Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes

Putnam’s grandfather, Gen. Israel Putnam, perhaps best known to history for uttering the admonition “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” to soldiers in his command during the Battle of Bunker Hill, was among Revolutionary War officers who received Northwest Territory land grants as a reward for their service.

I was going to get a bag to haul them away and chop them up for our compost heap, but first I took a break and drank all the milk and then Mom caught me making a mess in the kitchen and chased me back to my room and I started reading about the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Bunker Hill and General Prescott’s order to his men: “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

Stories about the episode are believed to have popularised the famous order "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes".

“Do be cautious in approaching such deadly foes,” said Sahwah in a tone of mock anxiety, as Migwan came along with the sprayer, “take careful aim, and don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.”

Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.