On this day 250 years ago the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought in Massachusetts.

Although the Americans retreated from the field and the British technically “won” the battle, the British suffered more than a thousand casualties, including over a hundred commissioned and non-commissioned officers (226 dead and 828 wounded). In contrast, the American casualties were about 450 in total, of whom 140 were killed.

The most noted loss to the Patriot side was the death of Joseph Warren. He was the President of Massachusetts’ Provincial Congress, and he had been appointed a Major General on June 14 but his officer’s commission was not yet in effect at the time of the battle so he fought as a private. Irish immigrant Major Andrew McClary of New Hampshire was technically the highest ranking colonial officer to die in the battle; he was hit by cannon fire on Charlestown Neck, the last person to be killed in the battle. Colonel James Frye III, commander of a regiment from Essex County, Massachusetts was wounded in the thigh in the battle. His wound got infected and although he continued in command of his regiment until it was disbanded on December 31, 1775, he would die from the wound on January 8, 1776. Twi Stockbridge Mohican Indians, Abraham Naumanmpputaunky and Samuel Ashbow were also killed fighting for American liberty at Bunker Hill.

Only 30 men were captured by the British in the battle, but most of them had grievous wounds and 20 died while held prisoner.

More than a hundred African-Americans and Native Americans, including Salem Poor, Peter Salem, fought for American liberty in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Frye; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_Hill; https://historyofmassachusetts.org/native-americans-revolutionary-war/; https://americasnationalparks.org/2025/05/05/patriots-of-color-at-the-battle-of-bunker-hill-stories-of-the-american-revolution/