Breed's Hill - Charlestown, MA - Political Revolutions on Waymarking.com

On 13 June 1775, Massachusetts colonist discovered that the British forces in Boston were planning to occupy the high ground overlooking the Boston Peninsula and Boston Harbor. One thousand two hundred colonist, under the command of William Prescott, secretly and preemptively occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill on the Charlestown Peninsula and built an earthen redoubt on Breed's Hill.

On 17 June 1775 the British forces launched an amphibious assault on the colonist's position. The British assaulted the high ground around Breed's hill twice only to be repulsed with significant British casualties. The defenders were out of ammunition and retreated to Cambridge allowing the British captured the position on their third assault.

The battle is considered a Pyrrhic victory since 828 British troops were wounded and 226 were killed. The colonial forces performed an orderly retreat and were able to regroup and suffered fewer casualties, about 310 wounded and 140 killed. The most significant loss for the colonist was Dr. Joseph Warren. He was the President of Massachusetts' Provincial Congress and a has recently been awarded the rank of Major General just three days earlier.

Today the Bunker Hill Monument, a 221 foot granite obelisk, marks the site and commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill. it was built between 1827 and 1843 with granite from Quincy, Massachusetts. Two hundred ninety-four steps lead to the top of the monument where there are 360 degree views of Boston, Boston Harbor and the surrounding landscape.

The path taken by Colonel William Prescott and his troops is marked with a granite monument placed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The monument is inscribed:

    Massachusetts Gate

Farther up the steps is a statue of Colonel William Prescott and inside the monument building is a marble statue of Dr. Joseph Warren.

A plaque commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill on Breed's Hill is on top of the hill near the entrance to the monument. It is inscribed:

Originally the monument was constructed by a group of prominent Boston citizens. The Bunker Hill Monument Association maintained the monument and grounds until 1919 when it was turned over to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1976, the monument was transferred to the National Park Service.