Decisive day;: The battle for Bunker Hill

by Richard M. Ketchum

Boston, 1775: A town occupied by General Thomas Gage's redcoats and groaning with Tory refugees from the Massachusetts countryside. Besieged for two months by a rabble in arms, the British decided to break out of town. American spies discovered their plans, and on the night of June 16, 1775, a thousand rebels marched out onto Charlestown peninsula and began digging a redoubt (not on Bunker Hill, which they had been ordered to fortify, but on Breeds Hill, well within cannon shot of the British batteries and ships). At daybreak, HMS Lively began firing. It was the opening round of a battle that saw unbelievable heroism and tragic blunders on both sides (a battle that marked a point of no return for England and her colonies), the beginning of all-out war.

Genres: History, American Revolution, American History, American Revolutionary War, Military History, Nonfiction, War

282 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

A graduate of Yale, Richard Ketchum was a writer and editor who worked for the American Heritage Publishing Company from 1956 until 1974.

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard M. Ketchum is revered for his knowledge on the different battles of the Revolutionary War, and he has a brilliant way of bringing the reader right to the front lines in Decisive Day. The book has the tone of a first-person narrative at times, as it jumps from a lowly Continental soldier manning the redoubts, to a high ranking British Commander addressing the current political situation of Boston. The most helpful addition from Ketchum and one that other history books should try to replicate is the maps and images that are strung about each chapter, adding valuable insight and guiding the reader through the specific times.

From the Introduction to the ending “Note on Sources”, Ketchum is constantly helping the reader understand the history of the Battle itself, creating a primer for anyone interested in the stand at Bunker (or Breed’s) Hill. It’s amazing to consider that though the book is composed of less than 300 pages, there are still such vivid backgrounds and accounts given to each and every player involved both on and off the field. To that point, the reader is left wanting to find out more on the eventual campaigns of the Howe Brothers, or how Dr. Joseph Warren became such a famous upstart for the Liberty Cause prior to his untimely death. Ketchum introduces the likes of soldiers such as Israel “Old” Putnam to the early war effort with full detail in just a couple of sentences:

When he was appointed a major general by the Continental Congress, Old Put was fifty-eight years old—a powerfully built man five feet six inches tall with the face of a cherubic bulldog. Regarded by his countrymen as something of a folk-hero, he was a superb leader on the battlefield but—as later events were to reveal—something less than a brilliant general.

Though the writing can be a bit on the dramatic at times, fortunately this makes for a page-turning history with real life accounts and micro-biographies throughout on both the Rebels and the British. There also is no evidence that Ketchum has a preference for the eventual American victors, as he sympathizes with General Gage’s unfortunate role as mediator between the Colonists and Crown. While there have been many updated histories on the lead up and battle of Bunker Hill since its publication, Decisive Day is still a fantastic and concise read—full of rarely used illustrations, maps, and other primary source material.

[Urey Patrick]

Ketchum is absolutely the BEST writer/historian of the Revolutionary War period. Reads like a novel - incisive, delightful characterizations and anecdotes. Superb.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. It should be used in school when teaching the American Revolution. It's a great start for the subject. I learned a LOT from reading it. (Which is sad, I should have learned a lot about the American Revolution in school. But I digress.)

The author isn't overly sensational, though it is obvious his sympathies lie with the Rebels, he is even-handed with his discussion of the British when discussing the individuals and the military planning and might they had to focus on the Rebels. He gives the truth as best as he is able, both about the Americans and the British, warts and all.

One of the things I want to research more after reading this book is to learn more about Joseph Warren. He was an incredible person, who died tragically at Bunker Hill at the age of 34. If he had lived, he would have been a huge boon to the Americans. He was spoken about so highly by his contemporaries and the author, that I want to know more about him. Paul Revere was a jack-of-all trades and did some dental work on Warren before the battle. He was able to ID Warren due to those false teeth that he recognized as his own handy work. Sad, but interesting fact.

That is just one of the many things/people I want to learn more about after having read this book. It really is true, the more you learn, the more you find you don't know anything at all! This book is no exception. The bibliography is extensive and the author spoke so glowingly of Allen French's "The First Year of the American Revolution", that now I want to track it down and read it for myself.

This, being a book about a battle, had a lot of premature death in it. It is sad and grim and does nothing to make me like war. I understand that war is necessary sometimes, but that doesn't make it a good thing or a happy thing. I appreciate the sacrifice that those who fight in war make. I super appreciate the deaths from the American Revolution. Without them, things would be much different today.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who are casualties of the public school system in America. Because this wasn't covered half as in depth in class and it is something every American should know. Origin stories are important, because if you don't know where you came from, you won't know how you got to where you are and you won't know if you are going backwards or forwards when you move. Full five stars.

