American Revolution Major Battle Timeline (SOURCE: http://theamericanrevolution.org/battledetail.aspx?battle=21)

By wimelker

  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

    The battles at Lexington and Concord were the first technical battles of the American Revolution. As the battle began, the militia was outnumbered and retreated, but then returned to take down three troops of the King's men. Thanks to notifications from scouts such as Paul Revere, the minutemen ambushed the British, who retreated to Boston. The Massachusetts Militia began the Siege on Boston. The Patriots considered it a victory and proof they were not to be messed with.

  • Siege of Fort Ticonderoga

    Fort Ticonderoga became a colonial objective due to its strategic position and what it held inside. On May 10, about 100 men snuck into the fort whilst the Garrison was asleep. They held the officers at gunpoint, who quickly surrendered the fort.

  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    General William Prescott found out that Bunker Hill was a crucial vantage point, as it overlooked Boston and the Boston Harbor. In the morning, the British found the hill to be fortified and attacked. They charged the hill, expecting to overtake the hill easily. Instead, the colonists stayed put and only fired when the British were in range. After being pushed back twice, the British broke through and took the hill. However, this battle proved that the Patriots had a chance at winning the war.

  • Battle of Saratoga

    General John Burgoyne of Britain led his men up the Hudson River, using multiple lines of soldiers to capture two american forts. Although the British barely won the battle after two days, it was a major turning point as the British began to retake control.

  • Battle of Monmouth

    The New Jersey militia reported that the British were falling back into Valley Forge. 11,000 patriots led by George Washington sent a small group to disrupt the redcoats. They did not destroy the massive British column of soldiers, but certainly weakened it. The battles shift towards the South.

  • Capture of Savannah

    A mere 850 colonial troops attempted to defend the city of Savannah, Georgia, from triple the amount of redcoats. 400 patriots were captured and the Patriots were forced to retreat and regroup to South Carolina. The city was used as a site for other battles and forts until the war ended. Luck was beginning to lean towards the British again...

  • Battle of Cowpens

    This battle was a shift in power, as the Patriots began to retake South Carolina. The Patriots decided their troops couldn't meet the British's power directly, so they planned to trick them with weaker troops and then ambush them. The strategy worked, and with the help of cavalry, the British surrendered. There weren't many casualties, as nearly 75 percent of British troops (wounded or healthy) were taken prisoner. With Cowpens retaken, the British forces in South Carolina gradually fell.

  • Battle Of Yorktown

    Cnl. Washington was convinced that if the Colonists retook Yorktown, British troops would completely fall. 7,000 French and American soldiers marched to Virginia. British gunners opened fired but as the Patriots approached, outer defenses were pulled back to be strategically placed. Artillery was put in place, and by October 11th, French and American troops were bombarding and assaulting the British. Five days later, the British surrendered. This was the final major battle and concluded the war.