Attack on Canada

Schuyler's army was led by General Montgomery. They set off on August 28th. Schuyler expected an easy victory at St. John's but the British soon forced him to besiege the fort. The Americans had won the battle but the British set them back for fifty critical days. Next they traveled to Montreal and captured it without a fight.

Battle of Ticonderoga

Ticonderoga was an important symbol for the Americans, who expected that the fort would keep the redcoats out of the northern colonies, particularly in view of the winter spent improving the fortifications. St Clair’s abrupt retreat caused alarm and outrage. A militant Protestant chaplain in the garrison, the Reverend Thomas Allen, wrote “Our men are eager for the battle, our magazines filled, our camp crowded with provisions, flags flying. The shameful abandonment of Ticonderoga has not been equaled in the history of the world.” This sentiment was repeated with fury across the colonies.

Battle of Ticonderoga

Major GeneralArthur St. Clair
Governor of the Northwest Territory
In office July 15, 1788 – November 22, 1802
Preceded by	New Office
Succeeded by	Charles Willing Byrd
15th President of the Continental Congress
In office February 2, 1787 – November 4, 1787
Preceded by	Nathaniel Gorham
Succeeded by	Cyrus Griffin
Personal details
Born	March 23, 1737(1737-03-23) Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Died	August 31, 1818(1818-08-31) (aged 82) Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Resting place	St. Clair Park, Greensburg
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Great Britain United States
Service/branch	British Army (1757–1762) Continental Army (1775–1783) United States Army (1791–1792)
Rank	Lieutenant (UK) Major General (USA)
Battles/wars	French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, Northwest Indian War

Arthur St. Clair (March 23, 1737– August 31, 1818) was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office. During the American Revolutionary War, he rose to the rank of major general in the Continental Army, but lost his command after a controversial retreat.

Battle of Ticonderoga

The 1777 Siege of Fort Ticonderoga occurred between two and six on July 1777 at Fort Ticonderoga, near the southern end of Lake Champlain in the state of New York. Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's 8,000-man army occupied high ground above the fort, and nearly surrounded the defences. These movements precipitated the occupying Continental Army, an under-strength force of 3,000 under the command of General Arthur St. Clair, to withdraw from Ticonderoga and the surrounding defences. Some gunfire was exchanged, and there were some casualties, but there was no formal siege and no pitched battle. Burgoyne's army occupied Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Independence without opposition on 6 July, and advance units pursued the retreating Americans.

Battle of Trenton

No Americans had been killed during the battle, although as mentioned previously, two may have died from exposure. There had been only a handful of men wounded during the action. Meanwhile, 106 Hessians had been killed or wounded, at least 600 had been captured (depending on the source) and the rest had managed to escape. Following the battle, General George Washington had the captured men and supplies shipped across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania, then followed with his army at 12:00 P.M. By 12:00 P.M. on December 27, 1776, Washington's troops were back in their camp in Pennsylvania. 1,000 men in Washington's army reported as ill by the end of that day.

Battle of Trenton

The Hessians formed up and attempted to make their way north to the road to Princeton. When they reentered the town, the Continentals now joined by civilians fired on them from buildings and other cover. Their formations were broken up by cannonfire. The two regiments retreat back to the orchard where they were forced to surrender.The remnants of the Knyphausen Regiment were making for Bordentown, but they were slowed when they tried to haul their cannon through boggy ground. They soon found themselves surrounded by General Sullivan's men and they also surrendered. It was only 9:30 A.M. and had been an overwhelming victory for General George Washington.

