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There were many brave men at Charlestown on June 17th, 1775. Among them was Peter Salem, an African American.
Salem was a slave and had been given his freedom in exchange for enlisting in the provincial army. He was noted at the Battle of Bunker Hill for
great bravery.
Peter Salem has been credited with killing British Major Pitcairn, in the redoubt and at the height of combat. In
John Trumbull's famous painting "Battle at Bunker's Hill" shown below, Major Pitcairn is dying under the British flag, being held up by his son and
another officer.
John Trumbull was in the provincial army, and was at Roxbury during the battle of Bunker Hill at Charlestown. He had interviewed many of the participants
from this important battle. Peter Salem is believed to be in Trumbull's painting also. Salem is at the far right, observing the
carnage and death of General Warren. The image above shows Salem behind an American officer, and the image below
is the entire painting, with Salem on the far right.
Please note that Trumbull's painting is facing east, at the edge of the redoubt which was being overrun by the British. Salem had to be one of
the last soldiers to leave the redoubt, exiting to the north on the opposite side of this image. Most Americans were killed on the retreat from
Breed's Hill to Bunker Hill.
Peter Salem also served at Saratoga and Stony Point.
It is important to note that many African Americans participated in the war on the American side. There was little indication slavery would be
abolished in the new republic, and in Virginia the British had even recruited slaves promising eventual freedom (Britain completely abolished
slavery in 1833).
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