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American Revolutionary War Timeline Explanation
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This table contains various events related to the American Revolutionary War of 1775-1783.
The dates are to the nearest day when possible. Those events dated to the nearest year are less certain, naturally, than those dated to the precise day.
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For a printable verion of this timeline, click here.
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| Event |
Date |
Comments |
| General Gage arrives in New York City |
November 16, 1763 |
General Gage arrives in New York City to assume his new duty as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America |
| American Revenue Act of 1764 (Sugar Act) |
April 5, 1764 |
Sugar Act enacted to defray cost of recent war |
| James Otis raises cry of "no taxation without representation" |
May 1764 |
Otis spoke and wrote widely, and won acclaim for The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved (1764), an argument against Parliamentary taxation of the colonies. |
| Bostonians boycott British-made luxuries |
August 1764 |
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| Colonial Currency Act |
September 1, 1764 |
Britain forbids all its American colonies to issue paper money as legal tender |
| Colonial Currency Act |
September 1, 1764 |
Parliament passes Currency Act which restricts issuance of paper money in colonies. |
| Stamp Act |
March 22, 1765 |
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| Quartering Act |
March 24, 1765 |
After the French Indian War the British decided to reap greater profits from the colonies. Taxes were increased without any representation in Britain, leading to the Boston Tea Party. In retaliation the British passed the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. |
| Patrick Henry's "If this be treason" speech |
May 1765 |
Patrick Henry delivers "If this be treason" speech in Virginia House of Burgesses. |
| Quartering Act takes effect |
May 15, 1765 |
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| Massachusetts sends Circular Letter to organize opposition to Stamp Act |
June 1765 |
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| Sons of Liberty terrorize Andrew Oliver in Boston |
August 14, 1765 |
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| Looting of Thomas Hutchinson house by Sons of Liberty |
August 26, 1765 |
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| Stamp Act Congress meets in New York City |
October 7 - October 25, 1765 |
The Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York City, formulated the Declaration of Rights and Grievances which stated that the British Parliament did not have the right to tax colonies. |
| Effective date of Stamp Act |
November 1, 1765 |
The Stamp Act takes effect. |
| Stamp Act riots in New York City |
November 1, 1765 |
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| House of Commons considers repeal of Stamp Act |
February 22, 1766 |
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| House of Lords approves repeal of Stamp Act |
March 4, 1766 |
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| House of Commons approves repeal of Stamp Act |
March 17, 1766 |
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| Declaratory Act approved in wake of Stamp Act repeal |
March 18, 1766 |
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| News of the repeal of the Stamp Act reaches the American colonies |
April 24, 1766 |
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| The Stamp Act Repeal takes effect |
May 16, 1766 |
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| Riots in New York City over enforcement of Quartering Act |
August 1766 |
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| New York assembly suspended |
December 1766 |
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| Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, reveals his plan to tax the colonies |
May 13, 1767 |
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| Revenue Act of 1767 - (Townshend Acts) |
June 26, 1767 |
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| King George III approves Townshend Revenue Act of 1767 |
June 29, 1767 |
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| New York Suspending Act of 1767 - (Townshend Acts) |
July 2, 1767 |
The New York Restraining Act is passed by Parliament. |
| The Circular Instruction of September 11, 1767 |
September 11, 1767 |
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| Boycott of British luxury items in Boston |
October, 1767 |
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| First of John Dickinson's Letters to the Pennsylvania Chronicle |
December 3, 1767 |
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| Massachusetts Circular Letter opposing Townshend Acts |
February 11, 1768 |
Samuel Adams and James Otis' circular letter opposing Townshend Acts is is adopted by the Massachusetts House of Representatives and sent to colonial assemblies. |
| Temporary crisis over John Hancock's ship, Lydia |
April, 1768 |
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| Boston Harbor, Occupation of |
May, 1768 |
British warship arrives in Boston Harbor to protect threatened customs officials |
| Customs officials seize Hancock's Liberty |
June 10, 1768 |
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| Massachusetts assembly suspended for refusing to rescind Circular Letter |
July, 1768 |
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| Boston Non-Importation Agreement |
August 1, 1768 |
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| Resolutions of the Boston Town Meeting |
September 13, 1768 |
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| Boston, Occupation of |
October 1, 1768 |
British troops arrive in Boston to enforce customs laws |
| Non-importation agreements spread to Pa., Va., Md., S.C., Ga. and N.C. throughout the year |
1769 |
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| Resolves of Parliament |
February 9, 1769 |
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| Virginia governor closes House of Burgesses |
May, 1769 |
Virginia Resolves of George Mason oppose British policies; governor closes House of Burgesses |
| Virginia Resolutions |
May 16, 1769 |
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| Charleston Non-Importation Agreement |
July 22, 1769 |
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| South Carolina Resolutions |
August 19, 1769 |
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| Golden Hill, Battle of |
January 9, 1770 |
Sons of Liberty v. redcoats in New York City ends in Battle of Golden Hill, the first bloodshed between the patriots and their colonial oppressors. |
| Boston Massacre |
March 5, 1770 |
Five Americans killed by British troops in an event that would help start the American Revolutionary War five years later. |
| Repeal of Townshend Duties except for tax on tea |
April 12, 1770 |
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| John Adams' defense of Captain Preston and troops |
October - December, 1770 |
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| Gaspee runs aground off Pawtuxet, Rhode Island |
June 9, 1772 |
The Gaspee ran aground in Narragansett Bay, a few miles south of Providence. It was surrounded and boarded by patriots, and the crew captured. The Gaspee was then looted and burned. |
| Boston Committee of Correspondence formed |
November 2, 1772 |
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| Virginia creates Committee of Correspondence |
March 1773 |
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| Tea Act goes into effect |
May 10, 1773 |
Parliament authorizes the East India Tea Company to export a half a million pounds of tea to the American colonies |
| Three East India Tea Company ships loaded with tea enter Boston harbor |
November 27, 1773 |
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| Boston Tea Party |
December 16, 1773 |
After the French Indian War the British decided to reap greater profits from the colonies. Taxes were increased without any representation in Britain, leading to the Boston Tea Party. In retaliation the British passed the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. |
| Benjamin Franklin scolded by Privy Council in London |
January 29, 1774 |
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| Boston Port Act Measure - (Coercive Acts) |
March 31, 1774 |
This was the date the bill was passed by parliament. It was effective about two months later. |
