Washington crossing the delaware

Mike Malley's Revolutionary War Timeline

  • British March to Lexington

    General Gage of the British Army marches his troops out of Boston to Lexington, by way of Concord.
  • Declaring Independance

    The Second Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independance
  • Battle of Long Island

    Brothers General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe join forces with an expiditionary force of 32,000 soldiers. They easily defeated General Washington's 23,000, undertrained and underequipped militia of 23,000
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    Washington's Retreat

    General Howe pushes Washinton across the Delaware towards Pennsylvania.
  • Battle of Trenton

    George Washington takes 2,400 of his soldiers across the frozen Delaware River and capture a garrison of Hessians camped in Trenton.
  • Enlistment Contract Termination

    The Contracts of all American soldiers end on this date. Washington desperately needs a victory to boost the moral of his troops.
  • Battle of Princeton

    General Washington and his troops circle around Cornwallace's army and head for Princton and take it from 1,200 occupying British.
  • French Allegiance

    The French recognize American independance and agree to directly help the revolutionary cause.
  • March Towards Philidelphia

    General Howe begins his to seize the rebel capitol of Philadelphia.
  • Battle of Brandywine Creek

    General Washington suffers a humiliating loss attempting to repel British General How
  • Philidelphia's Occupation

    General Howe marches into and occupies the rebel capitol unopposed as Washington and the Continental Congress retreat to safety.
  • Victory at Saratoga

    Colonial General Horatio Gates surrounds General Burgoyne's army and forces them to surrender.
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    Encampment at Valley Forge

    Washington and his Continental Army spend a hellish winter at Valley Forge. During this time Prussian Captain Freidrich von Steuben volonteers to train Washington's conscript army. He teaches them to stand at attention, execute field menuvers, fire and reload quickly and wield bayonets. French aristocrat Marquise de Lafayette joins Washingtons staff and rallies for aid from France.
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    British Move South

    After a devestating defeat at Saratoga, the British Expeditionary Force moves it's focus to the Southern Colonies.
  • Battle of Savannah

    Britain seizes the heart of the southernmost colony of Georgia.
  • Battle of Charles Town

    British Generals Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis take Charles Town behind a force of 8,500 regulars and marched off with 5,500 American soldiers.
  • Battle of Camden

    General Cornwallis takes control of Camden.
  • Battle of Cowpens

    Generals Nathanial Greene and Daniel Morgan ambush Cornwallis at Cowpens, South Carolina
  • Battle at the Guilford Court House

    General Cornwallis attacks and defeats Greene at the Guilford Court House. This victory, however, costs him a quarter of his troops
  • Greene Seeks Aid

    Nathanial Greene writes to Marquis de Lafeyette, asking him to aid the war in the south.
  • White Flag in Yorktown

    After three weeks of shelling by the colonial army, Cornwallis finally raises the whight flag of surrender.
  • Surrender at Yorktown

    General Charles O'Hara formally surrenders to Washington and gives him his sword.
  • Talking Peace

    The warring nations begin peace talks to end the revolution, while the patriots work to negotiate for their freedom.
  • The Treaty of Paris

    Delegates from both countries sign the Treaty of Paris and America gains its independance from the most powerful empire on Earth.