The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought today just outside Boston, Massachusetts in 1775. A very dear friend of mine (also an historian) visited the scene some years ago and, as the only Englishman there, was asked who won the battle. Ever the gentleman and with a fine regard for the 'special relationship', he said it was an honourable draw. My friend delighted the Americans on hand but of course he had his fingers crossed behind his back at the time. Bunker Hill was a British victory.
For the record: GB 1; USA 0 (as all subsequent Rugby matches have proved).
In other news ...
Well, it's the same news, really. American soldier William Prescott, at Bunker Hill, is credited with the B-Western cliche original 'Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.' Depending on your length of vision, that means you would fire your [flintlock] musket about ten yards away from your victim. yes, you'd probably kill him but behind him were a lot of other blokes like him. Bearing in mind the reload time of a flintlock, that would mean that Mr Prescott himself would die seconds later. Far more sensible advice would be 'Fire as soon as you see anybody coming towards you, then reload like Hell and fire again!'
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