-
1781 BCE
Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis went to Yorktown. Washington was preparing an assault on New York with French help. A French fleet was heading for Virginia. Plans for New York were abandoned. Washington executed a quick gathering of soldiers at the Chesapeake. Cornwallis asked the army in New York for aid. They clashed with French ships. Thomas Graves left Cornwallis after a few days. A French unit got in the Chesapeake. The British army fell under the attacks. Americans win casualties 252 Americans 635 British. -
First Continental Congress
Took place in Philadelphia, and delegates from all of the colonies except for Georgia took part. They demanded that the Intolerable Acts be repealed, and declared that colonies had the right to self-government and to tax themselves as well. Congress made training militias a priority and boycotted British goods. They would meet again in May of 1775 if demands were not met. -
Battle of Lexington
Under the new governor of Massachusetts the soldiers went out capture colonial leaders then to collect gun powder. The minutemen were warned by Paul Revere about the British soldiers coming. During the confrontation a shot rang out. This is known as"The Shot Heard Around The World."Winners of the battle were British and they won because they had more men. On the colonists side 49 men were killed, 39 wounded, and 5 missing, while on the British side 73 were killed, 174 wounded, and 26 missing. -
Battle of Ticonderoga
Ethan Allen and other patriots known as the Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga just as the Second Continental Congress Began. The victory went to the patriots with no deaths and gave them colonies much needed weaponry, such as cannons. This group won because it was a surprise attack at dawn and the British were not prepared for it. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Delegates were split between declaring independence from Britain and working for peace. All of them knew they needed to prepare for war and they formed the Continental army, making George Washington the commander, and printed paper money to pay for the expenses. They also sent out the Olive Branch petition stating they were loyal to the king, but the colonies were still labeled as rebels. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle actually took place on Breed's Hill closer to the British position. General William Howe sent his British troops uphill to attack thinking the Americans would flee. Instead the Americans would wait until the British got within 15 paces and open fire. On the 3rd wave the Americans ran out of ammunition and hand to hand combat ensued. Winners - British; Killed/Hurt - 2,300 British; Over 400 Americans. -
Battle of Quebec
The battle of Quebec started on December 30th and ended on December 31st. Two armies lead by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold tried to invade Canada and take Quebec. They failed in this mission due to severe winter weather, sickness, and hunger. Americans withdrew and left Canada to the British. -
Battle of Long Island
After the Declaration of Independence the British Army successfully moved against the Continental Army. The battle was part of a British campaign to seize control of New York and isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. Washington’s defeat could have led to the surrender of his entire force, but he instead escaped at night with some men still left back at camp with fires as a trick and continue the fight, British win. Casualties: 357-British, 1100-Americans. -
Battle of Fort Washington
The Hessians captured Fort Washington making another British win. One of the American deserters navigated through the sunken ships and the land forces attacked. American forces had to surrender, losing their supplies. Casualties: 458 Americans, 155 British. -
Battle of Trenton
The Hessian men were exhausted and unprepared for Washington’s attack. As he approached the town, Washington divided his men. Rall attempted to rally his troops but was never able to establish a defensive perimeter, and was shot from his horse and fatally wounded. The Hessians quickly surrendered. Americans win, casualties: 5 American, 108 British. -
Battle of Barndywine
William Howe's army on ships sailed to Chesapeake Bay. Soon George Washington learned about this and marched his army to Chadd's Ford. Howe sent Charles Cornwallis with to cross Brandywine. Cornwallis surprised the right wing of the American army, drove it back, and Washington was forced to retreat. Howe occupied Philadelphia and captured the forts below the city of Philadelphia. The American army were forced to retire to Valley Forge. British win casualties 577 British 900 Americans. -
Battle of Saratoga(Freeman's Farm)
Americans had regrouped under Horatio Gates. In support Washington sent Benedict Arnold, Daniel Morgan, a regiment of Virginia riflemen, two brigades of Continentals, and Thaddeus Kosciusko who built field fortifications on Bemis Heights. During the attack Arnold got Gates out of his defensive mentality. A struggle raged on a clearing called Freeman’s Farm. Arnold poured in new regiments until Gates broke off the action, leaving the British in possession of the ground. -
Battle of Saratoga(Bemis Heights)
After fortifying his camp and waiting for reinforcements from New York, Burgoyne attempted another assault. Ignoring orders from Gates to remain in his quarters, Arnold joined the fighting and led an attack that captured key strong points, forcing the British to retreat to Saratoga (modern Schuylerville). Surrounded by an outpouring of militia, Burgoyne surrendered ten days later. Americans win; Casualties 300 Americans 1135 British. Americans win because they were underestimated by British. -
Battle of Cowpens
Nathanael Greene divided troops in the Carolinas fight British on multiple fronts. Daniel Morgan went to the back country. In response General Charles Cornwallis dispatched troops and General Tarleton to capture him. Morgan moved his men to a river at Cowpens. During the attack they fought but left the front line after firing two rounds. This wast mistook as a retreat. British ran into rifle fire, and cavalry charge but Tarleton escaped. Americans win, Casualties 149 Americans, 310 British.
