Revolutionary Timeline

February 10 - The French and Indian War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Britain successfully removes France from North America but suffers tremendous debt as a result. Attempts to bring down the national debt will soon be placed in part on the 13 colonies.

October 7 - King George III banned the colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian mountains. This was named the Proclamation of 1763 and was issued to appease Native Americans by preventing colonists from encroaching on their lands. 

March 22 - The British Parliament enacted the Stamp Act to help cover the cost of maintaining troops in the colonies following the Seven Years’ War. The law required colonists to purchase an official stamp for a wide range of printed materials, including legal documents, newspapers, and even playing cards.

This measure was a direct tax imposed without the consent of colonial legislatures and had to be paid in scarce British sterling rather than local currency. Additionally, those accused of violating the act could be tried in Vice-Admiralty Courts—tribunals without juries that could convene anywhere within the British Empire.

March 24 - Following the French and Indian War, the British government determined that a permanent military presence in North America was necessary to defend the colonial frontier from potential attacks by Native American tribes. Maintaining this standing army, however, proved costly.

Parliament passed the Quartering Act, requiring colonial legislatures to help fund the expenses of British troops. The measure was expanded in 1766, obligating the colonies to provide housing and barracks as well. Many colonists viewed the army as unnecessary and saw these requirements as an indirect form of taxation.

March 29 - Patrick Henry convinced a lightly attended House of Burgesses to adopt five resolutions condemning the Stamp Act as a violation of the traditional rights of Englishmen in Virginia. These measures became known as the “Virginia Resolves.” One of the resolutions was later rescinded, and two others were never formally introduced or brought to a vote. 

October 7 thru 25 - The Stamp Act Congress was a gathering of 27 delegates from nine of the Thirteen Colonies, held in New York City from October 7 to October 25, 1765. The delegates convened to coordinate a unified colonial response to the Stamp Act, which had been passed on March 22, 1765, and was scheduled to take effect on November 1, 1765.

The Congress produced the “Declaration of Rights and Grievances,” a document sent to colonial legislatures, the King, and both houses of Parliament. Although the petitions and correspondence were ultimately rejected by both colonial agents and British officials, the meeting marked the first time the colonies assembled in a continental congress to address British policies. The Stamp Act Congress stands as a pivotal early step toward colonial unity during the American Revolution.

February 11 - Written by Samuel Adams and James Otis Jr., the Massachusetts Circular Letter was issued by the Massachusetts House of Representatives - the lower chamber of the colonial legislature - and sent to the assemblies of the other twelve colonies. The letter outlined Massachusetts’s objections to the Townshend Acts and described the actions it had already taken in response.

Believing that the other colonies faced similar concerns, Massachusetts encouraged a unified effort to pursue a constitutional solution to the crisis created by the Townshend Acts.

August 1 - The Boston Non-Importation Agreement was a boycott of British goods organized by Boston merchants and traders in response to the Townshend Revenue Act. First adopted on August 1, 1768, the agreement was signed by the majority of Boston’s commercial community and mirrored similar efforts during the Stamp Act crisis.

The movement quickly spread, with major colonial cities such as New York and Philadelphia adopting their own non-importation agreements. The boycott remained in effect until 1770, when Parliament repealed most of the Townshend duties—leaving only the tax on tea in place.

1772

June 9 - The Gaspee Affair was a conflict between British and colonial authorities over how to respond to the Gaspee Incident. Taking place on June 9–10, 1772, the incident involved Rhode Islanders attacking the British schooner HMS Gaspee, wounding a naval officer, and burning the ship. In the aftermath, British officials sought to arrest those responsible and transport them to Britain for trial. This decision outraged many colonists, who feared it would deny the accused their right to a fair trial. 

The Gaspee Affair, like many events leading up to the American Revolution, stemmed from British policies that colonists viewed as oppressive and short-sighted. For decades, Britain adhered to the economic theory of mercantilism, which held that the colonies existed primarily to benefit the mother country. While British officials believed their approach was fair, it often came across as dismissive and heavy-handed. This fueled growing resentment throughout Colonial America and contributed to incidents such as the Gaspee Affair. 

1773

May 10 - The Tea Act of 1773 was a law implemented by the British parliament, which gave the British East India Company an effective monopoly on tea sold in the Thirteen Colonies. 

Colonists were angered by what they saw as British overreach. While the new taxes were relatively small, many Patriots argued that Parliament had no right to impose them without colonial representation. 

