Lexington and Concord Timeline

The Siege of Boston

Due to the clashes at Lexington and Concord, approximatley 20,000 Patriots surrounded Boston. Although they weren't the most organized people. They were able to prevent 6,000 british troops from crashing the rebellion.

The Battle at Bunker Hill

In June 1775, the Americans occupied two hills north of Boston. On June, 1775, the British army attacked. After losing a numerous amount of times, the British decided to give it one last shot. Since the Americans had used up all their amunition, the British ended up winning and the Americans were forced to retreat. The British then quickly overran the second, weaker Patriot position on nearby Bunker Hill.

The British ended up winning the Battle of Bunker Hill but their victory came at a cost. The british ended up losing so many more man than the Patriots did.

The British leave Boston

When George Washington returned from Philadelphia, he worked to transfor the Patriot militia groups into the Continental Army. During this time period, Washington received cannons which he hid on Dorechester Heights, south of Boston. From there, he used them to shell the British forces in the city and the British ships in Boston Harbor.

Realizing that they could no longer stay, the British ended up abandoning Boston and instead headed towards the Canadian city of Halifax. There, they would take approximatley 1,000 loyalists.

Fighting in the North

In the summer of 1776, General Howe and a large British army appeared off the New York coast. The British wanted to concentrate on places (like the middle colonies) that had many loyalists. In many series of battles, British and German troops battered Washingtons weak army.

During these hard times, George Washington asked if anyone would be willing to cross the enemy side to collect information. Nathan Hale agreed to do the job and suceeded. Unfortunatley, the British found him and condemed him to be hung.

Retreat from New York

By October, the British had taken over New York city. Many troops abandoned Washington and by the winter of 1776, the entire Patriot reasoning seemed like it was at its end. Fearing for their safety, members of the Continental Congress fled to Philadelphia.

Trenton and Princeton

Forced to work with low circumstances, Washington had to be creative. He knew that although there was no war during the winter season, it was his only chance at redemption. On christmas night of 1776, Washigton and his troops and left for Trenton where they surprised 1,400 Hessians. He later made the same move on nearby Princeton. The next morning, British troops spotted Washington's army and attacked. The Americans were able to draw them back and ended up capturing the town. These victories boosted more Americans to join the Patriot cause.

Victory at Saratoga

Despite the increasing number of Patriots, the moths that followed were difficult ones for the Continetal Army. In July of 1777, the army under the control of British General Howe moved from New York to attack the capital at Philadelphia. Wasingtons 10,500 defenders were defeated at Brandwine Creek. Later that month, the British occupied Philadelphia. In early October, Washington counterattacked to drive the British from the city, but sadly lost again at the Battle of Germantown.

While General John Burgoyne was moving towards cutting of New England from the rest of the colonies, he was also moving towards Albany. The Americans tried to slow his trip down by cutting trees and destroying bridges. While this was happening, the colonial force increased in size. In mid September, the Americans, led by General Horatio Gates, attacked Burgoyne's forces. This series of American victories is called the Battle of Saratoga. In the end, Burgoyne was forced to surrender. This led to the biggest American victory yet and to a huge turning point.

Fighting in the West

In the spring of 1778, Patriot militia began fighting the British. With the help from French settlers, the soldiers were able to capture all of the british posts in what is in present-day Indiana and Illinois. A few months later, the british retook their fort at Vincennes, Indiana. The colonel then decided to march down back to Vincennes and was able to pursuade most of the Indians to leave the British. When they finished with that task, they then proceded to recapture the fort. In the end, the American soldiers were able to claim the Ohio River Valley.

The War in the South

The southern phase of the revolution was the most vicious. It was mainly Americans against Americans because the loyalists did most of the fighting for the British. Although the British did defeat the Patriot militia and continental troops at Camden, South Carolina in August 1780, the Patriots were able to stop Lord Cornwallis' men at the Battle of Cowpens. Even though Cornwallis was defeated, he still marched down into North Carolina and defeated the Patriots in the battle of Guilford Court House.

Battle of Yorktown

In early October, the American and French artillery began to pound Yorktown. Since the French surrounded and blocked Cornwallis from going outside of Yorktown and he was faced with an army twice his size, Cornwallis was left with no choice but to surrender to George Washington.