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French secretly help the Patriots
Still bitter from their defeat by the British in the French and Indian War,the French had secretly sent weapons to the Patriots. -
British Retreat from Boston
The British retreated from Boston,moving the theater of war to the middle states. -
War moved to the Middle States
The British retreated from Boston,moving the theater of war to the middle states. -
The Howe brothers meet at Staten Island
General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe joined forces on Staten Island and sailed into New York harbor with the largest British expeditionary force ever assembled. -
Graham describes American defeat in New York
Michael Graham,a Continental Army volunteer,described the chaotic withdrawal of American retreat following heavy losses in New York. -
Washington pushed n into Pennslyvania
The British pushed Washington's army across the Delaware River into Pennslyvania. -
Washington crosses the Delaware River
Washington led 2,400 men in small rowboats across the ice-choked Delaware River. -
Washington's men's terms of service
The terms of enlistment of the men under Washington's command were due on this date. -
American Victory at Princeton
The Americans were rallied by another astonishing victory against 1,200 British stationed at Princeton. -
Howe attempts to seize Philadelphia
General Howe began his campaign to seize the American capital at Philadelphia -
Surrender of John Burgoyne at Saratoga
Massed Americans troops finally surrounded British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga,where he surrendered his battered army to General Gates. -
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Waldo works for Continental Army
Albigense Waldo worked as a surgeon at Vally Forge outside Philadelphia,which serves as a site of the Continental Army's camp. -
French form alliance with America
The French recognized American independence and signed an alliance,or treaty of cooperation,with the Americans. -
The Americans change
In the midst of the frozen winter at Valley Forge,American troops began an amazing transformation. -
British move south
After their devastating defaet at Saratoga,the British changed their military strategyby shifting their operations to the south. -
British take Savannah
A British expedition easily took Savannah,Georgia -
Lafayette joins Washington
The young Marquis de Lafayette joined Washington's staff and bore the misery of Valley Forge,lobbied for French reinforcements in France and led a command in Virginia in the last years of the war. -
Royal governor command Georgia
A royal governor once again commanded Georgia. -
The French land in Newport
A French army of 6,000 had landed in Newport,Rhode Island,after the British left the city to focus on the south. -
Clinton replaces Howe
General Henry Clinton,who had replaced Howe in New York,along with the ambitious general Charles Cornwallis sailed south with 8,500 men. -
British capture Charles Town
In their greatest victory of the war,the British captured Charles Town,South Carolina and marched 5,500 American soldiers off as prisoners of war. -
Cornwallis's Victory at Camden
Cornwallis's army smashed American forces at Camden,South Carolina ,and within 3 months the British had established forts across the state. -
Morris in charge of the Congress's money
The Congress appointed a rich Philadelphia merchant named Robert Morris as superintendent of finance. -
British Surrender at Cowpens
When the forces of General Daniel Morgan and Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton met at Cowpens,South Carolina,the British expected the outnumbered Americans to flee but the Continental Army fought back,and forced the redcoats to surrender. -
Cornwallis attacks Guilford
Angered by the defaet at Cowpens,Cornwallis attacked Greene at Guilford Court House,North Carolina. -
Greene asks Lafayette for help
Greene wrote a letter to Lafayette,asking for help. -
Troops finally paid
Due to the efforts of Robert Morris and his associate Haym Salomon,the troops were finally paid in specie,or gold coin. -
Cornwallis finally surrenders
When his troops outnumbered by more than two to one and exhausted from constant shelling,Cornwallis finally raised the white flag of surrender. -
Americans win the war
A triumphant Washington,the French generals,and their troops assembled to accept the British surrender. -
British surrender at Yorktown
Colonel William Fontaine of the Virginia militia stood with the American and French armies lining a road near Yorktown,Virginia to witness the fromal British surrender. -
U.S. Independence Won
The delegates signed the Treaty of Paris,which confirmed U.S. independence and set the boundaries of the new nation.
