The Battle of Quebec

On this day in 1775,

With Montgomery dead and Arnold wounded, near 450 Americans are trapped and suffering in harsh weather, and are forced to surrender.

Arnold blockades the city for the next four months but is never reinforced. The Canadians were never again asked to join the new colonies after the Battle of Quebec.
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Battle for Quebec

On this day in 1775,

Maj. Gen. Montgomery is killed late in the day as operations begin in a blinding snowstorm, leaving Benedict Arnold in command. The final Battle for Quebec has begun.

On this day in 1776,

Washington crosses the Delaware for a second time on his way to the Battle of Princeton.
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Savannah

On this day in 1778,

After two weeks of fighting, British forces capture the city of Savannah.
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The Battle of John's Island

On this day in 1781,
British troops under Maj. James Henry Craig are posted at John’s Island, near Charleston. The Patriots planned to remove Craig and his men from the island with troops led by Lt. Col. Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee and his famed cavalry from Fort Ninety-Six. Lee aborted the attack when a column led by Maj. James Hamilton arrived too late and was unable to cross the Wapoo River at The Battle of John's Island.
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The Battle of Fairforest Creek, SC

On this day in 1780,

American Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan detaches a force of approximately 275 troops commanded by Col. William Washington to destroy a force of 250 British Loyalists under the command of Col. Thomas Waters, who had been terrorizing Patriots in the vicinity at The Battle of Fairforest Creek, SC.
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The Battle of Trenton

On this in 1776,

At approximately 8 a.m. Gen. George Washington's Continental Army reaches the outskirts of Trenton, NJ, and descends upon the unsuspecting Hessian force guarding the city. The 1,400 defenders were still groggy from the previous evening's Christmas festivities. The troops of the Continental Army quickly overwhelmed the defenses, and by 9:30 a.m. the city was surrounded, at The Battle of Trenton.
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The Delaware

On this day in 1776,

Washington, with the support of Gen. Knox, and 2400 troops cross the Delaware to attack a Hessian outpost south of Trenton, NJ. Two other groups led by Gens. Greene and Cadwallader abort their attack due to the harsh weather.

21 Hessians were killed, 900 captured and some 500 escaped. The patriots suffered no casualties though several were wounded and two froze to death during the march of the Battle of Trenton.
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Benjamin Rush

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1745, patriot, physician and social reformer Benjamin Rush is born in Byberry Township, PA.
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The Battle of Cane Break

On this day in 1775,

4000 Carolinian militia from five different command regiments combine to attack Loyalists gathered near the Saluda River. Loyalist leader Thomas Fletchall is also captured as the Americans reign victorious at the Battle of Cane Break.
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Robert Barnwell

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1761, Revolutionary War hero and faithful Patriot Robert Barnwell is born in Beaufort, SC.
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American Crisis

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Thomas Payne publishes "American Crisis".

“These are the times that try men’s souls..."
"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered."
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Valley Forge

On this day in 1777,

The Continental Army goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge, PA. By spring, more than 2000 soldiers will be dead from cold and disease.
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A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777 the new United States celebrates its first national day of thanksgiving, commemorating the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga after the surrender of Gen. John Burgoyne and 5,000 British troops.
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The Battle of Vincennes, IN

On this day in 1778,

A force of 800 British under the command of Lt. Gov. Henry Hamilton, Canadian and Indians from Detroit attack and recapture Fort Sackville at The Battle of Vincennes, IN.
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A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1773, a group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians board three British tea ships moored in Boston Harbor and dump 342 chests of tea into the water.
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Virginia

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1791, Virginia becomes the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights, making the first ten amendments to the Constitution law.
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Lee's forces

On this day in 1776,

The remainder of Lee's forces make their way rapidly across New Jersey to meet up with Washington and the main army west of Trenton in the Quaker countryside north of Philadelphia.
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Maj. Gen. Charles

On this day in 1776,

Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, the highest ranking general after Washington, after being routed by the British in White Plains and after writing several letters criticizing Washington's command abilities, and after ignoring Washington's orders to return to the main army near Trenton, is captured in Morris county, New Jersey.
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Pennsylvania

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1787, Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the Constitution.
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The Battle of Matson's Ford, PA

On this day in 1777,

Washington leaves White Marsh with his army to travel to their winter quarters at valley Forge. As soon as they cross the Schuylkill River, an advance guard accidentally runs into a British foraging party. The Americans quickly withdraw back across the river, destroying their makeshift bridge leaving the British to stare at them from the other side of the river at The Battle of Matson's Ford, PA.
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The Battle of Long Island

On this day in 1777,

Col. S.B. Webb and his regiment conduct a raid against the British-held Long Island. The raid is quickly broken up by some British warships. Webb and his men were eventually captured a The Battle of Long Island.
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The Battle of Great Bridge

On this day in 1775,

Col. William Woodford and his 2nd Virginia Regiment, takes on Dunmore for the last time and defeats the British once and for all, destroying Royalist Virginia and delivering it to the Colonies at the Battle of Great Bridge.
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The Battle of Quebec

On this day in 1775,

Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery lead an American force in the siege of Quebec. The Americans hoped to capture the British-occupied city and with it win support for the American cause in Canada at The Battle of Quebec.
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The First State

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1787, Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the Constitution.
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The Battle of Chestnut Hill, PA

On this day in 1777,

A vanguard of Gen. William Howe's army engages with a Patriot militia force at Chestnut Hill. After heavy firing from both sides, the militia withdraws from The Battle of Chestnut Hill, PA.
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Phi Beta Kappa

On this day in 1776,

In Williamsburg, Virginia, a group of five students at the College of William and Mary gather at Raleigh’s Tavern to found a new fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa. Intended to follow strictly American principles as opposed to those of “England or Germany,” the new society engaged in the fervent political debate typical of student life at Thomas Jefferson’s beloved college in Virginia’s capital.
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The Battle of Rugeley's Mill, SC.

