There are very many reasons for the outbreak of revolutionary war in America. These include amongst others, long term dissatisfaction at the arrogance of British officers towards provincial soldiers (which actually continued throughout the conflict), stupidity on the part of Governors and misunderstanding by the British Government (exasperated by the distance/time factor). To this list must be added land speculation and its restrictions driving some of the leading separatists.

Whatever the causes "the shot that was heard around the world" was fired during the events at Lexington and Concord of 19th April 1775 and a revolution, was underway. By then the deteriorating situation in America had already caused the British Government to send more reinforcements to the "colonies" and on the 28th of April, a force which included the 35th Regiment of Foot set sail.

At this time amongst the 35th Regiment of Foot's Officers was a able young Ensign John Graves Simcoe (Later to achieve fame in leading the Queens Rangers). Arriving at Boston towards the end of May, the 35th's flank companies were ordered by General Gage (the British commander) into composite light and Grenadier battalions in order to defend the already heavily besieged Boston.

By this time the Command of the Revolutionary army had been given over to Major Artemas Ward who was persuaded to occupy Bunker Hill and several other commanding positions to further threaten the city and more importantly make the harbour untenable to British shipping. On the evening of 16th June four provincial "regiments"with two cannon, under Col. William Prescott and Richard Gridley, set off with the intention of fortifying Bunker Hill which overlooked both Charleston (already occupied by a force under Major Israel Putnam) and Boston.

On reaching Bunker Hill it appears the American leaders had a heated exchange concerning just which part of the terrain they would fortify. The final decision being that the main emplacement would be built on BREEDS HILL with a smaller supporting position to its rear on BUNKER HILL. Work began in the early hours and steadily progressed, despite the unavoidable noise the growing fortifications were only discovered by the British ships (which immediately opened fire) as dawn began to break.

General Gage and his senior officers must have been horrified by another and potentially lethal, threat and realized that they had to at the very least halt the threat the new rebel position posed. Howe was given command of the coming assault, which after consideration would be by boat across Boston Harbour with Clinton commanding support if needed.

By now all of Boston was well aware that a battle was forth-coming and clusters of spectators were soon seeking suitable roof top vantage points such as COPP'S Hill (British officers used this vantage point where they assembled a number of cannon to fire upon Charleston) to watch events. Between 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock in the afternoon Howe's force began rowing across the harbour supported by the cannon fire of several small warships.

Ward in Cambridge had by now sent 11 Regiments of Militia and 2 Artillery companies hurrying along the road to reinforce Prescott. Meanwhile Prescott, trying to delay the British landing, sent forward a small force with two cannon. However their commander, Knowton, soon realised this was somewhat futile (after seeing some of his men desert) and withdrew to a rail fence which they soon began fortifying, to the left of the main position.

By 3 o'clock in the afternoon Howe had his men ashore but knew by experience that what he was facing would need all of his men plus those of Clinton. He immediately sent off requests for Clinton to follow while he organized his assault line, under cover of a light infantry detachment and artillery fire. For the assault his force assumed a three line formation, the light infantry on the right, next to them the Grenadiers, in support to their left the 5th Foot, the 52nd Foot, 38th Foot and 43rd Foot.

Prescott, as the British were deploying, had been reinforced by much needed manpower, New Hampshire men under John Stark. These troops assumed a position between the Breeds Hill fortification and the rail fence, overlapping it fully down to the beach where they began erecting a wall (The rebel left flank was now secure). The American position was no longer an isolated artillery strong point, but a six hundred yard battle line from Charleston across the Peninsular on which Breeds hill stood and down to the beach.The line was manned by some 4000 men defending the redoubt, rail fence, beach wall and other fortifications.

Fearing the arrival of even more enemy reinforcements (Many of whom had already reached the causeway to the peninsular where they became jammed or refused to advance after coming under fire from ships of the Royal Navy) Howe decided upon a frontal attack. Ordering Pigott with light infantry which included those of the 35th to demonstrate against Charleston on the left. Howe himself would attack the rail fence while simultaneously outflanking the whole American line with light infantry thrown down the beach (Howe was at this point totally unaware of the growing wall Stark's New Hampshire men were building).

