The Battle of Bunker Hill - June 17, 1775
These maps demonstrate details of the battle, such as troop movements and positions, the names of key ships and officers, and the burning of Charlestown. Note how the Charlestown peninsula looked down on Boston, threatening British control. You can see where the British, using their mastery of the sea, began the attack by bombarding the town of Charlestown with cannon fire from their ships and floating batteries. Burning the town to the ground before attacking American troops fortified on the hills above the city, the British were even able to get their ships near the area of the neck of Charlestown to fire on reinforcements trying to get across to aid other American troops. The last map, The Seat of War in New England, also shows many of the local Massachusetts militias marching towards Boston to help in the fight against the British. It was those militia, along with Washington's army that would eventually surround Boston beyond the neck, threaten British shipping lanes from in and out of the harbor with newly acquired Ft. Ticonderoga cannon placed in the Dorchester Heights, and trap British soldiers and Loyalists inside the Boston peninsula.
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Title: Plan of the town with attack on Bunkers-Hill in the penninsula of Charlestown, the 17th. of June 1775.
Author: Robson, T. Date: 1778 https://www.loc.gov/item/gm71002195/ |
Title: A plan of the Action at Bunkers Hill, on the 17th of June 1775...
Author: Page, Thomas Hyde Date: 1775 http://www.loc.gov/item/gm71000613/ https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:z603vj304 |
Title: A Plan of the battle, on Bunkers Hill fought on the 17th of June 1775,
Author: Burgoyne, John - Robert Sayer and John Bennett (Firm) Date: 1775 https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:z603vt60h |
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Map of the environs of Boston Author: Almon, John Date: 1775 https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:3f462w00z |
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The seat of war in New England, by an American volunteer : with the marches of the several corps sent by the Colonies towards Boston, with the attack on Bunkers-Hill Publisher: Robert Sayer and John Bennett (Firm) Date: 1775 https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:9s1619609 |
