This is my view of the 250th anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill that took place at Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park last weekend. There were nearly 20,000 estimated visitors counting the two days.
The Colonists were positioned at the top of the hill, above the British charge.Reenactors numbered about 750. Mass. State Senator Bruce Tarr is at bottom left.Colonial reenactors practicing, culminating 5 years of planning.British reenactors in uniform, gathering outside their weekend tents.The first action was British Marines leaving their vessels in Gloucester Harbor.And landing on Half Moon Beach, in Stage Fort Park.While Colonial snipers fired from the woods on the left shore.And from the old fort on the right shore.The Colonists heard inspirational words of encouragement, read from historical text.And were ready to stand their ground.After the Flanking Attack (bodies remaining) came the Main Assault by the British.They were repelled by the Colonists who were behind their hay and dirt earthworks.British cannons pounded back.After reinforcements arrived, the British stormed the hill a second time.And were forced to retreat again, where the officers planned their next move.All Redcoats front and center.It was straight up the hill once more, through the gun and canon smoke.This time with superior numbers, and the Colonists running out of ammunition, the British prevailed.
At Bunker Hill in 1775 the Colonial casualties were 140 killed and 271 wounded, whereas the British suffered 226 killed and 828 wounded. The battle was a loss, but a moral victory for the Revolutionaries.
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