On this day in 1780,

Col. William Washington's dragoons surround a group of 100 Tory militia holed up in a stone barn. Having no cannon at all, he places a large log atop a cannon carriage and wheels to the barn threatening an attack. All 100 surrender at The Battle of Rugeley's Mill, SC.
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Across the Delaware

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Gen. George Washington writes to Congress from his headquarters in Trenton, NJ, to report that he had transported much of the Continental Army’s stores and baggage across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania.
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Lydia Darragh

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, legend has it that Philadelphia Quaker housewife and nurse Lydia Darragh single-handedly saves the lives of Gen. Washington and his Continental Army when she overhears the British planning a surprise attack on Washington’s army for the following day.
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Washington’s army

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1779, General George Washington’s army settles into winter quarters at Morristown, NJ.
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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.
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Dwindled forces

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Battle of Montreal

On this day in 1775,

Brig. Gen. William Montgomery accepts the surrender and the Battle of Montreal is over.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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..."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Dobb's Ferry

On this day in 1776,

With Gen. Howe in Dobb's Ferry, Washington is forced to split his forces again sending one faction (with Gen. Lee and Maj. Gen. Heath) north toward Peekskill and the other (his) across the Hudson into New Jersey.
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Dobb's Ferry

On this day in 1776,

From White Plains, Gen. Howe advances west to Dobb's Ferry cutting Washington off from his two forts. Gen. Washington is faced with the decision of whether to head north towards West Point or west to New Jersey.
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The Battle of White Plains

On this day in 1776,

Cap. Alexander Hamilton's gun battery holds back the advancing British, allowing Washington's main body to continue northward into the West Chester area of New York during the Battle of White Plains.
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The Battle of White Plains

On this day in 1776,

Washington's flight north out of Manhattan is shattered into two factions by Gen. Howe at the Battle of White Plains.
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Growing concern

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, King George III speaks before both houses of Parliament to discuss his growing concern about the rebellion in America, and urges Parliament to move quickly to end the revolt and bring order to the colonies.
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The Battle of Tearcoat Swamp, SC

On this day in 1780,

Col. Francis Marion leads a successful raid on Tory militia at The Battle of Tearcoat Swamp, SC.
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The Battle of Norfolk

On this day in 1775,

Militia under the command of Col. William Woodford repels a second attempt by British gunboats to shell Norfolk. Riflemen accurately pick off sailors on the decks of the damaged ships forcing a hasty retreat which beaches two sloops at the Battle of Norfolk.
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Norfolk, Virginia

On this day in 1775,

Six armed British tenders enter Hampton Creek and begin the bombardment of Norfolk, Virginia. Landing parties sent ashore by Capt. Dunmore to burn the town are repelled by local militia.
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The Battle of Fort Mifflin, PA

On this day in 1777,

A British Royal Navy fleet of ships, trying to open up supply lines along the Delaware River to the occupying British army in Philadelphia, is bombarded by American cannon fire and artillery. Six British ships were severely damaged, including the 64-gun battleship HMS Augusta and the 20-gun sloop Merlin, which both suffered direct hits before they were run aground and subsequently destroyed at The Battle of Fort Mifflin, PA.
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Peyton Randolph

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, after years of poor health, Peyton Randolph, former president of the Continental Congress, dies at age 54.
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Henry Laurens

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1779, Congress elects former congressman Henry Laurens minister to Holland. Laurens negotiated an alliance with Holland in 1780.
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Continental Association

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1774, the First Continental Congress creates the Continental Association, which calls for a complete ban on all trade between America and Great Britain. This was done primarily in response to the Intolerable Acts Parliament instituted after the Boston Tea Party.
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The Battle of Yorktown

On this day in 1781,

More than 8,000 men lay down their arms in surrender, ending the last major battle in the war for American independence at The Battle of Yorktown.
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The Battle of Fort Chambly

On this day in 1775,

The tide begins to turn in favor of the Americans in Canada as General Montgomery's forces capture nearly 90 British, 80 civilians and much needed provisions during the Battle of Fort Chambly.
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The Battle of Saratoga

On this day in 1776,

Washington's escape off Manhattan continues as Col. John Golver holds back Gen. Howe's landing at Pell's Point.

And in 1777,

Gen. Burgoyne surrenders his army to Gen. Gates at The Battle of Saratoga.
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The Battle of Kingston, NY

On this day in 1777,

Gen. John Vaughn, with 1,700 troops and a flotilla commanded by Capt. Sir James Wallace continuing up the Hudson in an effort to find and support Gen. John Burgoyne, anchors at Kingston. The next day the British set fire to most of the town and move on to Livingston's Manor after The Battle of Kingston, NY.
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The Battle of Mincock Island, NJ

On this day in 1778,

A British force surprises an advance post of infantrymen from Brig. Gen. Casimir Pulaski's Legion. Before the American can send reinforcements, the British kill about 40 men before withdrawing to their ships at The Battle of Mincock Island, NJ.
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The Battle of Saratoga

On this day in 1777,

Gen. Horatio Gates engages Gen. Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga.
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The Battle of Valcour Island

On this day in 1776,

Relentless in their pursuit, Arnold, after having been chased from Valcour Island, must scuttle the remains of his 15 ship fleet and escort the remaining survivors to Ft. Ticonderoga at the very southern tip of Lake Champlain.