| Thomas Gage replaces Hutchinson |
May 13, 1774 |
Boston boycott; Thomas Gage replaces Hutchinson; additional troops arrive |
| Administration of Justice Act - (Coercive Acts) |
May 20, 1774 |
After the French Indian War the British decided to reap greater profits from the colonies. Taxes were increased without any representation in Britain, leading to the Boston Tea Party. In retaliation the British passed the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. |
| Quebec Act - (Coercive Acts) |
May 20, 1774 |
After the French Indian War the British decided to reap greater profits from the colonies. Taxes were increased without any representation in Britain, leading to the Boston Tea Party. In retaliation the British passed the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. |
| Massachusetts Government Act - (Coercive Acts) |
May 20, 1774 |
After the French Indian War the British decided to reap greater profits from the colonies. Taxes were increased without any representation in Britain, leading to the Boston Tea Party. In retaliation the British passed the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. |
| Boston Port Bill - (Coercive Acts) |
June 1, 1774 |
After the French Indian War the British decided to reap greater profits from the colonies. Taxes were increased without any representation in Britain, leading to the Boston Tea Party. In retaliation the British passed the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. |
| Quartering Act (revised) - (Coercive Acts) |
June 2, 1774 |
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| Fairfax Resolves adopted by Virginia convention |
July 18, 1774 |
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| Suffolk Resolves adopted in Massachusetts |
September 1774 |
Suffolk Resolves adopted in Massachusetts |
| First Continental Congress convenes |
September 5 - October 26, 1774 |
First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia (adjourns Oct. 26) |
| Congress urges formation of militias and defiance of Coercive Acts |
September 17, 1774 |
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| Congress approves Declaration of Rights and Grievances |
October 14, 1774 |
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| Continental Association formed to enforce boycotts |
October 20, 1774 |
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| English Parliament declares American colonies in state of rebellion |
February 9, 1775 |
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| Confrontration at Salem Forge |
February 27, 1775 |
British soldiers attempt to sieze cannon at Salem Forge, in Salem, Massachusetts (Salem Bridge Alarm). |
| Virginia assembly suspended; Patrick Henry "liberty or death" speech |
March 23, 1775 |
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| Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech |
March 23, 1775 |
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| New England Restraining Act |
March 30, 1775 |
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| Massachusetts Provincial Congress meets |
April 11-15, 1775 |
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| Massachusetts Governor Gage is secretly ordered by the British to enforce the Coercive Acts |
April 14, 1775 |
Massachusetts Governor Gage is secretly ordered by the British to enforce the Coercive Acts and suppress "open rebellion" among colonists by using all necessary force. |
| General Gage receives orders to take decisive action against colonials |
April 14, 1775 |
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| Massachusetts Provincial Congress adjourns |
April 15, 1775 |
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| Paul Revere arranges the signal of "One If By Land, Two if By Sea" with Charlestown residents |
April 16, 1775 |
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| Dr. Joseph Warren sends for William Dawes and Paul Revere |
April 18, 1775 |
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| Rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes |
April 18, 1775 |
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| American Revolutionary War |
April 18, 1775 - September 3, 1783 |
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| Boston, Siege of |
April 19, 1775 - March 17, 1776 |
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| Lexington and Concord, Battle of |
April 19, 1775 |
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the bloody conflict that marked the beginning of open hostilities in the American Revolutionary War. A Decisive American victory forced the British to retreat to Boston. |
| Boston, Siege of |
April 19, 1775 - March 17, 1776 |
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| Patriots in Charleston, South Carolina remove powder from the public magazines |
April 21, 1775 |
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| Martha's Vineyard, Battle of |
May 5, 1775 |
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| Fort Ticonderoga, Battle of |
May 10, 1775 |
Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys Seize Fort Ticonderoga; American victory; Principal Commanders: American: Benedict Arnold; Colonel Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen led a surprise attack with about 90 men and captured the fort. |
| Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia without delegates from Georgia |
May 10, 1775 |
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| Patriots in Savannah, George remove powder from the royal magazines |
May 11, 1775 |
Patriots in Savannah, George remove powder from the royal magazines. |
| Crown Point, Battle of |
May 12, 1775 |
Seth Warren captures garrison |
| Fort St. John, Battle of |
May 14, 1775 |
Benedict Arnold captures fort with his navy. |
| Grape Island, Battle of |
May 21, 1775 |
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| Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis and John Burgoyne arrive in Boston |
May 25, 1775 |
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| Noodle Island, Battle of |
May 27, 1775 |
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| Hogg Island, Battle of |
May 28, 1775 |
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| Mecklenburg Resolves |
May 31, 1775 |
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| Unity vs HMS Margaretta, Naval Battle of |
June 12, 1775 |
First naval battle of the Revolutionary War, a victory for the United States, was a battle between privateers in a sloop and a British armed schooner, the Margaretta. |
| Formation of the Continental Artillery Regiment |
June 14, 1775 |
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| Washington becomes Commander of the Continental Army |
June 15, 1775 |
George Washington is commissioned General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. |
| Charles Lee is commissioned as the 2nd Major General of the Continental Army |
June 17, 1775 |
Charles Lee is commissioned as the 2nd Major General of the Continental Army. |
| Bunker Hill, Battle of |
June 17, 1775 |
British Victory; British win a pyrrhic victory, their casualties double patriots |
| Horatio Gates is commissioned Adjutant General of the Continental Army with a field rank of Brigadier General |
June 17, 1775 |
Horatio Gates is commissioned Adjutant General of the Continental Army with a field rank of Brigadier General. |
| Israel Putnam and Philip Schuyler are commissioned as Major Generals |
June 19, 1775 |
Israel Putnam and Philip Schuyler are commissioned as the 3rd and 4th Major Generals in the Continental Army. |
| Nathanael Greene is commissioned as the 9th Brigadier General of the Continental Army |
June 22, 1775 |
Nathanael Greene is commissioned as the 9th Brigadier General of the Continental Army. John Thomas, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, and John Sullivan are also commissioned Brigadier Generals in the Continental Army. |
| Washington departs from Philadelphia |
June 23, 1775 |
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| Thomas Hickey hanged for attempting to assassinate Washington |
June 28, 1775 |
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| Sir William Howe arrives off Manhattan with 130 British ships |
June 29, 1775 |
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| Sir Richard Howe arrives off Manhattan with 150 additional British ships |
July 1, 1775 (?) |
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| George Washington assumes command of Continental Army |
July 2, 1775 |
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| Birth of the Continental Army |
