"Don't Fire Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes"

The quote "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" was uttered by either American Colonel William Prescott or Major General Israel Putnam during the Battle of Bunker Hill.  Because gunpowder was so scarce, it was important that every shot fired counted.

Major General Israel Putnam

The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first large battle during the American Revolution.  It was fought on June 17, 1775, and most of the battle took place on nearby Breed's Hill.

This is an image of an oil on canvas by John Trumbull; depicting the death of Major General Joseph Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  

Colonel Prescott and Major General Putnam had asked that Joseph Warren be their commander.  Warren turned down the offer to command and volunteered to serve as a private, since both Prescott and Putnam were more experienced with war.

This oil painting is now displayed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.