april19,1775-jan3, 1777
1775:
April 19 battles of Lexington and concord by end of month, 17,000 armed Americans are outside of boston
May 10 2nd continental congress convenes in phila…will stay in session for remainder of war…called the war congress; fort Ticonderoga taken by benedict Arnold…americans capture vital cannons and ammo
May 25: british reinforcements arrive in boston…new leaders to replace Gage—William Howe, John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton
May 31: congress adopts the mob around boston and calls it the continental army
June 15: George Washington nominated as Commander of Continental Army he says “I have launchd into a wide and extensive field, too Boundless for my abilities, and far, very far, beyond my experience.” The entire war will depend on this man…he refuses to take any payment for his services…will be in the field for the next 9 years………
June 16: Americans fortify hills behind Charlestown, just north of boston…breed’s and bunker’s hills
June 17: Battle of Breed’s Hill (AKA the battle of bunker hill)….hot, steamy day…british charge up the hill three times…take horrible casualties….americans run out of ammo…..british get at them and kill many…..casualties- Americans 441 killed, wounded and captured (out of 1000); british 1054 killed, wounded missing….60%!!!!!!!
End of june: Washington arrives at boston to take command….many Americans leave b/c they do not want to take orders from a virginian!!!!! Washington will try to whip his force into an army…..will take him years to get what he wants…..
September: americans will try to capture quebec and montreal from English…benedict arnold will lead one force thru maine to quebec….most of his force will die on the way; a second army will move up lake champlain to take montreal
December 31: Americans, led by Arnold, will attack quebec city…..arnold will be severely wounded…attack fails……
1776:
Nathanael Greene (American officer with Washington) writes about the situation in the American camp outside of boston….”Nothing but confusion and disorder reign”
January 1: most of the Americans go home…they only have to stay until the end of the calendar year….washington will beg congress to extend the enlistment terms of soldiers……
February: cannons from Ticonderoga arrive at boston….washington will fortify the hills south of boston and place cannons there….can destroy the british ships in the harbor…can bombard boston…..so
March 17: british leave boston!!!!! Go to Canada….. Washington will take what’s left of his army and go to nyc…he guesses that the british will attack there next….he’s right
April-may-june: in phila….debates in congress about what should be done…..many ask for a declaration of independence……john adams, ben franklin, th Jefferson all support idea…… Jefferson will be given task of writing the document….gets help from other two men
By june 28 12 colonies agree to declare…ny holds out
July 4: vote taken….passes…..54 of the 56 signatures are kept secret for over a year……John Hancock and I think Charles Thompson are not…….now the Americans have to win or die
June 28: british try to take Charleston, sc…are turned back
April-may-june: nyc Washington preparing for british attack….gathers men and supplies….too much to defend adequately……
July1-2-3: british fleet appears off nyc “something resembling a wood of pine trees trimmed….the whole Bay was full of shipping….” 100 war ships…..close to 30,000 soldiers arrive…..washington has about 17,000 untrained men…….
August 26: Battle of Long Island….americans defeated….washington and survivors almost captured by british…..winds hold off british ships long enough for Washington to escape with his men to manhatten he will write “our situation is truly distressing”
September-october: fighting around nyc sept 28: battle of white plains…Americans retreat…Washington begins to retreat from nyc……he has about 3,000 men
November: british chase Washington across new jersey…..many times they come very close to trapping the American force….but Washington always gets away just in time
DECEMBER 8; washington crosses Delaware river into Pennsylvania….men are starving and not dressed for winter…… bitter cold weather…horrible conditions…….
December 18: Washington writes: “I think the game is pretty near up.” On jan 1st, he will have at most 1,200 men…… british move into winter quarters awaiting the freezing of the Delaware river…once it freezes, they will cross and finish the war……. Main british forces are at nyc and Princeton, nj; a hessian force is at Trenton, close to the Delaware river…….
December 18-23: Washington plans to try something….must attack…..targets Trenton…..
December 25: midnite….washington crosses the Delaware…treacherous crossing….huge chunks of ice batter boats…..horrible weather……..half of his force does not get across or gets lost once across….washington decides to move forward……
December 26: 8:03 am…Americans attack hessians in trenton….short, bloody struggle….hessians surrender!!!!!!!! Washington captures 900 of them….takes food and clothing and ammo, etc. his soldiers are encouraged and agree to stay 6 more weeks……. Washington offers to pay them from his own money……
December 26: Washington back to pa…. british force from Princeton advances…Washington goes to meet it……
1777:
January 2: American and british forces see each other and prepare for battle the next day…..but Washington marches his men around british during the night and on
January 3: attacks and takes Princeton, which was a major british supply depot…….all british solderis now retreat to nyc……… washington will winter his men at Morristown, nj……horrible winter weather….
