Two things wrong with this narrative:1. The battle was on Breed’s Hill, not Bunker Hill2. “Whites of their eyes” was a quote from Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans in 1814.
1. The battle was mostly fought on Breeds Hill, but it was fought /about/ possession of Bunker Hill, and “Bunker Hill” has been the accepted name of the battle for over 200 years.
2. “Whites of their eyes” was definitely not first said by Jackson at New Orleans, for it occurs in accounts printed years earlier.
3. The real error, though, is saying that the Americans won the battle. They did not; the British did. However, the British casualties were considerably greater than the American casualties, and, a few months later, General Howe was unwilling to risk a similar assault on the strategic Dorchester Heights, even though his only alternative was to abandon Boston altogether. (Helpful hint: Never say, “No one could ever haul cannon up that hill.”)
JanLC about 10 years ago
Two things wrong with this narrative:1. The battle was on Breed’s Hill, not Bunker Hill2. “Whites of their eyes” was a quote from Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans in 1814.
Buzza Wuzza about 10 years ago
interesting art
John W Kennedy Premium Member about 10 years ago
1. The battle was mostly fought on Breeds Hill, but it was fought /about/ possession of Bunker Hill, and “Bunker Hill” has been the accepted name of the battle for over 200 years.
2. “Whites of their eyes” was definitely not first said by Jackson at New Orleans, for it occurs in accounts printed years earlier.
3. The real error, though, is saying that the Americans won the battle. They did not; the British did. However, the British casualties were considerably greater than the American casualties, and, a few months later, General Howe was unwilling to risk a similar assault on the strategic Dorchester Heights, even though his only alternative was to abandon Boston altogether. (Helpful hint: Never say, “No one could ever haul cannon up that hill.”)