Bunker Hill: Misnamed battle sparks a social media skirmish

BOSTON (AP) — The Battle of Bunker Hill — one of the greatest misnomers in U.S. history — has sparked a social media skirmish.

The 1775 battle, a rallying point for American colonists trying to overthrow British rule, mostly was fought a musket shot away on nearby Breed's Hill.

Descendants and supporters of the Breed clan are dueling with traditionalists online, and the dispute is part of a new book, Wicked Pissed:

Today, dozens of Boston-area businesses and institutions are named for Bunker Hill, including a community college, a high school, a golf course, a security company and an insurance agency.

The National Park Service, which runs the park surrounding the 221-foot granite obelisk that marks the spot, has no plans to rename it — though it does use hashtags such as #BreedsHillNotBunkerHill on social media posts in a halfhearted attempt to set the record straight.

Ted Reinstein, a reporter for WCVB-TV in Boston and author of "Wicked Pissed," captures in his book what he calls the "historic outrage."

Three years ago, the Bunkers gathered at the obelisk for a 100th reunion and invited the Breeds to engage in a friendly tug of war.