250 Years Ago, Part 7: The Battle of Bunker Hill

Though the Patriots lost this significant battle in the American Revolution, the effect on the British was far worse.

"The Battle of Bunker Hill," by Howard Pyle, 1897. Public Domain

A loud roar of thunder shattered the quiet morning at 4:00 a.m., jolting most—if not all—of Boston’s residents from their sleep. The rumbling of the rattled homes frightened children, who crawled into bed with their parents. Men who had once served in combat recognized the familiar sound of cannon. They jumped out of bed, stepped outside, and scanned the horizon for the telltale flashes of artillery.