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Event · Significance tier 2

March 4–5, 1776

Continental forces fortify Dorchester Heights

Washington’s forces moved heavy guns onto the heights overlooking Boston, making the British position increasingly untenable.

Category
armed conflict
Episode relations
1

Episode coverage

Episode 2

substantial · spoken: caption verified

Visual check: sequence context

Why this coverage: The sequence gives the March 4 operation, overnight fortification, artillery position, and its command over Boston.

Caption entry: 01:30:57.018

Reviewed sequence context: ep2-cue-08-boston-evacuation

Why it matters

The operation converted the capture of Ticonderoga and Henry Knox’s artillery transport into a decisive result at Boston.

Why this tier

Dorchester Heights forced the first major British evacuation of the war without a costly assault.

Counterfactual test: Without the artillery position, the siege could have continued or ended through a far bloodier attack.

Evidence trail

  • episode-2-srt-local
  • pbs-episode-2-guide

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