The Battle of Bunker Hill

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL
            COLONEL WILLIAM P. PRESCOTT

The Battle of Bunker Hill is regarded as one of the most consequential events in the history of the US. On June 17 1775 American soldiers fought their colonial counterparts at Charleston, Massachusetts^[1]. The battle was significant because it was the first large-scale engagement in the flight for Independence. Know as one of the bloodies battles forecasting the American Revolution would be lengthy with significant casualties. Colonel William Prescott was given command of a untrained and inexperienced colonial forces along with orders to fortify Charleston until he was relieved. COL Prescott was a brave commander, who demonstrated honor and courage throughout his military career.

During the battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts, Colonel William Prescott demonstrated four of the six mission command tasks of the operations process by understanding, directing, assessing, and leading the American colonial militiamen under his command at Bunker Hill to build the morale necessary for the American’s to ultimately defeat the British during the American Revolution.

Understanding

COL Prescott demonstrated understanding during this battle by employing a strategy that limited the loss of lives among his men while inflicting costly damage on the British forces^[2]. The untrained colonial forces he commanded did not have sufficient experience and skills to defeat the British forces. The colonial forces marched from Cambridge on the evening of 16 June 1775  allowing them evade detection from the British forces in the area. Colonial forces were able to fortify the hills surrounding Boston with out alerting the British. COL Prescott decided to reposition the colonial forces from Bunker Hill to Breed’s Hill because it was closer to Boston providing a better offensive posture for colonial artillery and visual on British movements. COL Prescott demonstrated his understanding of strategy and military response. On the morning of 17 June  British warships in the area launched artillery repeatedly at there position on the top of Breed’s Hill without damaging the colonial forces fortification significantly reducing the British’s supply of artillery fire power.  

The British troops crossed the Charles river and launched an assault on colonial forces.  The British ultimately succeed in pushing the colonial forces back. However, their victory came at a significant price with significant dead and wounded. COL Prescott understood the differences that existed between his forces and the British forces. He knew he would eventually have to retreat. In spite of this, he provoked them into a forceful response when they were not prepared. His decision to fortify colonial forces position on Breed’s Hill highlights his understanding of the geography and how to use it to his advantage. Under COL Prescott’s command the underestimated colonial forces were able to inflict a signification amount of damage on the British even as they were forced to retreat.