Battle of Bunker Hill

The battle took place on June 17, 1775 on Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War. Because most of the fighting did not occur on Bunker Hill itself, the conflict is sometimes more accurately (though less frequently) called the Battle of Breed's Hill.

What do you know about the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War? Try the U.S. History Made Easy Trivia quiz. "Check Your Answers" at the end of the page.

1) Boston, situated on a peninsula, was largely protected from close approach by the expanses of water surrounding it, which were dominated by British warships. In the aftermath of the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, the colonial militia, a force of about 15,000 men had surrounded the town, and effectively besieged it. They controlled the only land access to Boston itself (the Roxbury Neck), but, lacking a navy, were unable to control or even contest British domination of the waters of the harbor. Who commanded the Massachusetts forces?

• Benedict Arnold
• Artemas Ward
• George Washington

2) On June 15, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety decided that additional defenses needed to be erected. Who was directed to set up defenses on the Charlestown Peninsula, specifically on Bunker Hill?

• General Adam Irontree
• General Israel Putnam
• General Amos Morgan

3) The orders called for building fortifications on Bunker Hill. However, where did they end up building their fortifications?

• Breeds Hill
• Copp's Hill
• Moulton's Hill

4) When the colonists suffered their first casualty, a young private killed by cannon fire, Prescott gave orders to bury the man quickly and quietly, but a large group of men gave him a solemn funeral instead, with several deserting shortly thereafter. Who was the young private?

• Asa Pollard
• Bill Pullman
• Roger Smith

5) The colonists inflicted heavy casualties on the regulars, especially targeting the red-clad officers, using the fence to steady and aim their muskets. With the fence, the colonists had a considerable advantage; they could fire, and use the fence as cover while the regulars were exposed in open ground. The colonists also did not fire in volleys. This meant that there was a constant stream of fire coming from their position, while the regulars were under orders to fire in unison. With this devastating barrage of musket fire, the regulars retreated in disarray, and the militia held their ground.

• True or False?

6) The regulars reformed on the field and marched out again. This time, Sir Robert Pigot was not to feint; he was to assault the redoubt, possibly without the assistance of William Howe's force. Howe, instead of marching against John Stark's position along the beach, marched instead against Thomas Knowlton's position along the rail fence. The outcome of the second attack was much the same as the first. What was Howe's order?

• Retreat
• Advance
• Halt

7) The third assault, concentrated on the Breed's Hill redoubt (with only a feint on the colonists' flank), was successful, although the colonists again poured musket fire into the British ranks, and it cost the life of Major Pitcairn. The defenders had run out of ammunition, reducing the battle to close combat. The British had the advantage once they entered the redoubt, as their troops were equipped with bayonets on their muskets while most of the colonists were not.

• True or False?

8) What colonist was killed during the retreat from the Breed's Hill redoubt?

• Joseph Warren
• Robert Underwood
• John Chancellor

9) General Israel Putnam attempted to reform the troops on Bunker Hill; however the flight of the colonial forces was so rapid that artillery pieces and entrenching tools had to be abandoned. The colonists suffered most of their casualties during the retreat on Bunker Hill. By 5 pm, the colonists had retreated over the Charlestown Neck to fortified positions in Cambridge, and the British were in control of the peninsula. What time had the colonist reached Charleston Neck?

• 4 pm
• 5 pm
• 10 pm

10) When news of the battle spread through the colonies, it was reported as a colonial loss, as the ground had been taken by the enemy, and significant casualties were incurred. George Washington, who was on his way to Boston as the new commander of the Continental Army. Where was Washington when he got he news?

• New York City
• Mount Vernon
• Philadelphia