Lexington and concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, Thats when the
american revolutionary war got started. Tensions had been building for many years
between people of the 13 colonies, and the British authorities, in Massachusetts.
The night of April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to
nearby Concord in order to grasp an arms cache.
Paul Revere and other riders sounded the alarm, and colonial militiamen began
to organizing to intercept the Redcoat column. A confrontation on the Lexington town
green started off the fighting, and soon the British were hastily retreating under intense fire.
Many more battles followed, and in 1783 the colonists formally won their independence.
pictures
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Concord_Expedition_and_Patriot_Messengers.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lexington_and_Concord-2c.jpg
Bunker Hill
After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the patriot militia owned the hills
surrounding Boston. The patriots heard through their spies that the British were
coming to attack Bunker Hill. The patriots sent 1600 men to set up barrier
on Breed's Hill, which was closer to Boston.
On June 17, 1775 General Howe led 2600 British soldiers up Breed's Hill. British
warships also fired on the patriots position. The Americans held off two British
charges, but were finally forced to go back on the third charge. The British suffered
heavy losses with 226 men killed and 828 more wounded. The British gained control
of Breed's Hill.
pictures
http://home.comcast.net/~jlamy/LMC/Stark/Bunker.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_the_Battle_of_Bunker_Hill_area.jpg
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Priceton took place on January 3, 1777. The Battle was fought in Princeton,
New Jersey. In the Battle of Princeton General Washington lead forces against British forces.
General Washington and his troops were excited after their victory at the Battle of Trenton
and so they decided to lead forces into Princeton to further push back the British forces.
General Washington was able to defeat the British forces.
After the battle, Washington moved his army to Morristown. With their third defeat in
10 days, the British evacuated southern New Jersey. With the victory at Princeton, morale
rose in the ranks and more men began to enlist in the army. The battle was the last major
action of Washington's winter New Jersey campaign.
Pictures
http://www.westholmepublishing.com/the-battle-of-trenton-the-battle-of-princeton.php
http://www.state.nj.us/hangout_nj/200401_princeton_p1.html
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776. This battle was a dog fight at the
crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. In the Battle of Trenton
General Washington accompany the Continental Army against Hessain soldiers who were stationed
in Trenton. Because the river was very cold and the weather was severe, the crossing proved dangerous.
This allowed General Washington and The Continental Army to catch the Hessain soldiers off
guard.
The element of surprise allowed the Continental Army to quickly win against the Hessain soldiers.
Almost two thirds of the 1,500-man garrison was captured, and only a few troops managed thier way out. This
was an important victory for the Continental Army because it gave the army a morale boost.
The victory inspired soldiers to serve longer and attracted new recruits to the ranks.
Pictures
http://www.oldgloryprints.com/Battle%20of%20Trenton.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablosanchez/3149479934/
Valley Forge
Before Valley Forge the Continental Army troops were in awful shape. The troops were poorly fed,
ill-equipped , and beat from long marches. The troops were also preparing for a bitter winter but only
1/3 of the troops had shoes. General Washingtons troops had a long 25 mile march to get to Valley Forge
where they would find board.
When the troops got to Valley Forge their feet were leaving bloody footprints from the walking, The
troops then had to build huts for them to stay in to survive the winter. These huts, however, were not able
to brace the winter storms. changing from freezing and melting of snow and ice made it impossible to keep
dry and allowed for disease to spread. The harshness of winter took the lives of 2500 men in Valley Forge.
Along with the cold winter soldiers received abnormal supplies of meat and bread. This caused many
men and horses to starve to death. General Washington said, "unless some great and capital change suddenly
takes place,this Army must inevitably,Starve, dissolve, or disperse". While in Valley Forge hundreds of
horses died of hunger or tiredness. Also At one point nearly 4,000 men were listed as poorly in shape for duty.
The soldiers were able to sustain the winter and hunger. Also the soldiers evened the field between
them and the British. This is largley due to Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Von Steuben was assigned
Inspector General with the task of developing and carrying out an effective training program.
Pictures
http://library.thinkquest.org/11683/trenton.html
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown, also known as the Siege of Yorktown, was on October 19, 1781. This battle is
considered the final battle of the Revolutionary War. In the battle the Colonists were aided by their French
affiliated. General Washington learned that the British troops camp was in Yorktown, Virgina. The Colonists
troops and their French allies began the march to Yorktown on September 28. For the next three days, French
and American guns pounded the British lines around the clock.The British situation was made worse by a
smallpox outbreak within the town. Out of ammunition for his guns and unable to shift his army, Cornwallis,
the British leader, decided to open negotiations with Washington. At 9:00 AM on October 17, a British lieutenant
waved a white flag. Cornwallis signed the final surrender documents on October 19. At noon the French and American
armies lined up to await the British surrender.
Cornwallis' army was taken into custody rather than paroled. Then, Cornwallis was exchanged for Henry Laurens,
the former President of the Continental Congress. The fighting at Yorktown cost the allies 72 killed and 180 wounded.
British losses were higher and included 156 killed, 326 wounded. In addition, Cornwallis' remaining 7,018 men were
taken prisoner. The victory at Yorktown was the last major engagement of the American Revolution and effectively
ended the conflict in the American's favor.
Pictures
http://www.patriotresource.com/amerrev/battles/yorktown.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Yorktown
