From Lexington to Yorktown

From Lexington to Yorktown

Battle Placards

Retreat from Concord. The National Archives . 13 Sep 2007

<http://www.archives.gov/research/american-revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-010.jpg>.

Lexington and Concord

The British government miscalculated the determination of the 13 Colonies. George III thought the Intolerable Acts would force the colonists to give in but in actuality, both sides were drawn closer to war. All across the colonies, militias were preparing to fight. In New England, these volunteers were called Minutemen because of their ability to be ready to fight in a mere sixty seconds. In April 1775, the British learned that colonists were hiding supplies of gunpowder and weapons in a village near Concord. Hoping to catch the colonists by surprise, British troops departed Boston under cover of night on April 18. But the Sons of Liberty were watching. Armed with this knowledge, alarm riders like Paul Revere galloped through the countryside warning the residents that the “British Were Coming.” On April 19, the redcoats reached the village of Lexington (near Concord), where 70 Minutemen were waiting for them. Shots rang out and when the fighting was over, eight colonists lay dead and ten injured while the British suffered no losses and just one injury. The British then marched to Concord but found no weapons there and prepared to return to Boston. On a bridge outside of Concord, the British were met by 300 Minutemen and were eventually forced to retreat. The British lost 73 men and another 200 were wounded or missing. The “shot heard „round the world” demonstrated the colonists‟ willingness to fight for their rights even if meant that some would have to pay with their lives. The American Revolution had begun.

Chappel, Alonzo. "Capture of Fort Ticonderoga ." Pictures of the American Revolution. The National

Archives . 13 Sep 2007 <http://www.archives.gov/research/american-

revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-012.jpg>.

Fort Ticonderoga

On May 10, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to discuss the current situation. The Olive Branch Petition was sent to George III declaring the loyalty of the colonies and asking for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts. But Congress was not optimistic about the reaction of the king and went ahead with plans to establish the Continental Army with George Washington of Virginia as the commander. The colonists were in desperate need of gunpowder and artillery if they planned on attacking the British. Hearing of the Continental Army‟s needs, Vermonter Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys decided to launch a surprise attack on the British at Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain in upstate New York. The British were caught totally off guard by the raid and were forced to surrender to the Americans on May 10. With the capture of the fort, the Americans were able to take control of the cannons and gunpowder supply that they so desperately needed.

Millar, "The attack on Bunker Hill with the burning of Charlestown." 1775. Pictures of the American

Revolution. The National Archives . 13 Sep 2007 <http://www.archives.gov/research/american-


Bunker Hill

Near Boston, militiamen planned to fortify two hills overlooking the city, Bunker Hill and Breed‟s Hill. From these hills, the colonists could fire on ships in Boston‟s Harbor. When the colonists began work on building trenches atop Breed‟s Hill, the British moved in to attack on June 17. Because the Americans were low on gunpowder, one of the American commanders advised his troops “Don‟t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!” In the end, the British took both Bunker and Breed‟s Hills but lost 1000 redcoats in the process. American casualties were around 500. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle of the American Revolution. It proved that Americans could fight bravely in battle and that the British would not be easily defeated.

Wageman, M.A.. "Retreat at Long Island." Pictures of the American Revolution. The National



Long Island

Although the Revolution was well underway, many colonists were against the idea of total independence from Great Britain. But in early 1776, a Patriot named Thomas Paine did his best to change public opinion through the publication of his pamphlet, Common Sense. Within a few months, 120,000 copies were printed, and Paine‟s arguments helped persuade many colonists to support independence. When the Continental Congress reconvened in the spring, Thomas Jefferson was appointed to write a declaration (formal statement) of independence. On July 4, 1776, the delegates approved a final version of the Declaration of Independence, and all stepped forward to sign their names to the document. The delegates signed knowing that failure in winning independence would lead to charges of treason and subsequent hanging.While many of the earliest battles of the Revolution took place in the New England colonies, fighting eventually shifted to the Middle Colonies by the middle of 1776. The British wanted to capture New York City. Under the command of General Howe, a large British fleet arrived in New York. On August 27, Howe‟s forces attacked Washington‟s troops on Long Island. After two days of fighting, the Americans had lost more than 1400 while the British lost around 400. Washington and his men avoided capture by retreating from New York into Pennsylvania.

Brueckner, Henry. "Prayer ay Valley Forge." Pictures of the American Revolution. The National



Valley Forge

Washington and his men made their way to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, for the long cold winter of 1777-1778. Conditions were severe. Washington‟s troops were hungry and were in desperate need for warm clothing. Instead of supplying the Patriots with food, blankets, and uniforms, many Americans sold these items to the British. So bad were the conditions that French volunteer Marquis de Lafayette, one of the richest men in France, used his own money to buy the men the warm clothing they needed. Lafayette chose to face the same living conditions as his American comrades. Martha Washington did her part as well by tending to the sick and wounded. By comparison, Howe‟s troops spent a rather comfortable winter in the heart of Philadelphia. When news spreads on the conditions at Valley Forge, fellow Americans sent food, clothing, and ammunition to the troops.

