Prospect Hill

Prospect Hill Monument, 68 Munroe St, Somerville, MA 02143

This section was originally part of the town of Charlestown, but it is now part of Somerville MA.

Modern Somerville had a few forts from 1775-1779 – Winter Hill Fort, Ploughed Hill Fort, Cobble Hill Fort, Number Three Fort aka Red House Fort, and this site called Prospect Hill Fort aka Paterson’s Fort.

As one of the hills closest to the city of Boston, Prospect Hill played a pivotal role in the line of defensive works constructed after the Battle of Bunker Hill. There was a large continental army fortification here after General Israel Putnam led retreating colonial troops to safety following the Breed's Hill/ Bunker Hill loss. They built it up and then sustained attacks from British cannons on the north and west sides of Boston.

Prospect Hill Fort/ Peterson’s Fort was used as a POT camp from 1777-1788 fir British and Hessian troops captured at Saratoga NY. They were then transferred south to Maryland and Virginia.

This is considered the location where George Washington hoisted the first flag to represent Continental Congress, called First Navy Ensign and was later replaced by the Grand Union flag in 1777. As pictured in the first link, many battle flags of the American Revolution carried religious inscriptions.

(see Minute Men for more on the continental army)

-Source Links-

https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel03.html#obj091

https://www.nps.gov/places/prospect-hill-ma.htm

https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/maboston1.html

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/siege-of-boston-map.htm