July 3, 1775 |
General George Washington arrives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and takes command of the troops surrounding Boston. This is the birth of the Continental Army. |
| Olive Branch Petition |
July 5, 1775 |
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| Declaration of Causes of Taking up Arms |
July 6, 1775 |
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| Roxbury, Battle of |
July 8, 1775 |
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| Patriots capture Fort Charlotte, South Carolina |
July 12, 1775 |
Patriots capture Fort Charlotte, South Carolina. |
| Josiah Martin, Governor of North Carolina, boards the British sloop Cruzier |
July 18, 1775 |
Josiah Martin, Governor of North Carolina, boards the British sloop Cruzier. |
| Second Continental Congress adjourns |
August 2, 1775 |
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| Gloucester, Battle of |
August 13, 1775 |
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| King George III declares the colonies to be in rebellion and orders suppression of said defiance |
August 23, 1775 |
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| USS Enterprise embarks troops in Canada |
August 28, 1775 |
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| Quebec |
August 28, 1775 - July 1776 |
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| Invasion of Canada |
August 28 - December 31, 1775 |
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| Fort St. John, Siege of |
September 4 - November 2, 1775 |
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| Colonel Benedict Arnold sets out with a Patriot force for Quebec, Canada |
September 13, 1775 |
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| William Campbell, Governor of South Carolina, boards the British sloop Temar |
September 15, 1775 |
William Campbell, Governor of South Carolina, boards the British sloop Temar. |
| St. John's, Battle of |
September 18, 1775 |
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| Importation of 500 tons of gunpowder ordered by Continental Congress |
September 18, 1775 |
The Second Continental Congress authorized the Secret Committee to import the powder or its equivalent in saltpeter and sulfur and also the export of produce - except cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry - to pay for it. |
| Montreal, Battle of |
September 24/25, 1775 |
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| Ethan Allen is defeated by Maj. General Guy Carleton at Montreal, Canada |
September 25, 1775 |
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| Stonington, Battle of |
September 30, 1775 |
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| Snow Campaign |
October - December 1775 |
During campaign against Loyalists in the Upcountry Patriot militia impeded by 15" of snow. |
| Congress authorizes naval construction |
October 1775 |
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| Court-martial of Benjamin Church |
October 4, 1775 |
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| Bristol, Battle of |
October 7, 1775 |
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| Maj. General William Howe replaces Lt. General Thomas Gage as the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America |
October 10, 1775 |
Maj. General William Howe replaces Lt. General Thomas Gage as the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America. |
| Congress creates a navy |
Oct 13, 1775 |
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| Falmouth, Battle of |
October 18, 1775 |
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| Chambly, Battle of |
October 19, 1775 |
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| Hampton, Battle of |
October 26, 1775 |
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| Stonington, Battle of |
October 30, 1775 |
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| St. John's, Battle of |
November 3, 1775 |
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| Continental Congress stipulates rations for the Continental Army |
November 4, 1775 |
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| Phipp's Farm, Battle of |
November 9, 1775 |
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| Ninety-Six, Battle of |
November 10-21, 1775 |
Patriots besieged by Tories. Ended in truce. |
| Brigadier General Richard Montgomery captures Montreal, Canada |
November 13, 1775 |
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| Colonel Benedict Arnold arrives at the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec City, Canada |
November 15, 1775 |
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| Edmund Burke pleads American case in Parliament |
November 16, 1775 |
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| Lord North's Prohibitory Bill is passed in Parliament |
November 20, 1775 |
This bill orders a complete naval blockade of America; American merchant seamen captured were to be impressed into the Royal Navy and all goods to be confiscated. (Augur, 63) |
| Reedy Creek, Battle of |
November 22, 1775 |
Patriots defeat a small Loyalist force at Reedy Creek, South Carolina. |
| Committee of Secret Correspondence formed |
November 29, 1775 |
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| Committee of Secret Correspondence formed |
November 29, 1775 |
The Committee members-America's first foreign intelligence directorate-were Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Harrison of Virginia and Thomas Johnson of Maryland. |
| Knox arrives at Fort Ticonderoga |
December 5, 1775 |
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| Quebec, Siege of |
December 8-31, 1775 |
Gen. R. Montgomery and Col. B. Arnold attack Sir Guy Carleton's forces. Montgomery is killed. Arnold stays until May 1776. |
| Great Bridge, Battle of |
December 9, 1775 |
Virginia and North Carolina patriots routed Loyalist troops and burned Norfolk |
| Robert Morris becomes chairman of the Secret Committee |
December 13, 1775 |
Robert Morris succeeds Thomas Willing as member of the Secret Committee and becomes chairman |
| Parliament passes American Prohibitory Act |
December 22, 1775 |
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| Great Canebrake, Battle of |
December 22, 1775 |
Col.Thomson with 1500 rangers and militia captured a force of Loyalists. |
| Quebec, Battle of |
December 31, 1775 - January 1, 1776 |
Arnold and Richard Montgomery driven from city - Maj. General Guy Carleton defeats Maj. General Richard Montgomery |
| Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza leads Spanish colonists from the Presidio of Tubac (Arizona) to San Francisco, California |
1776 |
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| Norfolk, Battle of |
January 1, 1776 |
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| Charlestown, Battle of |
January 8, 1776 |
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| USS Wasp and USS Hornet set sail from Baltimore |
January 14, 1776 |
Wasp and sister ship Hornet set sail from Baltimore on January 14, 1776, becoming the first ships from the Continental Fleet to set to sea. |
| Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" published |
January 15, 1776 |
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| Sir James Wright, Royal Governor of Georgia, boards a British warship |
February 11, 1776 |
Sir James Wright, Royal Governor of Georgia, boards a British warship. |
| Dorchester Neck, Battle of |
February 14, 1776 |
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| Continental Congress establishes the Southern Department of the Continental Army, consisting of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia |
February 27, 1776 |
Continental Congress establishes the Southern Department of the Continental Army, consisting of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia. |
| Moore's Creek, Battle of |
February 27, 1776 |
North Carolina militia under Colonel James Moore defeats Loyalist Scots under Lt. Colonel Donald McLeod inflicting heavy casualties. |
| Maj. General Charles Lee is selected as the first Southern Department Commander |
March 1, 1776 |
Maj. General Charles Lee is selected as the first Southern Department Commander. |
| Nassau, Naval Battle of |
March 3, 1776 |
Continental Navy victory in Bahamas |
| Yamacrow Bluff, Battle of |
March 4, 1776 |
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| Colonial soldiers emplace guns on Dorchester Heights above Boston |
March 4/5, 1776 |
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| Savannah, Battle of |
March 7, 1776 |
Sir James Wright, Royal Governor of Georgia, fails to recapture Savannah, Georgia. |
