Old Charlestown Neighborhoods [Salem Hill]

The three tallest hills in Charlestown are Bunker, Breeds, and Salem. Among these, Salem Hill is the shortest. It’s separated from Breeds by Elm Street, a shallow valley. The southwestern foot of Salem Hill is located at Main Street and faces Phipps Burying Ground. Overnight on April 16-17, 1775, American militia constructed a redoubt and intrenchment atop Breeds Hill. Their objective was to install cannons capable of destroying the British fleet, which was anchored below Breeds Hill in Boston Harbor. However, Bunker Hill was taller than Breeds Hill but was too distant from Boston Harbor for that specific purpose. Instead, Bunker served as a bivouac for replenishing American forces stationed at Breeds Hill. Cannon fire from British warships couldn’t reach the Americans atop Breeds Hill due to their low elevation. While a British naval bombardment could level the Town of Charlestown, it couldn't reach the American redoubt atop Breeds Hill. To address this threat, the British needed to deploy regiments of marines, light infantry, and grenadiers to eliminate the American redoubt. British forces landed at Moulton Point, the mouth of the Mystic River, and attempted to battle their way up Breeds Hill to reach the redoubt. Meanwhile, American rebels constructed breastworks of brush on Salem Hill to divert the British forces towards the rebel fort atop Breeds Hill, thereby protecting American reinforcements on Bunker Hill. Later, British reinforcement forces landed closer to the heart of Charlestown, at the mouth of the Charles River. By then, Charlestown’s central area had been burned down by the carcasses thrown over from Copps Hill in Boston. British warships bombarded the Charles River side of Salem Hill, but they were unable to reach the Mystic River side, where American snipers were engaged in a fierce battle with the landing British troops.