British Forces Lose the Initiative on the Charlestown Peninsula

After the battles of Lexington and Concord, the colonial militia pursued the retreating British back to Boston, occupied the heights and trapped them in the city. Although the British could still sustain and reinforce their position by sea, the Massachusetts militia occupied high ground around the city and were waiting for artillery to arrive to place on these heights.

This key terrain included Breeds and Bunker Hills, located on the Charlestown Peninsula, across the Charles River and north of Boston. The colonials fortified these positions and constructed a redoubt on Breeds Hill. To clear and secure the heights, the British crossed the Charles River and landed on the peninsula on June 17, 1775. William Howe’s force formed ranks and assaulted the colonial stronghold. The Massachusetts militia repelled the first two assaults, inflicting heavy casualties on the British attackers. The third British assault, however, successfully carried the redoubt on Breeds Hill and the militiamen fled the field.

Although the British achieved their objective, they did so at a high cost in human lives. The attacking force suffered over 1,000 casualties, including a score of officers who were killed. The British commander failed to “seize, retain, and exploit the initiative to gain a position of relative advantage.” British commanders knew the colonials were fortifying the position the previous night and Sir Henry Clinton urged an attack at dawn. Moreover, British ships spotted the fortification around 0400 hours and fired on the redoubt with little effect.

Rather than crossing the river immediately, the British commanders took their time. After a long delay, the crossing itself took over six hours. Howe’s force did not finish landing until nearly 1400 hours. The assault did not begin for over an hour. The militia, however, took advantage of the British delay to strengthen their line and reinforced their position. By delaying and refusing to seize the initiative early in the day, the British lost their opportunity to gain a position of relative advantage and easily envelop and overrun a weak, exposed, and lightly defended position.