Under the orders of the Committee of Safety in Massachusetts, Colonel Prescott fortified Bunker Hill and defend it until told otherwise. The troops built the fortification on Breed’s hill, a smaller hill but closer to Boston, and worked all night to finish in by morning.

            On June 16, 1775, the British began firing at the Americans to “soften the line”. The Americans were given not reinforcements and were undersupplied. In order to preserve their limited gun powder supply Prescott told his troops: “Do not fire until you see the white of their eyes!” This was because Prescott knew that their shots at the British would be more accurate if they were closer thereby resulting in fewer missed shots and wasted gun powder.

            The British attacked three times, receiving reinforcements and resupplying their ammunition between each attack. After the third assault from the British, Prescott gave the order to retreat. The soldiers began hand-to-hand combat and using their musket stocks to fend off the British soldiers. Prescott was one of the last American men to leave the fort at Bunker Hill.

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Source: https://www.revolutionary-war.net/colonel-william-prescott.html