Today in History: The Battle of Bunker Hill

On this day (June 17) in 1775, American colonists lost the Battle of Bunker Hill (most of which actually occurred on Breed’s Hill) after successfully repulsing two British assaults. The British suffered their worst losses of any single engagement in the war (1054 casualties with 226 dead). The Americans suffered most of their losses (450 casualties with 140 dead) when they retreated because they ran out of ammunition. The engagement also cost the British most of their officer corps and taught them a healthy respect for the American militias fighting from behind prepared positions. It forced a change to a more cautious strategy and encouraged the hiring of Hessian mercenaries.

The famous saying, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” came from the military teachings of King Gustavus Adolphus and was likely said by at least four of the American officers.