<Li> Knox artillery train </Li> <P> The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War . The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in the battle . It was the original objective of both the colonial and British troops, though the majority of combat took place on the adjacent hill which later became known as Breed's Hill . </P> <P> On June 13, 1775, the leaders of the colonial forces besieging Boston learned that the British were planning to send troops out from the city to fortify the unoccupied hills surrounding the city, which would give them control of Boston Harbor . In response, 1,200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill . During the night, the colonists constructed a strong redoubt on Breed's Hill, as well as smaller fortified lines across the Charlestown Peninsula . </P> <P> By daybreak of June 17, the British became aware of the presence of colonial forces on the Peninsula and mounted an attack against them that day . Two assaults on the colonial positions were repulsed with significant British casualties; the third and final attack carried the redoubt after the defenders ran out of ammunition . The colonists retreated to Cambridge over Bunker Hill, leaving the British in control of the Peninsula . </P>

General in charge of battle of bunker hill