Monday, January 31, 2011

Gouverneur Morris

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1752, Gouverneur Morris is born to the wealthy Morris family of New York.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Battle of Fort Henderson

On this day in 1779,

Col. Samuel Elbert is commanding his Georgia militia when they're attacked by Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell's force. Campbell closes with Elbert's force at Spirit Creek. Elbert leaves 200 men in a small stockade, known as Fort Henderson, on the other side of the creek. Campbell bombards the fort with his artillery. Afterwards, the Georgians abandon the fort and a company of Highlanders takes possession after The Battle of Fort Henderson.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Battle of Augusta

On this day in 1779,

British Brig. Gen. Augustine Prevost's path to Savannah from Florida takes him through Augusta, located on the Savannah River. An important victory for the British because it gives them control over the river and opens a gateway for supplies after The Battle of Augusta.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, January 28, 2011

States General of Holland

No major battles occurred on this date.

But on this day in 1778, the States General of Holland agrees to unlimited trade with American ports.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, January 27, 2011

University of Georgia

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1785, the Georgia General Assembly incorporates the University of Georgia, the first state-funded institution of higher learning in the new republic.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Battle of Burke County, GA

On this day in 1779,

The Georgia Patriot militia rallies at the Burke County Jail to stop the British advance. British Maj. James M. Prevost orders a detachment of East Florida Rangers, under Lt. Col. Thomas Brown, and a detachment of South Carolina Royalists, under Lt. Col. Joseph Robinson, on a mission to rescue the Loyalist prisoners at the jail. Militiamen inside repel two attacks. Brown eventually withdraws his men and rejoins the main British force that was heading towards Augusta after The Battle of Burke County, GA.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Battle of Briar Creek, GA

On this day in 1779,

British Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell sends units to Briar Creek. Patriot forces at the bridge learn of their approach and set fire to the bridge. The British force the Patriot forces to withdraw, thus allowing time to put out the fire and capture the bridge at The Battle of Briar Creek, GA.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, January 24, 2011

The Battle of Georgetown, SC

On this day in 1781,

Patriot commanders Lt. Col. “Light Horse” Henry Lee and Brig. Gen. Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion of the South Carolina militia, combine forces and conduct a town raid at The Battle of Georgetown, SC.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, January 23, 2011

London merchants petition Parliament

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1775, London merchants petition Parliament for relief from the financial hardship put upon them by the curtailment of trade with the North American colonies.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Claudius Smith

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1779, famed Tory outlaw Claudius Smith meets his end on the gallows. Gov. George Clinton had issued a reward of $1,200 for his capture which occurred in October the previous year on Long Island.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, January 21, 2011

Ethan Allen

No major battles occurred on this date.

But on this day Ethan Allen is born in 1738 in Litchfield, CT.

More Colonial Battles

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Battle of Millstone, NJ

On this day in 1777,

Brig. Gen. Philemon Dickinson leads 400 “raw” men from the New Jersey militia and 50 Pennsylvania riflemen under Captain Robert Durkee in an attack against a group of 500 British soldiers foraging for food led by Lt. Col. Robert Abercromby near Van Nest’s Mills at The Battle of Millstone, NJ.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Battle of Golden Hill

On this day in 1770,

British soldiers clash with colonists in New York City. Just a few weeks before the Boston Massacre and the Gaspée Affair, this event was one of the early violent incidents that would precede the American Revolution at The Battle of Golden Hill.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Declaration of Independence

No major battles occurred on this date.