| Hutchinson's Island, Battle of |
March 7, 1776 |
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| Nooks Hill, Battle of |
March 8, 1776 |
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| American troops move their heavy guns forward to Nook's Hill |
March 16, 1776 |
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| British forces evacuate Boston |
March 17, 1776 |
Boston Evacuated, MA 17 Mar. 1776 British Navy moved to Halifax, NS, Canada and Washington’s Army occupied Boston. |
| Block Island, Battle of |
April 6, 1776 |
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| Roderique Hortalez et Companie established |
May 1776 |
Roderique Hortalez et Cie was a dummy company formed by Vergennes in order to help arms and gunpowder shipments to the colonies rebelling against Britain. Headed by Beaumarchais, this company was financed by the kings of France and Spain. |
| France and Spain make money available to Americans for the purchase of munitions |
May 2, 1776 |
Louis XVI makes a million livres available and French foreign minister Vergennes persuades Spain to put up an equal amount |
| Plains of Abraham, Battle of |
May 6, 1776 |
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| The Cedars, Battle of |
May 19, 1776 |
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| Vandreuil, Battle of |
May 26, 1776 |
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| Maj. General Charles Lee arrives in Charleston, South Carolina |
June 4, 1776 |
Maj. General Charles Lee arrives in Charleston, South Carolina. |
| British fleet arrives off coast near Charleston, South Carolina |
June 4, 1776 |
British fleet arrives off coast near Charleston, South Carolina. |
| Richard Henry Lee introduces Independence Resolution in Congress |
June 7, 1776 |
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| Trois Rivières, Battle of |
June 8, 1776 |
Patriot attempt to take British position failed. |
| Chambly, Battle of |
June 16, 1776 |
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| Sorrel River, Battle of |
June 24, 1776 |
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| Isle aux Noix, Battle of |
June 24, 1776 |
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| Charleston, First Battle of |
June 28-29, 1776 |
British naval attack failed when the palmetto logs held against the bombardment. |
| British fleet sails into New York Harbor |
June 29, 1776 |
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| Independence Resolution approved by Congress |
July 2, 1776 |
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| William Howe occupies Staten Island |
July 2, 1776 |
William Howe occupies Staten Island on July 2, 1776 |
| Declaration of Independence adopted |
July 4, 1776 |
Written largely by Thomas Jefferson, the document declares "all men are created equal." Jefferson and many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence are slaveholders. |
| Chesapeake Bay, Battle of |
July 8-10, 1776 |
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| Declaration of Independence read aloud to soldiers in New York |
July 9, 1776 |
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| Silas Deane meets with Comte De Vergennes |
July 10, 1776 |
Deane and Vergennes discuss the flow of gunpowder and other materiel to America. |
| Paulus Hook, Bombardment of |
July 12, 1776 |
HMS Phoenix (40-guns) and HMS Rose (20-guns) exchange fire with Americans at Fort Paulus Hook |
| British invasion fleet enters New York harbor |
July 12, 1776 |
General Lord William Howe and a huge British invasion fleet moves to New York harbor |
| Rayborn Creek, Battle of |
July 15, 1776 |
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| Washington meets with Lt. Colonel James Paterson at Kennedy House in New York city |
July 20, 1776 |
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| Sorrel River, Battle of |
July 24, 1776 |
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| Brig. General Robert Howe launches a failed invasion of British East Florida |
August 1776 |
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| Essenecca Town, Battle of |
August 1, 1776 |
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| Oconore, Battle of |
August 1, 1776 |
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| Beaufort, Battle of |
August 10, 1776 |
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| Long Island, Battle of |
August 26 - 29, 1776 |
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| General Charles Lee retreats to Brooklyn Heights |
August 26, 1776 |
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| Valley Grove, Battle of |
August 26, 1776 |
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| Reinforcements increase Washington's command to 9,000 men |
August 28, 1776 |
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| Washington escapes disaster at Brooklyn Heights, crossing the East River to Manhattan |
August 29-30, 1776 |
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| Maj. General Robert Howe replaces Maj. General Charles Lee as Southern Department Commander |
September 9, 1776 |
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| Staten Island Peace Conference |
September 11, 1776 |
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| Four British warships sail up the East River |
September 14, 1776 |
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| Kips Bay, Battle of |
September 15, 1776 |
British troops land at Kips Bay and rout the Continental Army. |
| New York, Occupation of |
September 15, 1776 - November 25, 1783 |
New York occupied by British troops |
| Harlem Heights, Battle of |
September 16, 1776 |
American forces repulsed a British and Hessian advance on Manhattan Island. Nathanael Greene involved in engagement against British and Hessians. British driven back to their lines. |
| Coweecho River, Battle of |
September 19, 1776 |
Williamson’s patriots were attacked by Cherokees south of (now) Franklin, NC in a gorge known as the Black Hole. Americans eventually cleared the pass. |
| Nathan Hale captured by British |
September 21, 1776 |
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| New York City fire |
September 21, 1776 |
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| Nathan Hale executed by British |
September 22, 1776 |
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| Fort Paulus Hook occupied by British forces |
September 23, 1776 |
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| Montressor's Island, Battle of |
September 24, 1776 |
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| The Continental Congress elects three commissioners to the Court of France, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Silas Deane |
September 26, 1776 |
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| Netherlands forbids the export of munitions to the revolted colonies |
October 10, 1776 |
States General issues a proclamation forbidding the exportation of munitions to the revolted colonies, after a strong protest by Britain. |
| Valcour Island, Naval Battle of |
October 11 - 13, 1776 |
British Victory; Benedict Arnold commanded the Continental fleet of 16 ships in a major naval engagement for control of Lake Champlain which ended in a British victory. |
| Throg's Neck, Battle of |
October 12, 1776 |
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| Crown Point, Battle of |
October 14, 1776 |
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| Harlem Heights, Battle of |
October 16, 1776 |
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| New Rochelle, Battle of |
October 18, 1776 |
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| Pelham Manor, Battle of |
October 18, 1776 |
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| Mamaroneck, Battle of |
October 21, 1776 |
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| Chatterton's Hill, Battle of |
October 28, 1776 |
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| White Plains, Battle of |
October 28, 1776 |
American victory; Howe inflicts casualties on George Washington's army
British: William Howe; American: George Washington |
| Mount Washington, Battle of |
November 8, 1776 |
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| Manhattanville, Battle of |
November 16, 1776 |
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| Fort Cockhill, Battle of |
November 16, 1776 |
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| Fort George, Battle of |
November 16, 1776 |
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| Fort Tryon, Battle of |
November 16, 1776 |