The British are left to cool their heels for the winter having been frustrated at the Battle of Valcour Island.
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The Battle of Valcour Bay

On this day in 1776,

After the forcing the Americans from Quebec, Royal forces began to move southward along Lake Champlain, constantly harassing Brig. Gen Benedict Arnold as he fled toward Crown Point near the southern tip of the lake. Arnold must stop and engage British warships.

Again, grossly out-numbered and out-gunned, Arnold's delay tactics and subsequent nighttime escape, buys the Americans time.

The Battle of Valcour Bay is considered the first fleet action of the US.
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The Battle of Fort Mifflin

On this day in 1777,

British forces on Province Island on the Delaware river outside of Philadelphia, begin a bombardment against a weak, land side of a fort located opposite of Fort Mercer on Port Island, between Hog Island and Mud Island. The bombardment lasted for about 2 weeks at the Battle of Fort Mifflin.
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The Battle of Polk's Mill

On this day in 1780,

A detachment of 120 mounted riflemen, under Maj. Joseph Dickson, attack a group of Royal Welch Fusiliers, commanded by Lt. Stephen Guyon, at The Battle of Polk's Mill.
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A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

On this day in 1777,

British forces under Gen. Sir Henry Clinton occupy then destroy Patriot fortifications along the Hudson river valley. The small group of American soldiers encamped on one island destroys as much as possible of the unfinished fort and flees. British troops occupy the island for twenty days after The Battle of Fort Constitution.

And in 1780,
Loyalist militia, commanded by Gideon and Hezekiah Wright, run off Whig residents in The Battle of Richmond Town, SC.
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The Battle of Bristol

On this day in 1775,

A small British naval fleet appeared off the coast of Bristol, RI. Not willing to immediately capitulate to Capt. Wallace's demand, the British opened fire on the town. The naval bombardment lasted for 1 1/2 hours. After a hastily assembled negotiation, Wallace settled for 40 sheep and ended the Battle of Bristol.
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The Battle of the Hudson River Forts

On this day in 1777,

Hoping to assist Burgoyne, Forts Clinton and Montgomery are both attacked by British forces. The Americans hold on for a short time and must then retreat from the Battle of the Hudson River Forts.
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The Battle of Tarrytown, NY

On this day in 1777,

Gen. Henry Clinton launches his convoy of flatboats, galleys, and bateaux with his full attack force and sets out for Verplank's Point. After he arrives, he quickly seizes when the American defenders withdrew without any resistance at The Battle of Tarrytown, NY.
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The Battle of Germantown

On this day in 1777,

In a pre-dawn attack on British positions, thick morning fog and smoke confound the Patriots who begin firing on themselves. A stone building is used by the British as a stronghold. Washington calls for a retreat from the Battle of Germantown.
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The Battle of in Gloucester

On this day in 1781,

British Lt. Col. Thomas Dundas of the 80th Foot, leading 1,000 British troops, encounters French Brig. Gen. Marquis de Choisy, leading French troops and a battalion of the Virginia militia totaling 800 men. The action takes place across the York River from British-occupied Yorktown, which was under Patriot siege, at The Battle of in Gloucester.
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British Major John Andre

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1780, British Major John Andre is hanged as a spy by U.S. military forces in Tappan, NY.
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The Battle of Savage Point

On this day in 1779,

Col. John White outwits an overwhelmingly superior force and prevents them from reaching Savannah by lighting several large fires around a camp to give the appearance of a large troop presence and by riding around the fictitious camps shouting orders to no one. The trick worked and Lt. James French's force of 111 surrendered at The Battle of Savage Point.
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General Washington's letter

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!"
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Siege at St. John's

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.
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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.
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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.
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Battle of Kip's Bay

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.
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The Battle of Newtown, New York

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.
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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.
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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.
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Battle of 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.
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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.
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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.
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Gen. Washington

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1781, Gen. Washington departs Dobbs Ferry, NY for Yorktown, VA.
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Guilty of treason

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Congress declares all Loyalists "guilty of treason" against the United Colonies. The punishment for which is execution.
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Battle of New Brunswick

On this day in 1777,

In an example of how complicated and confusing Washington's battle plans were, Maj. Gens. Sullivan, Maxwell and Greene fail to engage the British and their allies on withdraw from Brunswick to Amboy, about a 12 mile march along the Battle of New Brunswick.
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Spain declares war

On this day in 1779,

Spain declares war on England.
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Battle of Chambly

On this day in 1775,

Washington accepts command of the Continental Army. The support corps of the Engineers, Adjutant General, Quartermaster and Finance are created.

And in 1776,

Brig. Gen. Arnold commands a delaying action providing cover for the continued retreat from Quebec to Crown Point at the Battle of Chambly.
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Battle for Quebec

On this day in 1776,

After one week of fighting Brig. Gen. John Sullivan is forced to break off and retreat back to Washington at New York after The Battle of Three Rivers. Brig. Gen. William Thompson is the first US General captured in battle. This marked the end of the Battle for Quebec.
And in 1780,

Cap. John McClure attacks a group of Loyalists gathering to take protection under Col. Housman. This is the first Patriot victory after the fall of Charleston.

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Hannah Ogden Caldwell

On this day in 1780,

Hessian Gen. Wilhelm Knyphausen sends about 5,000 troops from Staten Island to Elizabethtown Point, NJ. Hannah Ogden Caldwell, wife of the fiery Rev. Caldwell currently in Washington forces, is shot in her home while hiding with her children and maid.
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Battle of Augusta, GA.

