Wednesday, September 30, 2009

A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, in a letter to his nephew, Lund Washington, plantation manager of Mount Vernon, Gen. George Washington writes of his displeasure with the undisciplined conduct and poor battlefield performance of the American militia. Washington blamed the Patriot reliance on the militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

John André

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1780, British spy John André is court-martialed, found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. André, an accomplice of Benedict Arnold, had been captured by Patriots six days earlier on September 23, after they found incriminating papers stashed in his boot.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, September 28, 2009

The Battle of Yorktown

On this day in 1781,
General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, begins the siege against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis with 9,000 British troops at The Battle of Yorktown.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, September 27, 2009

John Jay

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1779, the former president of the Continental Congress, John Jay, is appointed minister to Spain and tasked with winning Spanish support for the American Revolution and Spain’s recognition of America’s independence.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Agents of the diplomatic commission

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, the Continental Congress elects Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee as agents of the diplomatic commission that will be sent to secure a formal alliance and negotiate a treaty between the United States and France.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, September 25, 2009

The Battle of Montreal

On this day in 1775,
Captured trying to recruit Canadians to join the American cause, Cap. Ethan Allen is held as a prisoner of war at several places until his exchange in 1778 after The Battle of Montreal.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Battle of Diamond Island

On this day in 1777,
Col. John Brown's Continentals successfully raid a British post on Lake George, located south of Ticonderoga. They are, however, unsuccessful in capturing Ft. Ticonderoga itself after The Battle of Diamond Island.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I have not yet begun to fight!

On this day in 1777,
Gen. Cornwallis marches in to Philadelphia with 4 British and 2 Hessian units. The main body of his army is encamped at Germantown, northwest of the city. Gen. Washington moves to Pennybacker's Mill (Schwenksville) on the Perkiomen River after The Fall of Philadelphia.

And in 1779,
Cdre. John Paul Jones in his Bonhomme Richard captures the Serapis.

"I have not yet begun to fight!"
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Cap. Nathan Hale

On this day in 1776,
Cap. Nathan Hale is hanged in New York City for spying against the Royal forces stationed there.

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
More Colonial Battles

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Battle of Wahab's Plantation

On this day in 1780,
Lt. Col. William Davie launches a surprise attack on Gen. Cornwallis' position killing 60 and suffering only one wounded at The Battle of Wahab's Plantation.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Battle of Paoli, PA

On this day in 1777,
The British attack the camps of Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne's during a midnight raid with fixed bayonets. The Americans fight back and are able to defend their cannon before retreating from The Battle of Paoli, PA.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The Battle of Freeman's Farm

On this day in 1777,
Gen. Burgoyne, on his march to Albany, is delayed by Gates' fortification at Bemus Heights. Two battles are fought, the first ending in a draw, but the second forces Gates to withdraw. Arnold ignores the order to retreat and later is relieved of command after The Battle of Freeman's Farm.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, September 18, 2009

A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

On this day in 1775,
Montgomery begins his siege at St. John's. Ethan Allen is sent ahead to recruit Canadians to the American cause.

On this day in 1777,
Americans raid the vicinity of Ft. Ticonderoga, capturing 300 British and freeing 100 Patriot prisoners.

In Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell is moved to Allentown as Congress moves to Lancaster ahead of Howe's army.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Battle of Warren

On this day in 1777,
After the defeat at Brandywine, Howe did not immediately pursue Washington, who was on his way to Reading to resupply. Skirmishing began on and British forces initiated flanking movements around the American lines. A steady rain made a full out engagement impossible and Washington escaped again from the Battle of Warren.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Battle of Harlem Heights

On this day in 1776,
Part of Maj. Thomas Knowlton's Rangers encounter a superior numbered British force and is forced to retreat again into the hills of northern Manhattan. Washington sends reinforcements and the tide turns in favor of the Americans, causing the British to back down in the Battle of Harlem Heights.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