December 16 - The Boston Tea Party was an act of rebellion against the British government that occurred in Boston on December 16, 1773. 

In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act, lowering the price of British East India Company tea and undercutting colonial merchants and smugglers. It also reinforced the Townshend duties on tea - taxes many colonists opposed - sparking protests and unrest.

On December 16, 1773, members of the Sons of Liberty boarded ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea - worth over $1 million today - into the water. Disguised as Mohawk warriors, they concealed their identities while signaling a distinct American identity separate from Britain.

March 23 - Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death speech by Patrick Henry to the Second Virginia Revolutionary Convention meeting at St. John’s Church, Richmond, on March 23, 1775.

April 18 - William Dawes: The Forgotten Midnight Rider was a Boston-based tanner and committed patriot during the American Revolution.

On the night of April 18, 1775, he was dispatched by Dr. Joseph Warren to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that British troops were advancing.

April 18 - In 1774 and 1775, Paul Revere served as an express rider for the Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, delivering news, messages, and important documents to locations as distant as New York and Philadelphia.

On the evening of April 18, 1775, Dr. Joseph Warren called on Revere to ride to Lexington, Massachusetts, and warn that British troops stationed in Boston were preparing to march into the surrounding countryside northwest of the city.

April 19 - The Battle of Lexington and Concord was fought on April 19, 1775, and marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The British Army arrived in Lexington early on the morning of April 19. Thanks to Revere’s efforts, the Patriots were ready for their advance. 

May 10 - The capture of Fort Ticonderoga marked the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War. It secured a key route north into Canada and provided the Patriots with a valuable supply of artillery. 

American victory. Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, joined by Benedict Arnold, launched a surprise attack on the lightly defended British garrison and captured the fort, securing valuable weapons for the Continental Army. Arnold remained in command of Ticonderoga until he was relieved in June 1775. 

June 15 - On this day, following a unanimous vote in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall, George Washington was appointed Commander in Chief of the newly formed Continental Army. He approached the role with humility, expressing concern to Congress that his abilities and military experience might not match the magnitude of the responsibility. At the same time, he reassured them of his commitment, pledging to devote all his efforts to their service and to the cause they championed. 

June 17 - The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, between the United Colonies and Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. Although the Americans were ultimately forced to retreat, they demonstrated strong resistance and inflicted significant casualties on British forces during the intense fighting on Breed’s Hill, where most of the battle occurred. 

July 3 - General George Washington formally took command of the Continental Army during the siege of Boston. From his headquarters in Cambridge, he issued his first general order, addressing key concerns of administration, logistics, and discipline.

Washington requested detailed reports on the condition of each regiment, including how many soldiers were fit for duty, sick, on leave, or absent. He also sought information on the amount of ammunition available to each unit. The order concluded with a disciplinary matter involving a soldier accused of stealing two horses.

July 5 - The Olive Branch Petition was a formal appeal drafted by the Second Continental Congress and sent to King George III in an effort to avoid a full-scale war with Great Britain. When Congress met in Philadelphia in May 1775, fighting had already begun the previous month at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Despite the outbreak of violence, most colonial delegates still considered themselves loyal to the British Crown. They hoped the conflict could be resolved peacefully by appealing directly to the king. Many colonists viewed Parliament as the source of their grievances and believed King George III might be more receptive to their concerns.

October 13 - The U.S. Navy is born - In a radical and extraordinary act of self-determination, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution to formally establish the Continental Navy.  

November 13 - General Richard Montgomery’s Capture of Montreal on November 13, 1775, marked an important early victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War and stood as one of the most significant successes in their campaign to gain control of British-held Canada. 

December 9 - The first pitched battle of the Revolutionary War in Virginia took place at Great Bridge - a wooden causeway spanning 360 yards of marsh and open water along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, just south of Norfolk in present-day Chesapeake.

Lord Dunmore, the royal governor, had established a British garrison there to guard this key approach to the city. The fierce engagement ended in a Patriot victory, forcing the British to abandon their fortified position. Unable to defend Norfolk from the south, they ultimately evacuated the city. Artifacts from the battle are believed to remain in the surrounding marshlands near the Great Bridge site.

December 22 - The Battle of Great Cane Brake was a skirmish fought during the American Revolutionary War in what was then Ninety-Six District, South Carolina, modern Greenville County.

