Did the British have a struggle in winning the Battle of Bunker Hill?

Answer 1

There were several factors that meant the British troops suffered heavily and almost lost the battle:

• The British generals badly underestimated the American forces, believing they would run away immediately the battle commenced. Although the Americans were inexperienced, poorly equipped and badly organised, they felt secure in their earth and timber fortifications on Breed's Hill.
• The plan of attack was stupid. A frontal attack, in massed ranks, uphill, against prepared positions and without knowing the strength of the enemy was the major reason for high number of British casualties. Alternative plans were not even considered, such as making the main attack further north behind Bunker Hill which would have cut off the entire American forces, whose fortifications would then have been facing the wrong way. Such an attack would have been almost unopposed.
• There was no effective use of the British force's major weapon - the navy. Although many RN warships were available they took no part in the fight; their artillery could have totally destroyed the fleeing American forces at the end of the battle.

At long and medium ranges the Americans had a distinct advantage, since many were using very accurate hunting rifles. The British only used smoothbore muskets which were of little use against individual targets.

In the end, at very close range, the advantage passed to the British troops. Their battle experience, discipline, massed ranks and fixed bayonets were too much for the Americans (most of whom had not been issued with bayonets), so they simply "skedaddled"; the American reserves on Bunker Hill refused to go forward to assist and they also ran away without firing a shot.