New Hampshire at Bunker Hill
6/3/2026 | 1m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
Nearly two-thirds of the American soldiers at Bunker Hill were from NH.
At the first major battle of the Revolutionary War, New Hampshire soldiers made up the majority of American forces. Their courage—and their gunpowder—helped define the fight for independence.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Granite State History Minute is a local public television program presented by NHPBS
New Hampshire at Bunker Hill
6/3/2026 | 1m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
At the first major battle of the Revolutionary War, New Hampshire soldiers made up the majority of American forces. Their courage—and their gunpowder—helped define the fight for independence.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipDid you know that in the first major battle of the Revolutionary War, more New Hampshire soldiers showed up to fight than soldiers from all the other colonies combined?
After Lexington and Concord, the British were holed up in Boston with Patriot soldiers stationed all around the city to keep them there.
But in June 1775, the British decided to attack the Patriots and crushed the revolution once and for all.
When Massachusetts called for help, New Hampshire men dropped everything and rushed to their aid.
In fact, so many men from New Hampshire answered the call that nearly two thirds of all the American soldiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill were from New Hampshire.
They brought with them gunpowder that they had raided from Fort William and Mary a few months earlier, which fulfilled a critical need as the Americans were short on ammunition.
They only had about 15 musket balls per soldier.
Colonel John Stark showed up with his first regiment and immediately identified a weak spot on the Americans left flank and placed his men right there.
When the British attacked, Stark's men held their ground through repeated assaults and engaged in some of the fiercest fighting of the battle.
The British troops were shocked by what a tough fight the Americans put up.
Although the British technically won the Battle of Bunker Hill, they learned that another victory like that one could cost them the war.
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Granite State History Minute is a local public television program presented by NHPBS