December 23 thru 30 - The Snow Campaign marked a decisive effort by South Carolina Patriots to assert control over the Backcountry and suppress Loyalist resistance. Led by Colonel Richard Richardson, a combined force of militia and regular troops advanced into the region, scattering Loyalist militias and capturing key leaders. This effort culminated in a Patriot victory at the Battle of Great Cane Brake.

On the march home, the troops endured severe winter conditions, including heavy snowfall - giving the expedition its enduring name, the “Snow Campaign.”

December 31 - Battle of Quebec - During the American Revolutionary War, Patriot forces led by Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery launched an assault on the British-held city of Quebec, hoping to secure Canadian support for the American cause. The attack ended in failure, and General Montgomery was killed in the fighting. The Battle of Quebec marked the first major defeat for American forces in the Revolutionary War. 

January 3 - General George Washington led the Continental Army at the Battle of Princeton to victory on January 3, 1777. The American success strengthened patriot morale during a critical ten-day campaign that forced British troops to withdraw from southern New Jersey. The victory followed the dramatic Crossing of the Delaware and the surprising American triumph at the Battle of Trenton.

Determined to maintain the initiative, Washington set his sights on the British garrison at Princeton. After slipping away overnight from General Charles Cornwallis following the Second Battle of Trenton, Washington marched his army toward Princeton and launched a surprise attack on British forces, ultimately defeating them.

January 6 thru May 28 - General Washington had selected Morristown for the Continental Army’s camp in the winter of 1776-1777, following the Patriot victories at Trenton and Princeton. During that winter, Washington went to work inoculating the army and many of the civilians living in and around the town in order to combat the threat of a smallpox epidemic. 

April 27 - The Battle of Ridgefield, fought in April 1777, was the only inland engagement of the Revolutionary War in Connecticut and remains an important part of the history of Ridgefield and western Fairfield County. The battle occurred during a larger British expedition aimed at destroying Continental Army supplies stored in Danbury. 

June 14 - On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the first Flag Resolution. This resolution officially adopted the “Stars and Stripes” as the national flag and states:

Resolved That the Flag of the united states be 13 stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars white in a blue field representing a new constellation.

June 14th is celebrated as Flag Day because of this resolution. Since the resolution did not specify the arrangements of the stars, flags exist with a variety of “constellations.” The “Betsy Ross” flag arranges the stars in a circular pattern.

July 5 - In the summer of 1777, a British army led by General John Burgoyne advanced toward Fort Ticonderoga, an important American stronghold that Ethan Allen and his men had captured early in the war. Located at the junction of Lake George and Lake Champlain, the fort controlled a vital route between Canada and the Hudson River Valley.

Although the Americans had strengthened Ticonderoga’s defenses and its position was strategically important, the surrounding high ground posed a serious vulnerability. If left unprotected, these heights could be used by an enemy to bombard the fort. Recognizing this advantage, Burgoyne and his engineers seized Mount Defiance and positioned artillery on the summit, placing the American garrison in a dangerous situation.

General Arthur St. Clair, who commanded the American forces at Ticonderoga, understood that his smaller army had little chance of holding the fort against a determined British assault. Anticipating this possibility, he had prepared two possible escape routes while under orders to defend the position as long as possible. When St. Clair learned that British artillery had been placed on Mount Defiance and that enemy forces were moving to cut off his retreat, he made the difficult decision to abandon the fort rather than risk the destruction of his army.

August 3 thru 22 / August 6 - Fort Stanwix played an important role in the Saratoga Campaign of 1777. British General John Burgoyne ordered a separate expedition under brevet Brigadier General Barry St. Leger to capture the fort, which guarded a key route along the Mohawk River. Defending the post was the 3rd New York Regiment under the command of Colonel Peter Gansevoort.

St. Leger reached Fort Stanwix on August 2, 1777, and demanded its surrender. Gansevoort refused, and the British forces began a siege. On August 6, about six miles from the fort, British troops and their Native American allies ambushed an American relief force led by General Nicholas Herkimer in what became known as the Battle of Oriskany.

Although the British achieved a costly tactical victory at Oriskany, events soon began to undermine their position. During the battle, Gansevoort sent a sortie of about 250 soldiers from the fort. They attacked and looted the lightly guarded British and Native American camps. The loss of supplies, combined with heavy casualties suffered at Oriskany, strained relations between St. Leger and his Native American allies.

