An American army emerged from a militia system of self-protection. For decades these militias had been supplied and nourished by the British, only to turn on its mother country in an act of violent defiance. By 1776, patriots proved they could gather in mass and were willing to fight and die for a cause they believed was just. At the start of 1776, the patriots were in control. New York City was in American hands. Patriotic politicians converged on Philadelphia establishing a central government. Charleston would defend itself against a strong British invasion force. And the British army was confined to Boston; the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill proved the redcoats would remain in a protracted siege of the city. Meanwhile, Commander-in-Chief General Washington organized the rabble into a semblance of an army capable of following a chain of command. By spring, British General William Howe would be forced to abandon the colonies and one by one, Royal Governors took to ships to relinquish governance to provincial assemblies. The war was a shinny new thing and colonials flocked to join.
In August 1776, Washington’s army in New York City surpassed in numbers what England mustered to put down the resurrection. However, by mid-summer – after a British armada landed an invasion force on Long Island, in battle after battle, skirmish after skirmish, England proved its military superiority. Patriots died, suffered horrendous wounds, or were captured and imprisoned in rotting derelicts and rat infested jails. Many more succumbed to malnutrition and disease. Others just gave up and went home. The reality of arming, feeding, clothing, and paying for an army sank in; war was costly, waning patriot enthusiasm. A rebel army numbering well over thirty thousand, by years end, at the Battle of Trenton, when the American cause gasped its last breath and found new life, the army had thinned to barely 2,500 desperate men.
Dates in Red are Major Battles or Events
JANUARY
- 1 Norfolk, Virginia, city torched by expelled Royal Gov. Lord Dunmore.
- 5 Haddrell’s Point, S. Carolina, HMS Tamar & HMS Cherokee fired on by militia.
- 8 Charlestown, Mass., raid by Col. Knowlton, across bay in Boston, playgoers heard the sounds of battle and thought it was part of act.
- 12 – 14 Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, HMS Sloop Swan & Glasgow landed troops and drove off rebels defenders.
- 12 Sullivan’s Island, Charlestown, S. Carolina, HMS Syren chased American Hibernia, militia fired on British and drove off.
- 17 Johnstown, NJ, Tory John Johnson gathered large number of loyalists, Gen.Schuyler confiscated armaments and disbanded the loyalists.
- 23 Sandy Hook, NJ, HMS Blue Mtn. Valley captured.
- 24 Staten Island, NJ, militiamen from Elizabeth skirmished on island,
- 27 – 28 Ft. Johnson, N. Carolina, HMS Scorpion & HMS Cruizer fired on ft. & militia.
FEBRUARY
- 5 Off N. Carolina coast, American pilot ship Hawke captured by HMS Syren.
- 10 Cape Fear, N. Carolina, HMS Cruizer took rebel ship American.
- 19 Staten Island, NJ, Cpt. Blanchard 300 & militiame assaulted the island to halt raids by British ships.
- 27 Moore’s Creek Bridge, North Carolina. 1,000 Patriots cut off Tories and in heated battle, defeated 1,600 loyalists.
MARCH
- 1 Cockspur Island, Georgia, British Maj. Maitland landed on island, fought militia.
- 2 – 3 Yamcrow Bluff, S. Carolina, rice boats & British navy engaged, British retreated
- 2 – 4 Dorchester Heights, Mass., 59 cannon positioned on Heights, artillery duel.
- 2 – 4 Hutchinson’s Island, Georgia, British troops captured merchant ships.
- 3 – 4 Nassau, Bahamas, American marines captured port and two forts.
- 7 Savannah, Georgia, British navy captured merchant ships, militia attacked and forced them to withdraw.
- 8 Nook’s Hill, Boston, Mass., British and Americans in lengthy artillery dual.
- 9 Chariton Creek, Virginia, American ship Defence & militiamen drove off Lord Dunmore’s HMS Otter.
- 10 – 12 Ft. Johnson, N. Carolina, HMS Cruizer sent party to destroy fort and failed.
