Alex Ogorzaly 5b American Revolutionary War Battles

Battles of Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

Commanding Officers/ Militia: USA = Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere
British = General Thomas Gage
Why It was significant: The battles of Lexington and Concord demonstrated the patriots' willingness to fight for their principles and for their property. And gave them hope that they could defeat Britain.

Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill

Jun 17, 1775

Commanding Officers/ Militia: USA = Colonel William Prescott and General Artemas Ward.
British = John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton, Thomas Gage, and William Howe.
Why it was significant: It convinced many patriots that a regular military establishment was unnecessary, thus adding to General George Washington's difficulties. The memory of the heavy casualties greatly affected Howe, who henceforth failed to press his victories. The battle also caused the British to employ mercenaries.

Battle of Trenton/ Princeton

Dec 26, 1776

Commanding officers/ militia: USA = George Washington
British = William Howe and Lord Cornwallis
Why it was significant: The success at Trenton was the only clear-cut victory personally commanded by Washington during the entire American Revolution, and it revived the will of the Americans to continue the war.

Battle at Fort Ticonderoga

Sep 18, 1777

Commanding officers/ Militia: Col. John Brown
British: John Burgoyne
Why it was significant: While the material gain from the raid was slight, the bold move gave a boost to the troops of the main American army lying in wait for Burgoyne at Saratoga.

Battle of Saratoga

Oct 7, 1777

Commanding officers/ militia: USA = Horatio Gates
British = John Burgoyne
Why it was significant: In early 1779, they were sent to Virginia, where they waited out the rest of the war. By that time, many of the men had deserted, especially the Germans, and only about half of Burgoyne's army that had surrendered at Saratoga made it back to Europe.

Siege of Charleston

May 12, 1780

Commanding officers/ militia: USA = Minutemen
British = Henry Clinton and Benjamin Lincoln
Why it was significant: The British suffered only 76 killed and 189 wounded. After the capture of Charleston there was no organized opposition to the British in South Carolina, and Patriot morale plumeted throughout the southern states.

Kings Mountain

Oct 17, 1780

Loyalist vs Seperatist
The Seperatist won the battle which is significant because it showed how badly most Americans wanted to be free from Britain.

Yorktown

Sep 28, 1781

Commanding officers/ Militia: USA= George Washington
British= William Cornwallis
Why it was significant: On October 19, 1881, an elaborate ceremony took place to honor the battle's centennial. U.S. naval vessels floated on Chesapeake Bay, and special markers highlighted where Washington and Lafayette's siege guns were placed. President Chester Arthur, sworn in only thirty days before, following James Garfield's death, made his first public speech as president.