-
Lexington and concord
This is historically relevant because this is the first battle of the war and the colonists defeat 700 british soldiers. This boosts morale for the colonists. -
Fort Ticoneroga
Encouraged by Connecticut backers, Ethan Allen led 200 of his followers, called the Green Mountain Boys, to capture the fort. The same idea had occurred to Benedict Arnold, who left his own Connecticut regiment to participate in the attack. Arnold and Allen argued over who should be in command. Nevertheless, both men set out with the Green Mountain Boys and surprised the garrison on the morning of May 11, 1775. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Ward ordered Colonel William Prescott to fortify Bunker Hill on the night of June 16. Bunker Hill, as the battle was called, quickly became an important symbol of American fortitude. Untrained soldiers had stood against the best-trained army in the world. While the British finally drove Prescott's men from the hill, revolutionaries considered the battle a triumph and used the phrase "Bunker Hill" as a rallying cry during the war. The British also took note of the action. -
Battle of Trenton and Princeton
After the disastrous campaign of the summer and fall of 1776, General George Washington gained two crucial victories by attacking outposts at Trenton and Princeton in New Jersey and forcing a British withdrawal to the area immediately surrounding New York City. -
Battle of Saratoga
On October 7, sending a few light troops out to guard his right flank, Burgoyne marched his main forces into the open in front of their entrenchments and formed a long line of battle. On the right wing was light infantry commanded by the earl of Balcarres, only a major but a tough fighter; the center was held by the ever-reliable Maj. Gen. Baron Friedrich von Riedesel, with the remnants of his German troops and one regiment of British regulars. -
Siege of Charleston
The citizens then insisted that Lincoln surrender. On May 12, the Continental army marched out of Charleston and laid down its weapons. The militia were allowed to return to their homes under parole and with the promise not to take up arms against the British unless they were exchanged in absentia for prisoners of war held by the revolutionaries. Clinton's masterful siege of Charleston cost the United States a valuable port. -
Kings Mountain
As soon as Capt. DePeyster observed that Col. Ferguson was killed, he raised a flag and called for quarters. It was soon taken out of his hand by one of the officers on horse back and raised so high that it could be seen by our line, and the firing immediately ceased. The Loyalists, at the time of their surrender, were driven into a crowd, and being closely surrounded, they could not have made any further resistance. In this sharp action, one hundred and fifty of Col. Ferguson's party were dead -
Yorktown
The Franco-American victory over the British army of Lt. Gen. Lord Cornwallis, following a three-week siege, was the crowning military event of the American Revolution, and for all practical purposes ended the war.
