Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution | Nathaniel Philbrick

Nathaniel Philbrick brings a fresh perspective to the Battle of Bunker Hill. The real central character in this battle is Boston—where vigilantes fill the streets with a sinister and frightening violence, even as calmer patriots struggle to see their way to rebellion. The core of Philbrick's lecture, building on his book Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution, tracks in detail the eighteen months following the Boston Tea Party (Dec. 1773), as Boston turned from the center of patriot defiance to a British-occupied city under a patriot siege. Philbrick builds to the extraordinary moment when a group of ordinary citizens stood up to several regiments of British regulars in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Several hundred citizen soldiers had the bravery and discipline to hold their fire until the British soldiers, each one with a bayonet mounted to the barrel of his musket, marched to within fifteen yards of the patriot entrenchment. Only once they could see "the whites of their eyes," did the rebels fire, ultimately killing or wounding almost half the British force. It was not until the third British charge did the Americans retreat when they exhausted their supply of ammunition. With this single battle, the ultimate course of the American Revolution had been foretold. This lecture was sponsored by the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.

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[JB-uvhm]

Great presentation. So much for all the 1 star reviews on Amazon that can’t handle the fact that real history is messy.

[kennethmoles]

Thank you for all of this wonderful programming! I've enjoyed all of them.

[NeTxGrl]

I had ancestors that fought at Bunker Hill.

[willboudreau]

Damn it all, what a treasure Nathaniel is.

[ConstanceToddSmithCreator]

Fascinating. Going to read his book next. We need Patriotism more now than ever.

[BrianFrenchinternet-marketing]

The Revolution was the only friends and family fought war. Militia towns citizens intermarried for over 140 years so basically your extended family and best friends went to battle. The first killed was Asa Pollard of Billerica, Ma. My patriot ancestor Ebenezer French Jr was the Billerica, Ma patriot drummer at Bunker Hill (rail fence).

[johnyoung]

Way to go townies! I grew up o🙃n pleasant street 2 pleassy. Court, i warren tavern at bottom and bunker hill at top on high street, below main street short pleasant, .my family we, re the youngs, the. Ryans lived beide us and the kellys across all from us my name is john f young son of robert c young god bless all!

[brianclark]

The battle was not at Bunker Hill, but at the adjacent Breed's Hill.

[angloaust]

They inherited a violent streak
Which continues to this present day!

[Acm]

I’ll have to find another video of him speaking since the rude cougher didn’t excuse themselves.

[willboudreau]

That being said, I'd like to know Philbrick's opinion on the so-called "cancelling" of Washington, Jefferson, etc. by the so-called "liberal" forces he may be in alignment with. Just saying. I don't really expect an answer when liberal hypocrisy is on the line.