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Battles of Lexington and Concord
A group of 900 British soldiers was sent to seize military supplies being stored in the town of Concord by the Massachusetts Militia.
The Britisg outnumbered a group of militiamen that started to fire on them, forcing the militiamen to retreat. The British continued on to Concord crossing the North Bridge but were ambushed by a group of 500 militiamen. The Massachusetts Militia inflicted heavy casualties on the British causing them to withdraw to Boston making the mission a complete failure. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
A group of militiamen advanced on Boston and declared a partial siege. Having the advantage of the sea, General Gage ordered an attack to the North hoping to take out the Americans headquarters. The Americans suspected this and began to fortify Bunker Hill. Gage, catching wind of the fortifications, ordered attacks on Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. The Americans were winning but a third assault by the British drove the Americans from the hills. -
Capture of Montreal
The Continental Congress formed a Continental army, led by George Washington, that was to invade Montreal. The Americans believed that the Canadians also wantid to get rid of the British rule and hoped that they could start a rebellion there. The army marched to Montreal from Fort Ticonderoga in september. When they reached Montreal in November, the city fell with barely any resistance. -
Assault on Quebec
Two American forces were sent to Quebec. Benedict Arnold's shrinking army reached Quebec first. He ordered an attack but had to call it off and wait for reinforcements. Montgomery's army later arrived with is men and supplies. They planned an attack but a snowstorm started, making there muskets useless. A British counter attack killed most of there men and Montgomery. Arnold and his men pulled back and finally were forced to withdraw when a big British force arrived. -
British Abandon Boston
The British abandon Boston and go to Nava Scotia -
British Fleet Arrive in New York
British turned their attention to New York. Two brothers were in charge of the effort. Richard Howe was the commander of all British naval forces in North America and William Howe was commander of a large force of troops. The Howe's were ordered to take New York City and then move northward to Quebec. On July 3 General Howe landed on Staten Island where he planned to make his base. The Continental Congress, showed little concern because the next day the Declaration of Independence was signed. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was signed. -
Battle of Long Island
General Howe began sending his forces from Staten Island to Long Island. There were over 20,000 troops in Brooklyn and George Washington sent around 10,000 of his men to slow down the British while the rest of the Continental Army prepared for an expected attack on Manhatten. The Ammerican soldiers had to evacuate by night and met Washington in Manhatten. At Manhatten, Washington had to withdraw his men because they were outnumbered. -
Battle of White Plains
After retreating from Manhatten, Washington found high ground near White Plains and prepared. Howe launched an attack causing the Continental Army to move from their ground. Howe ordered contruction of artillery batteries on the hieghts allowing Washington and his army to retreat further north. -
Battle Of Trenton
General Howe called off his pursuit of the Continental army after they slipped into Pensylvania. Washington only had 5,000 men left and most of them would leave at the end of the year when their enlistment was over. So, Washington decided to attack Trenton the day after Christmas where some of Howe's regiments were located. It was a success, there were very few American loses and 900 enemies captured plus supplies that were taken back to Pennsylvania. -
Battle of Princeton
Washington crossed the Delaware, eluded General Cornwallis and headed north to Princeton, New Jersey. The Continental Army faced a small British force and a couple days later Washington pushed most of the British from Southern New Jersey. The Americans victories managed to bring in 8,000 more recruits to help support the revolution. -
Battle of Ticonderoga
The British resumed working towards their mission of separating New England from the rest of the colonies by planning to meet in Albany. A smaller British force moved through a valley towards Albany. A larger force coming from Quebec faced an obstacle called Fort Ticonderoga. The fort had one weakness which the British used to their advantage by setting up canons on the mountain right above the fort. This forced the American garrison to evacuate by night meaning the British faced no resistance. -
Seige of Fort Stanwix
A smaller British force that consisted of around 2,000 men led by St. Leger surrounded Fort Stanwix and destroyed a group of 800 militia that were sent to relieve the fort. Some of St. Legers Indian troops began to leave because they were unaccustomed to waiting. Benedict Arnold was trying to make a new force to relieve the fort but was only able to gather 100 men. He then resorted to trickery, spreading a rumor that a huge force coming. St Leger eventually believed this and went back to Canada. -
Battle of Brandywine
Howe hoped that capturing Philadelphia would bring an end to the rebellion. The British arrived fifty miles from Philadelphia but it took them longer to unload than expected and George Washington used this to his advantage. Washington set up a line of defensees but Howe divided his men, one advancing toward Washington and the other flanking him. Washington was forced to retreat and the British now had nothing standing between them and Philadelphia. The Continental Congress fled to York, PA. -
Battle of Saratoga
General Burgoyne sent a small force to Bennington, Vermont but was forced to surrender. Around that time he also heard of the problems St. Leger faced and Howe in Pennsylvania. Burgoyne pushed on to Saratoga but was met by a large American force. In the first batlle, Benedict Arnold was faced with and able to hold off a British attack. Burgoyne's troops then dug entrenchments, hoping that he would be joined by soldiers from New York City. The help never arrived though. -
Battle of Saratoga
In the second battle, The Americanscounterattacked Burgoyne's army forcing them from the field. Burgoyne then withdrew from Saratoga but soon realized the situation was hopeless and laid down their arms after talking with American General Gates. Saratoga is when the French monarchy believed that the Continental Army had a shot at winning and is when France became the first foriegn country to recognize the United States of America. -
Battle of Mommouth
The British in Philadelphia were worried about a French attack so the new General ordered an evacuation of the city. George Washington planned to attack the British while they were marching back to New York City. Both sides ended up losing many casualties due to heat stroke ( the British losing far more then the Americans).