Meanwhile, American General Benedict Arnold marched toward Fort Stanwix with a relief force. By August 20, Arnold had advanced within striking distance of St. Leger with only about 700 men. Rather than launch a direct attack, Arnold used misinformation to spread rumors that a much larger American army—reportedly 3,000 strong—was rapidly approaching. Concerned about the growing unrest among his Native allies and believing he faced overwhelming numbers, St. Leger decided to abandon the siege. On August 22, 1777, British forces withdrew from Fort Stanwix, marking a significant setback for Burgoyne’s campaign.

August 16 - The Battle of Bennington was fought in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles from the town of Bennington in present-day Vermont. The American force consisted mainly of militia from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, along with Vermont militiamen led by Colonel Seth Warner and members of the Green Mountain Boys. Together, they achieved a decisive victory over a detachment from the army of British General John Burgoyne.

The British force, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum, numbered about 700 men. It was a mixed detachment made up primarily of Hessian troops, along with smaller groups of dismounted Brunswick dragoons, Canadians, Loyalists, and Native American allies. Burgoyne had sent Baum to raid the Bennington area - then part of the disputed New Hampshire Grants - in search of horses, draft animals, food, and other supplies for the British army.

September 11 - The Battle of Brandywine began when British forces attacked American troops positioned along Brandywine Creek, southwest of Philadelphia. The engagement was part of General William Howe’s Philadelphia Campaign, an effort to capture Philadelphia, which served as the capital of the young United States.

The battle holds an important place in American history because it played a key role in the campaign for control of the city. Although the American forces fought determinedly, they were ultimately forced to retreat. The defeat allowed Howe to march into Philadelphia and occupy the capital on September 26, 1777.

The Battle of Brandywine was the largest engagement of the Revolutionary War in terms of the number of soldiers involved and also one of the longest, lasting nearly 15 hours. In the aftermath of the battle, members of the Continental Congress fled the city, first relocating to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later to York, Pennsylvania.

September 19 - The Battle of Saratoga marked a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War. The American victory over a powerful British army boosted patriot morale, strengthened the cause for independence, and helped secure the foreign support needed to continue the fight.

One of the most decisive battles of the war, Saratoga brought an end to British General John Burgoyne’s campaign to gain control of the Hudson River Valley. The American success convinced the court of King Louis XVI of France that the colonies had a real chance of defeating Britain, leading to a formal alliance between France and the United States.

September 20 & 21 - Battle of Paoli - On the evening of September 20, British troops commanded by Major General Charles Grey launched a surprise attack on the American camp led by General Anthony Wayne near the Paoli Tavern. Although the number of American casualties was relatively small, reports circulated that the British showed no mercy and refused to take prisoners. As a result, the clash soon became known as the “Paoli Massacre.” 

September 26 - British take Philadelphia - The British army entered Philadelphia, beginning an occupation that lasted until the following spring. The arrival of British troops caused many patriots to flee the city, while Loyalists celebrated the change in control. However, wartime shortages and hardships soon affected those who remained. Despite capturing the colonial capital, the British gained little strategic advantage and eventually abandoned the city in June 1778. 

October 4 - The Battle of Germantown was fought on October 4, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. In this engagement, about 11,000 American troops attempted a surprise attack on roughly 9,000 British and Hessian soldiers stationed at Germantown, an area that is now part of Philadelphia, under the command of General Sir William Howe.

Despite earlier defeats at Brandywine (September 11) and Paoli (September 20) - which forced the Continental Congress and many patriots to abandon Philadelphia - General George Washington devised a bold plan to strike the British forces. Hoping to repeat the success of his surprise victory at Trenton in December 1776, Washington ordered a coordinated attack from four separate directions at dawn.

The plan ultimately failed. Its complexity made coordination difficult, and a thick morning fog created confusion among the American troops. In the chaos, some American units even mistakenly fired on their own forces, contributing to the breakdown of the assault and forcing the Continental Army to withdraw.

October 22 - Battle at Fort Mercer - After the British captured Philadelphia, a force of Hessian soldiers serving in General Sir William Howe’s army was ordered to seize Forts Mercer and Mifflin, which guarded the Delaware River approaches to the city.

The attack on Fort Mercer ended in an American victory. The Hessian troops suffered heavy losses - nearly half their force, including their commander, Colonel Karl von Donop. In contrast, American casualties were minimal. The successful defense allowed the fort to remain in American hands for several more weeks.

September 26 / November 16 - Located on Mud Island in the middle of the Delaware River, Fort Mifflin served as a key defensive position for the American forces. Its location prevented British warships from easily reaching Philadelphia, limiting their ability to deliver much-needed supplies from England.