- 11 Hutchinson’s Island, Savannah, Georgia, Am. relief force drove British off island.
- 12 Savannah, Georgia, HMS Raven captured Am. Georgia Packet including supplies.
- 14 Sandy Point, S. Carolina, Am tenders fired on and captured loyalist ship.
- 15 Charlestown, S. Carolina, HMS Syren captured ship & Penn. Artillery Company.
- 17 Boston, Mass., British evacuated city.
- 20 Cross Creek, North Carolina, rebel militia surrendered to British.
- 22 Charlestown, S. Carolina, Am. Comet captured sloop HMS Comet.
- 25 Tybee Island, Georgia, Creek Indians and Georgia militia attacked British party.
- 25 Battle of Saint-Pierre, Canada, Canadian rebel force defeated Canadian loyalists.
APRIL
- 6 Block Island, Rhode Island, small naval rebel fleet fought HMS Glascow.
- 6 Brunswick Town, N. Carolina, British captured militiamen under Col. Moore.
- 14 Ocracoke Inlet, N. Carolina, Am. Polly boarded and captured by HMS Fincastle.
- 17 Off Virginia coast, American Lexington captured HMS Edward, 1st time a man-of-war taken by rebels in the war.
- 21 – 22 Charleston Harbor, S. Carolina, HMS Falcon & Clinton vs Comet & St. James resulting in an American victory.
MAY
- 1 – 3 Fort Johnson, N. Carolina, British landed marines and drove off forts’s snipers.
- 6 Plains of Abraham, Canada, Reinforcements under General Burgoyne arrived and broke the American siege of Quebec.
- 8 – 9 Wilmington, Delaware, 13 Penn. Galleys forced 2 British ships to withdraw.
- 11 Orton, N. Carolina, Gen. Clinton raided Gen. Robert Howe’s home.
- 12 – 13 Cockspur Island, Georgia, rebel raiders attacked by British, Am. ship taken.
- 17 Nantasket Roads, Mass., American Franklin captured HMS Hope carrying 1,500 barrels of powder and supplies.
- 17 Brunswick Town, N. Carolina, Cornwallis raided, pillaged and burned the town.
- 19 Nantasket, Mass, American ships Franklin & Lady Washington were attacked, Franklin grounded & fought off British.
- 15 – 26 The Cedars, Canada, 2 rebel forces surrendered, several were tortured and killed by Indians, Benedict Arnold negotiated the release of captives.
- 20 – 21 Charleston Harbor, S. Carolina, British scouts of Charleston Harbor repelled.
JUNE
- Date ? Round Mtn., N. Carolina, militia revenged family’s death, attacked Cherokees.
- 7 Newburyport, Mass., Am. Privateer Yankee Hero taken by frigate HMS Melford.
- 8 Three Rivers (Trois-Rivieres), Canada, poorly planned American attack became lost in swamps, retreated back into swamp by superior British forc
- 14 Sorel, Canada, Gen. Sullivan evacuated city and within the hour British arrived.
- 16 Chambly, Canada, Benedict Arnold’s men fought a rear guard action.
- 16 Steno Creek, S. Carolina. Privateer Polly & 300 barrels of gunpowder blown up.
- 21 Sandy Hook, New Jersey, 300 militia attacked British post at light house.
- 24 Isle aux Noix, Canada, Americans repelled pursuing British force during retreat.
- 26 Seneca, S. Carolina, militiamen under Capt. James McCall attacked by Cherokee.
- 28 – 29 Fort Sullivan (Sullivan’s Island), Charlestown, S.Carolina. British fleet & troops under Gen. Clinton attacked the fort, troops ineffective and fleet defeated, British sailed to NY.
- 29 Cape May, NJ, Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet, privateers success against British ships.
- 29 New York Harbor, NY, British fleet and invasion force arrive.
JULY
- Date ? Quaker Meadows, N. Carolina, Cherokees ambushed & killed 8 militiamen, inflaming the region, thousands of militia organized & would harshly revenge.
- 1 Seneca, S. Carolina, Captain James McCall & militia Rangers attacked by Cherokee, he and 6 men captured.
