Overview and Summary of the Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775 at Charlestown, Massachusetts and was the first important battle of the American War of Independence. Although it was called the Battle of Bunker Hill, it took place mostly on Breed's Hill on the Charlestown hills. Following the first conflicts of the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Lexington and the Battle of Concord the Colonial Militia had surrounded Boston. Intelligence reports alerted the Americans that the British, under General Thomas Gage, were planning to control the hills around Boston, including the areas of Dorchester Heights and Charlestown, to keep Boston harbor open to British ships bringing in supplies and troops. The colonial militia of over 1000 men, led by William Prescott, quickly constructed ramparts and earthen fortifications on top of Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill and along the Charlestown peninsula. British men-of-war opened fire but in spite of the canon balls Colonel William Prescott walked on the top of the ramparts and his men carried on digging. General Thomas Gage sent three thousand men across the Charles River to Charlestown to attack the Americans. The British troops attacked and the first two assaults were repelled by the colonial militia, resulting in considerable losses to the British force - over 1000 men were either killed or wounded.  More British soldiers came from Boston. On the third assault, the colonial militia ran out of powder and ammunition and had to retreat back to Cambridge. Although the British won the battle, they suffered such heavy casualties that the relatively inexperienced colonial forces were filled with confidence in their ability to fight the British.

The Importance and Significance of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Significance of the Battle of Bunker Hill: The significance of the conflict was that it was the first important battle of the American War of Independence.