Determined to eliminate this obstacle, General Sir William Howe ordered a siege of the fort on September 26, 1777. The situation was further complicated for the British by Fort Mercer, which stood across the river at Red Bank, New Jersey. In addition, the Americans had placed underwater obstacles in the river and maintained a small naval flotilla, making navigation and attack even more difficult for British forces.

December 5 thu 7 - The Battle of White Marsh, also known as the Battle of Edge Hill, took place in and around Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania. Rather than a single large clash, the fighting consisted of a series of smaller skirmishes between British and American forces. The engagement marked the last major military action between the two armies in 1777. 

December 19 - Winter at Valley Forge - General George Washington led between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where the Continental Army would spend the winter in camp. While the British forces enjoyed the warmth and support of Loyalist sympathizers in nearby Philadelphia, only a few miles away the American army endured severe hardship.

Throughout the winter, the soldiers faced serious shortages of food, clothing, firewood, and proper shelter. Harsh conditions and disease took a heavy toll, and an estimated 2,500 men died from illness and exposure. Morale dropped as conditions worsened, and the situation appeared grim. Despite these hardships, the Continental Army held together and did not collapse.

February 3 - Battle of Port Royal Island - After capturing Savannah, Georgia, in December 1778, British forces sought to expand their presence along the southern coast by establishing a base farther north on Port Royal Island, South Carolina. Their objective was to disrupt the supply line supporting American troops under General Benjamin Lincoln, who were stationed at nearby Purrysburg.

At the time, Port Royal Island was lightly defended. A small garrison of about 20 men, commanded by Captain John DeTreville, was stationed at Fort Lyttleton to guard the area.

February 14 - The Battle of Kettle Creek was the first major Patriot victory in the Georgia backcountry during the American Revolutionary War. The battle took place in Wilkes County, about eleven miles (18 km) from present-day Washington, Georgia. In the engagement, a Patriot militia force defeated and scattered a Loyalist militia that was marching to join British forces in Augusta, which was under British control. 

February 23 / 24 - American Colonel George Rogers Clark led Patriot forces in a siege of the frontier town of Vincennes, which was held by the British. After two days of fighting, British commander Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hamilton surrendered the post to Clark, securing a Patriot victory.

Although the British initially resisted the American attack on February 23, Hamilton ultimately capitulated on February 25. The surrender ended the brief siege and gave the Americans control of the western frontier.

March 3 - Battle of Brier Creek - American and British forces in the South faced each other across the Savannah River along a battle line stretching from Savannah to the Broad River above Augusta. The British held control of Georgia, while the Americans controlled South Carolina.

Both sides understood the importance of the coming confrontation. A decisive American victory could potentially bring an early end to the war, and each army carefully maneuvered its troops while waiting for the opportunity to strike first.

June 18 - The Sullivan Expedition - Major General John Sullivan was chosen to lead an expedition against the Iroquois Nation, which was launched later that summer. Much of the Iroquois Confederacy - also known as the Longhouse Confederacy - had aligned with the British during the American Revolutionary War.

The campaign was authorized by the Continental Congress and ordered by General George Washington in response to widespread anger among western settlers following a series of attacks by Iroquois and Loyalist forces on frontier communities

June 20 - Battle of Stono Ferry - After launching an attack on Charleston, South Carolina, British forces established a defensive position at Stono Ferry, near present-day Rantowles. On June 20, American troops under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln advanced to challenge the British position.

Although the Americans held a numerical advantage, Lincoln’s forces were unable to capture the post and were ultimately forced to withdraw. The battle’s outcome allowed the British to maintain control of Georgia and helped set the stage for the Siege of Savannah later that October in 1779.

June 21 - Spain declared war on Great Britain, effectively siding with the American cause.

However, King Charles III of Spain refused to enter into a formal alliance with the United States, wary of openly supporting a colonial rebellion against another empire. Instead, French Foreign Minister Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, negotiated Spain’s participation in the war against Britain. Acting as an ally of America’s ally, France, Spain was able to support the American cause while maintaining a careful diplomatic distance.

July 7 - British Troops Burn Fairfield Ct. - During the American Revolutionary War, a British fleet was anchored off the coast of Fairfield, Connecticut. The troops waited for the morning fog to lift before coming ashore to strike the town, which was known as a Patriot stronghold within a largely Loyalist region.

Many residents fled to the safety of nearby Greenfield Hill after spotting the ships, while others remained behind in an effort to protect their homes and property.

