Battle of Bunker Hill

by Antonios Valamontes

Original - Not For Sale

Price

$7,500

Dimensions

56.000 x 38.000 x 1.500 inches

Title

Battle of Bunker Hill

Artist

Antonios Valamontes

Medium

Painting - Digital Print

Description

Synopsys: Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775), the first major battle of the American Revolution, fought in Charlestown (now part of Boston) during the Siege of Boston. Although the British eventually won the battle, it was a Pyrrhic victory that lent considerable encouragement to the revolutionary cause.

The Battle of Bunker Hill was waged on June 17, 1775, during the American Revolution (1775-1783).

⁌ Armies and Commanders

• Americans:

Major General Israel Putnam
Colonel William Prescott
Approx. 2,400-3,200 men

• British:

Lieutenant General Thomas Gage
Major General William Howe
Approx. 3,000 men

• Background

Following the British retreat from the Battles of Lexington and Concord, American forces closed and laid siege to Boston. Trapped in the city, the British commander, Lieutenant General Thomas Gage, requested reinforcements to facilitate a breakout. On May 25, HMS Cerberus arrived at Boston carrying Major Generals William Howe, Henry Clinton, and John Burgoyne. As the garrison had been reinforced to around 6,000 men, the British generals began making plans to clear the Americans from the approaches to the city. To do so, they intended first to seize Dorchester Heights to the south.

From this position, they would then attack the American defenses at Roxbury Neck. With this done, operations would shift north, with British forces occupying the heights on the Charlestown Peninsula and marching on Cambridge. Their plan formulated, the British intended to attack on June 18. Across the lines, the American leadership received intelligence regarding Gage's intentions on June 13. Assessing the threat, General Artemas Ward ordered Major General Israel Putnam to advance onto the Charlestown Peninsula and erect defenses atop Bunker Hill.

• Fortifying the Heights

On the evening of June 16, Colonel William Prescott departed Cambridge with a force of 1,200 men. Crossing Charlestown Neck, they moved onto Bunker Hill. As work began on fortifications, a discussion ensued between Putnam, Prescott, and their engineer, Captain Richard Gridley, regarding the site. Surveying the landscape, they decided that nearby Breed's Hill offered a better position. Halting work on Bunker Hill, Prescott's command advanced to Breed's and began working on a square redoubt measuring approximately 130 feet per side. Though spotted by British sentries, no action was taken to dislodge the Americans.

Around 4 a.m., HMS Lively (20 guns) opened fire on the new redoubt. Though this briefly halted the Americans, Lively's fire soon ceased on Vice Admiral Samuel Graves' order. As the sun began to rise, Gage became fully aware of the developing situation. He immediately ordered Graves' ships to bombard Breed's Hill while British Army artillery joined in from Boston. This fire had little effect on Prescott's men. With the sun rising, the American commander quickly realized that the Breed's Hill position could be easily flanked to the north or west.

© R is designated that the painting is a reproduction

Uploaded

March 5th, 2024

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