On this day in 1781,

Gen. Lee sieges Ft. Cornwallis and convinces the garrison to surrender, thus liberating the city at The Battle of Augusta, GA.
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Live Slaves or die Freemen

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, John Hancock tells Marylanders to "live Slaves or die Freemen."
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Verplanck's Point

On this day in 1779,

After their victory at Sonty Point, British forces move up the Hudson River and capture Fort Lafayette located at Verplanck's Point.
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Quartering Act

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1774, Parliament completes its punishment by expanding the Quartering Act to allow soldiers to board in occupied private homes. While martial law is declared in Massachusetts.
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Battle of Three Rivers

On this day in 1776,

Brig. Gen. John Sullivan arrives at St. John's to relieve Maj. Gen. John Thomas who is dying of smallpox. Sullivan launches the Battle of Three Rivers with 2000 men against 6000 British regulars.

And in 1778,

Cobbleskill, NY is sacked and burned by Mohawks and Tories.
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Battle of Stony Point, NY

On this day in 1779,

Washington orders Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne to attack the fortress under Col. Henry Johnson. Wayne sends a dispatch telling Washington that “The fort and garrison, with Johnson, are ours!" Wayne was awarded a medal by Congress, one of the few issued during the Revolution after the Battle of Stony Point, NY.
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Ft. Donnally

On this day in 1778,

Frontier warfare begins when Dick Pointer, a slave, defends a small block house from a surprise Shawnee attack until the militia garrison arrive at The Battle of Fort Donnally. In 1801, Pointer is given his freedom by the Virginia Assembly regarding his heroism at Ft. Donnally.

And in 1780,

Col. Abraham Beuford's detachment, with the last Continental unit in the south, is massacred by Col. Banastre Tarleton at The Battle of Waxhaws, SC.
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Evacuation of Richmond, VA

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1781, Maj. Gen. Marquis de Lafayette leads the evacuation of Richmond, VA as Brig. Gen. Arnold approaches.
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Battle of Cahokia, IL.

On this day in 1780,

Col. George Rogers Clark with reinforcements from Ft. Jefferson in Ohio, successfully fends off Indians and Tories at The Battle of Cahokia, IL.
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The United Colonies of America

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, Congress declares the new name of "The United Colonies of America." The first President is Payton Randolph.
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Bristol, RI.

On this day in 1778,

A British raiding party enters, burns and plunders the town of Bristol, RI.
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Battle of Sag Harbor

On this day in 1777,
A Patriot raiding force from Guilford, CT, cross the Long Island Sound. They surprise a British foraging party destroying 12 British ships, and causing many casualties at The Battle of Sag Harbor.

And in 1778,
A British raiding party enters, burns and plunders the town of Warren, RI.
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Battle of Stono, GA.

On this day in 1779,

British troops were camped on one side and Hessians on the other side of the Stono River, with a galley anchored in the river. Patriots attack the Hessian camp and immediately come under fire from the galley. The British cross over the river to reinforce the Hessians. The colonial schooner Rattlesnake arrives and fires into the rear of the British and Hessian forces. The American suffer heavy losses at The Battle of Stono, GA.
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Battle of Caughnawaga, NY

On this day in 1780,

Chief Joseph Brant and a group of Indians make a surprise attack on the settlement located on the Mohawk River. Brant burned the settlement to the ground during The Battle of Caughnawaga, NY.
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Galphin, SC

On this day in 1781,

Gens. Lee, Marion and Sumter capture Fort Galphin, SC.
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Battle of Barren Hill

On this day in 1778,

British forces from Philadelphia attempt to trap 2,200 Continentals defending Valley Forge led by Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette, through skillful maneuvering, avoids the entrapment and the destruction of his forces at The Battle of Barren Hill (now Lafayette Hill).
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Battle of The Cedars

On this day is 1776,

left in command of 400 troops by Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold, Col. Bedel then Maj. Isaac Butterfield surrender the fort near Montreal at the Battle of The Cedars.

Later Bedel and Butterfield are court marshaled and thrown out of the Army.
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Cap. Benedict Arnold

On this day in 1775,

Cap. Benedict Arnold in the second day of assault on the naval forts near St. John's captures the British sloop George. It is renamed Enterprise and is the first of many vessels bearing that name.
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Battle of St. John's

On this day in 1775,

Cap. Benedict Arnold captures a garrison and several boats near Fort St. John's on the Richelieu River. Ethan Allen is repelled from the fort by a British relief force at the Battle of St. John's.
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Button Gwinnett

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, Declaration of Independence signer, Button Gwinnett, receives a fatal bullet wound in a duel with his political rival, Georgia “city Whig” Lachlan McIntosh.
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Fort Granby, SC

On this day in 1781,

With the use of flaming arrows, Gens. Lee, Marion and Sumter capture Fort Granby, SC.
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Battle of Sawpit Bluff, FL

On this day in 1777,

Pro-Loyalist Indians raid Baker's encampment and take 40 horses when they escaped. These were recovered the next morning; during the ensuing skirmish, one Indian was killed, his body later mutilated by the rebels after The Battle of Sawpit Bluff, FL.
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St. Johns and Montreal

On this day in 1775,

With Ft. Ticonderoga and Crown Point at the southern tip of Lake Champlain as a base of operations, Brig. Gen. Montgomery, acting on Maj. Gen. Schuler's orders, prepares to move north toward St. Johns and Montreal.
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Ft Crown Point

On this day in 1775,

Lt. Seth Warner takes a small group of Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys and sails northward on Lake Champlain to capture Ft Crown Point. This, with Ft. Ticonderoga, provides a base of operations for the Americans for their upcoming Canadian campaign.

