Dorchester Heights Monument

Dorchester Heights is the central area of South Boston. It is the highest area in the neighborhood and commands a view of both Boston Harbor and downtown. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (570x855, 100 KB)Dorchester Heights Memorial File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (570x855, 100 KB)Dorchester Heights Memorial File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... South Boston is a heavily populated neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, located south of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. ...

In the American Revolution

Main article: Fortification of Dorchester Heights

Dorchester Heights is remembered in American history for an action in the American Revolutionary War known as the Fortification of Dorchester Heights. After the battles of Lexington and Concord, Revolutionary sentiment within New England reached a new high, and thousands of militiamen from the Northern colonies converged on Boston, pushing the British back within the city limits. In June of 1775 British soldiers under General Howe attacked and seized Bunker Hill, but in the process sustained many losses. Following this encounter, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia gave George Washington the title of Commander in Chief and sent him to oversee the efforts outside of Boston. Combatants Continental Army Great Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe The Fortification of Dorchester Heights was a decisive action early in the American Revolutionary War, which led to the British evacuation of Boston, ending the ongoing siege of Boston. ... This article is about military actions only. ... Combatants Continental Army Great Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe The Fortification of Dorchester Heights was a decisive action early in the American Revolutionary War, which led to the British evacuation of Boston, ending the ongoing siege of Boston. ... Combatants Militia of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, (Minutemen) British Army, British Marines, Royal Artillery Commanders John Parker, James Barrett, John Buttrick, William Heath, Joseph Warren Francis Smith, John Pitcairn, Walter Laurie, Hugh, Earl Percy Strength 75 at Lexington Common (Parker). ... Bunker Hill is the name of: A hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts Battle of Bunker Hill, a battle American Revolutionary War fought near (not on) the hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts Several American woman named after the Battle of Bunker Hill, including: USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), an Essex Class aircraft carrier... The Continental Congress was the first national government of the United States. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... For the television series, see Commander in Chief (TV series). ...

The stalemate in Boston lasted for months, only breaking when Colonel Henry Knox returned from [[Fort Tickhbkibfrro[gonderoga]] in New York, having lead a team of sleds from the fort across hundreds of miles with tens of thousands of pounds of artillery to Boston. This added artillery gave Washington and his military council the firepower they needed to make a drastic move. Over the night of March 4, 1776, as 800 American soldiers stood guard along the river of Dorchester shores, 1200 American soldiers took Dorchester Heights uninhibited. They began working through the night to build structures suitable to defend against the British Army. A large portion of the artillery, pulled by oxen, was moved and installed without notice by the British command at Dorchester Heights, a point of strategic importance due to its elevation and commanding view of all of Boston and Boston Harbor. Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806) was an American bookseller from Boston who became the chief artillery officer of the Continental Army and later the nations first Secretary of War. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1776 (disambiguation). ...

In response, Howe planned on mounting a counter offensive against the fortified positions on the Heights, but bad weather forced him to rethink his plan. In the end he fell back from the city, and the British Navy evacuated both the British army stationed there and manyLoyalists. For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ...

Dorchester Heights Monument

The Dorchester Heights Monument was completed in 1902 to designs by Boston architects Peabody and Stearns. It 115 feet in height, built of Georgia white marble capped with octagonal cupola and weather vane, and is generally reminiscent of a church steeple in the Federal style. The monument is now operated by the National Park Service as part of Boston National Historical Park. Peabody and Stearns was a premier architectural firm in the eastern United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... Discover the revolutionary generation of Bostonians who blazed a trail from colonialism to independence. ...

References and external links

• National Park Service: Dorchester Heights
• Anthony Mitchell Sammarco, Charlie Rosenberg, South Boston, Arcadia Publishing, 2006, page 43. ISBN 0738539481.