The American Revolution
Now that the colonies had declared their independence form England, they still had to fight for it. And it would not be an easy job! England had many advantages. British soldiers were the best trained and best supplied soldiers in the word. The colonists, on the other hand, had few experienced officers, and could not afford to supply their soldiers. As well as fighting the British soldiers, the patriots also had to fight the loyalists that remained loyal to England. In all, only about 1/3 of the colonists would support independence, 1/3 remained loyal to the king, and 1/3 remained neutral, supporting neither side.
England also had a larger population than the colonies, so they generally outnumbered the patriots at every battle. And, England had a lot of money, so they could afford to supply their troops with what they needed. The King of England also hired mercenaries (people who fight for pay) from the German kings. Since most mercenaries came from the country of Hesse-Cassel, the German mercenaries came to be called Hessians. England also gained Native American support. The King of England promised the Indians that if he won, he would let them keep all the British land west of the Appalachian Mountains, and keep colonists from settling there. Though some Indians fought for the colonists, most Indians decided to fight for England.
To make matters worse, the colonies only had about thirteen warships, and a few merchant ships that could be armed with cannons. England’s navy was over 460 warships, and their navy was the best in the world. To combat the British Navy, the colonists hired privateers. A privateer is basically a pirate ship for a nation. The privateers would attack slow British merchant ships, steal the cargo, and sell the much needed supplies to the Continental Army. America had about 2,000 privateers during the American Revolution. Most of the privateers were captured or killed by the British, but some survived and became rich selling the army supplies they captured.
The British also offered African slaves owned by the colonists a chance at freedom. If the slaves escaped their colonial masters and joined the British Army, they were promised their freedom. Unfortunately, many were lied to and the British officers just sold them to new masters to make some quick cash! About 5,000 African-Americans did fight for the Colonial Army against England, especially when word about Britain’s lie got around.
The British Army in America numbered about 50,000 soldiers. In contrast, the Colonial Army never numbered more than 18,500. However, many thousands of militia fought for the colonists. However, their enlistments were short, and they often proved to be very poor soldiers.
The Colonists did have a few advantages. France and Spain did offer the Americans some help in our revolution. They were not happy about self-government however, nor did they help because they liked Americans. They only helped us because they hated England. Eventually, France would send soldiers, and their navy to help us win the American Revolution. The colonists also had the great leadership of George Washington. Washington was able to keep the Continental Army together even though tough times and losses.
Other advantages the colonists had were our superior knowledge of the land. The colonists knew the land and knew where rivers could be crossed, where woods could hide them, and where the roads led. The British had no knowledge of the land, and few accurate maps to guide them. The colonists also were fighting for their freedom and the protection of their families. British soldiers did not want to fight here. They were paid little, and depended on plunder after a battle to earn more money. There was very little to plunder in America!
One of England’s greatest disadvantages was the distance from England to America. It took a long time to cross the Atlantic Ocean. This slowed down supplies the British troops needed, and took time for orders from the King to reach the British troops in America. Another was their way of fighting. British troops fought in line formations, all grouped together, acting as one. They wore bright red uniform as well. American patriots, fighting from behind trees and ambushing the British found their bright red uniforms inviting targets.
To win the war, England had to do several things. England had to force the Continental Army to surrender, capture all of our seaports, then divide the nation by seizing the northern colonies, the middle colonies, and the southern colonies. The colonists, on the other hand, had an easier job to win the war. For the colonies to win the war, they only had to not stop fighting. Washington’s goal was to just preserve his army. If he could keep the army intact and fighting, even if he lost most of his battles, eventually, the British would get tired of losing soldiers, and the cost of the war to the British treasury, and go home.
This was the situation as Washington’s troops closed on New York.
The Battle of Long Island
Washington had moved his soldiers onto the island of New York to attack the British there. He thought he could outnumber the British in New York and win an easy victory; after all, he had about 19,000 militiamen. However, General Howe of the British Army had just landed 10,000 British troops there as well. Soon, Howe’s brother, Admiral Howe, sailed in with over 200 British warships and landed more troops. Now, the British had 34,000 soldiers on the island, and what is worse, had 200 navy ships circling the island so Washington could not retreat. Washington and his army were trapped!
On July 9th, 1776, Washington read the Declaration of Independence to his 19,000 outnumbered troops. He wanted them to know what they were fighting for to inspire them to fight harder. Fearing that some of the militia might flee the battle and cause the colonists to be completely destroyed, Washington warned his soldiers that he had two loaded pistols, and would personally shoot the first man that ran away. He reminded them that the fate of the nation was at stake, and that he, himself, would fight as long as he had an arm to hit with, or a leg to kick with.
However, the battle went poorly for Washington’s army. The British troops outnumbered them, outgunned them, and quickly forced Washington to retreat. However, New York is an island and you can only retreat so far. Soon the army is cornered on the end of the island, where a miracle occurred.