But on this day in 1777, Congress republishes the Declaration of Independence with all of the signatures.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, January 17, 2011

The Battle of Cowpens

On this day in 1781,

Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan and Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton meet at Cowpens, NC. Morgan shows brilliance in his new and unique use of tactics which hands the British a crushing victory and puts the Colonials on a path which will lead them to Yorktown after The Battle of Cowpens.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, January 15, 2011

New Connecticut

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, New Connecticut (Vermont) declares itself independent of Britain, New York and New Hampshire, essentially a sovereign country.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, January 14, 2011

The Battle of Staten Island

On this day in 1780,

A Patriot force under Brig. Gen. William Alexander crosses the Hudson to Staten Island in order to surprise the British located there. He is spotted whereby loosing the element of surprise but is still successful at The Battle of Staten Island.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Battle of Narragansett Bay

On this day in 1776,

Reinforcements from the main land arrive to force British raiders from Prudence Island, forcing them to retreat to their boats after the Battle of Narragansett Bay.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Battle of Narragansett Bay

On this day in 1776,

British raiders from the HMS Glasgow and Swan, numbering over 250 land at Prudence Island. Easily overpowering Ensign James Miller's regiment from Richmond, they continue to raid and burn houses for two days at the Battle of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Alexander Hamilton

No major battles occurred on this date.

But on this day Alexander Hamilton is born in either 1755 or 1757 on the island of Nevis in the West Indies.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, January 10, 2011

Common Sense

On this day in 1776,

Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense".

"Wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for God's sake let us come to a final separation... "
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, January 9, 2011

The Battle of Sudbury

On this day in 1779,

A three day siege comes to an end, when 2,000 British and Indian forces, commanded by Maj. Gen. Augustine Prevost, captures Sunbury and its 200-man Patriot garrison at The Battle of Sudbury.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, January 8, 2011

The Battle of Charlestown

On this day in 1776,

During a performance of "The Blockade of Boston" for Gen. John Burgoyne, an actor dressed in military garb sounds the alarm that the Americans are staging a raid. Thinking it part of the play, the British ignore the alarm and Maj. Thomas Knowlton's raid is successful at the Battle of Charlestown.
More Colonial Battles

Friday, January 7, 2011

The Battle of Westham, VA

On this day in 1781,

From Richmond, Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe, with his Queen's Rangers ride to Henrico County and destroys the only cannon foundry in the state. Meanwhile Arnold's expedition meets small resistance from a few militia, and then plunders and destroys much of the town, capturing or spiking five brass guns, 300 stand of arms, and some quartermaster stores at The Battle of Westham, VA.
More Colonial Battles

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Washington

On this day in 1777,

Washington establishes a winter headquarters in Morristown, NJ and keeps a watchful eye on the British in New York until March.

Washington has come to the realization that in order to win the War for Independence, he need not have to defeat the British, he just must not loose to them.
More Colonial Battles

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Battle of Haddrell's Point

On this day in 1776,

HMS Tamar and Cherokee exchange fire with shore batteries and an auger sent to defend a detained fishing boat near Sullivan's Island. Neither side claims victory and the British ships leave the harbor after the Battle of Haddrell's Point.
More Colonial Battles

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Battle of Richmond

On this day in 1781,

Now British Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold begins his approach on Richmond, the seat of government in Virginia. Governor Thomas Jefferson flees from the approaching troops and Arnold easily takes, then burns the city during The Battle of Richmond.
More Colonial Battles

Monday, January 3, 2011

Princeton

On this day in 1777,

Washington's troops strike at the two British regiments leaving town inflicting great losses. Hamilton's guns silences fire erupting from Princeton College.

These two victories for the Americans bolster Washington's prestige. The crushing defeat sends Cornwallis back to New York City to camp out the winter with Howe after The Battle of Princeton.
More Colonial Battles

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The Battle of Trenton and Princeton

On this day in 1777,

British garrisons took up positions against Washington at Trenton and both armies settled in for the night after a day of skirmishes as a prelude to the Battle of Trenton and Princeton.

1777 was called the "year of the hangman" because reversed, the sevens resembled gallows.
More Colonial Battles

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Battle of Norfolk

On this day in 1776,

Having retreated to Norfolk after the Battle of Great Bridge, Lord Dunmore takes refuge aboard ships in the harbor. Running short of provisions, he bombards Norfolk, until the locals send supplies. Dunmore departs for Gwynn Island, the new base for Tories after the Battle of Norfolk.
More Colonial Battles