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Major Battles of the American Revolution

  • Battle of Lexington and Concord

    A British force from the Boston garrsion attempts to seize military supplies of the Massachusetts miltia, sparking the first military engagement of the Revolution
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    Siege of Boston

    After the Battle of Bunker Hill the British remained in Boston, surrounded by an ever growing number of Continental soldiers. The Continental Congress appointed George Washington to command American forces around Boston. The Americans occupied Dorchester Heights from where their guns could hit any British ship in the harbor. The British were forced to withdraw from Boston.
  • Capture of Ticonderoga

    Capture of Ticonderoga
    Benedict Arnold of Massachusetts joined Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont in a dawn attack on the fort, surprising and capturing the sleeping British garrison. Although it was a small-scale conflict, the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War, and would give the Continental Army much-needed artillery to be used in future battles.
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Battle of Bunker Hill
    Early in the Revolutionary War, the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces led by General Israel Putnam ,inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost.
  • Attack on Quebec

    Attack on Quebec
    Amercian forces, under generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold, attack the city of Quebec in a failed attempt to drive the Britsh forces from the province and enlist Candian support.
  • Battle of New York

    They began the effort by recapturing New York. First, they drove Washington off Long Island; then, from lower Harlem. After this initiative, Washington retreated to White Plains, where for the first time, he was able to hold off the British forces. The British, then again, outmanuevered Washington. Washington was forced to retreat to New Jersey.
  • Battle of Trenton

    Battle of Trenton
    Washington defeated a formidable garrison of Hessian mercenaries before withdrawing. The victories reasserted American control of much of New Jersey and greatly improved the morale and unity of the colonial army and militias.
  • Battle of Princeton

    Battle of Princeton
    Howe sent troops south to take on Washington in Trenton. The American troops sidestepped the British forces in Trenton, instead battling them in Princeton. The Battle of Princeton fought on Jan 3, 1777 was won by the Americans at the last moment, forcing the British to withdraw to New Brunswick.
  • Battle of Orinsky

    Battle of Orinsky
    An American relief force sent to relieve the siege of Fort Schuyler was ambushed by British and Native Americans at Orinsky. The Americans managed to fight themselves out of the ambush, severly depleting the British forces and opening the way for the later relief of the fort.
  • Battle of Bennington

    Battle of Bennington
    The British suffered a major defeat when New England militia men ambushed a large force of British soldiers attempting to forage for supplies. The British force was almost wiped out, losing 207 dead and 700 captured.
  • Battle of Brandywine

    Battle of Brandywine
    At the end of August, General Howe brought his army south by sea, threatening Philadephia. On September 11th, Howe's forces attacked the American troops blocking his way to Philadelphia at Brandywine. In a day long battle, the British vanquished the American forces. The Americans, however, were able to extract their army.
  • Battle of Germantown

    Battle of Germantown
    After Howe had occupied Philadelphia, Washington attacked British troops at Germantown. The Americans planned a four pronged attack. The morning was foggy, and American coordination broke down. As a result, the attack failed, and the American troops were forced to withdraw.
  • Battle of Saratoga

    Battle of Saratoga
    The British strategy of cutting New England off from the rest of the rebelling colonies end in failure. The British surrender influences France's decision to declare war on Great Britain.
  • Battle of Monmouth

    Battle of Monmouth
    The British withdrew from Philadelphia with a large train of supplies. General Washington carefully followed the British and, near Monmouth Court House, ordered an attack on the rear of their train. The fight soon turned into a general engagement between British and American forces. The American lines broke until General Washington arrived and single-handedly rallied the American troops.
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    Siege of Charleston

    The British began a southern strategy by beginning a seige of Charleston. The siege lasted until May 9th when British artillery fire was close enough to set the town on fire and force a surrender.
  • Stoney Point Recaptured

    Stoney Point Recaptured
    In their first northward action since the surrender at Saratoga, the British captured the American fort at Stony Point. Under the direction of General Washington, the Americans recaptured the fort, suffering only minimal casualties.
  • Battle of Camden

    Battle of Camden
    Horatio Gates was at Camden, commanding a force of 1,400 Continentals. He was soon joined by patriot troops from Virginia and North Carolina. General Cornwalis was also in Camden, with an army of 3,000. Gates and Corwalis soon found themselves facing each other across a field. The two sides advanced on each other, with the British regulars opposite the Carolina militia men. After a few minutes, the Carolina line gave way. This led to a general crumbling of the American lines, and the American a
  • Battle of Cowpens

    Battle of Cowpens
    American General Morgan defeated a British force of regulars under the command of Colonel Tarleton. Morgan's troops enveloped the British in a classic military action that captured all of the British forces.
  • Battle of Guilford Courthouse

    Battle of Guilford Courthouse
    American forces under the command of General Greene attacked British forces commanded by General Cornwalis at Guilford Court House. The British forces won a tactical victory, but British losses were too heavy for Cornwalis' forces to bear. Thus the battle was an American win.
  • Battle of Hobkirk's Hill

    Greene placed his men on Hobkirk's Hill, a pine-covered ridge running east and west a mile north of Camden, South Carolina. It was to be a staging point for an attack on Camden. Lord Rowden attacked the American position first , and some of the Continental soldiers broke and ran, thus destroying the integrity of the American defensive line. Although the Battle of the Hobkirk's Hill was a tactical British victory, Rowden was forced to withdraw.
  • Battle of Eutaw Springs

    General Greene's last battle of the year took place at Eutaw Springs. There the Americans attacked the British, who were able to counterattack and repulse the Americans. The British however were too weak to continue and were forced to withdraw.
  • Battle of Yorktown

    Battle of Yorktown
    Last major battle of the American Revolution. Prompted the British government to negotiate an end to the conflict.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States of America.