And in 1780,

Charleston falls to the British under Clinton.
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Battle of Orton Mill

On this day in 1776,

upon learning of the approaching British forces from Kendal Plantation, a 90-man detachment of North Carolina Regulars, commanded by Maj. William Davis withdraw. Once the British troops arrive they proceed to burn the mill. On their way back to their ships, the British plunder homes along the way from the Battle of Orton Mill.

And in 1781,
Gens. Lee, Marion and Sumter capture Orangeburg, SC.
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Battle of Ft. Ticonderoga

On this day in 1775,

Caps. Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen, in a pre-dawn raid, take 50 British and 100 cannon. A garrison was left to guard and fort and cannon since they had to no way to move the guns after the Battle of Ft. Ticonderoga.

And in 1777,

Maj. Gen. Adam Stephen attacks British Highlanders at Piscataway. He is driven off with the British pursuing him for miles back to the American camp at Metuchen after The Battle of Piscataway.
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Battle of Bordentown, NJ

On this day in 1778,

As Clinton was preparing to evacuate Philadelphia for New York City, he sends light infantry to destroy the naval ships moored at Bordentown. The British immediately march into Bordentown and destroy remaining vessels and the homes of Colonel Borden during The Battle of Bordentown, NJ.

And in 1780,
The British begin the final phase of the siege of Charleston with cannon bombardment of the city.
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Battle of Pensacola

On this day in 1775,

Captains Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys arrive separately at Lake Champlain near Fort Ticonderoga. Arnold insists that Allen serve as his subordinate. When Allen threatens to take his "Boys" back to (now) Vermont, Arnold agrees to a co-command.

And in 1781,
Spanish Brig. Gen. Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez captures the British capital of West Florida at The Battle of Pensacola.
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John Paul Jones

On this day in 1777,

After raiding the English coast (the first such in seven hundred years), John Paul Jones in his Ranger, captures the Drake in the Irish sea. He is later deemed the father of the US Navy.

"... I intend to go in harm's way."
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William Franklin

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, in a candid report to William Legge, 2nd earl of Dartmouth and the British secretary of state for the colonies, Benjamin Franklin’s son, the Royal Governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, writes that the violence at Lexington and Concord greatly diminishes the chances of reconciliation between Britain and her North American colonies.
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Battle of Martha's Vineyard

On this day in 1775,

The British ship HMS Falcon captures two American ships at the Battle of Martha's Vineyard.
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Battle of Coosawhatchie River

On this day in 1779,

Lt. Col. John Laurens men were guarding a road against the expected assault by British soldiers from Savannah. When they encounter the British, Laurens chooses a bad position in range of enemy artillery. Capt. Richard Shubrick takes command after Laurens is wounded and withdraws to avoid total capture at The Battle of Coosawhatchie River.
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Battle of Fort Johnson

On this day is 1776,

in North Carolina, American snipers returned to their positions and begun to fire on the Cruizer. The Cruizer returned fire silencing the snipers and bringing to a conclusion the Battle of Fort Johnson.
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A Battle a Day - The Colonial Years

On this day is 1776,

Maj. Gen. John Thomas relieves Brig. Gen. Wooster at Quebec. Thomas, who has contracted smallpox, prepares for a siege of the Indian and British forces outside of Montreal.

Elsewhere in North Carolina, Maj. Gen. Clinton landed 10 companies near Fort Johnson to try to eliminate the snipers. After landing, the snipers were nowhere to be found.
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Fort Johnson

On this day in 1776,

Maj. Gen. Henry Clinton destroyed Fort Johnson because American riflemen had used the fort to fire on the nearby British naval fleet for days. The fleet moved to within 200 yards from the shore, and were still being fired on from the militia.
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President Washington

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1789, Washington is sworn in as the First President of the United State.
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New York City

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, shortly after the American victory at Boston, Gen. Washington orders Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Greene to take command of Long Island and set up defensive positions against a possible British attack on New York City.
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Battle of Norwalk

On this day in 1777,

Maj. Gen. William Tryon makes his way to Compo Hill, CT, close to where he would board his ships. Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold's men form up for another attack, having to retreat the day before. 400 British troops, led by Gen. Robert Erskine charge with bayonets and the Americans scatter. Tryon's men board the ships and sailed off from The Battle of Norwalk.
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Battle of Ridgefield

On this day in 1777,

Brig. Gens. Arnold, Wooster and Silliman march to Bethel, having learned that the British would be returning to Norwalk. Arnold and Silliman head for Ridgefield with 400 men, while Wooster sets out to harass the British rear-guard with 200 men. Wooster skirmishes repeatedly until he was mortally wounded. At Ridgefield, Arnold's force barricades the road at the north of town and fire as the British approach. About to be outflanked, the Americans retreat and Arnold is nearly captured at The Battle of Ridgefield.
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Battle of Danbury

On this day in 1777,

16 year old Sybil Ludington, of Putnam County, NY, rides her horse 40 miles to gather the militia to counter-attack the British who had come up from Long Island to where patriot stores were kept, to burn the food, supplies and equipment gathered there. The British attack and burn the Connecticut town at The Battle of Danbury.
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Battle of Blanford, VA

On this day in 1781,

British Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold defeats Maj. Gen. Baron von Steuben in a late afternoon battle where British artillery contributed significantly to the outcome at The Battle of Blanford, VA.

