Musket that fired the first shot of the Battle of Bunker Hill is auctioned by family of Revolutionary War soldier who was court martialed for shooting at Redcoats prematurely and whose grandson Ulysses S. Grant became president

  • Flintlock musket that started the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 is for sale
  • John Simpson, who shot the flintlock musket, was the grandfather of President Ulysses Grant 
  • The musket is expected to sell for up to $300,000 in an auction this month 
  • The musket has been handed down to Simpson descendants through the years
  • At least 100 Americans died at Bunker Hill with more than 300 injured  

By Jerry Barmash For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

The musket that fired the first shot at the Battle of Bunker Hill is being sold by the family of the man who pulled the trigger.   

John Simpson's .79 Dutch flintlock musket is expected to fetch up to $300,000.

The soldier ignored an order by Colonel William Prescott to only fire when 'you see the whites of their eyes'. 

Instead, Simpson shot his weapon far too early at the Redcoats and was hauled before a court martial after the 1775 battle in Boston in the Revolutionary War. 

This is the original weapon that started the Battle of Bunker Hill is up for auction

This is the original weapon that started the Battle of Bunker Hill is up for auction 

The musket that started the Battle of Bunker Hill is available for the highest bidder

The musket that started the Battle of Bunker Hill is available for the highest bidder

A close up of the flintlock musket originally owned by John Simpson. It could net up to $300,000 in auction

A close up of the flintlock musket originally owned by John Simpson. It could net up to $300,000 in auction

Red Coats and Colonists stage a reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill in Durham, New Hampshire

Red Coats and Colonists stage a reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill in Durham, New Hampshire 

When the Redcoats came within several dozen yards, the rest of the American infantrymen let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire.

The British retreated before reassembling and charging up the hill twice more. The Americans were badly outnumbered and were finally forced to retreat.

More than 100 Americans and at least 200 British soldiers were killed. 

The battle was seen as a turning point because although the British forced the Americans to retreat, they did so at huge cost to life.   

Redcoat commanders realized that the militia were a force to be reckoned with and changed tactics after this battle to avoid full frontal assaults on well defended lines.   

Three weeks afterwards George Washington took command of the Continental Army. 

The Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775 came on the heels of Battle of Lexington and Concord that starting the Revolutionary War.  

Simpson was court martialed for disobeying his commander's orders but was only lightly reprimanded and soon returned to duty.

The Simpson family is inextricably woven into the tapestry of American history.

John Simpson was the grandfather of Civil War hero and President Ulysses Simpson Grant. He was the great-grandfather of explorer Meriwether Lewis, who led the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 

President Ulysses S. Grant, during his time as military commander, was grandson of John Simpson who fired the initial shot at Battle of Bunker Hill

President Ulysses S. Grant, during his time as military commander, was grandson of John Simpson who fired the initial shot at Battle of Bunker Hill

After being handed down for generations, the musket that prematurely started the Battle of Bunker Hill is for sale to the public

After being handed down for generations, the musket that prematurely started the Battle of Bunker Hill is for sale to the public 

The legendary musket from the Revolutionary War is taking bids for purchase

The legendary musket from the Revolutionary War is taking bids for purchase 

A piece of American history: the Dutch .79 flintlock musket from the Battle of Bunker Hill is on the auction block

A piece of American history: the Dutch .79 flintlock musket from the Battle of Bunker Hill is on the auction block

The Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard partake in commemorative exercises fr Bunker Hill Day

The Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard partake in commemorative exercises fr Bunker Hill Day  

Simpson's descendants have passed the musket from generation to generation, until the current owner decided it was time for someone in the public to finally take possession. 

After doing research on the historical artifact, historian Jonathan Holstein said: 'It became clear that he was the direct inheritor of this from John Simpson, the man who, against orders, fired the first shot at Bunker Hill.'

Losing the battle notwithstanding, the flintlock musket remains a legendary piece from the Revolutionary War. 

'The musket is like the Liberty Bell," Holstein told WBUR. 'It's a crucial, material document of a pivotal moment in American history. And I think that's the way they [the owner] see it.' 

Morphy's is running the collector firearms auction on Oct. 22-23 with online bids already being accepted.    

 

 


 

 

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