The 1775 battle fought mainly on Breed’s Hill in the American Revolutionary War was the Battle of Bunker Hill.
The battle took place on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston, early in the American Revolutionary War. Colonial forces built a fortified redoubt on Breed’s Hill after learning that British troops planned to occupy the Charlestown peninsula. Colonel William Prescott led the colonial defense, while General William Howe commanded the British assault.
Although the battle is named for nearby Bunker Hill, most of the fighting occurred on Breed’s Hill. This geographic detail is the most common source of confusion about the battle’s name. British troops captured the colonial position after a third assault, making it a British victory, but they suffered exceptionally heavy losses.
The British recorded 1,054 casualties, including 226 killed and 828 wounded. Colonial losses were lower, though General Joseph Warren was killed during the fighting. The battle demonstrated that American forces could stand against regular British troops and became an important early symbol of Revolutionary resistance.