Further south, Lord Francis Rawdon pushes Greene back from the second battle of Camden known as The Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, SC.
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Battle of Petersburg

On this day in 1781,

British Gen. William Phillips lands on the banks of the James River at City Port, Virginia. Once there, he combines forces with now British Gen. Benedict Arnold, to launch an attack on the town during The Battle of Petersburg.
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Battle of Whitehaven

On this day in 1778,

John Paul Jones, aboard his ship, the USS Ranger, launches a surprise attack a harbor fort. Jones decides to burn the fort; the blaze ultimately consumed the entire town. It is the only American raid on English shores during the Battle of Whitehaven.
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The Boston Tea Party

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1774, The Boston Tea Party occurs.
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Battle of Onondaga

On this day in 1779,

A 550-man Patriot force, commanded by Col. Gose van Schaick, conduct a surprise raid on the home of the Onondaga Indians. This capital was burnt during the Battle of Onondaga.
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New York state constitution

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, the first New York state constitution is formally adopted by the Convention of Representatives of the State of New York, meeting in the upstate town of Kingston.
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Battle of Lexington

On this day in 1775,

The first shots of the American Revolutionary War rang out! Cap. J. Parker with 70 Minutemen face 1,800 British infantry at The Battle of Lexington.

The battle moves to Concord Bridge. Cap. John Parker commands 4000 Americans and forces the Red Coats back to Charlestown by dark after the Battle of Concord.

"the shot heard 'round the world"
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Paul Revere and William Dawes

On this day in 1775,

Paul Revere and William Dawes rode from Boston to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the advancement of the British army.

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
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Battle of Ft. Carlos

On this day in 1783,

British Captain James Colbert, along with a group of 82 partisans, launches a surprise attack on a post located on the banks of the Arkansas River. The only Revolutionary War action to take place in Arkansas was The Battle of Ft. Carlos.

And in 1790,

Benjamin Franklin dies.
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Henry Clinton

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1738, Henry Clinton, the future commander in chief of British forces charged with suppressing the rebellion in North America, is born in Newfoundland, Canada.
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Battle of Fort Watson, SC

On this day in 1781,

Gens. Lee and Marion join forces to capture a British held fort. The Americans construct a tower from where riflemen can shoot into the fort, thus forcing the surrender at The Battle of Fort Watson, SC.
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Battle of Charleston

On this day in 1780,

Brig. Gen. Isaac Huger guards the last line of supply into Charleston. The British capture the crossroads trapping Lincoln in the process during The Battle of Charleston.
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Battle of Bound Brook

On this day in 1777,

Gen. Cornwallis leads 4,000 troops in a surprise attack on a small garrison of American troops in the village in central New Jersey. Cornwallis’ decision to launch the four-column attack at daybreak caught Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln completely by surprise and unable to launch a counterattack at The Battle of Bound Brook.
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Townshend Act

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1770, Parliament moves to pacify outraged colonists by repealing most of the clauses of the Townshend Act. The Act was an attempt to consolidate fiscal and political power over the American colonies by placing import taxes on many of the British products bought by Americans, including lead, paper, paint, glass and tea.
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Cessation of hostilities

No major battles occurred on this date.

In fact, in 1783, cessation of hostilities followed a preliminary peace treaty.
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Cmdr. John Paul Jones

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1778, Cmdr. John Paul Jones and his crew of 140 men aboard the USS Ranger set sail from the naval port at Brest, France, and head toward the Irish Sea to begin raids on British warships.
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Peggy Shippen

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1779, Benedict Arnold marries Peggy Shippen, who encouraged his treason and covered for him when he escaped from Washington's posse.
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John Adams

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1778, John Adams arrives in Paris to replace Silas Deane as a member of the American commission representing the interests of the United States. Deane had been recalled to America by Congress after fellow diplomat Arthur Lee accused him of misappropriating French funds.
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Navy Captain John Barry

On this day in 1776,

Navy Captain John Barry, commander of the American warship Lexington, makes the first American naval capture of a British warship, the HMS Edward off the coast of Virginia.
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American ports

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, the Continental Congress takes the first step toward American independence by announcing their decision to open all American ports to international trade with the exception of Britain.
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Benjamin Franklin

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1774, Benjamin Franklin writes an open letter to Britain’s Prime Minister Frederick North from the Smyrna Coffee House in London. This facetious letter suggests that the British impose martial law upon the colonies and appoint a “King’s Viceroy of all North America.” Ironically, Lord Noth does just that one month after in Massachusetts.
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Privateers

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, because it lacked sufficient funds to build a strong navy, the Continental Congress gives privateers permission to attack any and all British ships.
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General Ebenezer Learned

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, the Continental Congress promotes Colonel Ebenezer Learned to the rank of Brigadier General of the Continental Army.

And in 1787, British Commander in Chief Thomas Gage dies on the Isle of Portland, England.
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Battle of Frontier Warfare

On this day in 1779,

American Col. Ethan Shelby leads an expedition of southern militia into the Kentucky area, destroying hostile Indian settlements along the Tennessee, Powell and Clinch Rivers as The Battle of Frontier Warfare expands westward.
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Intolerable Acts

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1774, Parliament passes the "Intolerable Acts" or the "Coercive Acts" which are a series of laws relating to Britain's colonies in North America.
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Tinton Falls, NJ

On this day in 1780,

British raiders attack the grist mill for powder and arms for the third time during the war at Tinton Falls, NJ.
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Battle of Charleston

On this day in 1780,

Lt. Col. John Laurens and Lt. Gen. Cornwallis skirmish to a draw at Gibbes' Plantation during The Battle of Charleston.
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Battle of Sunbury, GA

On this day in 1780,

Georgia militia route Loyalists and Indians at The Battle of Sunbury, GA.
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Thomas Jefferson

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, Thomas Jefferson is elected to the second Continental Congress. A Virginia delegate, he quickly establishes himself in the Continental Congress with the publication of his paper entitled “A Summary View of the Rights of British America.”
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Provincial Congress of South Carolina