- 3 – 12 Quaker Meadows, N. Carolina, Fort at McDowells Station held off Cherokees.
- 3 Sandy Hook, New Jersey, 500 rebels with 2 brass field pieces attacked lighthouse
- 8 – 10 Gwyn’s Island, Chesapeake Bay. Lord Dunmore’s fleet attacked and driven off.
- 9 NY City, NY, Gen. Washington reads the Declaration of Independence to troops.
- 12 Tappan Sea, NY, HMS Phoenix & Rose sailed up Hudson, battled shore batteries.
- 12 Charlestown Harbor, S. Carolina, HMS Sphinx,while crossing bar, fought off a rebel boarding party.
- 15 Rayborn Creek, S. Carolina, Fort Lyndley attacked by loyalists and Indians.
- 16 St. George’s Island, Maryland, Lord Dunmore driven off island.
- 20 Island Flats, Tenn., Cherokee attacked militia, Americans routed enemy.
- 20 – Aug. 2 Watauga, Tenn., Siege of Ft. Caswell by Cherokee forces, fort reinforced.
- 21 Dewee’s Inlet, S. Carolina, HMS Glascow Packet stuck on bar, attacked & burned.
- 23 Occoquan Creek, VA, Royal Gov. Lord Dunmore burned mill, drove off by militia.
AUGUST
- 1 Senecca & Oconore, S. Carolina, Maj. Williamson’s militia ambushed by 1,200 Cherokees, militia drove off attacking force.
- 1 Essenecca Town, South Carolina, Battle of Oconore & Seneca, see above.
- 3 Tappan Sea, NY, rebels led by Lt. Col. Tupper attacked 5 anchored British ships.
- 7 Portsmouth, NH, Privateer Hancock captured HMS Reward.
- 8 S. Carolina, Maj. Williamson led 1,100 militia and destroyed Cherokee Villages.
- 10 Tugaloo River, S. Carolina, Pickens attacked Cherokee villages Tugaloo & Estatoe.
- 11 Little River, S. Carolina, Ring Fight, militiamen were attacked and surrounded, kept the Cherokee at bay until reinforcements arrived.
- 12 Tamasee, S. Carolina, Cherokee Villages destroyed; Tamasee, Cheowee, Eustaste.
- 15 Roanoke Inlet, N. Carolina, militia drove off British foraging party.
- 16 Tappan Sea, NY, Lt. Col. Tupper fire ships attacked anchored British ships, though British repelled the attack, they sailed downriver to NY Harbor.
- 23 Flatbush, Long Island, Bedford Pass, Col. Hand drove back a Hessian outpost who counterattacked, Hand’s troops retreating.
- 26 Valley Grove, Long Island, rebels defend Redoubt Hill from Hessians.
- 27 Atlantic Ocean, John Paul Jones on Providence captured HMS Britannia.
- 27 Battle of Long Island or Brooklyn, New York, Washington’s army suffered a huge loss when his army was flanked & routed, pulling back to their defenses at Brooklyn.
- 29 Brooklyn, NY, under cover of darkness and fog, Am. Army escapes Long Island.
SEPTEMBER
- 6 – 7 Bald Head Island,N. Carolina, rebels attacked crew of HMS Cruizer who retreated to Ft. George, Americans attacked by reinforcements and withdraw.
- 15 Kip’s Bay, NY, Gen. Howe invaded Manhattan routing American forces which pulled back to Harlem Heights, major loss of men with hundreds captured.
- 15 New York City, Gen. Putnam evacuated the city saving thousands of American troops and supplies, British attacked Putnam’s rear guard at Apthorpe Mansion with little effect.
- 16 Harlem, NY, Battle of Harlem Plains, skirmish developed into major battle, attacking British driven back over a mile by American counter attack, ended in stalemate.
- 19 Gorge at Black Hole, S. Carolina, Col. Williamson 2,000 militiamen ambushed by Cherokee who are driven off.
