Revolutionary War: Battles
Bunker Hill
American troops are dug in along the high ground of Breed's Hill, when attacked by a group of over 2,000 British soldiers coming up the hill. The British soldiers are hot in their military attire, and their numbers are worn down by the Americans. The Americans eventually run low on ammo, & are forced to throw stones. "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." The British regroup under Gen. William Howe & attack again 30 mins later. By the third attack, the British have won.
January 3, 1777
Battle at Princeton
December 25-26, 1776
Battle at Trenton
October 17, 1780
Battle at Yorktown
August 27-29, 1776
Battle of Long Island (actually takes place in Brooklyn)
June 27-28, 1778
Battle of Monmouth
October 17, 1777
Battle of Saratoga
October 28, 1776
Battle of White Plains
September 26, 1777
British forces under General William Howe occupy Philadelphia. Washington's army retreats to Valley Forge.
June 17, 1775
Bunker Hill
May 12, 1780
Charleston
November 15, 1777
Congress adopts its first plan for a new government, called the Articles of Confederation
September 3, 1783
Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris
March, 1776
Dorchester Heights
May 10, 1775 (Fort Ticonderoga)
Ethan Allen & Benedict Arnold arrive @ Fort Ticonderoga. They clash over who will get credit for the capture of the fort. (Allen gets credit)
November 25, 1783
Evacuation Day. British soldiers board the ship for GB. They are joined by any remaining loyalists who refuse to pledge allegiance to the US. America is truly a nation of patriots.
Battle of Saratoga
First major American victory of the war. Burgoyne had hoped to meet Howe & capture NY, while Howe never showed. Four main military leaders: *Horatio Gates*, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, Enoch Poor. Gates gets all the credit for defeating Gen. Burgoyne, inflicting 600 British casualties. American losses are only 150. Burgoyne & his army of 5,700 surrender to the Americans. The British were marched back to Boston & sent on ships back to GB. News of the victory travels to Europe & boosts support of Americans. France is especially happy, now recognizing American independence.
Battle at Yorktown
French naval ships join American forces in bombarding Gen. Cornwallis's men day and night. Allied forces slowly advance & surround the British. British supplies run dangerously low, & they are rendered incapable of rescue by land or sea. As Yorktown is about to be taken, the British send out a flag of truce. Washington & Cornwallis then work out terms of surrender. Ends up being the last battle of the war.
August 3, 1780
GW appoints Benedict Arnold as commander of West Point, in an attempt to give him recognition for his efforts so far. Unknown to the Americans, Arnold had been supplying the British w/ American information since May of 1779
Battle of Monmouth
GW sends troops from Valley Forge to intercept Gen. Clinton. The troops fight to a standoff, & the battle ends in a draw. American General Charles Lee disobeys orders from GW, & orders his men to surrender. GW is furious at Lee, & puts him on trial for insubordinance-part of the trial is held in Paramus, NJ.
Lexington and Concord-British Action
General Gage orders troops to march to Concord, MA and seize colonial weapons
June 15, 1775
George Washington is appointed commander of the Continental Army
Dorchester Heights
George Washington's first non-fail of the war. The Americans had just received an abundance of weapons & canons from Fort Ticonderoga. They use the weapons to capture Boston. While Knox had forgotten to bring any way to light the many cannons, their presence alone was enough to scare the British, who acknowledged that they had lost power of Boston, and fled the city. GW then rushed to NY to set up defenses.
November, 1776
RETREATS: The British gain more victories, taking Fort Washington & Fort Lee to Cornwallis. Washington's army suffers 3,000 casualties in the two defeats. Washington then abandons the NY area, retreating westward toward the Delaware River. Cornwallis now pursues him. Morale is very low
December 11, 1776
RETREATS: Washington leads his men across the Delaware River, into retreat in PA.
Lexington and Concord-Colonial Reaction
Minutemen intercept the British and engage in battle-first at Lexington, and then at Concord
September 22, 1776
Nathan Hale is caught spying on British troops on Long Island, & executed without trial.
April 19, 1775
Lexington and Concord
Results of the Battle of Saratoga-Why was it so important?
1) French sign a treaty of alliance, stating their open support of the colonies, & agreeing that neither the French nor the Colonists will make amends w/ GB. 2) The British change their battle strategy: they decide to turn their focus to the southern colonies, & take advantage of their excellent navy, remaining near the coast. Saratoga was hugely important bc it solidified the confidence of the French in the colonies. W/o the aid of the French, the colonies never could have won the war.
Henry Knox
A powerful man, trusted to handle any task. When GW needs weapons from Fort Ticonderoga, he sends Knox to retrieve them, finishing the job Allen & Arnold left undone.
Battle of White Plains
After evacuating his men from Manhattan, GW's army faces heavy casualties against Gen. Howe's forces. Washington then retreats westward, sneaking across the Hudson River & up the Palisades to Fort Lee
February 27, 1782
In GB, the House of Commons votes against further war in America. 1 week later, Parliament empowers the King to negotiate peace with the United States.
September 23, 1780
Information surfaces suggesting Benedict Arnold's disloyalty to the Continental Army. Arnold flees West Point to be named a general in the British army, begin fighting against the Americans as a traitor.
July 23, 1777
Instead of following Burgoyne, General William Howe sets sail from NY to Chesapeake Bay , to capture Philadelphia.
December 29, 1778
The British begin their campaign in the south, capturing Savannah, GA, and Augusta, a month later.
June 17, 1777
The British plans a massive attack from Canada under John "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne. Burgoyne sails down Lake Champlain toward Albany, sending word to Howe to meet him there. The plan is to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies.
Battle at Trenton
The Continental Army's morale is very low from the losses of the previous year. Soldier's enlistment contracts are about to be up, and Washington needs a victory to convince his men to re-enlist. He leads his troops across the Delaware River at night, conducting a surprise raid on 1,500 British-Hessians stationed in Trenton the next morning (Christmas Day). They were so unsuspecting & hungover that they could barely defend themselves.
October 17, 1779
Washington sets up winter quarters at Morristown. Troops face another harsh winter w/o desperately needed supplies, resulting in low morale.
Battle of Long Island
Washington's men are met by British troops that outnumber them 2 to 1. He suffers a severe defeat as his troops are outflanked & scatter. Americans retreat to Brooklyn Heights, still in danger of capture by the British. In the dark of night, GW sneaks his army across the East River in small boats to escape to Manhattan. He then evacuates NYC & begins his retreat.
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington's troops set up camp at Valley Forge. It's located on a plateau, overlooking Philadelphia, PA. In Philly, the British are enjoying the warm hospitality of the city's Loyalist population. The winter is harsh, & GW's troops are suffering. GW loses 20% of his men to disease, frostbite, or starvation. Morale is at an all-time low. Lafayette & von Steueben are able to train the troops.
Winter of 1776-1777
Winter Encampment at Morristown- Continental army is in a better mindset after their win at Trenton. Both sides now choose to follow European rules of war, and stop fighting for "winter camp." Winter is harsh, & GW's army shrinks to about 1,000 men
Winter of 1777-1778
Winter Encampment at Valley Forge
Charleston
Worst American defeat of the war. The British capture Charleston, SC & the entire southern American army stationed here (5,400 men). British losses are only 225