New York

On this day in 1776,
The Battle of Kip's Bay finds General Howe landing troops in Manhattan forcing MG Israel Putnam's forces to retreat to Harlem Heights. The British occupy NYC throughout the war and for two months after the war ends.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Battle of Newtown

On this day in 1779,
Maj. Gen. John Sullivan had attacked the Iroquois at Newtown along the Chemung River in western New York, in which about 700 (mostly) Iroquois and Tories were decisively defeated by an army of nearly 4000 Continental soldiers. They then carried out a scorched earth campaign, methodically destroying at least forty Iroquois villages throughout what is now upstate New York, in retaliation for Iroquois and Tory attacks against American settlements earlier in the war at The Battle of Newtown.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Charles James Fox

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1806, Charles James Fox, first foreign secretary of the United Kingdom and vocal supporter of American independence, dies in Chiswick, Devon, England.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Col. Benedict Arnold

On this day in 1775,
Recently promoted Col. Benedict Arnold, back in Cambridge after his spring campaign with Ethan Allen in New York, begins his march northward, through Maine country, toward Quebec as the second of two pincers (the other being Montgomery's on Lake Champlain).

Arnold's plan is ill-conceived and his forces suffer starvation and harsh elements during their 350 mile march.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Battle of Brandywine Creek

On this day in 1777,
on his march to capture Philadelphia Washington's army is stationed along a creek north of Wilmington. While Hessians divert attention to Chadd's Ford, the British outflank the Americans and engage them in a furious fight. The Colonials are forced to retreat to Chester after the Battle of Brandywine Creek.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, September 10, 2009

St. John's

On this day in 1775,
A refortified Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler attempts a second effort upon the fort at St. John's. This second effort also failed and the American force retreated back to Ile aux Noix.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Captain Nathan Hale

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Captain Nathan Hale of the 19th Regiment of the Continental Army steps forward to become one of the first known American spies of the Revolutionary War.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The Battle of Martha's Vineyard

On this day in 1778,
A British raiding force attacks an island in Nantucket Sound, destroying several vessels and seizing a large number of sheep and oxen for the army at The Battle of Martha's Vineyard.

And in 1781,
Gen. Greene fights to a bloody draw as Lt. Col. William Washington is wounded and captured at The Battle of Eutaw Springs, SC.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, September 7, 2009

The Battle of Boonesboro, KY

On this day in 1778,
Maj. Daniel Boone commands a militia and defends his stockade against repeated attacks by the Chippewa and Shawnee for a week at The Battle of Boonesboro, KY.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, September 6, 2009

The Battle of New London

On this day in 1781,
British Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold raids then burns New London, CT. He then attacks garrisons at Ft. Trumbull and Ft. Griswold. The Americans who surrendered are bayoneted after The Battle of New London.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, September 4, 2009

The Battles of Ile aux Noix and St. John's

On this day in 1775,
Tensions heat up on Lake Champlain as an advanced group of Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler's force is ambushed near St. Johns by an Indian force, commanded by New York loyalist. The Patriots managed to drive off the Indians in a bush fight. The Americans suffer 8 killed and 8 wounded at The Battles of Ile aux Noix and St. John's.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Battle of Cooch's Bridge

On this day in 1777,
Near Newark, Delaware the only battle to be fought in the first state and the first time the Stars and Strips are shown in battle. Gen. Howe's forces killed around 90 colonials. From here he moved to Brandywine on his way to Philadelphia, after The Battle of Cooch's Bridge.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

United States Treasury Department

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1789, the United States Treasury Department is founded, with Alexander Hamilton as it's head.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Battle Ft. Henry

On this day in 1777,
400 Indians lay siege to Fort (Patrick) Henry (now Wheeling, WV). Settlers take refuge in the fort before the Indians attack. Several soldiers die in the skirmishes outside the walls before the siege began, but in the end, there was not any deaths among the fort's defenders at the Battle Ft. Henry.
More Colonial Battles