Leutze, Emanuel Pictures of the Revolutionary War. Retrieved September 20, 2007,

from The National Archives Web site: http://www.archives.gov/research/american-

revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-031.jpg

By the end of 1776, American morale was low. With the loss to the British at Long Island and the subsequent retreat by American forces from New York to Pennsylvania, Washington had to rally his troops. In December, Washington launched a surprise attack against British troops stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. On the night of December 25, Washington and his army crossed the Delaware in small boats and surprised the Hessians (German troops hired by the British) in Trenton on the morning of December 26. Washington took 868 prisoners and did not lose a man in the process. A week later on January 3, 1777, Washington captured another 300 British soldiers at Princeton. Washington‟s victories at Trenton and Princeton gave the Americans new hope in their efforts to defeat the British.

Trenton and Princeton

Koeltner, "Germantown battle, Chew's house." Pictures of the Revolutionary War. The

National Archives . 13 Sep 2007 <http://www.archives.gov/research/american-


Brandywine and Germantown

In light of their recent defeats, the British devised a new strategy that called on cutting off New England from the rest of the colonies. Under this plan, General Howe was to march to New York City, but first the King wanted him to capture Philadelphia. On September 11, Washington‟s forces met up with Howe‟s troops on their march to Philadelphia. At Brandywine, Howe defeated the Americans. By late September, the British occupied Philadelphia. Washington launched another attack at Germantown (right outside of Philadelphia) in early October, but was forced to retreat. Howe and his troops spent the winter in Philadelphia while Washington and his men retreated to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania.

Trumbull, John. "Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga.” Pictures of the Revolutionary War. The National

Archives . 13 Sep 2007 <http://www.archives.gov/research/american-revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-

war-037.jpg>.

Saratoga

Meanwhile, British General Burgoyne and his forces were slowly making their way to Albany, New York. The British moved slowly because of the supplies they had to transport and because of the Americans who made every effort to block their journey. While Burgoyne was able to easily recapture Fort Ticonderoga, he suffered heavy losses of men in Vermont. Then the American General Horatio Gates surrounded Burgoyne‟s remaining forces at Saratoga, New York. On October 17, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army to the Americans. The threat to the New England colonies was over.

The American victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the war. Before Saratoga, the American cause looked hopeless but now they had proven themselves to the entire world. This victory convinced the French and the Spanish to enter into the war on the American side. The colonists could now count on two powerful allies.

Gimber, S.H.. "Col. William Augustine Washington at the Battle of Cowpens." Pictures of the

Revolutionary War. The National Archives. 13 Sep 2007

<http://www.archives.gov/research/american-revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-053.jpg>.

Battle of Cowpens

By 1780, intense fighting had moved into the Southern colonies. The Patriots had experienced a great deal of success in fighting the British in a series of “hit and run” raids all over the South. Francis Marion used this tactic successfully against the British and earned the name the “Swamp Fox”. At Cowpens, South Carolina, the Americans, under the leadership of Daniel Morgan, defeated the British forces under Colonel Tarleton on January 17, 1781. General Nathaniel Greene used this same tactic to wear down the remaining British forces in the South. This method of fighting was so effective that British general, Charles Cornwallis decided to take his troops out of South Carolina and up to Virginia. War in the Southern colonies was over.

Trumbull, John. "Surrender of Cornwallis." Pictures of the Revolutionary War. The National Archives . 13

Sep 2007 <http://www.archives.gov/research/american-revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-

056.jpg>.

Yorktown

After some skirmishes with American troops, Cornwallis moved his men to the Virginia coast and set up camp at Yorktown, on Chesapeake Bay. The time was right for Washington to set the ultimate trap. After moving his troops down to Virginia, Washington‟s forces combined with some French troops bringing their total to 16,000. Completely surrounded by American troops, Cornwallis‟s only option was to board British ships in Chesapeake Bay. Before he could do so, the French fleet sailed into the bay and drove the British ships out. The British were trapped on the peninsula. After holding out for three weeks, Cornwallis surrendered on October 17, 1781. Cornwallis‟s defeat removed any remaining support for the war by the British public. The British had to acknowledge that the Americans had won their independence. It was time to talk peace.

"Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s)." National Archives and Records

Administration. 1783. The National Archives . 13 Sep 2007

<http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/paris.html>.

Treaty of Paris 1783

In early 1783, representatives from the United States and Great Britain signed a peace treaty in Paris. Under the Treaty of Paris (1783), Great Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation. Britain also gave up its claims to all lands between the Atlantic and the Mississippi River from Canada to Florida. The United States agreed to return all rights and property taken from Loyalists (American colonists who supported the British government) during the war. The war was over but it came at a high price. At least 6200 Americans were killed in combat while another 10,000 died in camps of diseases. With this victory, the Americans could truly understand the “High Price of Freedom.” ken from Loyalists (American colonists who supported the British government) during the war. The war was over but it came at a high price. At least 6200 Americans were killed in combat while another 10,000 died in camps of diseases. With this victory, the Americans could truly understand the “High Price of Freedom.”

Documents

From Lexington to Yorktown