battle of breed's hill?

Question

who shot Major Pitcairn at the battle of Breed's Hill

Answer 1

Hey William,

This web site is complete with mood music.

"A musket ball struck Major Pitcairn in the breast and he fell into the arms of his son Lt. Thomas Pitcairn. This musket ball is believed to have been fired by Peter Salem (1750?-1816), a black American who was born a slave in nearby Framingham Massachusetts. According to one story, the colonial troops were near defeat, when Major Pitcairn ordered them to surrender. Salem then stepped forward and shot Pitcairn. The British were temporarily stunned, and the Americans were able to retreat. Another story tells that Salem took aim at Major Pitcairn as he was rallying the British troops and shot him through the head. The major fell dead just as he was shouting to his men: the day is ours. Peter Salem is said to have also participated at Lexington and Concord, and that he recognised Pitcairn from these events. Though the Peter Salem story is widely cited, there have been other claimants who professed to have shot Pitcairn."

Answer 2

A musket ball struck Major Pitcairn in the breast and he fell into the arms of his son Lt. Thomas Pitcairn. This musket ball is believed to have been fired by Peter Salem (1750?-1816), a black American who was born a slave in nearby Framingham Massachusetts. According to one story, the colonial troops were near defeat, when Major Pitcairn ordered them to surrender. Salem then stepped forward and shot Pitcairn. The British were temporarily stunned, and the Americans were able to retreat. Another story tells that Salem took aim at Major Pitcairn as he was rallying the British troops and shot him through the head. The major fell dead just as he was shouting to his men: the day is ours. Peter Salem is said to have also participated at Lexington and Concord, and that he recognised Pitcairn from these events. Though the Peter Salem story is widely cited, there have been other claimants who professed to have shot Pitcairn.