Though it was summer, a cold front descended from Canada. The cool air circulating over the warm water caused a heavy fog to rise. The fog grew so thick; the British had to stop the attack for fear of shooting each other. They assumed that Washington could not escape off the island, since the British Navy waited off shore to shoot up any boats that tried to cross to the mainland. Luckily, several of Washington’s men were from Long Island and had been fishermen. They quickly gathered boats and led Washington’s army through the fog. The fishermen muffled the boats oars with cloth so as to make no noise. Since the fog was so thick, the British ships could not see the American in the tiny rowboats. The British Navy could not search fro them either, fearing accidentally ramming each other in the heavy fog. Washington’s army was saved, but it was a short salvation.
As soon as the fog lifted, the British took off after Washington. For three months they chased Washington’s army through three colonies. All the while, General Howe had his musicians play “Gone to Earth,” a fox hunting song. It was a reminder to Washington that he was the fox and Howe army were the hounds that would chase after the fox until it was too tired to run, whereupon the hounds would catch up and destroy the fox. Yet even though Howe was close to Washington’s heels, he never caught him. You remember that Howe was too afraid of ambushes after the Battle of Bunker Hill. Howe kept hoping Washington’s army would stop and fight so he could destroy them and end the war. But Washington’s army just kept running. Eventually, summer turned to winter, and Howe’s troops went back to New York to wait till the next spring to go after Washington again.
The American Crisis
That winter, Washington faced a gloomy future. His army had been defeated badly and chased across the northern colonies. Many militiamen deserted the army and went home, believing they could not win. Washington was down to less than 3,000 soldiers. The Second Continental Congress did not have the money to supply his troops with food, weapons, or even clothing and many of his soldiers were without winter coats or even shoes in the snow. To make matters worse, many people that had been for the revolution were changing their minds after seeing the Continental Army being so soundly defeated by the powerful British forces. Washington needed something to keep his army together.
Washington got just what he needed from Thomas Paine, the writer of Common Sense. Thomas Paine had joined Washington’s army, and had suffered along with them through their defeats after the Battle of Long Island. He now wrote a new small book, The American Crisis. In The American Crisis, Paine explained that the soldiers still with Washington now, were heroes.
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot, will in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country. But he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
Thomas Paine, The American Crisis
Thomas Paine explained that many men would not stand up to the suffering, the losses, and the lack of food and supplies. But, he went on, the soldiers that stuck it out through the horrible conditions would be the ones who would be remembered as heroes, the ones who did not run, but instead saved the American Revolution.
Washington read Paine’s The American Crisis to his troops. The soldiers quit deserting and were ready to fight on. It was a morale victory for Washington, but if he was going to get people to support his troops, and the revolution again, he needed a victory on the battlefield.
Washington had an idea. In those days, armies rarely fought during the winter. He knew that nearby was a group of Hessian mercenaries that were not expecting a fight until the spring. He planned his attack carefully. Washington waited until Christmas. He knew that the Hessians would celebrate Christmas late into the evening, and be in no condition to fight the next day.
On Christmas day, his 2,400 men marched through the night to Trenton, New Jersey to surprise the Hessians. It was a horrible night! The Army marched though a blinding sleet storm, many without winter coats or even shoes on their feet. Soon they came to the Delaware River. It was clogged with jagged blocks of ice that threatened to sink their fragile rowboats. Never the less, Washington led his men across, and marched another nine miles though the freezing storm, leaving bloody footprints in the snow as they past.
The next morning, Washington’s army caught the sleeping Hessian by surprise. The Battle of Trenton took less than forty-five minutes. Most of the Hessians did not even have time to fire a shot before over 1,000 of them were captured. Washington had a military victory at last, and his troops captured the Hessians supplies, food, clothing, and weapons.
Several days later, the British learned of Washington’s sneak attack. General Cornwallis was sent to Trenton to destroy Washington’s army once and for all. The British Army marched south, but Cornwallis decided to stop just as they neared Trenton. His men were tired from marching, and after all, he could always destroy Washington’s men in the morning when they could see well.
Washington could see the fires of the British Army just a few miles away near Princeton, New Jersey. He knew his men would be killed if they stood and fought. They were still to tired and weak from lack of supplies. So, he devised a daring plan. Washington left some of his army behind in Trenton to keep the fires going and to make noise. This would make the British believe that Washington’s army was still at Trenton. Washington then took the rest of his army and marched around the British through the night. When the sun came up, the Continental Army was behind the British and attacked them as they were just getting up. The British were took unaware and scattered before they could get armed and ready to fight. General Cornwallis and most of the British escaped, but left behind supplies Washington’s troops so desperately needed.
With a couple of victories in hand, Washington settled in for the winter, hoping that the next spring would bring better luck for his army.
The Battle of Saratoga
Turning Point of the War
The British had decided on a new strategy to finish off the Continental Army. The British would launch an attack on the Continental Army from three directions at once. General Burgoyne’s army would move south from Canada, Colonel St. Leger’s forces would move east to trap the Continental Army against the sea, and General Howe would move north. With armies to the north, south, and west of the Continental Army and the ocean to the east, it would be trapped near Albany, New York, and destroyed once and for all.