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, and just four months before the Declaration of Independence, The Provincial Congress of South Carolina approves a new constitution and government. The legislature renames itself the General Assembly of South Carolina and elects John Rutledge as president, Henry Laurens as vice president and William Henry Drayton as chief justice.
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Battle of Tybee Island, GA

On this day in 1776,

A raiding party of Creek Indians and Georgia militia, painted like Indians, attack 12 British marines. The militia was commanded by Capt. Archibald Bullock. The few British ships nearby fired broadsides at the raiders and then sent a landing party to assist the Marines. The militia opened fire on the landing party, forcing them to move out of range. Once they finally landed, the British party burned 2 houses on the island during The Battle of Tybee Island, GA.
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Quartering Act

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1765, Parliament passes the Quartering Act, outlining the locations and conditions in which British soldiers are to find room and board in the American colonies.
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Battle of Peekskill

On this day in 1777,
British ships disembark 500 soldiers for an attack on the Peekskill storehouse. Gen. McDougall withdraws from the town requesting reinforcements from nearby Fort Montgomery. The British burn American barracks and military supplies until the reinforcements arrive. The British fall back to their boats and withdraw from the Battle of Peekskill.
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Battle of Rocky Comfort Creek

On this day in 1777,
500 British soldiers attack the Peekskill, NY storehouse. Col. Marinus Willett arrives from Ft. Montgomery and begins firing then charging with bayonets. The British fall back to their boats and withdrew after The Battle of Peekskill.

And in 1779,
Col. LeRoy Hammond and some 500 militia run into 50 Creek Indians near Louisville, GA. The militia attack the Creek and drive them away. Hammond returns to camp with the scalps of the Indian dead after The Battle of Rocky Comfort Creek.
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Battle of Beech Island, GA

On this day in 1779,

200 Loyalist Militia, commanded by Maj. John Spurgin, attack the Patriot camp at "the Crossroads." All but 60 out of 200 men of the Patriots flee the scene. The remainder manage to drive the Loyalists back to the Burke County Jail after The Battle of Beech Island, GA
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Official representatives of the U.S.

No major battles occurred on this date.
But in 1778, Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee present themselves to France’s King Louis XVI as official representatives of the United States.
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Thomas McKean

No major battles occurred on this date.
But in 1734, Thomas McKean is born in Chester County, PA. He will eventually serve as president of the state of Delaware, president of the U.S. Congress under the Articles of Confederation and Chief Justice of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court.
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Battle of McPherson's Plantation

On this day in 1780,

British Capt. Abraham DePeyster detects a Patriot reconnaissance patrol commanded by Col. James Ladson. The Americans are outflanked and a captain and 16 privates are bayoneted to death at The Battle of McPherson's Plantation.
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Boston

On this day in 1776,

Gen. Horatio Gates evacuates Boston after eleven months of occupation.
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James Madison

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1751, James Madison, 4th President of the United States, is born in Port Conway, VA.
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Battle of Guilford Courthouse

On this day in 1781,

Greensboro, NC is the current day site of a fight that lasted on ninety minutes between Cornwallis and Greene.

The battle is considered important because prior to it, the British controlled Georgia, and the Carolinas. After the battle, Greene moved south into South Carolina, while Cornwallis moved north into Virginia. This allowed Greene to wrest the control of the south from the Loyalists after The Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
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Fort Charlotte at Mobile

On this day in 1780,

Spanish Governor Brig. Gen. Bernado de Galvez, ends a month-long siege by land and sea and captures the British stronghold of Fort Charlotte at Mobile.
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Joseph Priestley

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1733, Joseph Priestley, supporter of the American Revolution and leader of the Unitarian Church in Britain and America, is born in Birstall, Yorkshire, England.
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Battle of Fort Johnson

On this day in 1776,

British reinforcements arrived with the arrival of Adm. Henry Clinton's fleet, which came from the Cape Fear River area. After learning of the British defeat at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, he decides not to land troops on the mainland deciding it too dangerous. The Americans prevail at the Battle of Fort Johnson.
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Battle of Hutchinson's Island

On this day in 1776,

Col. Stephen Bull embarking from Purysburgh with a relief force of 400 South Carolina militiamen, move down the Savannah River, landing on Hutchinson's Island.

The sloop HMS Cherokee and a transport ship sailed up the river to the island. Once they arrived, they assisted some of the British ships that were in the area to safely withdraw. Those ships threw about 2,000 lbs. of rice overboard and sailed out of range of Bull's floating artillery at the Battle of Hutchinson's Island.
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Fort Johnson

On this day in 1776,

Capt. Francis Parry, commander of the HMS Cruizer, sends a 12-man party to destroy Fort Johnson. The local Patriot militia onshore spot the party and drive them away with gunfire.
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Chesapeake Bay

On this day in 1776,

The USS Defense, and Maryland militiamen attack and drive off the HMS Otter, one in Lord Dunmore's "navy" in the Chesapeake Bay.
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Battle of Punk Hill, NJ

On this day in 1777,

3000 British troops from Amboy, NJ skirmish with Gen. Maxwell's Pennsylvania Regiment at The Battle of Punk Hill, NJ.
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Battle of Charleston

On this day in 1780,

The British are repulsed at Ferguson’s Plantation during The Battle of Charleston.
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Battle of Charleston

On this day in 1780,

Sir Henry Clinton continues his campaign for reclaiming Charleston, moving from Mathew's Ferry, crossing the Wappoo River to surprise the American cavalry near Ferguson’s plantation during The Battle of Charleston.
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Battle of Charleston

On this day in 1780,

Having sailed to St. Johns from New York earlier in the winter, Sir Henry Clinton continues his campaign for reclaiming Charleston, by defeating Pulaski's legion at Stono River during The Battle of Charleston.
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Battle of Boston

