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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