Key Battles of the Revolutionary War

Lexington and Concord British General Thomas Gage got word that the colonists were storing weapons in Concord, near Boston. He also heard that 2 of the Sons of Liberty, John Hancock and Samuel Adams were staying in the nearby village of Lexington.

So what did Gen. Gage do? He sent out British troops to find the weapons in Concord Then go to Lexington to capture Hancock and Adams.

So what happened when the British got to Lexington? Paul Revere and William Dawes had gone to Lexington the night before to warn Hancock and Adams, so they were able to escape. Then they rode to Concord and the weapons were moved before the British arrived.

Was there a battle? Yes, 4000 minutemen (colonists ready to fight in a minutes notice) fought the 700 British soldiers. 74 British soldiers were killed and 174 wounded. 93 Minutemen died that day, but this was seen as a victory for the Patriots. This battle happened in 1775 before the Declaration of Independence was written.

So was this battle important? This event is sometimes referred to as the “shot heard round the world” because of the impact of the American revolutionary ideas on other nations. The second Continental Congress met and named George Washington Commander-in-Chief of the army that gathered around Boston after Lexington and Concord.

The Battle of Bunker Hill Took place in Boston on June 17, 1775. Was one of the fiercest battles of the war. Both sides wanted this high ground. The colonists needed it to help defend Boston. To save bullets, the colonists were told “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”

Who won the Battle of Bunker Hill? The British eventually took the Hill, but they lost over 1000 soldiers that day.

Americans learned a lot from this battle! The battle demonstrated the power of the Americans fighting from behind trees and rocks. Americans would need allies to supply ammunition.

The Siege of Charleston The British attack on Charleston began April 13, 1780. First attempt failed because of the tides and the resilience of the palmetto log fort that became known as Fort Moultrie. Peter Timothy stood watch in St. Michael’s steeple in downtown Charleston. He watched the British who were on James Island.

So who won Charleston? Charleston was attacked by blockading the harbor and cutting off the supply lines. After 42 days of fighting, Charleston surrendered to the British. The British occupied Charleston for 2 1/2 years . They took over such beautiful homes as the Miles-Brewton House on King Street. Charleston people came to hate the British armies’ cruel ways.

Battle of Charleston

What happened at Hudson Bay?

Battle of Saratoga This was the turning point of the war for the American Patriots. American forces under the command of General Gates defeated the British in their attempt to split the colonies at the Hudson Bay. The French decided to join us and help beat the British when they realized the colonists might have a chance to win. The French gave us financial aid and the help of the French navy.

Cowpens This was an important battle in South Carolina and showed the cooperation of the Continental Army and the irregular partisan forces. The partisans led the attack and then fled the field tricking the British into thinking they had retreated. They lured them into the range of the regular American army. The British were defeated and retreated toward Virginia.

This was seen as a great victory in the south!

Victory at Yorktown Yorktown was the final battle of the war!! The French navy assisted George Washington and his army by blocking the harbor. The blockade prevented British ships from entering the harbor and the British army, camped in Virginia waiting for transport to winter quarters, from escaping. Surrounded by American and French forces, the British were defeated and surrendered.

Yorktown ended the war. Even though some fighting went on for a few more years, the war was won at Yorktown. The treaty of Paris was signed in April, 1782 officially ending the war. America was a free, United States.

Cornwallis’s British Army surrenders to George Washington at Yorktown