The battle commonly called the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought mainly on Breed’s Hill.
The battle occurred on June 17, 1775, during the siege of Boston. American forces fortified Breed’s Hill on the Charlestown peninsula, across the harbor from Boston. British troops attacked the position in repeated assaults and eventually captured the hill after the defenders ran short of ammunition.
The traditional name came from nearby Bunker Hill, where American forces had initially been instructed to establish defenses. Most of the fighting, however, took place on Breed’s Hill, making the name a famous historical geographic mix-up.
The British won the field but suffered heavy casualties, including more than 1,000 killed or wounded. American losses were also substantial, and the death of Dr. Joseph Warren became one of the battle’s best-known episodes. The battle demonstrated that colonial forces could stand against regular British troops and encouraged the Continental Congress to continue organizing the war effort.