Sunday, June 17, 2007
'No, not the one in Boston'
Howie finds out that, yes, even the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Boston will be closed tomorrow for Bunker Hill Day. ... The least city, county and, yes, state workers could do is learn a little about the Battle of Bunker Hill. And the first place they should go is J.L. Bell's blog. Great stuff. Agreed: Whether the battle was fought partially or entirely on Breed's Hill/Bunker Hill doesn't matter. It's the Battle of Bunker Hill. ... Did you know Waterloo wasn't faught in Waterloo? ... They can also do well by ordering Thomas Fleming's superb 'Now We Are Enemies,' about the Battle of Bunker Hill. If I recall correctly, Fleming is quite adamant that Col. William Prescott knew full well that he was building fortifications on Breed's Hill, against orders. Prescott's rationale (according to Fleming): 1. American cannon could only threaten Boston if artillery pieces were on Breed's Hill, not the more far-away Bunker Hill. 2. Fortifying Breed's Hill thus would bait the British into action. 3. Baiting the British was essential to divert Red Coats from a planned frontal assualt on Roxbury siege works, which Americans commanders didn't think they could defend. ... And that's Hub Blog's Improbable History of the Day, not to be confused with Peabody's Improbable History, which, BTW, does include an episode on Bunker Hill, perhaps to be found here. Historical review of the show would probably settle most disputes about the battle. ... J.L. via Adam. ...
Update -- There's also 'Bunker Hill Bunny.' But it's a little inaccurate. Everyone knows there were no Hessians on Bunker Hill -- or at Pearl Harbor. ... Video of 'Bunker Hill Bunny' here. ...
Howie finds out that, yes, even the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Boston will be closed tomorrow for Bunker Hill Day. ... The least city, county and, yes, state workers could do is learn a little about the Battle of Bunker Hill. And the first place they should go is J.L. Bell's blog. Great stuff. Agreed: Whether the battle was fought partially or entirely on Breed's Hill/Bunker Hill doesn't matter. It's the Battle of Bunker Hill. ... Did you know Waterloo wasn't faught in Waterloo? ... They can also do well by ordering Thomas Fleming's superb 'Now We Are Enemies,' about the Battle of Bunker Hill. If I recall correctly, Fleming is quite adamant that Col. William Prescott knew full well that he was building fortifications on Breed's Hill, against orders. Prescott's rationale (according to Fleming): 1. American cannon could only threaten Boston if artillery pieces were on Breed's Hill, not the more far-away Bunker Hill. 2. Fortifying Breed's Hill thus would bait the British into action. 3. Baiting the British was essential to divert Red Coats from a planned frontal assualt on Roxbury siege works, which Americans commanders didn't think they could defend. ... And that's Hub Blog's Improbable History of the Day, not to be confused with Peabody's Improbable History, which, BTW, does include an episode on Bunker Hill, perhaps to be found here. Historical review of the show would probably settle most disputes about the battle. ... J.L. via Adam. ...
Update -- There's also 'Bunker Hill Bunny.' But it's a little inaccurate. Everyone knows there were no Hessians on Bunker Hill -- or at Pearl Harbor. ... Video of 'Bunker Hill Bunny' here. ...
