Monday, August 31, 2009

The Battle of Fort Henry

On this day in 1777,
Capt. Samuel Mason successfully defends his post when a band of Native Americans from several eastern tribes attack the Ohio frontier fort at The Battle of Fort Henry (current day WV).
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Battle of Stonington

On this day in 1775,
The British fleet commences bombardment of the Connecticut coastline, killing two and destroying several homes, at The Battle of Stonington.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, August 29, 2009

The Battle of Long Island

On this day in 1776,

Washington orders the evacuation of Long Island to Manhattan under heavy fog and cover of darkness during The Battle of Long Island.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, August 28, 2009

Gen. Howe's march through Delaware

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, Gen. Howe lands his fleet in the Elk River near Elkton, MD, and begins his march through Delaware on his way to Philadelphia.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Battles of Cambridge and King's Tree, SC

On this day in 1775,

Two British batteries afloat on the Mystic and one on Bunker Hill begin shelling Brig. Gen. John Sullivan's position on Ploughed Hill. Sullivan, with only one cannon, holds his position and even sinks one of the batteries at the Battle of Cambridge.

And in 1780,

Maj. James Wemyss skirmishes along the Santee River frustrating Maj. John James sent to stop him during the Battle of King's Tree, SC.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Battle of Long Island

On this day in 1776,

Confident that the British would not attack New York’s Manhattan Island, Gen. Washington sends additional reinforcements into the lines around Brooklyn Heights. Washington also ordered the dispersal of certain documents among the Hessians urging them to desert, during The Battle of Long Island.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Battle of Nail's Fort

On this day in 1778,

Cherokee attack the fort on the Broad River in Georgia, and are beat off. They steal all the horses, wound the commander, a Capt. Sampson Bunn, kill 9 cows and 20 settlers. The Indians try to capture the fort but was unsuccessful at The Battle of Nail's Fort.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, August 24, 2009

The first Battle of New York City

On this day in 1775,

Capt. John Lamb is ordered to secure the guns at the Battery Park and move them to a safe location. The HMS Asia gets wind of the attempt and exchanges fire with Lamb's men. Panic ensues prompting the exodus of city residents to New Jersey and Long Island after the first Battle of New York City.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, August 23, 2009

King George III

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, King George III declares America is in open rebellion.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The British retreat

On this day in 1777,

19 days from the start of the siege, the British retreat westward, allowing Fort Stanwix to become the only fort in the United States that did not fall to the British at some point in the war.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, August 21, 2009

James Wilson

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1798, James Wilson, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the first six Justices, dies at age 55.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Battle of Fallen Timbers

On this day in 1794,

Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne proves that the fragile young republic can counter a military threat when he puts down Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket’s confederacy near present-day Toledo, Ohio, with the newly created 3,000-man strong Legion of the United States at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1781, Gen. Washington departs Dobbs Ferry, NY for Yorktown, VA.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Meriwether Lewis

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1774, Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark Expedition fame, is born in Charlottesville. He is to die at an early age of 35 in 1809.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, August 17, 2009

Jonathan Trumbull

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1785, Jonathan Trumbull, governor of both the colony and state of Connecticut, dies in Lebanon, CT at age 75.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Battle of Camden

On this day in 1780,

British forces under Lt. Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis destroy the American forces of Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates (the hero of Saratoga) near Camden, SC. Using old tactics from his British command days, Gates is over-run and his units slaughtered in a crushing defeat. Gates himself, brakes from the field of battle and rides his horse for two days into Virginia away from The Battle of Camden.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Battle of Newport

On this day in 1778,

French Adm. d'Estang and Gen. Sullivan issue confusing orders for the combined assault of Newport, RI. After several days of bombardment by Sullivan, d'Estang retreats with his fleet and leaves Sullivan exposed and must withdraw from The Battle of Newport.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, August 14, 2009

The Battle of Lockhart's Plantation, GA

On this day in 1775,

Patriot ships raid Bermuda, capturing its forts and manages to carry off all of the powder in their magazines.

And in 1779,

Col. John Twiggs' militia defeats Lt. Col. Daniel McGirth at The Battle of Lockhart's Plantation, GA.

And in 1781,
Adm. De Grasse and the second French fleet arrives in New York. Washington begins his march to Yorktown.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, August 13, 2009

The Battle of Bennington, VT

On this day in 1777,

And for three days, Brig. Gen. John Stark defeats a large Hessian group at the Battle of Bennington, VT.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Washington's fear

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Gen. George Washington writes to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee that the Continental Army’s situation had deteriorated due to an outbreak of smallpox and problems with desertion. Washington feared that the superior British navy might blockade New York, thus isolating the city from communications with other states.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Samuel Adams

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, Samuel Adams dreads that "a very great part of the army is naked - without blankets - ill armed ... without a Prospect of Relief."
More Colonial Battles

Monday, August 10, 2009

Declaration of Independence

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, news reaches London that the Americans had drafted the Declaration of Independence.

And in 1781, Robert Livingston is appointed the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs (today's Secretary of State).
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, August 9, 2009

The Iroquois

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Guy Johnson, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, returns from England and shares his confidence that the Iroquois will choose to ally themselves with the British crown.

He was correct in his assessment. The Iroquois attempted to maintain their neutrality at the beginning of the conflict, but by 1777, Joseph Brant (shown)(aka. Thayendanegea), a formally educated Mohawk and Freemason, led the Iroquois into an alliance with Britain.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, August 8, 2009

A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in On this day in 1775, Capt. Daniel Morgan and his Virginia riflemen arrive in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

And in 1776, Captain John Paul Jones is commissioned in the Continental Navy.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, August 7, 2009

The Purple Heart Award

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1782, Gen. George Washington, creates the "Badge for Military Merit." The badge was to be presented to soldiers for "any singularly meritorious action". The badge later becomes the Purple Heart Award.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Battle of Oriskany

On this day in 1777,

And continuing for two weeks, Col. Nicholas Herkimer is ambushed six mile from Ft. Stanwix. A group from the fort burn the camp of the Indians that ambushed then thus demoralizing them and providing a chance to escape The Battle of Oriskany.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The Battle of Morrisania

On this day in 1779,

At the homestead village of Gouverneur Morris (today's Bronx) Lt. Col. DeLancy's Loyalist forces engage with Col. William Hull's Connecticut Brigade. The Patriots take several prisoners and plunder the stores of local Loyalist sympathizers at The Battle of Morrisania.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Gen. John Burgoyne

No major battles occurred on this date.
But in 1782, British Gen. John Burgoyne dies in England. His humiliating surrender to Patriot forces at Saratoga left a mark on his military career.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Battle of Fort Stanwix

On this day in 1777,

The Fort Stanwix (also known at the time as Fort Schuyler) under the command of Col. Peter Gansevoort is sieged by units under the command of British Colonel Barry St. Leger and the Iroquois leader, Joseph Brant. The siege lasted for 19 days at The Battle of Fort Stanwix.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, August 2, 2009

The Battle of Fort Stanwix

On this day in 1777,

And continuing for two weeks, Col. Peter Gansevoort, with only 750 men, successfully repels a prolonged siege by British, Germans, Loyalists, Canadians and Indian troops commanded by British Gen. Barry St. Leger at the Battle of Fort Stanwix.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Battle of Seneca Town

On this day in 1775,

A detachment from the 3rd South Carolina Rangers had been patrolling near Seneca Town. Failing to set up any security for the camp at night, a party of Cherokee Indians surprised the Rangers with a firefight. The Rangers were driven out of the camp at the Battle of Seneca Town.

And in 1778,
The French fleet under Adm. Comte d'Estang arrives off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island.
More Colonial Battles