Final answer:
Major General Sir William Howe was the British General who decided on an attack on Breed's Hill, which is part of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Despite initial setbacks, the British took control of the hill after the Americans ran out of ammunition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The British General who decided on an attack on Breed's Hill was Major General Sir William Howe. On June 17, during the Battle of Bunker Hill, Howe ordered three assaults on the American fortifications at Breed's Hill. The first two attacks were repelled by the American forces, who utilized their fortified positions to inflict heavy casualties on the British troops. Despite bringing the wrong ammunition for their cannons and facing organizational challenges, the British, under Howe's command, eventually took control after the Americans ran short on ammunition.
After the third assault, the American forces, lacking the ammunition to continue the fight, were forced to abandon their positions. The British secured the area but at a high cost, with over 1,000 casualties, including fatalities and wounded, among them many officers. This encounter demonstrated to both sides the tenacity and capabilities of the American forces and led to a reevaluation of British leadership in the colonies.