Instrumental Battles of the American Revolution

1. Instrumental Battles of the American Revolution

2. Lexington & Concord

3. Major Leaders • British – Lt. Colonel Francis Smith • British – Thomas Gage • American – John Parker • American – Paul Revere • American – Joseph Warren

4. Location/Time • Massachusetts • April 18, 1775

5. Content • Thomas Gage had planned on destroying arms at Concord and arresting Samuel Adams and John Hancock. • One lantern if by land, 2 if by sea • Minutemen • British retreat to Boston

6. Significance • First skirmish of the American Revolution • Quote “shot heard round the world” from a poem from Ralph Waldo Emerson • British took more loss/wounded than the Americans • This was under the “Siege of Boston” • General Gage and his men played “yankee doodle” to taunt the colonists

7. Letter • After the first battle, George Washington wrote this in a letter: • the once-happy and peaceful plains of America are either to be drenched in blood or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice?"

8. Bunker Hill

9. Major Leaders • British – General Howe • Americans – Israel Putnam • Americans – William Prescott

10. Location/Date • Charlestown, Massachusetts • June 17, 1775

11. Content • Mainly fought in 3 charges of the British up Breed’s Hill • British were backed up by warships firing on the Patriots • British controlled the hill on the 3rd charge – Patriots were forced to retreat • British suffered heavy casualties (1054 to 450)

12. Significance • Of William Prescott it was said ,”of his men, I cannot tell…but Prescott will fight unto the gates of hell.” • “Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes” • Washington became the commander of the army after this battle

13. Trenton • December 26, 1776 • George Washington • Johann Rall

14. Map

15. Description • Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas night. • The Continental Army completely surrounded the Hessians using Washington & Greene’s troops • “victory or death” • 896 Hessians were captured

16. Germantown/Brandywine

17. Leaders • British – Charles Cornwallis • British – General Howe • British – Adam Stephen • Americans – George Washington • Americans – Nathaniel Greene

18. Location/Date • Germantown, Pennsylvania (philadelphia campaign) • October 4, 1777

19. Content • British suffered more casualties (152/71) • American loss • Washington’s men could not communicate because of the fog • Cornwallis captured Philadelphia in the Battle of Brandywine.

20. Significance • Washington realized his men were not able to handle a complex attack • After this battle, the French decided to join the American cause

21. Yorktown

22. Major Leaders • Americans – George Washington • British – Charles Cornwallis • French - Comte de Rochambeau

23. Location/Date • Yorktown, Virginia • September-October 1781

24. Content • After Cornwallis ravaged the south in his descent into South Carolina, General Greene pushed him back into Yorktown with his hit-and-run style of fighting. • Yorktown was under seige for one month in between the American army and the French navy • Cornwallis surrendered and encouraged England to sign the Treaty of Paris of 1783 to end the war. • All 7500 of Corwallis’ men were taken prisoners.

25. Significant Things • Corwallis asked Washington if the British could leave Yorktown with their flags waving and their muskets up to have a “Honors of War” • Washington denied and made them march with their muskets down to the tune of “the world turned upside down” • Cornwallis refused to officially meet Washington and made his lieutenant go and surrender his sword. • One third of every army at Yorktown was German so the Germans call this battle “die Deutsche Schlacht”