W22:D2 - The American Revolution - Battle of Bunker Hill, George Washington, and the Campaign for NY

Historical Conquest’s Adventure Box Podcast

What happened after the British Retreat from Concord?

The day started with British forces marching to Concord in an effort to seize colonial military supplies. However, things did not go as planned for the British on April 19, 1775. When they reached Concord, they encountered armed colonial militiamen who had been alerted through an efficient alarm system, including Paul Revere’s famous ride. The skirmish at Lexington earlier in the day had already heightened tensions, and by the time the British were retreating from Concord, the colonial militias had massed in greater numbers.

As the British began their retreat, colonial militias took advantage of the terrain, employing guerrilla warfare tactics—hiding behind stone walls, trees, and buildings to fire at the British troops from concealed positions. This method of combat was unfamiliar and demoralizing for the British soldiers, who were used to traditional European-style open-field battles. The colonial militias constantly ambushed them along the route back to Boston, and the British lines began to disintegrate into chaos.

The British Escape to Charlestown

By the time the British forces reached Charlestown, the outskirts of Boston, they were utterly exhausted, demoralized, and low on ammunition. Their retreat had been a harrowing experience, with heavy casualties—around 250 British soldiers were either killed, wounded, or missing. The British officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith and Major John Pitcairn, were barely able to maintain discipline during the retreat.

The Royal Navy, however, was in control of the waters around Boston and played a crucial role in rescuing the retreating soldiers. British ships in the harbor ferried the surviving troops from Charlestown across the Charles River to the relative safety of Boston. Once across the river, the British forces regrouped and took up defensive positions within Boston, now effectively trapped by the colonial forces massing around the city.

The Patriots' Response and the Beginning of the Siege

In the days following the British retreat to Boston, thousands of militiamen from all over New England began to converge on the city. They came from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, forming a loose but determined force. These militias quickly established a perimeter around Boston, cutting off British access to the countryside and preventing supplies from reaching the city by land. This was the beginning of the Siege of Boston, which would last for nearly a year.

Patriots Inside Boston: Escape or Resistance?

Inside the city, Boston was a divided community. There were Patriots and Loyalists, with many Patriots actively supporting the cause of independence. However, as the siege began, many Patriots fled the city to avoid being trapped inside with the British garrison. These fleeing Patriots made their way to the surrounding countryside, where they joined the militias encircling the city.

Some Patriots, however, remained inside Boston, working in secret to undermine the British. There were efforts at espionage and sabotage within the city, but Boston, heavily fortified by British troops, was a difficult place for Patriot sympathizers to operate openly. For those who stayed, life became increasingly difficult as supplies dwindled and the threat of British retribution loomed.

The Siege of Boston: A Long Stalemate

The Siege of Boston was characterized by a long and tense standoff. The colonial forces, although growing in number and enthusiasm, were poorly equipped and lacked the heavy artillery necessary to dislodge the British from their fortified positions. Meanwhile, the British, commanded by General Thomas Gage (later replaced by General William Howe), found themselves effectively trapped in the city, unable to venture out to gather supplies or conduct operations beyond the confines of Boston.

The British Navy controlled Boston Harbor, which allowed the British to maintain a supply line of sorts via the sea. However, this lifeline was tenuous, and food and other supplies were often scarce. The British strategy was to hold out until reinforcements arrived, but the colonial forces continued to fortify their positions around the city, making the situation more precarious for the British as time went on.

Arrival of George Washington

The siege took a significant turn in July 1775 when George Washington arrived in Cambridge to take command of the colonial forces. Washington faced the immediate challenge of transforming the ragtag militia into a more disciplined and organized army. Under his leadership, the Continental Army began to improve its fortifications around Boston and work towards acquiring the artillery needed to confront the British directly.

Despite the long stalemate, Washington's forces gradually tightened their grip around Boston. Throughout the fall and winter of 1775, the colonial forces faced hardships of their own—shortages of food, clothing, and ammunition—but morale remained high, bolstered by a sense of purpose and a growing belief in the possibility of victory.

The Turning Point: Fort Ticonderoga and the Artillery

The siege would have remained in deadlock had it not been for a bold and audacious move by Colonel Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen. In May 1775, they led an expedition to capture Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York. The fort housed a large supply of cannons and other artillery, which were desperately needed by Washington’s forces.

The cannons were transported over hundreds of miles of difficult terrain in a remarkable mid-winter feat of engineering by Henry Knox, a young officer in the Continental Army. By early 1776, the artillery from Ticonderoga arrived at Washington’s headquarters, and the colonial forces now had the firepower needed to challenge the British.

Dorchester Heights: The Final Blow

Washington’s forces moved quickly to fortify Dorchester Heights, a strategic high ground overlooking Boston and its harbor. Under the cover of darkness on the night of March 4, 1776, the colonial troops, using hay bales and other materials to muffle the sound, built fortifications on the heights. When the British awoke the next morning, they were stunned to see cannons trained on the city and the British fleet in the harbor.

General Howe realized that his position in Boston was now untenable. The threat of bombardment from Dorchester Heights was too great, and the British Navy was at risk. Rather than risking a costly and bloody battle, Howe chose to evacuate the city. On March 17, 1776, the British troops, along with many Loyalist civilians, boarded ships and sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Fate of the Patriots and Loyalists in Boston

As the British left Boston, many Loyalists—people who remained loyal to the British Crown—fled with them. These Loyalists feared retribution from the Patriots, and many of them never returned to Boston, finding refuge in Canada or England. The Patriots who had remained in the city celebrated the British evacuation as a victory, and those who had fled returned to reclaim their homes and businesses.

For the Patriots, the Siege of Boston was an early and significant victory in the American Revolution. It was a morale booster for the fledgling cause of independence, showing that the colonists could stand up to the British military. The successful defense of Boston also helped to solidify the leadership of George Washington, who would go on to play a pivotal role in the remainder of the Revolutionary War.