This is the third in a series.

In June 1775, the first major battle of the American War for Independence was fought at Bunker Hill outside Boston. Here the disorganized local militia, outnumbered, short of gunpowder and without bayonets, were finally driven off the hill, giving the Red Coats a major victory.

A look at documents and letters written at the time by the winners show winning a battle doesn’t guarantee winning the war.