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| Harlem Cove, Battle of |
November 16, 1776 |
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| Fort Washington, Battle of |
November 16, 1776 |
Fort Washington is surrendered to the Hessians by American commander. |
| Fort Cumberland, Battle of |
November 20, 1776 |
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| Washington retreats to Newark, New Jersey |
November 20, 1776 |
As General George Washington retreats to Newark, Cornwallis lands his troops on the Palisades (Fischer, pp. 121-3). |
| Fort Lee, Battle of |
November 20, 1776 |
Battle of Fort Lee November 19, 1776 - Cornwallis forces Greene to evacuate; Lord Cornwallis captures Fort Lee after Nathanael Greene abandons the position. |
| Thomas Paine resolves to write another pamphlet |
November 22, 1776 |
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| Washington retreats from Newark, New Jersey |
November 28, 1776 |
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| Benjamin Franklin arrives in France |
November 29, 1776 |
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| Howe brothers issue an Amnesty Proclamation |
November 30, 1776 |
Amnesty |
| Brunswick, Battle of |
December 1, 1776 - Oct 26, 1779 |
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| Thomas Paine finishes "American Crisis" |
December 9, 1776 |
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| Congress agrees to give General Washington full powers as Commander-in-Chief |
December 12, 1776 |
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| General Charles Lee captured at White's Tavern |
December 13, 1776 |
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| Coryell's Ferry, Battle of |
December 15, 1776 |
Hunterdon Rising |
| McConkey's Ferry, Battle of |
December 17, 1776 |
Hunterdon Rising |
| Ewing's First Raid on South Trenton Ferry |
December 17, 1776 |
Ewing's River Raids |
| Ewing's Second Raid on South Trenton Ferry |
December 18, 1776 |
Ewing's River Raids |
| First copies of Thomas Paine's "American Crisis" appear |
December 19, 1776 |
|
| USS Enterprise (the second) purchased |
December 20, 1776 |
|
| Congress relocates to Baltimore |
December 20, 1776 |
|
| Howell's Ferry, Battle of |
December 20, 1776 |
Hunterdon Rising |
| Ewing's Third Raid on South Trenton Ferry |
December 21, 1776 |
Ewing's River Raids |
| Petticoat Bridge, Battle of |
December 22, 1776 |
South Jersey Rising |
| Colonel Joseph Reed writes Washington that the time is right for action and a victory is needed |
December 22, 1776 |
|
| Bunting House, Battle of |
December 22, 1776 |
South Jersey Rising |
| Blackhorse, Battle of |
December 22, 1776 |
South Jersey Rising |
| Mount Holly, Battle of |
December 23/4, 1776 |
South Jersey Rising |
| Washington crosses the Delaware River during the night |
December 25, 1776 |
|
| Trenton, Battle of |
December 26, 1776 |
American victory Decisive battle
Commanders: American: George Washington
George Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised Hessian brigade and defeated it. |
| Congress passes a more specific resolution giving Washington full powers as Commander-in-Chief |
December 27, 1776 |
|
| British Campaigns of 1777 |
1777 |
|
| Cornwallis arrives in Princeton |
January 1/2, 1777 |
British General Cornwallis arrives in Princeton and spends the night at Morven (home of Richard Stockton). He is accompanied by some 8,000 men. |
| Springfield Armory established |
1777 |
The Springfield Armory was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military small arms and the site of many important technological advances (see Springfield rifle) from 1794 to 1968. (W) |
| Assumpick Bridge, Battle of |
January 2, 1777 |
Clean-up skirmish on the way to Princeton.American victory
Principal Commanders: American: George Washington
British: Charles Cornwallis |
| Princeton, Battle of |
January 3, 1777 |
General George Washington defeats Lt. Colonel Charles Mawhood. |
| Washington winters in Morristown, NJ |
January 6 - May 28, 1777 |
|
| Fogland Ferry, Battle of |
January 10, 1777 |
|
| Kings Bridge skirmish |
January 17, 1777 |
|
| Somerset Courthouse, Battle of |
January 20, 1777 |
|
| Millstone, Battle of |
January 22, 1777 |
|
| West Farms, Battle of |
January 25, 1777 |
|
| Augusta, Battle of |
January 29, 1777 |
|
| Fort McIntosh, Battle of |
February 2-4, 1777 |
|
| Congress returns to Philadelphia |
March 4, 1777 |
|
| Punk Hill, Battle of |
March 8, 1777 |
|
| Amboy, Battle of |
March 8, 1777 |
|
| Ward's House, Battle of |
March 16, 1777 |
|
| Westchester County, Battle of |
March 16, 1777 |
|
| Peekskill, Battle of |
March 22, 1777 |
|
| Sagg Harbor, Battle of |
March 23, 1777 |
|
| Highlands, Battle of |
March 24, 1777 |
|
| Committee of Secret Correspondence is renamed the Committee for Foreign Affairs |
April 1777 |
The Committee of Secret Correspondence will eventually evolve into the State Department. |
| Bound Brook, Battle of |
April 13, 1777 |
|
| Ridgefield, Battle of |
April 17, 1777 |
|
| Woodbridge, Battle of |
April 19, 1777 |
|
| Ridgefield, Battle of |
April 27, 1777 |
|
| Danbury, Connecticut, burned by British forces |
April 27/8, 1777 |
|
| Crompo Hill, Battle of |
April 28, 1777 |
|
| Piscataway, Battle of |
May 8, 1777 |
|
| Amelia Island, Battle of |
May 18, 1777 |
|
| Sag Harbor Raid |
May 23/4, 1777 |
|
| Abraham Patten executed by British |
June 13, 1777 |
|
| Flag Resolution |
June 14, 1777 |
First official United States Flag |
| Crown Point, Battle of |
June 16, 1777 |
|
| Millstone, Battle of |
June 17, 1777 |
|
| Short Hills, Battle of |
June 26, 1777 |
|
| Fort Ticonderoga, Siege of |
June 30 - July 7, 1777 |
St. Clair surrenders Fort Ticonderoga to the British |
| Saratoga Campaign |
June 30 - October 17, 1777 |
American victory - Decisive battle; Commanders: American: Horatio Gates
British: John Burgoyne; |
| Saratoga Campaign |
July 2 - October 17, 1777 |
|
| Fort Ticonderoga occupied by British troops |
July 5, 1777 |
|
| Hubbardton, Battle of |
July 7, 1777 |
Battle of Hubbardton on 7 July 1777 WPI AFROTC website |
| Skenesborough, Battle of |
July 7, 1777 |
|
| Fort Anne, Battle of |
July 8, 1777 |
|
| Congress authorizes a geographer and surveyor of roads |
July 25, 1777 |
|
| Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia |
July 27, 1777 |
Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia |
| Burgoyne finally arrives at Fort Edward |
July 29, 1777 |
|
| Dutch Island, Battle of |
August 2, 1777 |
|
| Fort Stanwix, Siege of |
August 2 - 4, 1777 |
|
| Moses Kill, Battle of |
August 2, 1777 |
|
| Oriskany, Battle of |
August 6, 1777 |
Americans under Herkimer defeat the British under St. Leger at Fort Stanwix, in the Mohawk Valley in Oriskany, New York (8/6) |
| Bennington, Battle of |
August 16, 1777 |
American Militia under General Stark eradicates Hessian detachment sent by Burgoyne |
| Arrival of 30,000 British troops in New York harbor |
August 20, 1777 |
The enemy appeared in Chesapeake Bay. On the 23d Washington's army marched through Philadelphia and to Wilmington. The enemy disembarked upon the 25th at the Elk River, 54 miles sw of Philadelphia. |
| Staten Island, Battle of |
August 21-22, 1777 |
|
| Washington's army marches through Philadelphia to Wilmington |
August 23, 1777 |
The enemy appeared in Chesapeake Bay. On the 23d Washington's army marched through Philadelphia and to Wilmington. The enemy disembarked upon the 25th at the Elk River, 54 miles sw of Philadelphia. |
| Mohawk River Valley, Battle of |
August 23, 1777 |
Mohawk River Valley on 23 August 1777 |
| British General Howe lands at Head of Elk, Maryland |
August 25, 1777 |
|
| Wheeling, Battle of |
September 1, 1777 |
|
| Fort Henry, Battle of |
September 1, 1777 |
|
| Iron Hill, Battle of |
September 3, 1777 |
|
| Brandywine, Battle of |
September 11, 1777 |
British Victory; Howe drives George Washington's troops to Philadelphia
Principal Commanders: British: Charles Cornwallis; American: George Washington |
| Chadd's Ford, Battle of |
September 11, 1777 |
|
| Clouds, Battle of the |
September 16, 1777 |
|
| Stillwater, Battle of |
September 18, 1777 |
|
| Lake George, Battle of |
September 18, 1777 |
|
| Freeman's Farm, First Battle of |
September 19, 1777 |
Burgoyne checked by Americans under Gates at Freeman's Farm, NY (9/19) |
| Paoli Massacre |
September 20/21, 1777 |
|
| Philadelphia occupied by the British |
September 26, 1777 to June 18, 1778 |
British under Howe occupy Philadelphia |
| Congress convenes in Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
September 27, 1777 |
|
| Germantown, Battle of |
