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Ticonderoga
The battle of Fort Ticonderoga was located on Lake Champlain in New York. Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont attacked the British sleeping garrison were were occupying the fort. It was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War, which boosted morale and provided artillery and weapons for the rest of the war. -
Bunker Hill
America soldiers were surrounding Boston. The British soldiers took Bunker and Breeds hill as a tactical advantage in their efforts to save their valuable sea ports. The Americans went to defend the hills, but were defeated by the British. Although they lost, they inflicted many injuries, deaths, and losses onto the British, which boosted moralle for future battles. More colonists started to join the army, building up the strength of their military. -
Trenton
1,400 Hessian soldiers resided in Trenton and were being commanded by Colonel Johann Rall. The garrison was still tired from the previous night's Christmas celebrations. Washington's men were divided into groups. One with Washington, another with General Nathaniel Greene, and another with General John Sullivan. Colonel Henry Knox fired cannons on to the Hessian garrison. The Hessian troops were unprepared and Rall was shot from his horse and killed. They surrendered to the Americans. -
Princton
Washington sent troops to destroy a bridge at Princeton under the leadership of General Hugh Mercer. On the way, they encountered British soldiers with Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood and Mercer was killed. Colonel Cadwalader arrived, but did not help much. Then, Washington and his men arrived on horses and finally were able to break through enemy lines. The Americans won the Battle of Princeton and took prisoners, weapons, and supplies. They then withdrew. -
Saratoga
The British troops were led by General John Burgoyne. The Americans were led by Major General Horatio Gate, General Benedict Arnold, General Benjamin Lincoln, Colonel Daniel Morgan, and General Enoch Poor. The British won the first part of the battle. On October 7th, the British were forced to retreat to Saratoga where the Americans surrounded them. They surrendered ten days later. This American victory boosted morale and convinced the French to ally with the Americans. -
Brandywine
Under the leadership of General Sir William Howe and General Charles Cornwallis, 18,000 British soldiers attack George Washington and his troops at Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania. General Howe and Cornwallis split their troops into two groups. The morning was foggy, which allowed the troops to hide in the fog and to attack the unsuspecting Americans. Washington didn't know they had split into two groups and commanded his troops to withdraw and retreat to Germantown, Pennsylvania. -
Monmouth
The American troops were led by General George Washington as they departed Valley Forge and traveled across the Delaware River. Their intent was to attack the British General Sir Henry Clinton and his soldiers as they moved from Philadelphia to New York. American Major General Charles Lee led 5,000 soldiers to attack the British at Monmouth, New Jersey. He was forced to retreat as Washington advanced. The fighting ended with both sides claiming victory. -
Cowpens
In Cowpens, South Carolina, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan led the American troops defeated the British forces, led by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Morgan's plan consisted of three lines. The front line had 150 riflemen. The second line had 300 militiamen with muskets. The third line held the main force. More than 800 British soldiers were killed, injured, or taken prisoner. There were less than 100 American casualties. -
Yorktown
General George Washington led 17,000 French and American troops in the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia. They attacked 9,000 British troops under the leadership of General Lord Charles Cornwallis. Marquis de Lafayette and 5,000 soldiers blocked the British escape by land while the French blocked their escape by sea. Washington and his men surrounded Yorktown and forced Cornwallis to surrender after three weeks of fighting. This battle ended the Revolutionary War.
