Bunker Hill Flag

America's first flags evolved from the Union Jack and Red Ensign. The Puritans of Massachusetts objected to the St. George Cross and it was removed in 1635 leaving the white canton on the red flag. This flag was used for 50 years or more. Later a pine tree was added at the upper left corner.1 The pine tree became common in New England flags.

During the second week of June 1775, leaders of the colonial militia learned the British were planning on moving out from Boston and secure the hills that would give them control of Boston Harbor. The militia dug trenches on Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. On June 17th, they waited as the British approached. Then they gave a deadly volley. Three times the British charged until the militia was out of gunpowder and had to withdraw.

General Joseph Warren and physician died in the battle and artist John Trumball observed from a distance. He later made two paintings. The first was done between 1815 and 1834 and is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The images are in the public domain. A larger painting was done in 1834 and in the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. 2

John Trumball painting of Bunker Hill John Trumbull's Bunker Hill painting

Left picture is at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Right picture is at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

  1. DeBarr, Candice M. and Bonkowske, Jack A. Saga of the American Flag, An Illustrated History. Harbinger House, 1990. p. 15.
  2. "Battle of Bunker Hill." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2026, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_Hill. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

There is a monument in the Boston National Historic Park. https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/bhm.htm
“50 years after the battle, the Marquis De Lafayette set the cornerstone of what would become a lasting monument and tribute to the memory of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The ambitious project to construct a 221-foot tall obelisk built entirely from quarried granite took over seventeen years to complete. Dedicated in 1843, the Monument stands prominently atop Breed's Hill.”

Bunker Hill Monument

There were blue and red Bunker Hill flags. Troop 7 has the red field flag.

Bunker Hill Flag

Return to the flag index