Myth: The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on Bunker Hill.

Fact: The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War.  It was fought on June 17, 1775 when approximately 1,200 Massachusetts militiamen were sent to the hills surrounding the city of Boston to prevent the British troops from capturing the critical high ground.  Initially, the colonial troops were ordered to take a position on Bunker Hill but for reasons still not definitively known, the majority ended up on Breed's Hill instead.

Although the highly trained British regulars outnumbered the rag-tag colonials, they charged Breed's Hill twice and each time were forced to fall back taking on heavy casualties.  Finally on the third charge, the colonials were nearly out of ammunition and were forced to abandon their position, falling back over Bunker Hill to Cambridge.  Technically the British won the battle by occupying both Breed's and Bunker Hill but the colonials suffered few casualties compared to the British and this left them with a sense of confidence that they could stand up to the British army.

INTERESTING BOOKS ABOUT THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Battles Of The Revolutionary War: 1775-1781 (Major Battles and Campaigns Series)

Liberty!: How the Revolutionary War Began (Landmark Books)

Almost A Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence