Britain won the Battle of Bunker Hill on 17 June 1775, but at such heavy cost that it felt like a defeat. American militia holding the hills above Boston twice tore apart the advancing redcoats before running out of ammunition.
Breed's Hill
Most of the fighting took place on the neighboring Breed's Hill, where the main redoubt was built. The battle is named after Bunker Hill nearby.1
The battle showed that raw colonial troops could stand against one of the finest armies in the world. Our article on the Battle of Bunker Hill covers the assaults and the aftermath. › Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775
Also on this day
1799: Battle of Trebbia. In the War of the Second Coalition, Suvorov's Russian and Austrian army fought Macdonald's French, including Polish Legions, along the Trebbia west of Piacenza.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the Battle of Bunker Hill?
It was fought on 17 June 1775 on the Charlestown peninsula near Boston, Massachusetts, early in the American Revolutionary War.
Who won the Battle of Bunker Hill?
The British won a tactical victory, capturing the American position, but suffered far heavier losses than the defenders.
Was the battle actually fought on Bunker Hill?
Most of the fighting took place on the neighboring Breed's Hill, where the main redoubt was built, though the battle is named after Bunker Hill nearby.
Notes
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