Once the fog cleared, approximately 2,000 British troops under the command of General William Tryon landed and set fire to the town. By the end of the day, the destruction was extensive: 97 homes, 67 barns, 48 stores, two schools, a courthouse, two meetinghouses, and the county jail had been burned.

July 11 - The Burning of Norwalk was a significant event during the American Revolution and became a powerful symbol of British aggression and the sacrifices made by the colonists. On July 10, 1779, British troops under the command of General William Tryon landed at Calf Pasture Beach. After a brief clash with local defenders at the base of West Rocks Hill, the fighting subsided and the British withdrew from the immediate engagement the following day.

On July 11, 1779, British forces set fire to the town. The destruction was extensive - about 130 homes, 100 barns, five ships, 40 shops, flour mills and salt works, and two churches were burned.

July 16 - In a carefully planned nighttime assault, a specially trained unit of General George Washington’s Continental Army, led by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, launched a swift and daring attack on the British outpost at Stony Point, New York, about 30 miles north of New York City.

The British suffered heavy losses, and the victory provided a significant boost to American morale. Although Washington ordered the fort evacuated shortly after the battle, Stony Point remained an important crossing point on the Hudson River, later used by Continental forces as they advanced toward ultimate victory over the British.

July 24 thru August 14 - Massachusetts militia forces, supported by a fleet of transports and armed vessels, began a siege of the British fort at Penobscot Bay in present-day Maine (then part of Massachusetts). Brigadier General Solomon Lovell led the land attack on Fort George at Castine, with artillery commanded by Paul Revere. However, Commodore Dudley Saltonstall refused to engage the British ships in the harbor, leaving the land forces without naval support.

The siege dragged on until August 14, when a British relief fleet arrived. The British trapped the American vessels in Penobscot Bay, forcing the militia to retreat and destroy many of their own ships along the Penobscot River.

The defeat was a major loss for the Americans in terms of ships, money, and lives. Saltonstall was removed from command, Massachusetts was left with a large financial burden, and the British maintained control of northern New England, disrupting trade in the region.

July 28 - Battle of Fort Freeland - By 1779, Northumberland County lay on the edge of the American frontier. During the war, Native American groups allied with the British carried the conflict into the region, bringing attacks and unrest to local settlers. 

August 19 - The present-day site of the Battle of Paulus Hook is located at a street corner in Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1779, however, the area was a narrow peninsula extending from the New Jersey shore across the Hudson River from New York City.

Patriot forces, commanded by Major “Light Horse Harry” Lee, launched a daring nighttime raid on the British-held fort. In a swift and well-executed surprise attack, Lee’s troops captured 158 British soldiers before withdrawing prior to daylight. Although the British retained the fort and its artillery, the raid weakened their influence and control throughout much of New Jersey.

August 29 - American General John Sullivan was ordered to carry out a campaign against the Iroquois in western New York, with the goal of destroying their villages, burning crops, and driving them from the region.

In late August, Iroquois warriors and Loyalist militia made a stand against Sullivan’s forces at the Battle of Newtown in present-day New York. The Americans won the engagement, forcing many Iroquois to retreat from western New York and allowing Sullivan’s army to continue its campaign of destruction, burning more than forty villages.

Displaced from their homes, many Iroquois sought refuge at Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario. Despite the devastation of their communities, Iroquois warriors continued to carry out raids against American frontier settlements for the remainder of the war.

September 16 thru October 19 - The Siege of Savannah was an unsuccessful attempt by American and French forces to recapture the important port city from the British. The battle proved to be one of the bloodiest engagements of the Revolutionary War in terms of casualties. 

September 23 - Capturing the Serapis - Britain was fighting a growing war with its American colonies and their French allies. While the American Revolution is often associated with battles in North America, some of its most dramatic events occurred on distant seas.

One of the most famous took place in the North Sea off Flamborough Head, England, when American naval commander John Paul Jones captured the British warship HMS Serapis despite overwhelming odds. The victory earned Jones lasting fame as the “Father of the American Navy,” and his reported declaration, “I have not yet begun to fight,” became one of the most enduring quotes in American military history.

November 1779 - Washington's Forces Encampment in Morristown, NJ.

January 17 - The Battle of Cowpens, fought on January 17, 1781, was a decisive American victory during the Revolutionary War. Taking place along the northern border of South Carolina, the battle slowed General Charles Cornwallis’s advance into North Carolina. British forces suffered about 600 casualties, while American losses were only 72. 

