The Decisive Day

Event Schedule for moreinfo:

https://www.battleofbunkerhill250.com/schedule-1

All events will take place at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, MA. 

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Saturday, June 21

The Navy Approaches:
Half Moon Beach
8 – 11:30 am

Join Royal Navy sailors and the crews of the tall ships Story, Ardelle, Isabelle, and Lynx, as they discuss the role of the navy in the Battle of Bunker Hill as well as 18th century warfare. 

As the battle looms, the waters around Charlestown neck fill with Royal Navy vessels, sent to bombard the fortifications into submission and land troops for the eventual assault. ​

Shuttle Service
10am – 6pm

Shuttle Service will ferry spectators to/from parking lots to the event site. 

Civilians Under Siege & the Military on the Move
The Marketplace
10am – 4pm
 

Interpreters will explain civilian and military life in Massachusetts in the 1770s.  Through a diversity of perspectives across race, gender, class, and politics, you will learn about the dynamic lives of 18th century Bostonians, British military officers, and Provincial leaders.

The citizens of Boston were able to observe the Battle of Bunker Hill from the rooftops and hills of the City. They had been under British occupation since the enforcement of the Boston Port Act a year earlier had shut down nearly all commerce to the town causing many to leave.

The Preparation:
The Redoubt
9 – 10am
 

Join the soldiers as they construct the fortifications with hand tools from the period.  Learn about the backgrounds and motivations of these Americans.

In the evening hours of June 16th, 1,200 American soldiers leave their camp at Cambridge to cross the neck onto the Charlestown peninsula. These hardened men from the country took on the work of fortifying Bunker Hill.  As dawn broke, British cannons from ships and Cobb’s Hill (Boston) open fire to try to halt the work.​

The Landing
Half Moon Beach
10 – 11am

Watch as British sailors and soldiers from Boston land in the harbor in 18th century boats on the Charlestown Penisula (Half-Moon Beach) forming for their assault on the American positions.

General Gage forms British soldiers from the Boston garrison to land on the tip of the Charlestown Peninsula and form for a plan to drive the American’s from their fortifications on the Hill.  As the British soldiers land, sharpshooters from Charlestown take pot shots at them.  In response British soldiers set fire to Charlestown to drive off the sharpshooters, additionally using the smoke to mask their movements.​

Asa Pollard Funeral, Frye’s Regiment Arrives
The Redoubt
10:30 – 11:00am

Witness the burial of the Battle’s first major casualty and the arrival of the Provincial Forces’ key combatants. 

Asa Pollard was the first American casualty at Bunker Hill, decapitated by a British cannonball. He was hastily buried on the battlefield so the gruesome sight would not weaken the morale of his fellow troops. 

Col. James Frye of Andover, MA, commanded a regiment from Essex County that played a critical role constructing the redoubt atop Breed’s Hill. The men defended the hill bravely and helped save the retreat from turning into a rout. 

Meet Martha Washington
The Gazebo
11 – 11:30am
 

Meet America’s first First Lady before she became a household name and American hero. 

Meet Joseph Warren
The Gazebo
12 – 12:30 am
 

Meet one of Boston’s most prominent figures and the face of revolution.

Stark Fortifies the Beach
Tablet Rock
12:30 – 1:00pm
 

View Stark’s men set defenses that will change the tides of the battle. 

As the day wore on, the ebbing tide gave the British an advantage by exposing more beachhead at the end of the American line of defense. Cols. John Stark and James Reed of New Hampshire saw this vulnerable gap and constructed a crude barricade to save the Americans from being outflanked. 

The Flanking Attack
Cressy Beach
1 – 2 pm

Watch as Britain’s elite soldiers assault American flank positions (Cressy Beach).

While the British Marines make a frontal assault on the redoubt as a feint, the elite soldiers of Gage’s force (Grenadiers and Light Infantry) attempt to flank the American fortifications by attacking down a beach on the Mystic River.  These soldiers charge down the beach opposed by New Hampshire soldiers under Stark at a rail fence.  The New Hampshire soldiers give an incessant fire which shatters the attack and drives back the Grenadiers and Light Infantry.

Meet Abigail Adams
The Gazebo
1 – 1:30 pm

Hear of Abigail Adam’s experience witnessing the Battle of Bunker Hill from her home as well as her experiences in 1775 Massachusetts. 

Meet General Clinton
The Gazebo
1 – 1:30 pm

Meet one of the British command’s sharpest leaders, whose proposed plans could have lead to a quick victory–but who instead had to come in an reinforce the final assault. 

Meet Elizabeth Murray
The Gazebo
1 – 1:30 pm

Hear from Boston’s leading businesswoman about life under siege, and how the splintering of civic life affects more than just sales.

The Main Assault
Bunker Hill
4 – 5 pm

Watch as American militia soldiers defend their fortifications against the attacking British soldiers.

