The Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill)

Back in December 2010 I put this article on the General de Brigade Forum but decided it would be a good idea to have all my work under one roof, so apologies to anyone who may have already seen this.

BUNKER HILL (BREED’S HILL)
17th JUNE 1775

Having read the excellent Osprey Campaign Series ‘BOSTON 1775’ by Brendan Morrissey, I was inspired to recreate the battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) in miniature.

I have attempted to tell the story letting my camera do most of the talking, taking pictures in sequence of the battle as it unfolded. Any inaccuracies will be down to my miss interpretation of this book.

BRIEF BACKGROUND.

During the American War of Independence, the British army, which was being besieged in Boston, had to act fast when an American Council of War ordered Bunker Hill on the Charlestown Peninsula to be occupied. This site would allow the Americans the ability to set up cannon to bombard the British in Boston.

General Gage, the Commander in Chief, on hearing of the peninsula being occupied, ordered General Howe with a force of British regulars to cross Boston Harbour and drive the enemy off.

The British arrived in several waves, disembarking on the North East of the peninsula at a place called Moulton’s Point.

PICTURE 1
Looking West across the Charlestown Peninsula from the East. Outskirts of Charlestown on the left, Moulton’s Point on the right, Breed’s Hill straight ahead.


PICTURES 2 – 8
Redoubt/Breastworks/Fleches/














PICTURE 9
Trevett’s battery.

PICTURES 10 and 11
The British deploy their 12 pdr battery on Moulton’s Hill to cover the initial landings and to bombard the redoubt at Breed’s Hill.




PICTURES 12 – 14
owe organised his force into two divisions with the heavy guns remaining on the hill, the lighter 6 pdr battery advancing with the infantry.
Howe leads the right division ( Light Infantry, Grenadiers, 5th and 52nd) against the rail fence, whilst Pigott on the left ( 38th, 43rd, 47th and 1st Marines) would attack Charlestown and the redoubt to pin down their garrison.






PICTURES 15 and 16
Pigott arrives with the 38th and 43rd along Moulton point road.

PICTURES 17 – 23
As Piggott’s men deployed, marksmen in Charlestown opened fire. Howe ordered the town to be burned and by 1600 hrs, it was blazing fiercely. (The British Navy’s ‘Lively’ bombards Charlestown starting fires in the town)














PICTURES 24 and 25
Stark filled the yawning gap on Prescott’s left where he joined Knowlton at the rail fence and spilled down onto the beach where they built a wall of stones.




PICTURES 26 - 29
Howe’s Light Infantry advanced in column along the beach to outflank Stark’s rail fence, unaware of the recently built wall on the beach.








As this is only halfway through and already rather large, I will post the second part next week.

If your reading this, I would just like to say hello and thanks to Tango01 on TMP and all the chaps over there who have been following my posts. As much as I would like to, I don't post on 'The Miniatures Page' as I already spend too much time on the Internet, which takes me away from painting my figures.

Thanks once again Tango01 for your time and effort posting various bits over on TMP , much appreciated.

Pat.

My apologies for the small writing which had been cut and paste.