On this day in 1776,

Gen. Washington positions his guns on Dorchester Heights and commences the bombardment of Boston giving Gen. Howe the choice of fight or flight. Howe pulls out of Boston for Halifax, liberating the city and ending the Battle of Boston.
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Battle of Yamacraw Bluff

On this day in 1776,

1,100 Georgian militia and Whig from South Carolina set the ship Inverness ablaze and cut it loose on the Savannah River. The fire ship, a weapon consisting of a ship carrying explosives drifts into the brig HMS Nelly. These 2 ships drifted downstream, setting 3 more ships on fire forcing the British fleet to quit the fight, thus ending the Battle of Yamacraw Bluff.
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Battle of Yamacraw Bluff

On this day in 1776,

The Provincial Governor of neutral Georgia attempts to send provisions to the British Fleet anchored in the Savannah River. Sympathizers in the assembly refuse and oust the Governor who takes refuge aboard the ships which set the stage for the Battle of Yamacraw Bluff.
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Battle of Cockspur Island, Georgia

On this day in 1776,

A British force under the command of Maj. John Maitland meets and forces the withdraw of local militia at the Battle of Cockspur Island, Georgia.
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John Wesley

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1784, John Wesley charters the first Methodist Church in the United States. Despite the fact that he was an Anglican, Wesley saw the need to provide church structure for his followers after the Anglican Church abandoned its American believers during the American Revolution.
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Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge

On this day in 1777,

Col. James Moore and the 1st Regiment of N. Carolina defeat a superior numbered force at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.
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On this day in 1779

On this day in 1779,

Gov. William Tryon of New York, leads a raiding mission to a town located west of Greenwich, CT. There, Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam fails at attempts to make a stand with a few cannon and 150 militia.

And in 1780,

Several American naval vessels bombard Ft. Johnson, SC and continue shelling it for the next five days.
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The Battle of Vincennes

On this day in 1779,

Vincennes exchanges hands for a third time with the return of Col. George Rogers Clark. Clark Captures Lt. Governor Henry (hair buyer) Hamilton. Hamilton, is rumored to have offered bounties to Indians for the scalps of frontier men and women, and 23 prisoners are sent to Williamsburg after The Battle of Vincennes.
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Battle of Big Savannah, SC

On this day in 1781,

Gen. Thomas Sumter gathers up the spoils after his attack on a supply train headed from Charleston to build a new fort (Ft. Motte). British Maj. David McIntosh loses all of his men and the supply train at The Battle of Big Savannah, SC.
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Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

On this day in 1778,

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge as a volunteer aid to Washington. He begins teaching the Continental Army the essentials of military drill and discipline, helping to guide it to victory.
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George Washington

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1732, George Washington is born in Pope's Creek Estate near present-day Colonial Beach, VA.
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George Weedon

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, George Weedon is promoted to the rank of Brig. Gen. of the Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army.
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Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, the Continental Congress votes to promote Thomas Mifflin; Arthur St. Clair; William Alexander, Lord Stirling; Adam Stephen; and Benjamin Lincoln to the rank of Mag. Gen. Although the promotions were intended in part to balance the number of generals from each state, Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold feels slighted that five junior officers received promotions ahead of him. It is but another of many personal disappointments that change him.
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Battle of Herbert's Store

On this day in 1779,

A Patriot force attacks a British garrison at a store located on the Savannah River. The Patriots succeed in killing or capturing most of the British force and 200 horses at The Battle of Herbert's Store.
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The French navy

On this day in 1782,
The French navy begins a 14-month-long series of five battles with the British navy. Adm. Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez and V. Adm. Sir Edward Hughes, commander in chief in the East Indies, engage in four major Battles on the Indian Ocean.
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John Adams

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1778, John Adams and his son, 10-year-old John Quincy Adams, sit in Marblehead Harbor, off the coast of Massachusetts, on board the frigate, Boston, which is to take them to France. Adams will replace Silas Deane to negotiate a treaty of alliance.
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Nova Scotia

No major battles occurred on this date.

But on this day in 1776, Gov. Francis Legge reports to British headquarters in London that traitorous elements in Nova Scotia have contacted Gen. Washington, in which they expressed their sympathy for the American cause and invited him to invade Nova Scotia at his earliest possible convenience.
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Battle of Cherokee Ford, SC

On this day in 1779,

Before leaving Carr's Fort for South Carolina, Cols. Pickens and Dooly call for reinforcements under Capt. Anderson to patrol the Savannah. Col. Boyd, surprised by the rebel force, rallies his men who fight on for over an hour before finally being defeated. Boyd would die that evening from wounds after The Battle of Cherokee Ford, SC.
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Patrick Henry

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Patrick Henry becomes colonel of the First Virginia battalion in defense of the state’s supply of gunpowder.
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Ethan Allen

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1789, Ethan Allen dies of a stroke at age 52 on his Winooski River homestead.
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Sir James Wright

On this day in 1776,

Georgia’s royal governor, Sir James Wright, escapes from his residence in Savannah to the safety of a waiting British warship, the HMS Scarborough, anchored at the mouth of the Savannah River, and returns to London.
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Battle of Kettle Creek, GA

On this day 1779,

And for the next four days, Col. John Pickens and his militia from Georgia and South Carolina attack Tories at Carr's Fort at The Battle of Kettle Creek, GA.
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Battle of Wilkes County

On this day in 1779,

British Col. Hamilton captures Carr's Fort in Wilkes County, GA. Comprised of a few militiamen and their families, Col. Andrew Pickens allows the British to take possession of the fort. The American patriots hasten across the Savannah to meet Col. John Boyd after The Battle of Wilkes County.
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