[David Olmsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a detailed, well-balanced, and easy to read book that again shows why Richard Ketchum is a great historian. He puts the actual battle in the context of the larger campaign for Boston in which the British were forced to evacuate on St. Patrick's day (March 17) 1776. Ketchum presents the situation as seen by each of the main characters and then describes the decisions they took in response. The British General Thomas Gage is the tragic figure of this story story as he was put into an impossible situation. Interestingly he had an American wife who may have helped out the revolutionary cause at a critical time. The death of Joseph Warren is also described. Based upon his abilities he would have been another founding father had he lived. Overall, just a wonderful book.

[Michael L Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with lots of great detail.

This is a good book as a follow up to the book I previously read by David Hackett Fischer about Paul Revere and the battle of Lexington and Concord. Though by a different author, the 2 books dovetail nicely as the battles around Boston moved to Bunker and Breed's hill in the summer of 1776 from the spring battle of Lexington and Concord. The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is so much is written about this time I have little to compare it to to know if this is a great book or merely a good one. Regardless, it's well researched and well written.

Update: corrected DHF name spelling. :)

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book ever written about the Battle of Bunker Hill. Towers over the more recent book "Bunker Hill" which spends only 15% of its time on the Battle of Bunker Hill. Stay away from Philbrick's book and pick up this one. Well written, insightful, and puts you into the heart of the battle!

[Stephen Morrissey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independence burst onto the scene at Lexington & Concord, resurrected at Trenton, made possible by Saratoga, and clinched at Yorktown. No battle, though, lays better claim to the American victory in the War for Independence than Bunker Hill. At the point of flashing muskets and patriotic muscling away British troop advances upon Breed's Hill in Charlestown, the Thirteen Colonies laid waste to the claim that the British Army could tramp across North America and suppress the rebellion by mere show of force. More than that claim was laid waste, too - hundreds of redcoats, from privates to generals, were felled in Charlestown, forever imprinting on General William Howe, and the rest of the British war leaders, that Americans could not be underestimated, could not be assaulted, and, even when defeated on the battlefield, could not be snuffed out from the next scene of action.

Richard Ketchum marvelously brings to life the ebbs and flows of the battle, dissecting both the patriot and British sides of the struggle. The details conveyed, from the horrid lives of British privates to the bloody, brain-strewn mayhem of Bunker Hill, bring to life a struggle that has been sunk into July 4th platitudes and focus on philosophical soliloquies more than patriotic soldiers.

Bunker Hill made General Howe and the British hesitate afterwards, and forever more during the struggle. Perhaps General Washington's Continental Army could have been erased with another push and shove from above during the New York campaign in 1776, the New Jersey hunt towards the end of that fateful year, or after the victories at Brandywine and Charleston. Alas, the British always hesitated, holding back, fearful that another Bunker Hill would decimate the army in North America and obliterate public opinion in the British Isles for the war.

Bunker Hill made the British think and act more slowly, all the while allowing Americans to constantly re-group, re-load, and charge once more into the breach.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of Richard Ketchum's masterpieces of the American Revolutionary War, to be placed on a honored shelf of your library alongside "The Winter Soldiers" and "Saratoga." What is most striking about this work (like the others) is not only the engrossing and exquisitely researched descriptions of this momentous battle but of the psychology behind the events and the people, both British and Provincial, on whom the action depended. If you are looking for an action-packed account of this great American Pyrrhic victory, read this book. As one of his readers puts it, Ketchum is "that rare combination, a scholar who knows how to tell a story." Indeed.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

250 years ago a battle was fought just north of Boston that drew a line in the sand between the American rebels and the British crown. There would be no turning back, and if this fight proved anything, it would be a long hard war for the future of America. This book proved an informative and well written account of Bunker Hill. I have several Richard Ketchum books on my Revolution 250 TBR and I’m excited to read more of his work.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it was hard to get started with this book and I frequently felt like I needed a score card to keep the American patriots straight from the British, it eventually hooked me. I have a lot to learn about the American Revolution, and this excellent book provided a starting point that is also an actual chronological jumping off book. More of Ketchum's works on the war to follow.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent summary of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the ultimate British withdrawal from Boston. The leaders on both sides come alive as they struggle to adjust to a very different world. Who would dare to stand up to the professional British soldiers? The farmers and merchants of New England would and did and through providence succeeded against all odds.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise, well-written, and interesting account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, complete with lead up and conclusion. I’ll definitely be checking out the other AmRev books by the author.

[Kalman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. Entertaining.

The description of the battle was incredible. Included lots of primary sources.

Spoiler Alert! The British win.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is lively and readable, and it gives a good summary of Bunker Hill. My only complaint is that Ketchum's style tends more towards descriptive narrative, without footnotes or really explaining where he got his information, or how reliable the sources were.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the hardcover edition

[Ms. Manz]

This is a book for adults that is teaching me a lot about the Battle of Bunker Hill.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. I rarely read a book more than once but I have read this one 3 times. Ketchum makes me feel like I am there.

[Robert Giambo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has written a short and very interesting history of the battle of bunker hill at the start of the American Revolution.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concise of the battle and the events that led up to it.