October 4, 1777 |
American: George Washington
British: William Howe
Howe kills 700 patriots while losing 534
Americans driven off at the Battle of Germantown (10/4) |
| Bemis Heights, Battle of |
October 7, 1777 |
Burgoyne loss at Bemis Heights |
| Fort Mifflin, Siege of |
October 7 - November 16, 1777 |
|
| Freeman's Farm, Second Battle of |
October 11, 1777 |
Burgoyne loses second battle of Freeman's Farm, NY (at Bemis Heights) (10/7) |
| Saratoga, Battle of |
October 17, 1777 |
Gates (Benedict Arnold) defeats Burgoyne |
| Fort Mercer, Battle of |
October 22, 1777 |
Hessian attack on Fort Mercer, NJ repulsed (10/22) |
| Articles of Confederation adopted |
November 15, 1777 |
Congress adopts Articles of Confederation; sent to states for approval |
| Fort Mifflin, Battle of |
November 16, 1777 |
Fort Mifflin falls to British. |
| Whitemarsh, Battle of |
December 5-7, 1777 |
Americans repulse British at Whitemarsh, PA (12/5-7) |
| Washington winters at Valley Forge, PA |
December 19, 1977 - May 19, 1778 |
|
| George Rogers Clark's campaigns in the Mississippi Valley were supplied and assisted by Spanish authorities at St. Louis |
1778-79 |
|
| Alliance (of 1778), Treaty of |
February 6, 1778 |
American-French Alliance (2/6/1778) France enters the war on the side of the Americans |
| British General William Howe replaced by Henry Clinton |
March 7, 1778 |
British General William Howe replaced by Henry Clinton (3/7/1778) |
| Quinton's Bridge, Battle of |
March 18, 1778 |
|
| Lt. General Henry Clinton replaces Maj. General William Howe as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America |
March 21, 1778 |
|
| Franklin, Lee, and Deane were received at the French Court as representatives of the United States of America |
March 30, 1778 |
|
| Van Steuben arrives at Valley Forge |
April 1, 1778 |
Van Steuben arrives at Valley Forge 4/1/1778? |
| Congress ratifies treaties of alliance and commerce between American and France |
May 4, 1778 |
Congress ratifies treaties of alliance and commerce between American and France. |
| Barren Hill, Battle of |
May 20, 1778 |
Battle of Barren Hill, PA (5/20/1778) |
| France declares war on Great Britain |
June 17, 1778 |
|
| Freehold Courthouse, Battle of |
June 28, 1778 |
|
| Monmouth, Battle of |
June 28, 1778 |
Washington fights to a draw at Battle of Monmouth (6/28/1778) |
| Kaskaskia, Capture of |
July 4, 1778 |
George Rogers Clark captured Kaskaskia, a French village near Detroit |
| Cape Ushant, Naval Battle of |
July 27, 1778 |
|
| Onessant, Naval Battle of |
July 27, 1778 |
|
| Pondicherry, Siege of |
August 8 - October 15, 1778 |
|
| Newport, R.I., Siege of |
August 8, 1778 |
French and American forces besiege Newport, RI |
| Pondicherry, Naval Battle of |
August 10, 1778 |
|
| Butts Hill, Battle of |
August 29, 1778 |
|
| Quaker Hill, Battle of |
August 29, 1778 |
|
| Indian Field and Bridge, Battle of |
August 31, 1778 |
|
| Carenage Bay, Battle of |
December 13, 1778 |
|
| Savannah, First Battle of |
December 29, 1778 |
Lt. Colonel Archibald Campbell defeats Maj. General Robert Howe and the British occupy Savannah, Georgia. |
| Sullivan Expedition |
Summer of 1779 |
|
| Fort Morris, Battle of |
January 9, 1779 |
|
| Kettle Creek, Battle of |
February 14, 1779 |
Loyalists lose at Kettle Creek |
| Fort Vincennes, Capture of |
February 25, 1779 |
American George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes on the Wabash in the Western campaign (2/25/1779) |
| Briar's Creek, Battle of |
March 3, 1779 |
Ashe loses 350 men near Augusta to British |
| John Paul Jones captures the Drake |
April 24, 1779 |
|
| Stony Point, British capture of |
May 31, 1779 |
The British capture of Stony Point on May 31, 1779 was quickly followed by Wayne's brilliant and successful bayonet assault. |
| Spain enters war against Britain as an ally of France but not of America |
June 21, 1779 |
|
| Gibraltar, Siege of |
June 24, 1779 - February 7, 1783 |
|
| Connecticut cities raided by British |
July, 1779 |
|
| Congress returns to Philadelphia |
July 2, 1779 |
|
| Kaskaskia, Capture of |
July 4, 1779 |
G.R. Clark takes Kaskaskia |
| Newtown, Battle of |
July 4, 1779 (?) |
|
| Grenada, Naval Battle of |
July 6, 1779 |
|
| Fairfield, Connecticut, burned by British |
July 8, 1779 |
|
| Norwalk, Connecticut, burned by British |
July 11, 1779 |
|
| Penobscot Bay, Naval Battle of |
July 14, 1779 |
|
| Stony Point, Recapture of by American troops |
July 15/16, 1779 |
Wayne takes 700 prisoners in bayonet attack with only 15 patriot casualties
American "Mad" Anthony Wayne captures Stony Point, NY (7/15-16/1779) |
| Minisink Massacre |
July 20, 1779 |
1779 Minisink Massacre (American war of Independence) |
| Penobscot Expedition |
July 21, 1779 |
|
| Paulus Hook, Battle of |
August 19, 1779 |
"Light Horse" Harry Lee attacks Paulus Hook, NJ; Henry Lee drives British from New Jersey. |
| Savannah II |
September 16 - October 10, 1779 |
|
| Flamborough Head, Battle of |
September 23, 1779 |
John Paul Jones, aboard the Bonhomme Richard, captures British man-of-war Serapis near English coast (9/23/1779) |
| Savannah, Siege of |
September 23 - October 18, 1779 |
Maj. General Benjamin Lincoln and French Admiral D'Estaing lay siege to Savannah, Georgia. |
| Tappan Massacre |
September 28, 1779 |
The Tappan Massacre ("No Flint" Grey kills 30 Americans by bayonet) (9/28/1779) |
| Savannah, Battle of |
October 9, 1779 |
American attempt to recapture Savannah, GA fails (10/9/1779) |
| Cherry Hill Massacre |
November 11, 1779 |
|
| Coldest winter of the war, Washington at Morristown, NJ |
January 1, 1780 - May 1, 1780 |
During the coldest winter of the war, Washington and his army winters at Morristown, NJ from January 1 until the first of May. |
| Cape St. Vincent, Naval Battle of |
January 16, 1780 |
|
| Eastchester, Battle of |
January 18, 1780 |
|
| Elizabethtown, Battle of |
January 25, 1780 |
|
| Newark, Battle of |
January 25, 1780 |
|
| Four Corners, Battle of |
February 3, 1780 |
|
| Mobile, Siege of |
February 20 - May 13, 1780 |
Spanish Governor of Louisiana Don Bernardo de Galvez captures Mobile in West Florida. |
| Vincennes, Battle of |
February 23, 1780 |
Clark victory at Vincennes |
| Salkahatchie, Battle of |
March 8, 1780 |
|
| Mobile captured by British |
March 14, 1780 |
|
| Paramus, Battle of |
March 22, 1780 |
|
| Pon Pon, Battle of |
March 23, 1780 |
|
| Rentowle, Battle of |
March 27, 1780 |
|
| Charleston, Siege of |
April 8 - May 12, 1780 |
Maj. General Benjamin Lincoln is defeated by Lt. General Henry Clinton. |
| Biggin's Bridge, Battle of |
April 14, 1780 |
|
| Black Mingo, Battle of |
April 14, 1780 |
|
| Monck's Corner, Battle of |
April 14, 1780 |
|
| Newark, Battle of |
April 15, 1780 |
|
| New Bridge, Battle of |
April 15, 1780 |
|
| Paramus, Battle of |
April 16, 1780 |
|
| Sortie from Charleston |
April 24, 1780 |
|
| Lanneau's Ferry, Battle of |
May 6, 1780 |
|
| Maj. General Horatio Gates is named new Southern Department Commander |
May 7, 1780 |
Maj. General Horatio Gates is appointed Southern Department Commander by the Continental Congress. |
| Fort Moultrie, Battle of |
May 7, 1780 |
|
| Sullivan's Island, Battle of |
May 8, 1780 |
|
| Charleston falls to British |
May 12, 1780 - December 14, 1782 |
|
| Le Nud's Ferry, Battle of |
May 18, 1780 |
|
| Caughnawaga, Battle of |
May 22, 1780 |
|
| Johnstown, Battle of |
May 22, 1780 |
|
| Bird's Expedition |
May 25, 1780 - ?? |
|
| Saint Louis, Battle of |
May 26, 1780 |
|
| Buford Massacre |
May 29, 1780 |
|
| Waxhaw Creek, Battle of |
May 29, 1780 |
British crush Americans at Waxhaw Creek, SC (5/29/1780) |
| Elizabethtown, Battle of |
June 6, 1780 |
|
| Connecticut Farms, Battle of |
June 7-23, 1780 |
|
| Middletown, Battle of |
June 12, 1780 |
|
| Ramseur's Mill, Battle of |
June 20, 1780 |
Patriots rout Tories at Ramseur's Mill, NC (6/20/1780) |
| Springfield, Battle of |
June 23, 1780 |
Greene defeats British |
| Fort Thickety, Battle of |
June 30, 1780 |
|
| Arrival of first French toops in the Expédition Particulière |
July 11, 1780 - 1782 |
French troops arrive at Newport, RI, to aid the American cause |
| Williamson's Plantation, Battle of |
July 12, 1780 |
|
| Brattonville, Battle of |
July 12, 1780 |
|
| Brandon's Camp, Battle of |
July 12, 1780 |
|
| Stallions, Battle of |
July 12, 1780 |
|
| Cedar Springs, Battle of |
July 13, 1780 |
|
| Pacolett River, Battle of |
July 14, 1780 |
|
| McDonnell's Camp, Battle of |
July 15-16, 1780 |
|
| Earle's Ford, Battle of |
July 15, 1780 |
|
| Bergen, Battle of |
July 19, 1780 |
|
| Tom's River, Battle of |
July 19, 1780 |
|
| Flat Rock, Battle of |
July 20, 1780 |
|