February 1 - Battle of Cowan's Ford - American militia led by General William Davidson attempted to slow the advance of General Charles Cornwallis’s British army in North Carolina. As Cornwallis moved his forces toward Cowan’s Ford on the Catawba River, the British tried to cross under the cover of surprise. However, they were met by American militia positioned along the riverbank, sparking a brief but intense skirmish. During the fighting, General Davidson was killed. Despite the loss, the militia succeeded in delaying the British advance before eventually withdrawing from the field. 

March 2 - Articles of Confederation Adopted - On November 15, 1777, after 16 months of debate, the Continental Congress meeting in York, Pennsylvania, approved the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, the first framework for a national government in the United States. Reflecting the colonies’ fear of centralized authority, the Articles created a loose union of independent states, each with one vote in a single-house Congress. While Congress could manage foreign affairs, oversee the army, and declare war or peace, it lacked the power to levy taxes. The Articles did not take effect until March 1, 1781, when Maryland became the final state to ratify the agreement. 

March 6 - Battle of Wetzell's Mill - Advance elements of Nathanael Greene’s Southern Army, led by Colonel Otho Holland Williams, clashed with British forces at Adam Weitzell’s Mill in North Carolina. After reentering the state in late February, Greene sent Williams with light infantry from Maryland and Delaware, along with several hundred Virginia riflemen under William Preston and Hugh Crockett, to scout Cornwallis’s army. In response, Cornwallis dispatched a light corps of about 1,000 infantry and cavalry commanded by Lt. Col. James Webster and Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton. 

March 15 - The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War. Although British forces under Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis achieved a tactical victory over the American army led by Major General Nathanael Greene, the British suffered heavy casualties. The losses weakened Cornwallis’s army so severely that he abandoned his campaign in the Carolinas and moved into Virginia. Later that year, in October 1781, Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington after the Battle of Yorktown, the final major land battle of the war. 

April 25 - Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill - Although American General Nathanael Greene had not won a clear battlefield victory since taking command of the Southern Army in December 1780, his strategy steadily weakened the British. Through actions at Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, the Race to the Dan, and numerous skirmishes, Greene’s forces severely depleted General Lord Charles Cornwallis’s army - losses the British could not replace. Efforts to rally Loyalist support had already been crushed at King’s Mountain and Pyle’s Massacre. Exhausted, undersupplied, and short of troops, Cornwallis was forced to march his worn-down army 180 miles to the coast at Wilmington, North Carolina, where he could rest and resupply.

May 9 - The Spanish Siege of Pensacola - Spanish forces kept the British under constant pressure while holding nearby New Orleans, Natchez, and Baton Rouge. Their commander, General Don Bernardo de Gálvez, aggressively sought to seize another British stronghold and turned his attention to Pensacola.  

May 22 thru June 18 - Siege of Niney Six - From May to June 1781, Patriot General Nathanael Greene laid siege to the important British post at Ninety Six in South Carolina. By mid-June, with the siege dragging on, Greene ordered a full-scale assault on June 18. However, his troops were unable to capture the fort. After learning that a British relief force from Charleston was less than a day’s march away, Greene withdrew his army the following day, leaving the British in control. 

June 6 - Patriots Retake Augusta, GA - Fought for control of Fort Cornwallis in Augusta, Georgia, the battle was a major victory for Patriot forces led by “Light Horse Harry” Lee and a significant setback for British and Loyalist troops in the South.  

July 6 - Battle of Green Spring - After his costly victory at Guilford Courthouse, British General Charles Lord Cornwallis, short on supplies, left North Carolina and marched into Virginia. Near Petersburg he joined forces with troops under Benedict Arnold, and the combined army moved toward the Virginia Peninsula to reach British support at Portsmouth.

During this movement, Cornwallis was shadowed by about 4,000 American troops led by the Marquis de Lafayette. Learning that Lafayette was closing in, Cornwallis set up a defensive position near Green Spring Plantation, hoping to lure the Americans into an ambush.

August 28 - The Battle of Elizabethtown dealt a decisive blow to Loyalist influence in North Carolina’s Cape Fear region and featured one of the most notable ruses of the state’s Revolutionary War history. Bladen County was strongly controlled by Loyalists, with 300 to 400 British and Tory troops based in Elizabethtown. Patriot forces, numbering only about 60 to 70 men, had been driven from their homes and had seen their property looted or burned. Led by Colonels Thomas Brown and Thomas Robeson, the Patriots realized they would have to rely on clever planning and deception to overcome the larger Loyalist force. 

