Monday, November 30, 2009

The King's Commissioners

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Adm. Richard Howe and Gen. William Howe, "the King's Commissioners for restoring Peace," issue a proclamation from New York City, promising pardon to those who will within 60 days subscribe to a declaration that they will desist from "Treasonable Actings and Doings."

The Howes’ offer appealed to thousands of residents from downstate New York, who were willing to trade in their weapons for pardons.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

On this day in 1776,

With the enlistments of nearly 2,000 militia expiring by year's end, the dwindled forces of 8,000 left in New York, Washington realizes a new army would have to be raised to continued in 1777.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Silas Deane

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, after the judgment and loyalty of Silas Deane is called into question, Congress appoints John Adams to succeed Deane as the commissioner to France.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, November 27, 2009

The Battle of Fort Morris

On this day in 1778,

Lt. Col. Fuser demands surrender, but the fort’s commander, Lt. Col. John McIntosh, tells Fuser to “come and take it!”. Fuser thinks twice of it and eventually falls back, after The Battle of Fort Morris.

By January of 1779, the fort's garrison is forced to surrender and Augusta is occupied by Tories from South Carolina without a fight.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Battle of Fort Morris

On this day in 1778,

British Lt. Col. Fuser takes Sunbury, GA from near-by Colonel's Island, without being detected by the 197 Georgians in Fort Morris. The British occupy the unfinished courthouse and celebrate their accomplishments with a puncheon of rum. During the night the defenders of Fort Morris detect the presence of the British and fire their 18-pounders at their empty campsite at The Battle of Fort Morris.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Battle of Gloucester, NJ

On this day in 1777,

Brig. Gen. Marquis de Lafayette leads his first action, the reconnaissance force of 300 Continentals regulars against Gen. Charles Cornwallis' command at a town across the river from Philadelphia. Lafayette's outnumbered troops successfully skirmish with a force of Hessians at The Battle of Gloucester, NJ.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Battle of Bulltown Swamp, GA

On this day in 1778,

200 men encounter British Maj. James Prévost’s army and fights a delaying action. Col. Baker, although wounded, continues to skirmish at the Battle of Bulltown Swamp, GA.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Battle of Fort George

On this day in 1780,

Maj. Benjamin Tallmidge successfully attacks and captures Fort George, along with 54 Tories and 150 others at The Battle of Fort George.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Battle of Fort Lee

On this day in 1776,

Lord Charles Cornwallis on orders from Howe, chases Washington across the New Jersey countryside after the Battle of Fort Lee.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Battle of Brookhaven, NY

On this day in 1776,

Gen. Nathaniel Green prepares the evacuation of head quarters during the Battle of Fort Lee.

And in 1780,

In the last significant action by the Northern War Department, Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge successfully attacks a British outpost during the Battle of Brookhaven, NY.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, November 20, 2009

Battle of Fort Lee

On this day in 1776,

Howe crosses the Hudson River and strikes at the second of two forts which is Washington's current headquarters. Thus the Battle of Fort Lee forces the Americans to retreat yet again across New Jersey toward Trenton.

And in 1777,

Faced with a hopeless situation, the Americans evacuate Fort Mercer destroying all assets in their wake. Howe now controls the Delaware River up to Philadelphia.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Battle of Ft. Ninety-Six, SC

On this day in 1775,

Maj. Andrew Williamson's contingent of 600 continentals are attacked by 1,800 loyalists and fight to a draw after two days at the Battle of Ft. Ninety-Six, SC.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Battle of Sorel, Quebec

On this day in 1775,

American forces blockading the St. Lawrence after the capture of Montreal, capture 3 large British gun ships and 8 smaller craft at the Battle of Sorel, Quebec.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The Battle of Fort Johnson

On this day in 1775,

and for the next week, British sloops Cruizer and Scorpion attack Fort Johnson, South Carolina to retrieve the guns captured by the Americans when the fort was taken. For five days, sailors and marines keep the militia at bay until all of the armaments are retrieved and placed aboard the ships at the Battle of Fort Johnson.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Battle of Tarrar Springs

On this day in 1776,

Howe strikes the first of two forts on the Hudson river. Succumbing to overwhelming forces, Col. Robert Magaw is defeated at the Battle of Fort Washington.

