Revolutionary War Battles

1. Revolutionary War Battles

2. Lexington/Concord • “Shot heard around the world” • When: April 18-19 1775 • Where: Massachusetts • People: Thomas Gage (British) • William Dawes (American) • Paul Revere (American) • John Parker (American) • What: The first battles between colonial militia and British regulars. • COLONIAL VICTORY

3. Lexington/Concord Significance • Colonists were able to defeat highly trained and well supplied British regulars. • Helped colonists believe that they could defeat the British and made the British realize it would not be as simple as they first believed.

4. Breed’s/Bunker Hill • When: June 17, 1775 • Where: Charleston Neck, North of Boston • People: Thomas Gage (British) • William Howe (British) • Israel Putnam (American) • Artemas Ward (American) • What: A British victory at a very high cost as they incurred 44% casualties to the colonists’ 29%. • British/Colonial Victory

5. Significance • Although the British won the battle, their fear was confirmed that the colonists were dedicated to their cause and would not give up easily.

6. Trenton • When: December 26, 1776 • Where: Trenton, NJ • People: George Washington (American) • Colonel Rall (Hessians’ commander) • Hessians (German mercenaries) • What: A surprise attack by George Washington in an effort to restore colonial faith in his leadership. • COLONIAL VICTORY

7. Significance • Displayed Washington’s leadership abilities, battle tactics, restored colonial faith and kept the war effort alive. • Showed the British believed they were superior to colonial forces.

8. Princeton • When: January 3, 1777 • Where: Surrounding area around Princeton, NJ COLONIAL VICTORY • People: George Washington (American) • Lord Cornwallis (British) • General Mercer (American) • What: Washington once again used clever tactics to outmaneuver Cornwallis and take another British held city.

9. Significance • Helped Europeans see that the colonials were a force to be reckoned with (they could not be defeated easily)- major step towards gaining French support. • Helped cement faith in George Washington’s leadership and battle tactics

10. Saratoga • When: August-Oct 1777 • Where: Saratoga, NY • People: John Burgoyne (British) • General William Howe (British) • Horatio Gates (American) • Benedict Arnold (American) • What: 2 major battles (Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights) • COLONIAL VICTORY

11. Significance • Necessary victory that was the turning point in the American Revolution. • Gained French support as a result of the victory-necessary to win the war.

12. King’s Mountain • When: October 7, 1780 • Where: King’s Mountain, NC • People: Major General Patrick Ferguson (British) COLONIAL VICTORY • Numerous Colonial Colonels • What: A massive colonial victory as Colonial Loyalists were first defeated and then executed by the victorious American colonials.

13. Significance • Showed how brutal both sides were willing to be to win the war as Loyalist colonists tried to surrender and were executed anyways. • ***Forced Cornwallis to retreat and abandon his original battle plans. Stopped him from splitting the colonies in two.***

14. Cowpens • When: January 17, 1781 • Where: Cowpens, SC • People: Banastre Tarleton (British) • Nathaniel Greene (American) • What: A significant battle as Nathaniel Greene was able to enact clever tactics that led to Tarleton’s defeat. • COLONIAL VICTORY

15. Significance • ***Forced Cornwallis to retreat hastily and into Yorktown where he was trapped*** • Necessary victory to win the American Revolution.

16. Yorktown • When: September-October 1781 • Where: Yorktown, VA • People: General Rochambeau (French fleet) AMERICAN VICTORY • George Washington (American) • General DeGrasse (French fleet) • Lord Cornwallis (British) • What: French and Americans trapped Cornwallis and forced him to surrender.

17. Significance • Decisive victory that signaled a colonial victory for the American Revolution. Made British realize that they were not going to defeat the colonists. • Fighting continued for 2 more years, but this was the last major battle.

18. The Battle of Brandywine Creek • September 11, 1777 BRITISH VICTORY • Fought between British and Colonials • General Howe (Brit) outmanuvered General Washington

19. Brandywine Significance • The Americans lost a substantial portion of the troops (about 1000) • Loss led to British control of Philadelphia, the colonial capital • Physical and Morale Victory

20. Battle of White Plains • October 28, 1776 STALEMATE • British and Hessians versus Colonials • Series of fights that led to Washington retreating

21. White Plains Signficance • White Plains, NY • Washington’s retreat let the British seize the upper colonial territories including New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island • Made Americans consider surrendering seriously.

22. Valley Forge • Winter of 1777-1778 • Encampment used by George Washington and the Colonial military during the winter months

23. Valley Forge Significance • Located in Pennsylvania • Nearly destroyed the Continental Army due to disease, hunger, expiring contracts and desertion

24. Valley Forge Sig cont… • Prussian Baron Von Stuben helped drill soldiers into a strong fighting force • Soldiers that came out of Valley Forge in 1778 were much more disciplined and able to fight • Kept the war efforts alive