With the flanking attack on the beach broken, General Howe rallies the Marines along with the remaining Grenadiers and Light Infantry to make a head-on assault at the amin redoubt and rail fence of the American line.  They are slowed in their advance by the numerous farmers’ fences, taking heavy casualties and fall back. Major John Pitcairn of the Marines is fatally wounded by Salem Poor.  Howe has his men drop their packs and advances in column to negate American artillery fire.  The advance in a final assault.  The Americans, having run out of powder, begin throwing rocks in a desperate attempt to slow the British.  Out of powder and overwhelmed the Americans flee the hill.  General Joseph Warren of the American forces is killed in this final assault.  

​

Camp Closes & Shuttle Service Ends
Stage Fort Park
5 – 6 pm

Thank you all for joining us! Camps will be closed to visitors at 5pm and shuttle service will end for the day at 6pm. 

Sunday, June 22

The Navy Approaches:
Half Moon Beach
8 – 11:30 am

Join Royal Navy sailors and the crews of the tall ships Story, Ardelle, Isabelle, and Lynx, as they discuss the role of the navy in the Battle of Bunker Hill as well as 18th century warfare. 

As the battle looms, the waters around Charlestown neck are filled with Royal Navy vessels, sent to bombard the fortifications into submission and land troops for the eventual assault. ​

Shuttle Service
10am – 4pm

Shuttle Service will ferry spectators to/from parking lots to the event site. 

Civilians Under Siege & the Military on the Move
The Marketplace
10am – 2pm

Interpreters will explain civilian and military life in Massachusetts in the 1770s.  Through a diversity of perspectives across race, gender, class, and politics, you will learn about the dynamic lives of 18th century Bostonians, British military officers, and Provincial leaders.

The citizens of Boston were able to observe the Battle of Bunker Hill from the rooftops and hills of the City. They had been under British occupation since the enforcement of the Boston Port Act a year earlier had shut down nearly all commerce to the town causing many to leave.

The Preparation:
The Redoubt
9 – 10am
 

Join the soldiers as they construct the fortifications with hand tools from the period.  Learn about the backgrounds and motivations of these Americans.

In the evening hours of June 16th, 1,200 American soldiers leave their camp at Cambridge to cross the neck onto the Charlestown peninsula. These hardened men from the country took on the work of fortifying Bunker Hill.  As dawn broke, British cannons from ships and Cobb’s Hill (Boston) open fire to try to halt the work.​

The Landing
Half Moon Beach
10 – 11am

Watch as British sailors and soldiers from Boston land in the harbor in 18th century boats on the Charlestown Penisula (Half-Moon Beach) forming for their assault on the American positions.

General Gage forms British soldiers from the Boston garrison to land on the tip of the Charlestown Peninsula and form for a plan to drive the American’s from their fortifications on the Hill.  As the British soldiers land, sharpshooters from Charlestown take pot shots at them.  In response British soldiers set fire to Charlestown to drive off the sharpshooters, additionally using the smoke to mask their movements.​

Asa Pollard Funeral, Frye’s Regiment Arrives
The Redoubt
10:30 – 11:00am

Witness the burial of the Battle’s first major casualty and the arrival of the Provincial Forces’ key combatants. 

Asa Pollard was the first American casualty at Bunker Hill, decapitated by a British cannonball. He was hastily buried on the battlefield so the gruesome sight would not weaken the morale of his fellow troops. 

Col. James Frye of Andover, MA, commanded a regiment from Essex County that played a critical role constructing the redoubt atop Breed’s Hill. The men defended the hill bravely and helped save the retreat from turning into a rout. 

Meet General Howe
The Gazebo
11 – 11:30am

Meet the British general in charge of the assault on Charlestown–and hear what went into the plan that went so awry. 

Stark Fortifies the Beach
Tablet Rock
12:00 – 12:30pm

View Stark’s men set defenses that will change the tides of the battle. 

As the day wore on, the ebbing tide gave the British an advantage by exposing more beachhead at the end of the American line of defense. Cols. John Stark and James Reed of New Hampshire saw this vulnerable gap and constructed a crude barricade to save the Americans from being outflanked. 

Meet Joseph Warren
The Gazebo
12:00 – 12:30pm

Meet one of Boston’s most prominent figures and the face of revolution.

The Main Assault
Bunker Hill
1 – 2 pm

Watch as American militia soldiers defend their fortifications against the attacking British soldiers.

With the flanking attack on the beach broken, General Howe rallies the Marines along with the remaining Grenadiers and Light Infantry to make a head-on assault at the amin redoubt and rail fence of the American line.  They are slowed in their advance by the numerous farmers’ fences, taking heavy casualties and fall back. Major John Pitcairn of the Marines is fatally wounded by Salem Poor.  Howe has his men drop their packs and advances in column to negate American artillery fire.  The advance in a final assault.  The Americans, having run out of powder, begin throwing rocks in a desperate attempt to slow the British.  Out of powder and overwhelmed the Americans flee the hill.  General Joseph Warren of the American forces is killed in this final assault.  

Camp Closes & Shuttle Service Ends
Stage Fort Park
3 – 4 pm

Thank you all for joining us! Camps will be closed to visitors at 3pm and shuttle service will end for the day at 4pm.