And in 1781,

The Battle of Tarrar Springs is fought just one mile east of Lexington, SC.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Battle of Quebec

On this day in 1775,

British forces leave Montreal to Brig. Gen. William Montgomery. Montgomery's next move is to join up with Arnold for the Battle of Quebec.

And in 1776,

Gen. Howe turns south from Dobb's Ferry toward the two forts straddling the Hudson river; forts Washington and Lee.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Battle of Kemp's Landing

On this day in 1775,

Capt. Dunmore, after being repelled in Norfolk, successfully intercepts militia on march to join Col. William Woodford's militia at the Battle of Kemp's Landing, Virginia.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Battle of Montreal

On this day in 1775,

Brig. Gen. William Montgomery accepts the surrender and the Battle of Montreal is over.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Battle of Fort Alden

On this day in 1778,

Tories and Indians from the Seneca and Mohawk tribes attack Cherry Valley, NY. Ignoring advanced warning from his scouts, Col. Ichabod Alden is killed. The fort is defended but the town is burned to the ground at The Battle of Fort Alden.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Battle of Montreal

On this day in 1775,

Brig. Gen. William Montgomery lands north of the city of Montreal and Maj. Gen. Guy Carlton, with 150 regular is barely equipped to hold them off. The British and 11 ships are captured in heavy winds and shelling bringing to a climax, The Battle of Montreal.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Charleston

On this day in 1781,

The siege forces at Yorktown relocate. The British still hold New York, Savannah and Charleston. Washington heads north and Greene with Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair head south to liberate Charleston.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, November 9, 2009

The Battle of Lechmere's Point

On this day in 1775,

British raiders from Charleston Point, Boston cross the river to Lechmere's Point to steal livestock. Sentries sound the alarm and Col. William Thompson orders an attack. The British make off with 10 cows at the Battle of Lechmere's Point.

And in 1780,

British dragoons and infantry attack Gen. Thomas "Fighting Gamecock" Sumter's camp at night but are repelled and suffer heavy casualties at The Battle of Fishdam Ford.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Gen. George Washington

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, Gen. George Washington seeks to resolve several problems facing the army: how to encourage experienced troops to enlist, how to assemble a capable officer corps and how to overcome provincial differences and rivalries. Describing the problems, he wrote, "Connecticut wants no Massachusetts man in her corps. Massachusetts thinks there is no necessity for a Rhode Islander..."
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Benjamin Franklin

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Congress chooses Richard Bache to succeed his father-in-law, Benjamin Franklin, as postmaster general.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, November 6, 2009

John Carroll

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1789, Pope Pius VI appoints John Carroll, SJ., Bishop of Baltimore, making him the first Catholic bishop in the United States.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Guy Fawkes Night

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, On this day in 1775, Washington condemns his troops’ planned celebration of the British anti-Catholic holiday, Guy Fawkes Night, as he was simultaneously struggling to win French-Canadian Catholics to the Patriot cause.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Patriot William Shippen

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1801, Patriot William Shippen, of the powerful Shippen family of Philadelphia dies at the age of 89 at his home in Germantown, PA. He was a descendant of the well-known Edward Shippen, colonial Philadelphia’s mayor and Pennsylvania’s chief justice.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Battle of Great Swamp, NC

On this day in 1780,

Col. John Senf and a group of 91 Camden Militia attack and quickly drive away Loyalists in Bladen County during The Battle of Great Swamp, NC.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, November 2, 2009

Montreal

On this day in 1775,

The tide continues in favor of the Americans in Canada as Brig. Gen. William Montgomery's forces take the city of St. John's after a six week siege.

Montgomery has his eyes set on the prize of Montreal.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Stamp Act

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1765, in the face of widespread opposition in the American colonies, Parliament enacts the Stamp Act, a taxation measure designed to raise revenue for British military operations in America.
More Colonial Battles