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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the American Revolution in which 700 British regulars were given the order to locate and destroy an arsenel of militia weapons at Concord, MA. The first encounter was at lexington in which 8 rebels died in the first volley, and the rest retreated. With the word of the first shots, about 500 minute men engaged in gurrelia warfare with the British as they moved on to Concord, and on their retreat back to Boston. British Victory (Lexington), American Victory (Concord). -
Siege of Ft. Ticonderoga
A succesful American siege of a small British garrison in New York by American militia men led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold. This siege gave a foot hold for the Americans in the Quebec Campaign and supplied arms for the Siege of Boston. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
In Charlestown, MA (Outside of Boston), the Contential Army leaders learned of a planned British counter attack during the Siege of Boston. The Americans then fortifed Breed's Hill in which they held off the British until they ran out of gunpowder and had to retreat. Although a British victory, the British took heavy losses and the Americans were able to regroup. It most importantly showed that untrained militia were able to stand up to the British in a pitched fight. -
Battle of Quebec
A failed siege of Quebec by the Americans in which General Richard Montgomery was killed, Benedict Arnold was wounded, and Daniel Morgan and more than 400 men were taken prisoner. This affirmatively ended any further attempt at siezing/freeing Canada from the British. -
Battle of Long Island
After defeating the British in the Siege of Boston, General George Washington brought the Continental Army to defend the port city of New York. But the British reinforced their hold on New York by bringing their total force up to 32,000 men. Extremly outnumberd, Washington was forced to retreat his army. This was a Major victory for the British since it granted them control of New York for the majority of the war. -
Battle of Ft.Washington
A succesful British siege of the American garrison on Manhattan Island (New York) of 3,000 men. This allowed the British to consolidate their control over New York and eastern New Jersey, while Washington and his army were forced to retreat to Pennsylvania. -
Battle of Trenton
After General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River (north of Trenton, New Jersey), Washington was able to suprise the Hessian forces garrisoned there. With a previous string of defeats and low morale, the victory at Trenton gave the Americans an extreme boost of morale, and which also inspired much needed reenlisments. -
Battle of Princeton
An American victory at Princeton, NJ, in which Washington had his last major victory against the British in his famous Winter Campaign. With this defeat, the British were forced to abandon New Jersey. -
Battle of Brandywine
A British victory near Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvannia in which George Washington and his army was forced to retreat to Philidelphia. Even though George Washington's amry nearly faced annhilation, majority of the army escaped and morale was stable. -
Battle of Saratoga
Taking place 9 miles away from Saratoga, NY, this American vicotry is regarded as the turning point of the war for the Americans. With news of a major British defeat, the Americans were able to ally with France. With this alliance, the Americans were suffiecently supplied and backed by French troops and ships. -
Battle of Charleston
A major British victory towards the end of the Revolutionary War in Charleston, South Carolina, was the start of the major British focus on the controling the Southern colonies. After the battle, tensions between the Loyalists and the Rebels rouse very high, and mercy was almost non-exhistant between both sides in the South. -
Battle of King's Mountain
A decisive American victory near present day Blacksburg, South Carolina, in which both Rebel and Loyalist milita's engaged. The battle was a pivotal moment in the Southern campaign. The American's morale grew, and with the Loyalist militia gone, plans made by the British to envade North Carolina were abandonded. -
Battle of Cowpens
A decisive American victory near Chesnee, South Carolina, which was an important turning point in the reconquest of South Carolina from the British. -
Battle of Yorktown
This was the last major battle of the American Revolution that took place at Yorktown, Virgina, in which Charles Cornwallis, general of the British forces in America, was defeated in a combinded effort from both American and French troops and naval ships. With this American victory, the Revolutionary War was undoubtly won by the Americans.
