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Washington formally accepts command of the rebel army
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Battle of Bunker Hill
Technically a British victory, they lost over 1,000 men before securing the high ground -
Pennsylvania riflemen mutiny
It was put down immediatly by General Greene, but added tension to the already-shaky army. -
Money for wages arrives from Congress
$500,000 in Continental bills is delivered to the army, allowing wages to be paid and lessening tension in the ranks. -
First American traitor discovered
Dr. Benjamin Church, surgeon general of the army and head of the Cambridge hospital, was discovered to be a spy. -
British burn Falmouth
News reaches the rebel army that British ships have burned down the town of Falmouth, ME. (As the British gave advance warning, none were killed, but the entire town was left homeless) -
King George addresses Parliament
After the Battles of Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill, King George speaks before Parliament, officially declaring America in rebellion and commiting troops to the war. Parliament argues feircely about the declaration, but supports the King. -
Knox goes to collect cannon
Henry Knox, a young officer, sets out on a mission he concieved to retrieve abandoned artillery from Fort Ticonderoga in Canada and haul it overland to Boston. -
British send poor accross the Back Bay
The British sent 300 of the poorest, most sickly Boston residents acros Boston's Back Bay for the rebels to cope with, followed by another 150. This was possibly to make room for reinforcements, or possibly to infect the American army with smallpox, which was running rampant in the city. -
The Conneticut troop's enlistments expire
Of aproximatly 10,000 men, only 2,540 re-enlisted. -
British ship arrive in the harbor with reinforcements
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The last day of the original enlistment
However, as many as 9,00 of the "old army" make have chosen to stay. -
Copies of King George III's speech are circulated in the colonies
It's contents ended most hope for a quick reconciliation and stunned and angered the populace. -
Washington is given full authority to act whereever he chooses
Previously, it had been ambiguous whether Washington's authority extended beyond the area aleady occupied by armies. Fearing a British move on New York, he wrote to Congress asking for permission to station troops there, and John Adams wrote back, granting him full freedom of movement. -
Washington commands Lee to ready new York defenses
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Attack on Quebec has failed
An army had been sent north under Benedict Arnold to attack Quebec - today Washington recieves the news that the army was defeated, Benedict Arnold was badly wounded, and General Richard Montgomery was killed. -
Knox arrives with cannon
henry Knox's mission to retrieve artillery proves successful, and he returns with 59 guns in all. Knox was immediatly put in command of the artilelry. -
Rebels bombard Boston
The American army fires on Boston this night and the next two nights, to distract from the rest of the armies preparations for their move onto the Dorchester Heights -
Rebels move onto Dorchester Heights
In the course of one night, in silence and without alerting the British just across the bay, the American army erects massive and complete fortifications on the Dorchester Heights, compeltly surprising the British when the sun rose. -
Storm deters British assualt
An intense storm prevents the British from attacking the fortifications on Dorchester, a move which would have resulted in a slaughter of British troops. Instead, preparations to evacuate the city begin -
Howe orders all-night bombardment of Dorchester
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Howe orders linens and cottons destroyed
In an effort to prevent the Americans from gaining access to valuable goods when they re-entered Boston, General Howe orders soilders and loyalists to destroy all goods the rebels might find useful -
British leave Boston
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Washington departs for New York
The majority of the army had already left for the city. -
Soilders rampage through New Yorks red light district
Soilder's corpses were found in a brothel. In retaliation, gangs of soliders tore down the building and likely killing workers there. Washington condemned all "riotous behavior". -
The British set sail to New York from Halifax
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Anti-tory riots in New York
the uncovering of a plot to assasinate Washington led to an explosion of rioting and persecution of tories. -
Thomas Hickley hanged
The only man to be convicted in the plot to sabotage the rebels, Thomas hickley was hanged to widespread approval. -
First of the British fleet sighted from New York
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Congress votes to "dissolve connection" with Britain
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British land on Staten Island
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Full text of the Declaration of Independence is circulated in New York
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British ships sail up the Hudson
Though they pass New York, rebel defenses prove completly ineffective, and the ships reach safety with no damage done in a matter of hours. -
Greene is temporarily relieved of command due to ilness
This was a blow to the army, as Greene was Washington's most trusted general, and his replacement was sub-par. -
British invasion of New York begins
They land and begin to group on Long Island -
British begin assault
Americans are compeltly routed, and trapped in Brooklyn with only a dubious escape route, across the East River. -
Americans retreat to New york during the night
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British occupy Montresor's Island
Montresor's Island is at the mouth of the harlem River. -
Rebels decide to abandon New York
At the request of congress 9and against most of the military leadership's better judgement) they decide not to burn the city -
British invade 1 day before rebels plan to have evacuated
The rebel army retreats in disorder -
Battle of harlem heights
The Americans take fewer losses, but lose Colnel Knowlton and Major Leitch, two importnat officers -
Fire burns down half of New York
many would wonder whether it was natural causes, or someone sympathetic with the rebels taking matters into their own hands -
British landing forces rebels to abandon Harlem heights
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American's abandon york Island
Leaving behind about 1,000 men to hold fort Washington, the rest of the army begins to evacuate the island -
Battle of White Plains and Chatterton's Hill
British and Hessian's won, but with twice as many casualties as the Americans -
Washington arrives at Fort Washington
Worried about the British's plans, Washingtontravels to Fort Washington. Once there, however, he leaves the decision of defense up to Greene, and the troops stay to fight. -
Americans forced to surrender Fort Washington
More than 1,000 American prisoners taken, in addition to all the suppllies. -
The American army begins retreating
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Washington retreats across the Delaware
With fewer than 3,000 men, he can not fight the British or hessans, so he retreats frist to Treton, the across the Delaware, destroying all boats the enemy might use. -
British and Hessans occupy Trenton
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General Lee is captured by the British
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howe decides to retire to winter quarters in New York
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The Americans capture Trenton
Washington leads a prtion of his army across the Delaware (the only one of three planned attacks to make it across), and surprises the hessans at Trenton, defeating them. -
British retake Trenton
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Americans surprise British and defeat them soundly, retaking much of the area