Battle of Trenton

After Washingtons defeat in New York, Washington knew he needed a win to boost the moral of his troops. He also knew there was a group of British and Hessian soldiers located in Trenton, New Jersey that could attack Philadelphia. Not a single American was killed. This was a major boost for the American war effort.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

The signifcance of General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River and defeat of the British in New Jersey checked the British advance toward Philadelphia and restored American morale.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Washington's victory was complete but his situation precarious. The violent weather continued, making a strike towards Princeton more difficult. Washington and his commanding officers decided to retrace their steps across the Delaware taking their Hessian prisoners with them. The news of the American victory spread rapidly through the colonies reinvigorating the failing spirit of the Revolution. The battle's outcome also gave Washington and his officers the confidence to mount another campaign. On December 30 they again crossed the Delaware, attacked and won another victory at Trenton on January 2, and then pushed on to Princeton defeating the British there on January 3.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

In December of 1776, times were desperate for George Washington. The continental army was encamped in Pennsylvania and were unsure of their future. During the night of December 25, Washington led his troops across the ice covered Delaware about nine miles north of Trenton. The weather was horrendous and the river treacherous. Raging winds combined with snow, sleet and rain to produce almost impossible conditions. To add to the difficulties, a significant number of Washington's force marched through the snow without shoes. The next morning they attacked to the south, taking the Hessian garrison by surprise and over-running the town. After fierce fighting, and the loss of their commander, the Hessians surrendered.

Battle of Yorktown

General Washington commanded the Americans, Lieutenant General de Rochambeau commanded the French and Major General Lord Cornwallis commanded the British.

Battle of Yorktown

The British were forced to surrender to the Americans, helped by their allies, the French. They sieged the city.There was a total of 381 men dead and 8087 British troops were captured. Spain helped the colonies with providing money and goods.

Battle of Yorktown

The Battle of Yorktown, in 1781, was the last major battle in the American Revolution. British general Cornwallis was against French general Marquis de Lafayette and General George Washington. French admiral DeGrasse was commander of the French naval fleet and defeated the British navy, thus prohibiting them from entering Chesapeake Bay and giving aid and resources to Cornwallis. Cornwallis was surrounded by Washington's troops  who came from the North and Lafayette's from the South. This was called the 'pincer' strategy. Cornwallis couldn't go anywhere by land or by sea. Cornwallis surrended on October 17, his troops vastly outnumbered. By winning this battle, America won the war

Battle of Lexington and Concord

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were battles that took many lives. By the end of the day, British troops had lost 273 soldiers, while the Colonists lost only 94. Eighteen of these Colonists had died during the battle at Lexington. The Revolutionary War had begun.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

We set off for Concord, and were overtaken by a young gentleman named Prescot, who belonged to Concord, and was going home. When we had got about half way from Lexington to Concord, the other two stopped at a house to awake the men, I kept along ....

In an instant I saw four of them, who rode up to me with their pistols in their bands, said ''G---d d---n you, stop. If you go an inch further, you are a dead man.'' Immediately Mr. Prescot came up. We attempted to get through them, but they kept before us, and swore if we did not turn in to that pasture, they would blow our brains out, (they had placed themselves opposite to a pair of bars, and had taken the bars down). They forced us in. When we had got in, Mr. Prescot said "Put on!" He took to the left, I to the right ...

Just as I reached it, out started six officers, seized my bridle, put their pistols to my breast, ordered me to dismount, which I did.

– Paul Revere, "Account of Midnight Ride to Lexington" (1775)

Battle of Lexington and Concord

During the wee hours of April 19, 1775, General Gage would send out regiments of British soldiers quartered in Boston. Their destinations were Lexington, where they would capture Colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, then Concord, where they would seize gunpowder.

Boston Massacre

Because of all the forms of propaganda there were two different sides created. This left the jury to come up with a conclusion of what the real story was. They deliberated for days and finally concluded that the british were innocent.

Boston Massacre

After the event occured, Paul Revere drew a picture that obviously sided with the colonists. This picture was a form of propaganda which caused people to believe that it was all the british and not any of the colonists; this was not true.

Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occured on March 5, 1770, between a patriot mob, throwing snowballs, stones and sticks at a squad of British soldiers. Several colonists were killed when someone yelled "fire." This caused rumors to spread and many problems in the colony.

Valley Forge

No battle took place at Valley Forge. Yet it was the turning point in the Revoultionary War. It was here that the Contiental army was desperate and ready to quit. Even General Gorege Washington said,  "If the army does not get help soon, in all likelihood it will disband."

