Richard Frothingham
The Command in the Battle of Bunker Hill
With a Reply to "Remarks on Frothingham's History of the Battle, by S. Swett"
"The Command in the Battle of Bunker Hill" by Richard Frothingham is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. The work specifically delves into the controversial topic of command during the American Revolutionary War's pivotal Battle of Bunker Hill, reviewing varying accounts and claims about the roles of prominent figures such as Generals Putnam and Prescott. The author aims to clarify the conflicting narratives surrounding who commanded the American forces during the battle, thereby contributing to the ongoing discourse of military history. At the start of the book, Frothingham explains his motivation for writing this history, stemming from his previous work on the Siege of Boston. He notes the discrepancies in accounts regarding the command structure during the Bunker Hill battle, with claims made by different individuals about who led the troops. Frothingham emphasizes that much of the testimony regarding command is conflicted and colored by the perspectives of participants reflecting decades later, and he pledges to rely on more immediate historical documents to arrive at his conclusions. The opening sets the stage for a detailed examination of primary sources and various claims surrounding the roles of Putnam and Prescott, crafting an objective narrative rooted in historical evidence.