- 23 Montressor’s Island, NY, American party raided British garrison, rebels disorganized & driven off.
OCTOBER
- 11 Valcour Island, NY, Arnold’s smaller fleet battled Gen Carleton’s British navy on Lk. Champlain, fought all day and escaped under darkness, though loss, British returned to Canada.
- 12 Frog’s Neck (Throg’s Neck), NY, Col. Hand’s small force blocked and stalled Gen. Howe’s attempt to flank and trap Washington’s Army which was in route north to White Plains.
- 13 Lake Champlain, NY, Arnold’s men fought British fleet in a running retreat, pulled ashore, burned vessels & escaped to Crown Point.
- 13 Staten Island, NJ, Gen. Williamson’s brigade conducted raid on Staten Island.
- 14 Crown Point, NY, British captured Ft. Crown Point, abandoned by Arnold’s men.
- 15 Staten Island, NJ, Americans captured 20 soldiers in raid on Richmond Town.
- 18 Pelham,NY, Battle of Pell’s Point, Colonel Glover fought a skillful running retreat which delayed the British long enough for Washington’s army to slip by in retreat to White Plains.
- 22 Mamaroneck, NY, Col. Haslet Delaware’s routed Col. Rogers Queen’s Rangers.
- 27 Neowee Creek, N. Carolina, Col. Neel’s regiment fired upon by party of Cherokee.
- 28 White Plains, NY, major battle btw. Washington & Howe’s British & Hessian forces, only British left attacked American right, Americans held most of line and withdrew next day.
NOVEMBER
- 1 Ocracoke Inlet, N. Carolina, HMS Aurora ran aground, cargo & crew captured.
- 7 – 29 Ft. Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Col. John Eddy commanded a patriot militia, loyalist drove off leaving Nova Scotia in British hands for the entire war.
- 8 Ft. Washington, NY, rebels attacked forward redoubt and drove off Hessians.
- 9 Ft. Washington, NY, Hessians returned to forward redoubt, rebels rounted them.
- 16 Harlem Cove (Manhattanville), NY, Lord Percy drove in American pickets prior to the Fort Washington attack.
- 16 Fort Washington, NY, Hessian & British assaulted the fort, after fierce battle, the fort fell with nearly 3,000 America captives along with much needed armaments.
- 16 Fort Cock-Hill, NY, British attack redoubt that formed north Manhattan defense
- 18 – 19 Fort Lee, New Jersey. Gen. Cornwallis ferried across the Hudson River and landed 5,000 troops near the fort, Americans fled leaving large number of supplies.
DECEMBER
- 1 Brunswick, NJ, during Washington’s army retreat across NJ, Cpt. Alexander Hamilton fired cannon at Gen. Cornwallis’ troops in hot pursuit.
- 7 Tappan, NY, Tory and British marauding soldiers labelled ‘cowboys’ pillaged Tappan & cut down liberty pole.
- 8 Newport, RI, General Clinton sailed into bay with 6,000 and took over the city.
- 13 Basking Ridge, New Jersey, American General Lee captured by Banastre Tarleton.
- 14 Ringoes, New Jersey, party of Americans ambushed British.
- 15 Hackensack, NJ, Gen. Heath raided town, captured several British & 509 loyalists.
- 17 Springfield, NJ, Maj. Spencer, 1st skirmish where NJ troops forced British retreat.
- 17 Trenton, NJ, rebels attacked Jaeger picket post at ferry crossing south of Trenton.
- 20 Trenton, NJ, rebels ambushed dragoons between Trenton & Princeton.
- 22 Mount Holly, NJ, Col. Griffin & NJ troops fought Hessians, Battle Petticoat Bridge.
- 23 Mount Holly, NJ, Battle of Iron Works Hill, Griffin’s troops engaged Hessians.
- 25 Trenton, NJ, Hessians & Americans exchanged fire at picket post outside Trenton.
- 26 Trenton, NJ, early morning attack by Washington’s troops overwhelm Hessian post, rebels only 1 killed, four wounded, Hessian 106 killed and wounded + 918 prisoners.
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