Bunker Hill Essay
The Americans, also led by Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam along with Prescott, knew what they were doing. With the British’s intent revealed, Putnam and Prescott exercised disciplined initiative, and forced the “British to fight on ground the Americans chose” (Kurtz, pg. 612).
HMS Lively and HMS Falcon opened fire at around 4am after the British waited till morning to see what was about. The dug in positions proved sound and caused no damage. The redoubt because of its location and dug in nature was well setup to endure unsupported bombardment so long as British ground troops did not attack in tandem with the naval gunfire.
General Clinton wanted to fix and flank to cut off the American positions, General Howe felt such maneuvering unnecessary since …show more content…
While British assembled to maneuver, Prescott took initiative and assed and adjusted his positions, ordering protections on the flank and digging in positions that faced the Mystic river. The militia was tired, hot, and without food. Messengers were sent for reinforcements but Ward held fast expecting an attack on Cambridge and didn’t want to surrender that positions on his right flank near Boxbury. However, after more pleas for assistance over the next few hours, American troops were dispatched to reinforce and support the position on Bunker Hill.
During this period of assessment, Stark discerned weaknesses in the defensive positions and quickly helped consolidated and fortify the positions on the extreme left. Despite these efforts, the lack of coordination among some of the militia elements was evident, “to be plain, it appears to me that there was near more confusion and less command” (Kurtz, pg. 615).
Once across with 2300 British troops and an afternoon meal, Howe assessed and made arraignments. By 3pm, Howe assembled the forces into two wings, the frontal attack massed with the 38th, 43rd and 47th regiments plus marines, along with a light infantry force to drive the militia flanking defense away and sweep in behind the American main positions. Howe displays leadership in mission command, “I shall not desire any one of you to go step further than where I go myself at your head” (Kurtz,
HMS Lively and HMS Falcon opened fire at around 4am after the British waited till morning to see what was about. The dug in positions proved sound and caused no damage. The redoubt because of its location and dug in nature was well setup to endure unsupported bombardment so long as British ground troops did not attack in tandem with the naval gunfire.
General Clinton wanted to fix and flank to cut off the American positions, General Howe felt such maneuvering unnecessary since …show more content…
While British assembled to maneuver, Prescott took initiative and assed and adjusted his positions, ordering protections on the flank and digging in positions that faced the Mystic river. The militia was tired, hot, and without food. Messengers were sent for reinforcements but Ward held fast expecting an attack on Cambridge and didn’t want to surrender that positions on his right flank near Boxbury. However, after more pleas for assistance over the next few hours, American troops were dispatched to reinforce and support the position on Bunker Hill.
During this period of assessment, Stark discerned weaknesses in the defensive positions and quickly helped consolidated and fortify the positions on the extreme left. Despite these efforts, the lack of coordination among some of the militia elements was evident, “to be plain, it appears to me that there was near more confusion and less command” (Kurtz, pg. 615).
Once across with 2300 British troops and an afternoon meal, Howe assessed and made arraignments. By 3pm, Howe assembled the forces into two wings, the frontal attack massed with the 38th, 43rd and 47th regiments plus marines, along with a light infantry force to drive the militia flanking defense away and sweep in behind the American main positions. Howe displays leadership in mission command, “I shall not desire any one of you to go step further than where I go myself at your head” (Kurtz,