September 5 - The Battle of the Chesapeake Bay, also known as the Battle of the Capes proved to be a decisive French naval victory that helped lead to the surrender of British General Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781. In mid-August, a French fleet under Rear Admiral François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse, sailed from the Caribbean island of Haiti toward the Chesapeake Bay to support American and French forces operating in Virginia.

When a British fleet commanded by Admiral Sir Thomas Graves arrived outside the bay on September 5, the French sailed out to meet them. Although the battle itself was tactically indecisive, it was a strategic defeat for the British. Graves was unable to reinforce or evacuate Cornwallis’s army at Yorktown. The British fleet eventually returned to New York, leaving the French in control of the Chesapeake Bay and ensuring that Cornwallis’s forces remained trapped, setting the stage for the decisive Allied victory at Yorktown.

September 8 - The Battle of Eutaw Springs, fought near Charleston, South Carolina, was the last major engagement of the American Revolution in the state. Patriot forces led by General Nathanael Greene launched an attack against British and Loyalist troops commanded by Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart in an effort to drive the British from South Carolina.

Although the Patriots were eventually forced to withdraw from the battlefield, Stewart’s army suffered heavy losses. The damage to his forces forced the British to retreat to the safety of British-held Charleston, where they remained for the rest of the war. Confined to the city, they were unable to reinforce British operations elsewhere, a situation that helped contribute to the British surrender at Yorktown the following month. 

September 28 thru October 19 - The Battle of Yorktown ended in a decisive American victory. After a three-week siege in which British forces were heavily outnumbered and suffered significant losses, they surrendered to the combined forces of the Continental Army and their French allies.

This final major land battle of the American Revolution led directly to peace negotiations with Great Britain and ultimately to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The victory at Yorktown effectively ended British rule in the colonies and marked the birth of a new nation - the United States of America. 

October 19 - General Lord Charles Cornwallis Surrenders - The Articles of Capitulation were signed, and General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered more than 7,000 British troops at Yorktown. Refusing to attend the ceremony, Cornwallis sent General Charles O’Hara in his place. O’Hara first offered the sword of surrender to the French commander, the Comte de Rochambeau, who declined and directed him to General George Washington. Washington also refused the gesture and instructed O’Hara to present the sword to his second-in-command, General Benjamin Lincoln. The British troops then marched out and laid down their arms between the American and French lines.

Although Britain still had more than 25,000 soldiers in North America, Yorktown proved to be the war’s final major battle. Without another army to replace Cornwallis’s surrendered force, British support for the war collapsed. In March 1782, Parliament voted to end offensive operations, and the conflict was formally concluded with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

March 15 - George Washington’s Newburgh Address, delivered on March 15, 1783, helped prevent a potential mutiny among Continental Army officers in Newburgh, New York, who were frustrated by lack of pay and support from Congress.

Appealing to their sense of duty, honor, and loyalty to civilian authority, Washington urged restraint and unity. In a powerful moment, he put on his spectacles and remarked that he had “grown not only gray, but almost blind in the service of my country,” moving many officers to tears and helping restore order.

April 19 - After Spain, France, and Great Britain reached agreement, the treaty with the United States took effect, officially ending the fighting. Congress ratified the Preliminary Articles of Peace on April 15.

September 3 - Treaty of Paris 1783 - This treaty, signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. 

November 25 - Last British soldiers leave New York - On November 25, 1783, nearly three months after the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution, the last British troops evacuated New York City - their final stronghold in the former Thirteen Colonies. As the Redcoats departed, General George Washington entered the city to the cheers of its residents. New York had been under British control since September 1776. 

December 4 - General George Washington bids farewell to his officers in New York - On December 4, 1783, future President George Washington, then commanding general of the Continental Army, summons his military officers to Fraunces Tavern in New York City to inform them that he will be resigning his commission and returning to civilian life. 

December 23 - General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, appeared before the Continental Congress in Annapolis to formally resign his commission - His resignation marked the end of his military leadership, a role he had held since May 9, 1775, and reflected his intention to return to private life at his Mount Vernon estate.

This moment has long been regarded as a powerful demonstration of Washington’s commitment to republican ideals. By voluntarily relinquishing his authority, he affirmed the principle of civilian control of the military and returned power to the governing body that had entrusted him with command.

BACK TO TOP