Valley Forge

The first three months that the troops spent at Valley Forge were most definitely the hardest. The troops did not have proper clothing. Many soldiers went without boots and some did not even have other articles of warm clothing. For the first couple of months the troops were there, they began to make log cabins out of wood. It was very hard to put 11,000 men into a wood lot south of Philadelphia. The troops often got sick from the cold and were  also very hungry most of the time. The men also didn't have many supplies. It was very hard for them to survive.

Valley Forge

 This pamphlet was read aloud to the men three days before the Battle of Trenton.

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us that, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph…. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but "to bind us in all cases whatsoever," and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. (Paine, p. 55)

Battle at Bunker Hill

Although the British technically won the battle because they took control of the hill, they suffered too many losses to fully benefit from it. The British had suffered more than one thousand casualties out of the 2,300 or so who fought. While the colonists only suffered 400 to 600 casualties from an estimated 2,500 to 4,000 men. Besides having fewer deaths than the British, the colonists believe they had won in other ways as well.

Battle at Bunker Hill

The British took over the Bunker and Breed’s Hill positions and fortified them, holding them until they evacuated Boston at the end of the year. The battle was the first action for the Continental Army and showed how much work there was to be done to have an effective army. While most of the soldiers in the entrenched works fought tenaciously, the intended reinforcements on Bunker Hill refused to advance to the support of their comrades and there was the great confusion between the officers as to precedence.

Battle at Bunker Hill

On June 17, 1775 the Battle at Bunker Hill took place. It was one of the most important colonial victories in colonial America. Fought during the Siege of Boston, it gave considerable encouragement to the revolutionary cause. This battle made both sides realize that this was not going to be a matter settled by a quick battle. The British planned to occupy Dorchester Heights on the Boston Peninsula. The colonists decided that the action had to be taken to stop the threatening British movement into the territory to protect themselves from attack. The Battle at Bunker Hill began when the colonists discovered the British plan to occupy Dorchester Heights. The colonists were understandably shaken by this news. They thought of this as the last straw, and they had to protect their land and freedom. 

Battle of Saratoga

General John Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, New York on October 17, 1777. Burgoyne’s surrender followed battles with American General Horatio Gates near Saratoga on September 19 and October 7, 1777. With the British losing men and defenses during both engagements, Burgoyne retreated with a weakened army to Saratoga, where he surrendered to General Gates. This turning point in the American Revolution prevented the British from dividing New England from the rest of the colonies, and it was the deciding factor in bringing active French support to the American cause.

Battle of Saratoga

The victory gave new life to the American cause at a critical time. Americans had just suffered a major setback the Battle of the Brandywine along with news of the fall of Philadelphia to the British.

One American soldier declared, "It was a glorious sight to see the haughty Brittons march out & surrender their arms to an army which but a little before they despised and called paltroons."

An American victory in October 1777, the success at Saratoga gave France the confidence in the American cause to enter the war as an American ally. Later American successes owed a great deal to French aid in the form of financial and military assistance.

Battle of Saratoga

In late September and during the first week of October, 1777 gates army was positioned between Burgoyne's army and Albany.  On October 7, Burgoyne took the offensive. The troops crashed together south of the town of Saratoga, and Burgoyne's army was broken. Eighty-six percent of Burgoyne's command was captured.

Attack on Canada

In late June, the Continental Congress ordered General Schuyler to occupy Canada. The congress believed the French would welcome the Americans. The Congress also thought that by securing America's Northern flank, they would also limit the British meddling with the Native Americans. General Schuyler was excellent at logistics, but was far from a decisive commander. General Washington decided to divide the invasion force between Schuyler's troops and a force led by Colonel Arnold. Schuyler was to come up through New York State through Lake Champlain and Arnold would come from Maine.  

Attack on Canada

General Montgomery and General Schuyler joined forces with Arnold's men and led over 900 men. On December 31st these American forces assaulted Quebec. The British were waiting between successive barriers. The Americans broke through the first line but were stopped by the second. Arnold was wounded in the leg and had to be carried off the battle field. Montgomery was killed by a bullet to the head. This American assault failed. Six hundred men were captured and 60 died. The attack on Canada turned out to be the worst defeat suffered by the Americans during the war.