Patriots of Color at Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston 17 June 1775, 5th Revision

This full-color book recounts the narratives and stories of Patriots of Color who are believed to have served at the Battle of Bunker Hill, sometimes called Breed’s Hill Battle, on 17 June 1775. It also includes all known men of color who served in the Siege of Boston, after the Lexington Alarm and up to the Battle of Bunker Hill. This is the only version authorized by the author.

While the stories of handfuls of soldiers of color (such as Peter Salem) have often been told, this project has restored those stories, added to them significantly and presented the new stories of many other men of color who served at Bunker Hill. During years of research, the author discovered much additional information about the individual lives of these men: their status (slave/free), their age, where they served, how they lived, who they married, where they resided and where they died. To honor these men, whenever possible, the author has attempted to trace these soldiers’ family genealogies down to their grandchildren, to link the distant past with a descendant in the present.

Old stories were deconstructed and carefully rebuilt after the discarding of unreliable sources. For proof of service and for vital records, primary sources have been sought in each and every instance. When primary sources were not available, reliable secondary sources were accepted. When neither of these were available, inclusion of a name in this book has been accepted on the sole basis of participation in a company that was either known to be in the Battle or one that only participated in the Siege.

The well-known, stirring tales of Bunker Hill will not be repeated herein; however, this work offers a significant new perspective on these events gained by the emergence from the long-lost past of the men of color portrayed herein. For men who possessed such dignity of purpose, a roll of honor has now been established. The memory of these men deserves no less.

George Quintal, Jr.

(2001, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2021, 2025), 2026, 8.5" x 11", paper, 266 pp.

ISBN: 9780788459146

101-Q5914