was preparing to launch a major offensive against the Charleston peninsula to break the blockade. The colonists got wind of the plans and sent Colonel William Prescott to hold Bunker Hill.
The Brits woke on the morning of June 17, 1775 to find that American troops had built a fortification on the side of Breed’s Hill overnight. This position was significantly closer to the British forces than Bunker Hill. Prescott’s men had dug in defenses within range of the royal navy’s guns.
The colonists were so close that the British were compelled to respond.
A navy ship fired on the hill from the harbor below.
General Gage ordered his men to make immediate preparations for battle.
The colonial militia continued working on their defenses while the British organized their attack.
Gage sent Major General Howe in command of 1,500 men.
Howe chose to meet the colonists head-on, even though they had an advantageous position on Breed’s Hill. The red coats lined up and began their ascent up the rocky terrain.
Low on ammunition from the start, colonel Prescott ordered his men to wait until the British were fifty yards out before shooting.
The British came closer. And closer.
When the patriots fired their muskets, the Brits were almost on top of them. They cut the British down in a bloodbath. A complete slaughter.
The red coats reorganized with reinforcements and pushed up the hill in a second wave.
Again the colonists waited. Again, another slaughter.
Hundreds of bodies covered the hillside. The British had set fire to Charleston, and the city was burning.
Howe organized a third wave of attack. This time Prescott and the Americans ran out of bullets.
The British broke through the colonist lines and the patriots engaged in hand to hand combat.
Many a good man died that day, holding their positions to cover the colonists retreat.
America suffered its first loss in battle that day, but it was a hard fought loss that showed the grit and determination of the United colonies militia. Today we honor those that fell in the Battle for Bunker Hill and all our fallen heroes. May their memories always be linked with liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
