When was the battle of dorchester heights

Tough country. Fair to say that if they'd failed, the Revolution would have come to a short and not too sweet end! Moral of this story: don't underestimate booksellers..! Stephenson stephensonstrategies. Or the general population for that matter. Can anyone conceive of an "army" of citizen soldiers today doing anything like what those people did?

Let's face it, most of the educated classes today would be loyalists, Thomas Hutchinsons writ large and small. But, hey, we are what we are. The closest thing I can think of in our society are citizens who band together to build levees. However, I should not imply that the cannon were moved by people donating their time, as I'm sure many bills were submitted for work provided.

When and if they got paid and in what currency is another question, one which Daniel Shays and his men were still fighting about, years later. I believe there were many more such individuals. It's a great read and a visual treat for children and adults.

The Americans needed big guns, and Henry Knox had an idea about where to get them. Themes Military. Go back Print. Related Moments. Read More. Or worse? Get your Favorite Flag on a coffee mug. Or maybe your favorite Founding Fathers Quote on a travel mug. Custom Orders welcome. Visit our Sister Site - Revive You can now sponsor your favorite page on Revolutionary War and Beyond. Click below for information. Privacy Sitemap Citations Contact.

Washington fortifies Dorchester Heights Do you remember that old toy called the View-Master, where you put the slides in and held it up to your eyes to view them? This slide is from View-Master's Revolutionary War series. Like This Page? After the occupation of Dorchester Heights by the Continental Army and the evacuation of Boston by the British, Washington sent in a letter to his brother:.

Boston was considered by Washington to be the most easily defended city in the nation because of its peninsular status in the eighteenth century. The absolute key importance of the occupation of Dorchester Heights is clear here, as it was the only military action which forced the British to end months of siege in a key military stronghold.

Dorchester Heights importance and integration into the city of Boston is seen early here; the hilly area in South Boston is detached from the rest of the city and yet is absolutely essential in a full understanding of Boston's history. However, his officers were against it. They argued that the British were still receiving supplies by sea. They urged Washington to wait until the waters around Boston were frozen. Washington sent an army instead to Quebec. He also ordered Henry Knox to march to Fort Ticonderoga and bring back the post's artillery.

While the attack on Quebec failed, Knox returned to Cambridge in January with fifty-nine cannons. Even with the waters around Boston frozen, Washington's officers refused to attack the city.

A frustrated Washington looked for another way to dislodge the British. On the evening of March 4, , he directed his men to take the cannon from Fort Ticonderoga up Dorchester Heights south of the city. Washington also ordered his troops in Cambridge to fire on the redcoats.