| Block House, Battle of |
July 21, 1780 |
|
| Bull's Ferry, Battle of |
July 21, 1780 |
|
| Fort Anderson, Battle of |
July 23, 1780 |
|
| Maj. General Horatio Gates assumes command of the Southern Continental Army |
July 25, 1780 |
Maj. General Horatio Gates assumes command of the Southern Continental Army. |
| Rocky Mount, Battle of |
July 30, 1780 |
|
| Green Spring, Battle of |
August 1, 1780 |
|
| Hanging Rock, Battle of |
August 1-6, 1780 |
|
| Hunts Bluff, Battle of |
August 1, 1780 |
|
| Mohawk Valley, Battle of |
August 2, 1780 |
|
| Fort Plain, Battle of |
August 2, 1780 |
|
| Hanging Rock, Battle of |
August 6, 1780 |
Patriots defeat Tories at Hanging Rock, SC (8/6/1780) |
| Cedar Springs, Battle of |
August 8, 1780 |
|
| Old Iron Works, Battle of |
August 8, 1780 |
|
| Wofford's Iron Works, Battle of |
August 8, 1780 |
|
| Ford of the Wateree, Battle of |
August 15, 1780 |
|
| Gum Swamp, Battle of |
August 16, 1780 |
|
| Camden, Battle of |
August 16, 1780 |
British Victory; Principal Commanders: American: Horatio Gates, British: Charles Cornwallis |
| Catawba Ford, Battle of |
August 18, 1780 |
|
| Fishing Creek, Battle of |
August 18, 1780 |
Tarleton defeats Sumter |
| Musgrove's Mills, Battle of |
August 18, 1780 |
|
| Great Savannah, Battle of |
August 20, 1780 |
|
| Nelson's Ferry, Battle of |
August 20, 1780 |
|
| Flatbush, Battle of |
August 22-23, 1780 |
|
| Kingstree, Battle of |
August 27, 1780 |
|
| Tarcote, Battle of |
September 4, 1780 |
|
| Cane Creek, Battle of |
September 12, 1780 |
|
| Fort Grierson, Battle of |
September 14, 1780 |
|
| Fort Cornwallis, Battle of |
September 14, 1780 |
|
| Black Mingo, Battle of |
September 14, 1780 |
|
| White House, Battle of |
September 15, 1780 |
|
| Augusta, Battle of |
September 18, 1780 |
|
| Wahab's Plantation, Battle of |
September 21, 1780 |
Militia Colonel William R. Davie surprises Tories at Wahab's Plantation. |
| Arrest of John Andre |
September 23, 1780 |
|
| Burr's West Point plot unearthed ?????? |
September 25, 1780 |
|
| Benedict Arnold's plans to cede West Point to the British discovered |
September 25, 1780 |
Benedict Arnold's plans to cede West Point to the British discovered (9/25/1780) |
| Charlotte, Battle of |
September 26, 1780 |
|
| Maj. General Nathanael Greene is appointed Southern Department Commander |
October 5, 1780 |
Maj. General Nathanael Greene is appointed Southern Department Commander by the Continental Congress. |
| Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army |
October 14, 1780 ?? |
Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army |
| Kings Mountain, Battle of |
October 7, 1780 |
Patriots capture loyalists; King's Mountain, SC: battle lasted 65 minutes. American troops led by Isaac Shelby and John Sevier defeated Maj. Patrick Ferguson and one-third of General Cornwallis' army. 10/7/1780) |
| Fort George, Battle of |
October 11, 1780 |
|
| Daniel Morgan is promoted to Brigadier General |
October 13, 1780 |
Daniel Morgan is promoted to Brigadier General. |
| Middleburg, Battle of |
October 15, 1780 |
|
| Schohaire, Battle of |
October 17, 1780 |
|
| Fort Keyser, Battle of |
October 19, 1780 |
|
| Stone Arabia, Battle of |
October 19, 1780 |
|
| Klock's Field, Battle of |
October 21, 1780 |
|
| Kanassoraga, Battle of |
October 23, 1780 |
|
| Tarcote Swamp, Battle of |
October 25, 1780 |
|
| Black River, Battle of |
October 25, 1780 |
|
| German Flats, Battle of |
October 29, 1780 |
|
| Fish Dam Ford, Battle of |
November 9, 1780 |
|
| Broad River, Battle of |
November 12, 1780 |
|
| Black Stocks, Battle of |
November 20, 1780 |
Thomas Sumter defeats Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton at the Blackstocks. |
| Tiger River, Battle of |
November 20, 1780 |
|
| Coram, Battle of |
November 21, 1780 |
|
| Fort George, Battle of |
November 21, 1780 |
|
| Fort St. George, Battle of |
November 23, 1780 |
|
| Smith's Point, Battle of |
November 23, 1780 |
|
| Maj. General Nathanael Greene takes command of the Southern Department |
December 2, 1780 |
Maj. General Nathanael Greene takes command of the Southern Department. |
| Rugley's Mills, Battle of |
December 4, 1780 |
|
| Horseneck, Battle of |
December 9, 1780 |
|
| Long Cane, Battle of |
December 11, 1780 |
|
| Hammond's Store, Battle of |
December 28, 1780 |
Continental cavalry defeats Tories at Hammond's Store, South Carolina. |
| Francis Marion is promoted to brigadier general of the militia |
December 30, 1780 |
Francis Marion is promoted to brigadier general of the militia. |
| Williamson's Plantation, Battle of |
December 31, 1780 |
|
| Mutiny of unpaid Pennsylvania soldiers |
January, 1781 |
|
| Richmond, Battle of |
January 5, 1781 |
|
| Charles City Courthouse, Battle of |
January 8, 1781 |
|
| Cowpens, Battle of the |
January 17, 1781 |
Patriot Morgan overwhelmingly defeated British Col. Tarleton at Cowpens, SC |
| Morrisania, Battle of |
January 22, 1781 |
|
| Georgetown, Battle of |
January 24, 1781 |
Lt. Colonel Henry Lee and Francis Marion raid Georgetown, South Carolina |
| Cowan's Ford, Battle of |
February 1, 1781 |
|
| Wilmington, Battle of |
February 1, 1781 |
|
| Torrence's Tavern, Battle of |
February 1, 1781 |
|
| Shallow Ford, Battle of |
February 6, 1781 |
|
| Bruce's Crossroads, Battle of |
February 12, 1781 |
|
| Pyle's Hacking Match |
February 25, 1781 |
|
| Wright's Bluff, Battle of |
February 27, 1781 |
|
| Articles of Confederation adopted by 13th state |
March 2, 1781 |
|
| Clapp's Hill, Battle of |
March 2, 1781 |
|
| Wiboo Swamp, Battle of |
March 6, 1781 |
|
| Whitsall's Mills, Battle of |
March 6, 1781 |
|
| Guilford Courthouse, Battle of |
March 15, 1781 |
Cornwallis achieves a Pyrrhic victory over Greene and Morgan
British win costly victory at Guilford Courthouse, NC |
| Cape Henry, Naval Battle of |
March 16, 1781 |
|
| Beattie's Mill, Battle of |
March 21, 1781 |
|
| Pensacola, Siege of |
March 22-May 9, 1781 |
Siege of Pensacola, West Florida |
| Wiggins Hill, Battle of |
April 1781 |
|
| Four Holes, Battle of |
April 7, 1781 |
|
| Fort Balfour, Battle of |
April 12, 1781 |
|
| Four Holes, Battle of |
April 15, 1781 |
|
| Fort Watson, Siege of |
April 15 - 23, 1781 |
|
| Porto Praya, Naval Battle of |
April 16, 1781 |
French admiral Suffren damages English naval squadron |
| Augusta, Siege of |
April 16 - June 5, 1781 |
|
| Camden, Siege of |
April 25 - May 10, 1781 |
|
| Hillsborough, Battle of |
April 25, 1781 |
|
| Hobkirk's Hill, Battle of |
April 25, 1781 |
British Victory; Greene defeated at Hobkirk's Hill, SC
Principal Commanders: American: Nathanael Greene; British: Francis Rawdon |
| Petersburg, Battle of |
April 25, 1781 |
|
| Osborne's, Battle of |
April 27, 1781 |
|
| Camden, Battle of |
May 10, 1781 |
|
| Orangeburg, Battle of |
May 11, 1781 |
|
| Fort Motte, Battle of |
May 12, 1781 |
|
| Croton River, Battle of |
May 14, 1781 |
|
| Nelson's Ferry, Battle of |
May 14, 1781 |
|
| Fort Granby, Battle of |
May 15, 1781 |
|
| Silver Bluff, Battle of |
May 21, 1781 |
|
| Fort Dreadnought, Battle of |
May 21, 1781 |
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| Fort Galphin, Battle of |
May 21, 1781 |
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| Ninety-Six, Battle of |
May 22 - June 19, 1781 |
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| Fort Grierson, Battle of |
May 24, 1781 |
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| Charlottesville, Battle of |
June 4, 1781 |
Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton raids Charlottesville, Virginia, nearly capturing Governor Thomas Jefferson. |
| Fort Cornwallis, Battle of |
June 5, 1781 |
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| Augusta, Battle of |
June 6, 1781 |
Americans recapture Augusta, GA (6/6/1781) |
| Ninety-Six, Battle of |
June 18, 1781 |
British hold off Americans at Ninety Six, SC (6/18/1781) |
| Spencer's Tavern, Battle of |
June 26, 1781 |
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| Rahway Meadow, Battle of |
June 26, 1781 |
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| King's Bridge, Battle of |
July 3, 1781 |
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| Green Springs Farm, Battle of |
July 6, 1781 |
"Mad" Anthony Wayne repulsed at Green Springs Farm, VA (7/6/1781) |
| Jamestown Ford, Battle of |
July 6, 1781 |
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| Currytown, Battle of |
July 9, 1781 |
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| Tarrytown, Battle of |
July 15, 1781 |
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| Quinby's Bridge, Battle of |
July 17, 1781 |
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| Fort Plain, Battle of |
