This Obelisk Honors the “Don’t Fire Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes” Legend

Bunker Hill Monument, Massachusetts

British generals thought colonial farmers would run when faced with professional soldiers. They were wrong.

On Breed’s Hill, rebels held their fire until the last possible moment, then unleashed devastating volleys that turned victory into carnage.

Here’s how that June day turned out at this historic battleground.

Colonial Intelligence Reveals British Plans

Colonial leaders learned of crucial British plans on June 13, 1775. British troops intended to take over the hills around Boston to control the harbor and break the American siege. These hills offered high ground where cannons could target both the city and ships.

Colonial spy networks had successfully gathered this vital information. The Massachusetts Committee of Safety acted quickly.

They ordered General Artemas Ward to secure the Charlestown Peninsula before British troops could claim it. Whoever held these heights would gain a major military advantage in the conflict.

Colonel Prescott’s Midnight March

Colonel William Prescott led 1,200 men from Cambridge on the night of June 16, 1775. They moved in darkness to avoid being spotted by British ships in Boston Harbor.

His force included militia from Massachusetts and Connecticut. The men carried tools for digging and building defenses.

Though ordered to fortify Bunker Hill, Prescott and other leaders chose Breed’s Hill instead. It sat closer to Boston and offered better positions to fire on British ships.

These men were mostly farmers and workers with no formal military training, yet they marched silently through the night ready to face British forces.

Overnight Construction Of The Redoubt

Colonial troops worked all night building a square dirt fort called a redoubt on Breed’s Hill. Hundreds of men dug soil and piled it into walls about 6 feet high.

They built a wooden platform inside where soldiers could stand to fire over the top. This entire structure rose from nothing in just hours using basic tools.

The men also strengthened a fence running toward the Mystic River. They stacked stones at its base and stuffed hay between rails to block British bullets.

British naval officers spotted these new defenses at dawn and were shocked by how much work had been done overnight.

British Ships Open Fire

British warships in Boston Harbor fired cannons at the colonial positions early on June 17. Ships including HMS Lively bombarded the dirt fort throughout the morning.

The British hoped to scare the untrained colonial militia with this show of power. Cannonballs crashed into the earthworks and flew overhead.

Colonel Prescott saw fear spreading among his men. Many had never faced battle before. He walked calmly along the top of the wall while fully exposed to enemy fire.

British General Thomas Gage watched through his telescope from Boston. When asked if Prescott would fight, an aide said Prescott would fight until his last drop of blood.

The British Plan Their Attack

General Thomas Gage gathered 2,300 British troops to attack the colonial position. His force included elite grenadiers and light infantry from the world’s strongest army.

Major General William Howe led the field operation. Howe had just arrived in Boston with fresh troops and wanted to show British strength.

British soldiers crossed Boston Harbor in boats that afternoon. They landed in Charlestown below the colonial position and formed battle lines in the summer heat.

Howe decided on a direct uphill attack rather than cutting off the colonial escape route. This choice, which other officers advised against, would prove very costly.

Prescott’s Famous Command

As British troops marched uphill, Colonel Prescott gave his most famous order. He told his men not to fire until they could see ‘the whites of their eyes.’

This command had a practical purpose. The colonial forces had very little gunpowder and bullets, so each shot needed to count.

Waiting until the enemy came within 40-50 yards made their muskets most effective. These weapons were not accurate at long range but deadly up close.

While Prescott often gets credit for this phrase, similar words may have been spoken by General Israel Putnam and Colonel John Stark. This tactic was common when saving ammunition.

The First British Assault

British troops marched uphill in tight lines during mid-afternoon. Soldiers in red coats advanced in perfect order toward the colonial position on Breed’s Hill.

Colonial defenders watched silently as the British came closer. Following orders, they held their fire despite seeing hundreds of trained soldiers approaching.

When British troops came within 40-50 yards, the colonists fired all at once. This close-range volley cut through British ranks, killing and wounding many instantly.

Shocked by how many men fell, surviving British troops ran back down the hill. The first attack failed with heavy British losses.

The Second British Assault

General Howe gathered his remaining forces after the first defeat. He reorganized his men at the bottom of the hill and planned a second attack.

Elite grenadiers wearing tall bearskin hats led this new assault. Marines joined them, heading straight for the main fort on Breed’s Hill.

Colonial defenders again waited until the British came within point-blank range. Their carefully timed volleys once more caused heavy British casualties.

The second attack failed just like the first. British forces retreated downhill, leaving more dead and wounded on the slope.

The Final British Charge

British commanders changed tactics for their third attack. They focused on specific sections of colonial defenses instead of attacking the entire line at once.

Colonial troops now faced a serious problem. After two battles, many defenders had only a few bullets left.

This time British forces reached the dirt fort. Close fighting broke out as British soldiers climbed the walls with bayonets fixed to their muskets.

Colonel Prescott saw his position overrun and ammunition gone. He ordered a retreat while defending himself with his sword against British soldiers with bayonets.

The Battle’s Aftermath

The British won the Battle of Bunker Hill but paid a terrible price. They suffered 1,054 casualties, including 226 dead and 828 wounded.

Almost half their attack force was killed or wounded. Ninety-two officers fell, greatly weakening their leadership.

Colonial forces lost about 450 men, with 140 killed. Among the dead was Dr. Joseph Warren, an important patriot leader who joined the battle as a volunteer.

The outcome stunned British leaders who expected an easy win. Instead, it showed colonial militia could fight effectively against trained soldiers, boosting American confidence despite the loss.

Visiting Bunker Hill Monument

You can visit Bunker Hill Monument at Monument Square in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The site is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM year-round, except on major holidays.

Entry to the monument and museum is free. No tickets or reservations are needed to go up the 294 steps to the observation deck, but be prepared for a strenuous climb.

The Bunker Hill Museum across the street features exhibits about the battle and colonial Boston.

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