Nestled amidst the iconic Dorchester Heights neighborhood of South Boston is a prominent hill that once served a crucial role in American history. In fact, the commanding heights offered an unparalleled view of Boston Harbor and the city below, which made it a key strategic point during the early months of 1776. Thanks to the inventive and exhaustive work by Henry Knox and his men, a nascent American army was able to fortify the heights and force the British to evacuate the key port city of Boston. Today, Dorchester Heights still possesses a commanding view of the surrounding area and serves as a reminder of American ingenuity, grit, and determination.
History
After the fighting in Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, the port city of Boston fell under near-complete lockdown by General Thomas Gage and his forces. In the ensuing months, thousands of militia swarmed the countryside around Boston and formed an untrained and anxious provincial army. These farmers-turned-soldiers were primarily garrisoned in Cambridge (to include Harvard University) and Roxbury, under the command of Generals Artemas Ward and Israel Putnam. In May 1775, British General Howe, accompanied by Generals Henry Clinton and John Burgoyne, arrived in Boston, along with ~4,200 soldiers.
As the spring of 1775 dragged on, both the British troops in Boston and the patriot forces outside the city realized the tactical importance of both Dorchester Heights and the hills of Charlestown. Before the British troops could make a move, Colonel William Prescott and ~1,000 patriot troops dug in on Breed’s Hill on the night of June 16, 1775, which served as a direct threat to British-held Boston. On June 17th, the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought, which resulted in a pyrrhic British victory.
A few weeks following the Battle of Bunker Hill, George Washington (recently appointed as commander of all provincial forces) arrived in Cambridge, MA. On July 3, 1775, Washington allegedly stood underneath an elm tree on Cambridge Common and took command of the militia gathered outside of Boston- now the patriots had their leader.
As the siege of Boston wore on, an essential stalemate occurred between the patriot and British forces by late summer 1775.
Henry Knox, a 25-year-old Boston native, bookseller, and mostly self-trained artillery expert, recommended that cannons recently captured at Fort Ticonderoga on May 10th be brought to Boston to strengthen the siege. After getting the approval, Colonel Knox and his brother departed Cambridge and after a brief stop in New York City, pressed on towards Fort Ticonderoga in November 1775. Over the next three winter months, Knox and a group hearty men moved over 60 tons of cannon and weaponry over snow-covered mountain ranges, poor roads (and no roads), icy rivers, and frozen ground by boat and oxen-drawn sleds. In late January 1776, Knox and his men arrived outside Boston with the crucial artillery.
These cannons arrived outside Boston and many were placed in key positions near Cambridge, in order to fire upon British-held Boston. During the first few days of March 1776, General Washington planned to fortify Dorchester Heights with heavy cannon taken from Fort Ticonderoga; however, the frozen ground made digging entrenchments impossible. Accordingly, the patriot forces constructed portable fortifications called chandeliers (made of heavy wooden timbers and bundles of brushwood called “fascines”). After a few days of cannonading Boston from Roxbury, Lechmere’s Point, and Cobble Hill (and carefully managing their scarce gun powder stores), the patriots prepared to take Dorchester Heights. On the night of March 4-5, 1776, approximately 2,000-2,500 troops under General John Thomas discreetly marched to Dorchester Heights and quickly established a position with the chandeliers, heavy cannon, minor earthworks, and abatis.
On the morning of March 5, 1776, British General William Howe (in command of all British forces) and his subordinates were undoubtedly shocked to see such a seemingly-formidable patriot presence on Dorchester Heights. General Washington wrote to John Hancock, then President of the Continental Congress: “when the Enemy first discovered our Works in the morning, they seemed to be in great confusion.”
General Howe and the British forces now had two choices: abandon the city of Boston or immediately attack the patriot position. Certainly the heavy British losses sustained during the Battle of Bunker Hill was in the back of Howe’s mind and ultimately, the decision was made to evacuate Boston (although he did initially prepare for an attack). After an agreement was struck between General Howe and General Washington (to allow the British troops to evacuate unmolested in exchange for not burning the city to the ground), British forces officially evacuated the city on March 17, 1776.
Thanks to the incredible efforts of Colonel Henry Knox and his men, combined with the patience and fortitude of General Washington and the thousands of patriots who maintained the siege of Boston, the first patriot victory of the American Revolutionary War occurred on Dorchester Heights.
Interesting Facts
- To this day, March 17th is proudly celebrated by Bostonians as “Evacuation Day”
- Henry Knox actually departed on his expedition as a Lieutenant Colonel; however, the Continental Congress approved his appointment to Colonel while he was away. It wasn’t until Knox’s return to Boston on January 24, 1776, that learned of his appointment
- The incredible feat of dragging 60 tons of cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston has been dubbed the “Noble Train of Artillery” and also the “Knox Expedition”
Our Visit & Recommendations
Historic Dorchester Heights (95 G Street, Boston, MA) is managed by the Boston National Historical Park, as part of the National Park Service (NPS). There is no admission fee and the grounds are open from dawn until dusk, seven days a week. While there is no dedicated parking lot, there is usually a few street parking spots on the outskirts of the hill; however, be sure to read the signage before parking and leaving your car.
As you ascend the stone steps to the heights of Dorchester, you will immediately be taken by the commanding view that they still hold, despite the many trees, buildings, and other modern impediments. It is easy to see how fortifying these heights with heavy cannons would pose a significant threat to the city and ships below!
Although most of the original stretch of Dorchester Heights has been largely leveled, built upon, and transformed from how they looked in 1776, today’s park is established on the one remaining peak: Telegraph Hill. The elliptical park is easily accessible by a network of pathways and there are a number of monuments and markers around the park- be sure to take your time, walk the path, and check each of them out.
The centerpiece of the park is the white marble monument (dedicated on March 17, 1902), which towers above the neighborhood. A design competition for a monument was held in the late 1890s and ultimately, the monument standing today was designed by Peabody and Stearns (with a $25,000 budget- nearly $800,000 today). The 115-foot tall monument is meant to resemble a Puritan meeting house steeple.
Perhaps the best part about visiting Dorchester Heights is that its very dog friendly! The grassy hilltop is a favorite spot for locals to bring their dogs or have a picnic. So if you are traveling with your pup, feel free to bring them along (just be sure to keep them leashed).
For more information, please visit the National Park Services page for Dorchester Heights.