August 2, 1781 |
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| Fort Watson, Battle of |
August 15 - 23, 1781 |
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| Warwarsing, Battle of |
August 22, 1781 |
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| Massacre of Lochry's party in 1781 |
August 24, 1781 |
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| Lochry's Defeat |
August 24, 1781 |
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| Lynn Haven Bay, Naval Battle of |
September 5, 1781 |
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| Chesapeake, Naval Battle of the |
September 5, 1781 |
Inconclusive naval battle; French Admiral Comte de Grasse blocks British fleet under Admiral Thomas Graves, seals Cornwallis' fate |
| New London, Battle of |
September 6, 1781 |
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| Groton Hill, Battle of |
September 6, 1781 |
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| Fort Griswold, Battle of |
September 6, 1781 |
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| Fort Plain, Battle of |
September 7, 1781 |
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| Eutaw Springs, Battle of |
September 8, 1781 |
British marginal victory
Principal Commanders:
American: Nathanael Greene
British: Alexander Stewart |
| Lindley's Mill, Battle of |
September 13, 1781 |
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| Cane Creek, Battle of |
September 13, 1781 |
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| Yorktown Campaign |
September 28 - October 19, 1781 |
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| Yorktown, Siege of |
September 28 - October 19, 1781 |
Principal Commanders: American: George Washington; British: Charles Cornwallis |
| Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown |
October 17, 1781 |
End of the Siege of Yorktown |
| Johnson Hall, Battle of |
October 24, 1781 |
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| Johnstown, Battle of |
October 24, 1781 |
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| West Canada Creek, Battle of |
October 30, 1781 |
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| Jerseyfield, Battle of |
October 30, 1781 |
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| Clouds Creek, Battle of |
November 7, 1781 |
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| Hayes' Station, Battle of |
November 9, 1781 |
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| Dorchester, Battle of |
December 1, 1781 |
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| Cape Ushant, Naval Battle of |
December 12, 1781 |
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| Dorchester, Battle of |
December 29, 1781 |
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| British-Indian Raids |
1782 |
British-Indian Raids |
| Lord North resigns as British Prime Minister |
March 20, 1782 |
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| Frigate Bay, Naval Battle of |
January 26, 1782 |
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| Minorca, Battle of |
February 5, 1782 |
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| Wambaw Creek, Battle of |
February 14, 1782 |
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| Sadras, Battle of |
February 17, 1782 |
French admiral Suffren (12 ships) meets a British squadron of 9 ships under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes |
| Morrisania, Battle of |
March 4, 1782 |
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| Lord North resigns |
March 20, 1782 |
The British wartime government under Lord North falls following his resignation. |
| Carleton replaces Clinton as British Commander-in-Chief |
March 26, 1782 |
Major General Guy Carleton replaces Lt. General Henry Clinton as British Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America |
| Saintes, Naval Battle of the |
April 10-12, 1782 |
Victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse; The battle ended French and Spanish hopes of capturing Jamaica from the British. |
| Dominica, Battle of |
April 12, 1782 |
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| Trincomalee, Naval Battle of |
April 12, 1782 |
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| Providien, Battle of |
April 12, 1782 |
French and English squadrons clash in an indecisive engagement |
| Holland recognizes the United States |
April 19, 1782 |
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| Dorchester, Battle of |
April 24, 1782 |
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| Spain regains the Bahamas from England |
May 8, 1782 |
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| Ogeechee Road, Battle of |
May 21, 1782 |
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| Sharon, Battle of |
May 24, 1782 |
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| Sandusky, Battle of |
June 4, 1782 |
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| Ebenezer, Battle of |
June 23, 1782 |
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| James Island, Battle of |
July, 1782 |
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| Negapatam, Naval Battle of |
July 6, 1782 |
Indecisive engagment between British and French fleets |
| British evacuate Savannah, Georgia |
July 11, 1782 |
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| Bryan Station, Siege of |
August 15-17, 1782 |
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| Blue Licks, Battle of |
August 19, 1782 |
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| Combahee Ferry, Battle of |
August 27, 1782 |
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| Trincomalee, Naval Battle of |
September 3, 1782 |
British fleet under Hughes damages French fleet under Suffren but withdraws |
| Formal peace negotiations begin in Paris, France |
September 27, 1782 |
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| John's Island, Battle of |
November 4, 1782 |
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| British evacuate Wilmington, North Carolina |
November 18, 1782 |
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| British sign Articles of Peace |
November 30, 1782 |
Preliminary peace signed between Britain and U.S. |
| British evacuate Charleston |
December 14, 1782 |
Charleston, South Carolina is last British outpost to be evacuated |
| The Mississippi River becomes the border between the U.S. and Spain |
1783 |
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| Unpaid soldiers prevented from looting the Bank of North America |
1783 |
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| Act for the abolition of the British Treasury Tallies |
1783 |
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| Britain announces end of hostilities with America |
February 4, 1783 |
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| Newburgh Conspiracy |
March 15, 1783 |
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| Congress announces end of hostilities |
April 11, 1783 |
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| Indians Raid Arkansas Post |
April 17, 1783 |
Englishmen and Chickasaw Indians attack Arkansas Post on the lower Arkansas River. |
| Congress ratifies preliminary peace treaty |
April 19, 1783 |
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| Society of the Cincinnati founded |
May 13, 1783 |
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| Orr's Blockhouse built |
Summer 1783 |
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| Cuddalore, Battle of |
June 13, 1783 |
This is not the same as the June 20 naval battle; this was an earlier land battle. |
| Pondicherry, Naval Battle of |
June 20, 1783 |
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| Cuddalore, Naval Battle of |
June 20, 1783 |
French fleet drives British fleet off shore of Cuddalore. Last of the five battles between Suffren and Hughes |
| Congress convenes at Annapolis, Md. |
November 16, 1783 |
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| British troops withdrawn from New York |
November 26, 1783 |
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| Washington's farewell dinner with officers |
December 4, 1783 |
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| Washington resigns commission at Annapolis |
December 23, 1783 |
General George Washington resigns his commission in the Continental Army |
| United States Constitution is adopted |
September 17, 1787 |
The Constitution of the United States is signed and ratified at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. |
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