Battles of the Revolutionary War

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Battles of the Revolutionary War

• Lexington-Concord, Bunker Hill, Trenton,
  Saratoga, Yorktown

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Timeline

• Setting the Stage After the Boston Tea Party in
  1773, British troops in the town of Boston were
  using their warships to keep Boston harbor
  closed. This cut off trade, crippled the economy,
  and put colonists out of work. British soldiers
  and colonists often fought in the streets and in
  the taverns. People became public or secret
  supporters of one side or the other. Tensions
  came to a head on April 18, 1775, when British
  General Thomas Gage, appointed royal governor of
  Massachusetts, sent 700 British soldiers to
  Lexington and Concord to confiscate weapons and
  ammunition being gathered by the colonists.

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Lexington - Concord

• Some of the colonists, warned about British troop
  movements, were waiting in Lexington when the
  British arrived the next morning. To this day no
  one knows for sure who fired first, but a shot
  rang out. The British soldiers fired a volley
  into the colonial militia, killing eight men and
  wounding 10. The British then moved on to Concord
  where minutemen drove back three British infantry
  units guarding Concords North Bridge. On their
  retreat back to Boston they were peppered by
  patriot snipers. By the time the redcoats reached
  Boston, they had suffered 273 casualties compared
  with fewer than 100 for the patriots.

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• Engravings in local newspapers incorrectly
  reported that the British, after attacking
  Lexington and Concord, raided and pillaged
  property all the way back to Boston. That news
  enraged patriots throughout the colonies. Within
  48 hours, militiamen from Connecticut, New
  Hampshire, and Massachusetts gathered in and
  around Cambridge, across the Charles River from
  Boston. The many differences that had separated
  the various colonies, including different
  religions, systems of government, and lifestyles,
  were set aside for a greater cause.

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• Slowly the colonial armies placed themselves
  under Massachusetts command and became a New
  England army. By mid-June 1775, approximately
  7,600 troops were camped in and around Cambridge,
  Mass.
• While the patriots were mobilizing, British
  General Gage tried to decide how best to deploy
  his 5,000 British regulars. He realized that
  whichever side could take control of the high
  ground around Boston would have the advantage in
  a battle. The British army set forth a plan to
  occupy the hills around Boston by late June.
• Fortunately for the patriots their leaders
  learned of the plan and resolved that the
  colonial army should beat the British to the high
  ground by fortifying the hills of Charlestown.

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Bunker Hill

• American troops are dug in along the high ground
  of Breed's Hill (the actual location) and are
  attacked by a frontal assault of over 2000
  British soldiers who storm up the hill. The
  Americans are ordered not to fire until they can
  see "the whites of their eyes." As the British
  get within 15 paces, the Americans let loose a
  deadly volley of rifle fire and halt the British
  advance. The British then regroup and attack 30
  minutes later with the same result. A third
  attack, however, succeeds as the Americans run
  out of ammunition and are left only with bayonets
  and stones to defend themselves. The British
  succeed in taking the hill, but at a loss of half
  their force, over a thousand casualties, with the
  Americans losing about 400, including important
  colonial leader, General Joseph Warren.

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Last try for peace

• July 5, 1775 - The Continental Congress adopts
  the Olive Branch Petition which expresses hope
  for a reconciliation with Britain, appealing
  directly to the King for help in achieving this.
  In August, King George III refuses even to look
  at the petition and instead issues a proclamation
  declaring the Americans to be in a state of open
  rebellion.

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Battle of Trenton

• The Battle of Trenton began on Christmas Day,
  December 1776, when General Washington's army was
  in a pitiful condition, and growing weaker.
  Troops were deserting, it was bitter cold and
  they lacked food, shoes and blankets.
• It was under these conditions that Washington
  made his famous crossing. He had heard from a
  scout that the Hessians, were spending the
  evening relaxing and enjoying food and wine.
  Washington decided to cross at night and surprise
  them in the morning. So while the Hessians were
  enjoying their wine and song, the Continental
  Army was preparing to attack. The army silently
  advanced to the Delaware River. They crossed the
  icy Delaware eight miles north of Trenton and
  nine hours later 2400 men gathered around
  Washington to hear the order for the assault on
  Trenton.

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• The Hessians were sleeping at 800 a.m. when the
  Americans entered the City. Minutes later,
  Washington's army attacked - killing five Hessian
  officers, one non commissioned officer, and
  sixteen privates. There were 918 prisoners taken
  to Newtown, Pennsylvania. Of the American losses,
  two soldiers supposedly froze to death, one or
  two American privates were wounded, and three
  officers were wounded, (including future
  president Lt. James Monroe).

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• The famous crossing Washington crosses the
  Deleware River to attack Trenton

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• Hessian mercenary soldiers

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Battle of Saratoga

• The first major American victory of the
  Revolutionary War as Gen. Horatio Gates and Gen.
  Benedict Arnold defeat Gen. Burgoyne, inflicting
  600 British casualties. American losses are only
  150.
• October 17, 1777 - After protracted negotiations,
  Burgoyne officially surrendered his 5700 man army
  on October 17. He was sent back to England in
  disgrace, and was never given another command. In
  Paris the victory is celebrated as if it had been
  a French victory. Ben Franklin is received by the
  French Royal Court. France then recognizes the
  independence of America and enters the war on the
  side of the patriots. Money and supplies flowed
  to the American cause, providing Washington's
  Continental Army with the support necessary to
  continue its fight against Great Britain.

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Victory at Saratoga !!
Britain's loss at Saratoga proved disastrous, in
that it signaled to the European powers that the
rebels were capable of defeating the English on
their own. More than any other single event, it
would prove decisive in determining the eventual
outcome of the War.
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The End is near !!- Yorktown

• August 1, 1781 - After chasing Gen. Greene's army
  without success, Gen. Cornwallis and his 10,000
  tired soldiers seek rest at the port of Yorktown,
  Virginia.
• August 14, 1781 - Gen. Washington abruptly
  changes plans and abandons the attack on New York
  in favor of Yorktown after receiving a letter
  indicating a 29-ship French fleet with 3000
  soldiers is now heading for the Chesapeake Bay
  near Cornwallis. Gen. Washington and Gen.
  Rochambeau rush their best troops south to
  Virginia to destroy the British position in
  Yorktown.

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• August 30, 1781 - The French fleet arrives off
  Yorktown, Virginia. De Grasse then lands troops
  near Yorktown, linking with Lafayette's American
  troops to cut Cornwallis off from any retreat by
  land.
• September 5-8, 1781 - Off Yorktown, a major naval
  battle between the French fleet and the
  outnumbered British fleet results in a victory
  for the French. The British fleet retreats to New
  York for reinforcements, leaving the French fleet
  in control of the Chesapeake. The French fleet
  establishes a blockade, cutting Cornwallis off
  from any retreat by sea. French naval
  reinforcements then arrive from Newport.

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• September 28, 1781 - Gen. Washington, with 17,000
  men, begins the siege of Yorktown. French cannons
  bombard Gen. Cornwallis and his 9000 men day and
  night while the Allied lines slowly advance and
  encircle them. British supplies run dangerously
  low.
• October 17, 1781 - As Yorktown is about to be
  taken, the British send out a flag of truce and
  surrender.
• October 19, 1781 - As their band plays the tune,
  "The world turned upside down," the British army
  marches out in formation and surrenders. Hopes
  for a British victory in the war against America
  are gone. In the English Parliament, there will
  soon be calls to bring this long costly war to an
  end.
• October 24, 1781 Ships with 7000 British
  reinforcements arrive but turn back on hearing of
  the surrender at Yorktown.

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Battle of Yorktown
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British surrender