BUNKER HILL (BREEDS HILL)
Opening moves

Shortly after beginning the attack Pigott's men came under fire from Putnams men in Charleston and Howe ordered the town to be burnt.On the right the light infantry moved off down the beach with the 35th's Grenadiers to their left followed by the Grenadier battalion (to force the rail fence) supported by the 5th Foot and 52nd Foot. The light infantry on the beach soon ran into volleys from Stark's New Hampshire men and fell back with heavy casualties. Meanwhile the Grenadiers, struggling through broken ground came up against a wooden fence where they came under fire, instead of negotiating this obstacle, fire was returned, the supporting regiments ground to a halt in their rear and the attack faltered and then fell back.

Withdrawing and reforming his men Howe sought another attack on the beach and American left, but this was again driven off partly because the supporting artillery discovered they had been issued the wrong calibre ammunition. On the left with Charleston ablaze Pigott tried to attack Precott's main fortifications and were met and driven back by close range volley's controlled by Prescott's immortal words, "don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes".

Reorganizing his men, this time with Clinton's much needed reinforcements, Howe decided on a general attack along the line, supported by artillery (this time with the correct ammunition). Marines and the 47th Foot would force their way between Charleston and the redoubt and attack the south and west face of the fortification. On Breeds Hill ammunition was beginning to run out and with it confidence.

The British lines advanced, this time pushing aside the defence at bayonet point (Few bayonets were in American hands at this stage of the revolution) all along the rebel line, the breastwork being stormed by the 52nd Foot, Marines and 47th Foot. Prescott realized the position could not be held and ordered his men to fall back to the reserves on Bunker Hill, this was mirrored by Stark on his left.

Howe after several hours of continued activity, was both mentally and physically exhausted, Clinton advancing from the beach assumed command of what was by now pursuit. Clinton immediately advanced against Bunker Hill, which soon fell, he then aimed his men at the narrow causeway connecting the peninsular to the mainland Charleston Neck. However some of his pursuing troops, particularly Pigott's light infantry, ran into hastily formed groups of brave men fighting a rearguard action and sustained heavy casualties. The 35th's light company finished the action with all its officers killed or wounded and commanded by an ordinary veteran (alas his name is either unrecorded or yet to be discovered). The 35's Grenadiers finished with only 5 unwounded personnel.

Clinton eventually reached Charleston Neck and with the occasional exchange of fire the fighting died out and the total cost could be counted. For the British the cost was high 226 killed and 828 wounded while the figure for the rebel army lay between 400 and 600 killed or wounded. (Perhaps it should be remembered that this stage of the "revolution" it was probably thought wise, should the British prevail, not to have shown you had been wounded fighting the King).

"Bunker Hill" was, by any discription a costly victory, however Clintons words probably conveys the true meaning to the British. He states "A dear bought victory, another such would have ruined us."

Following the costly battle of  "Bunker Hill" the British army, now under the command of General Howe, endured an unpleasant winter in the increasingly besieged Boston. By the 17th March 1776 the situation had reached such a point that the city was no longer able to withstand the "Rebels" siege operations and the army was evacuated.

After a short period of defence building at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 35th embarked with and nine thousand strong force (which grew to some 32,000 men) and headed for New York. Brigaded with the 5th,28th and 49th Foot it took part (though not heavily engaged) in the battle of Long Island, a preliminary to the attack on New York itself.

On the 28th of October all companies of the 35th were involved in heavy fighting at White Plains, (North of New York) where the 35th were mentioned in Howe's despatches. On the 17th of November the 35th (all companies ) were again involved in the heavy fighting during the capture of Fort Washington (The light company amongst the massed light infantry being the first into the assault).

The 35th Regiment of Foot spent the following year, 1778, inactive garrisoning New York and in consequence became earmarked to be part of a force being assembled to act against the possessions of an old enemy---- France. France having entered the conflict on the American side (6th February 1778) following the surrender of General John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga the previous year.

Landing on St Lucia between the 12 and 13th of December the 35th was soon in action until the islands surrender on the 30th December 1778 loosing a number of men in the process (Regimental history only gives the looses for the whole force).

The 35th Regiment of Foot remained in the West Indies until the end of the American Revolution and stayed in that location until 1786, during which it received the county title of "The Dorsetshire Regiment of Foot". While back in the British Isles Charles Lennox (later 4th Duke of Richmond) joined the 35th Foot. Lennox proceeded to widely recruit men from his estates in Sussex so much so that in 1804 he was able to pursued the King to transfer the title "Sussex" from the 25th Foot ( later the Kings Own Scottish Borderers) to the 35th. But by this time Britain was once more at war with France this time fighting a European revolution.