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Neither British nor American wanted the situation to escalate and were ordered not to fire.Shots were exchanged by both sides resulting in the deaths and wounding of both troops.
The British won this battle marched their way to Concord to seize guns and capture any rebels.
The British set the houses, in Concord, on fire and searched the homes for guns and ammo. The people knew of this plan and hid their cache of munitions. The effect of this battle is that it started the Revolutionary War -
The Americans used this place to their advantage; its strategic position of control over the waterways to Canada could protect New York and the New England colonies from the invasion from the British.
2 rebels captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British in an early morning raid with 168 Boys and New England militia.
Colonel Henry Knox transported more than 60 tons of military supplies including 59 artillery pieces from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. American forces never reoccupied Ticonderoga -
The Colonial Militia had surrounded Boston. Reports altered the Americans that the British were planning to control the hills around Boston, to keep Boston harbor open to British ships bringing in supplies and troops.
General Thomas Gage sent three thousand men across the Charles River to Charlestown to attack the Americans.
Eventually the colonial militia ran out of powder and ammunition and had to retreat back to Cambridge.
The British suffered more casualties, but won the battle. -
The British force consisted of 400 warships, each ship was equipped with 16 cannon and carried 1000 troops ready to storm the beaches after landing.
Howe delayed attacking the fort which enabled Washington time to retreat and safely ferried the rest of the American army across to New York.
The colonial snipers broke the rules of war and aimed not at the soldiers but fired on the officers on horseback.
It showed that there would be no easy victory, and that the war would be long and bloody. -
General George Washington sent one part of his army to secure the Highlands of the Hudson.
A treacherous crossing, a violent snowstorm was raging and the Delaware river was full of ice.
A few horsemen escaped before John Stark could prevent them, but all of the fleeing German Hessian foot soldiers were killed or captured. Nearly 1000 Hessian prisoners were marched through Philadelphia.
Greatly improved the morale and unity of the colonial army and militias -
William Howe set out to capture Philadelphia. George Washington learned about Sir Will’s plan, and marched his army to Chadd's Ford.
Will used his troops as a distraction so it looked like they were about to cross the ford. Meanwhile he sent Charles Cornwallis with a strong force to cross Brandywine
George Washington tried to surprise a part of the British army but failed due to accidents and inclement weather including a heavy mist.
helped pave the way for the British to capture Philadelphia -
General John Burgoyne had begun his advance south, but was stopped about 10 miles below Saratoga fighting occurred in a clearing known as Freeman’s Farm.
Burgoyne lost two men for every one on the American side but were saved by the arrival of German Hessian forces under Riedesel.
The Americans took the fight to the enemy and successfully assaulted the British line, forcing them into a retreat toward Saratoga.
lifted patriot morale and furthered the hope for independence.