Hero at Bunker Hill
Peter Salem was born on October 1, 1750 to a slave mother in Framingham, Province of Massachusetts Bay. He fought in the opening battles of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord as part of the Minutemen under Captain Simon Edgell. During his 5 years fighting for America’s independence he also served in Captain Drury's company of Colonel John Nixon's 6th Massachusetts Regiment.
Salem was one of the heroes at one of the most significant revolutionary battles, the Battle of Bunker Hill. A British commander, Major John Pitcairn was shot at least a half dozen times in the battle. The final shot was a fatal wound to the head. Peter Salem was one of those struck the Major and according to some witnesses, he was the one who delivered the fatal blow.
The Battle of Bunker Hill (which took place on Breed’s Hill) was a tremendous morale boost for the patriot cause. After being commanded not to fire “until you see the whites of their eyes,” the patriots inflicted tremendous losses upon the advancing British troops. After being charge three times and running out of ammunition, the patriots has to retreat and give up ground to the British. However, the British got a taste of what they were in for and the patriots realized that they could go toe-to-toe with the most powerful army in the planet. This was thanks in no small part to Peter Salem and at least a dozen other black patriots at Bunker Hill including Phillip Abbot, Barzillai Lew, Salem Poor, Titus Coburn, Alexander Ames, Cato Howe, and Seymour Burr.
Salem was one of the heroes at one of the most significant revolutionary battles, the Battle of Bunker Hill. A British commander, Major John Pitcairn was shot at least a half dozen times in the battle. The final shot was a fatal wound to the head. Peter Salem was one of those struck the Major and according to some witnesses, he was the one who delivered the fatal blow.
The Battle of Bunker Hill (which took place on Breed’s Hill) was a tremendous morale boost for the patriot cause. After being commanded not to fire “until you see the whites of their eyes,” the patriots inflicted tremendous losses upon the advancing British troops. After being charge three times and running out of ammunition, the patriots has to retreat and give up ground to the British. However, the British got a taste of what they were in for and the patriots realized that they could go toe-to-toe with the most powerful army in the planet. This was thanks in no small part to Peter Salem and at least a dozen other black patriots at Bunker Hill including Phillip Abbot, Barzillai Lew, Salem Poor, Titus Coburn, Alexander Ames, Cato Howe, and Seymour Burr.