Introduction- Task
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Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
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Introduction
On June 17, 1775, the British troops fought a group of colonial militia at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The war between Britain and the colonists had begun in April and the citizens of Boston found themselves blockaded by troops on land and war ships in the water. The colonists had learned that the British troops were planning to advance and seize the city of Boston. The colonial troops set up camp at Breeds Hill and Bunker Hill.
The British forces were marching on with an army of over 2,000 soldiers. The colonists formed a fighting force of 1,200 soldiers from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Clearly outnumbered, the colonial soldiers knew that in order to win the battle, they must have a strategic plan. They positioned themselves high on the hill and waited on the British troops to advance and attack.
The colonists were told, "Don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes!" This was an unusual war strategy but the generals knew they were vastly outnumbered and they had to make every shot count.
The colonists were patiently waiting when the redcoats finally advanced up the hill. As shots rang out, the colonists were told to fire when the troops were close, fire low shots and try to take out the leaders of the British army.
The British troops finally overtook the colonists and captured the hill winning the battle, but not without suffering enormous casualties to their troops. The British lost half their troops in this major battle. The colonists then retreated and sought out better leadership with a solid battle plan.
It was early in the next month that General George Washington was named the Commander in Chief of the new Continental Army.
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