The Beginning of the End

The Beginning of the End The War at Sea Fighting in the South & Victory at Yorktown

Fighting at Sea • The Continental Army faced hardships at sea • Congress created the Continental Navy and the Marines in 1775 • Only 8 fighting ships • The Continental Navy concentrated on individual attacks • The British lost hundreds of ships to American raiding vessels • Capture a ship – the cargo is yours to sell • Many non-Navy ships became involved

John Paul Jones • Joined the newly created navy • Brave, cleaver sailor • Captured many British ships • Becomes admired by the French • Receives 7 vessels to command • Bonhomme Richard – “Gentleman Richard • In honor of Ben Franklin

“I have not yet begun to fight” • TheRichard vs. The Serapis • September 23, 1779 • Fought for 3+ hours • Jones’s ship was badly damaged • Captain Richard Pearson • “Has your ship struck [surrendered]?” • Captain Jones • “I have not yet begun to fight.” • The Serapis surrendered • The Americans were victorious • Not long after the Bonhomme Richard sank but the Americans won

The American Navy

Outcomes at Sea! • Continental Navy • Had Fewer than 100 ships • British Navy • Lost more than 200 ships • Continental Navy used much more effective fighting strategies at sea.

War in the West • Native Americans join the side of the British • They posed less of a threat • George Rogers Clark • Leads Americans in the Battle of Vincennes • Rogers greatly weakened the British Army in the West

War in the South • After being defeated in the North, the British focused on the Southern Colonies • The British attack the towns of Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston South Carolina • Charleston was a major southern city that fell to the British • Surrendered May 12, 1779 • Over 5,000 patriots taken prisoner • Worst American defeat of the war • British Marched through the South • Destroyed property • Stole goods • Killed livestock

The Defeat of Horatio Gates • Patriots attempted to drive the British out of the South • Americans lost at Camden • Only 700 of 4,000 Patriots escaped • Patriots had lost their Southern Army

The Rise of Francis Marion (Swamp Fox) • After losing the Southern Army, the Patriots did not quit • They began using guerrilla warfare • Hit and Run tactics • Secretly destroyed enemy supply lines • “As for this…old fox, the devil himself could not catch him.” • Frustrated British General

Campaign in the Southern States

A New Leader – Nathanael Greene • Patriot Victories in the South • Kings Mountain • Patriot Sharpshooters Destroy the British • Cowpens • Defeated the British • Guilford Courthouse • British won but sustained great losses • The British give up their campaign in the Southern Colonies

Betrayal • Patriots took a blow to their moral • Benedict Arnold – a gifted American Officer • Felt Congress had treated him poorly • British promised to reward his treachery • Betrayed American Army and gave war secrets to the British • Obtained Control of West Point then turned it over to the British

Yorktown • Southern Campaign Abandoned • Charles Cornwallis decided to tighten his hold on the South by controlling Yorktown, Virginia • Cornwallis prepared to attack a small Patriot force led by Marquis de Lafayette

Washington Plans his Attack • Washington and Rochambeau plan a surprise attack in Yorktown • The French Fleet takes control of Chesapeake Bay • Washington Marches his men 200 miles in 15 days • Washington, Rochambeau, and Lafayette’s troops all meet in Yorktown • Along with the British Fleet led by Admiral De Grasse

The Siege of Yorktown • Washington fooled Clinton and Cornwallis • 14,000 American Troops trapped Cornwallis’ 7,000 British and Hessian Troops • De Grasse kept Cornwallis from escaping by ship by controlling Chesapeake Bay

The Battle of Yorktown

Cornwallis Surrenders • British tried to rescue Cornwallis’s Army • After weeks of fighting, Cornwallis feared defeat • Cornwallis surrendered • British marched out of Yorktown in defeat on October 20, 1781

“It Is All Over!” • Lord North – The British Prime Minister – received word of the Yorktown surrender • He said, “It is all over!” • Though there were some minor skirmishes between Yorktown and the final treaty • Yorktown was the final major battle of the Revolutionary War

Conclusion

The Beginning of the End