The British plans, however, did not work. As St. Leger moved east, he ran into American General Benedict Arnold. Arnold had found a British spy, he led this spy on a
wild-goose chase around the country side showing the spy his army. The trick was, it was the same few soldiers who kept moving from place to place around hills so the spy though Arnold had a much bigger army that he really had. Arnold then let the spy “escape.” The spy told St. Leger that he was about to run into Arnold’s “huge” army. The trick worked! St. Leger, afraid he was about to be destroyed, abandoned his wagons of supplies and heavy cannons, and marched his troops back to Canada.
General Burgoyne, coming south from Canada, found the going tough too. On the map, the route to Albany looked easy to travel. The map did not show the rivers without bridges, or the swamps in his way. Patriots traveled just in front of Burgoyne’s army and chopped down trees that blocked the way. The soldiers could march around, but the wagons and cannons could not, so the British had to slow down and remove the trees from the road. Also, Burgoyne had to build bridges across streams and rivers, and found it even more difficult to get the cannons and wagons through the swamps. By the time he reached the battle, his men were tired, and very late.
General Howe’s forces never reached the battle. After hearing that Washington’s soldiers would not be there, but instead other patriots under General Horatio Gates, and discovering that the Second Continental Congress was near Washington at Philadelphia, Howe decided to go to Philadelphia. He hoped to defeat Washington, and capture the Second continental Congress to end the war. This left just Burgoyne’s tired army to face the patriots under command of Horatio Gates.
Using his time wisely, General Gates had had his men excavate a trench at the crest of a hill near Saratoga, New York. The trench was improved by piling up the dirt in front of it. Now the America soldiers would be fighting from behind protection at the top of a hill. The British under Burgoyne arrived and assaulted the hill on September 9th.
The British soldier flung themselves at the hill. They had to take the hill from the Americans to get to Saratoga, where they still thought St. Leger’s and Howe’s armies awaited them. Fighting from behind the dirt walls, the Americans mowed down the British. While the British were busy advancing up the hill under heavy fire, General Arnolds American army showed up and attacked the British from the side.
Benedict Arnold led a cavalry charge into the British right flank. Though Arnold was wounded in his leg during the charge, his attack, along with the murderous fire for the Americans on the hill frightened the Hessian troops fighting with Burgoyne. When the Hessians began to run away, the British troops were forced to retreat as well.
The British and Hessian troops marched all though the night in a heavy rain storm. Late in the night, they collapsed into the muddy fields outside Saratoga, New York. When the British awoke, they were surrounded by General Gates’ and General Arnold’s American armies. Armed with cannons that Arnold had captured from St. Leger, the Americans pounded the surrounded British all day, and all night with cannon balls and musket fire. The next morning, seeing all was lost, Burgoyne surrendered.
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution. After the battle, it looked as if American could possibly win. Spain and France, long time enemies of England decided to aid America in its war against England. Benjamin Franklin was serving as America’s ambassador to France. After the Battle of Saratoga, now that it looked like America could win the war, Franklin was able to convince France to aid the American cause. Soon the Spanish would assist America by attacking the British. France would send aid, weapons, and loan money to the Second Continental Congress, and eventually send her army and navy to help the Americans win the war.
But the Battle of Saratoga had another effect. General Benedict Arnold, wounded in the battle, went home to rest and allow for his wounds to heal. While at home, he met a woman and fell in love with her. The woman was a loyalist who poisoned his mind with traitors thought. She asked him why he was not being written about in the newspapers like Washington and Gates were. She told him in the British Army, he would have been awarded medals and land for his bravery and victory. Influenced by his wife’s treasonous words, when he returned to duty, he became a traitor. Benedict Arnold made a deal with the British to turn over to them an important fort. Though he was found out before too much damage was done, he escaped and fought for the British. Today, when some one is called a “Benedict Arnold,” it means they are a traitor.
France and Spain Aid America
With the victory at the Battle of Saratoga, Benjamin Franklin was sent to France as America’s ambassador. Now that it looked like America might just win, Benjamin Franklin negotiated a French and American alliance. France declared war on England in 1778 and made loans to the Second Continental Congress so they could buy supplies for the army. France also promised to send part of their army and navy to America to help us defeat the British.
One example of French aid was Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was a 19 year old man when he came to America, but he quickly become one of Washington’s greatest generals. Lafayette even spent his own money to buy his troops clothes and supplies. Lafayette fought in many battles and was important in convincing the French king to send the French army to aid the American cause.
Spain assisted America as well. In 1779 Spain declared war on England, now England was fighting American patriots, France, and Spain at the same time. Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana attacked the British troops in the south. His Spanish soldiers attacked Mobile, Alabama, and captured Pensacola, Florida, stopping the British from attacking the undefended American south and driving their forces north against the Americans.
With three forces to fight, the mighty British Army and Navy were pulled too many different directions. Fearing French or Spanish attacks on their other colonies around the world, England sent soldiers that would have been available to fight Americans to other places, lessening the numbers of British troops America had to fight.
Valley Forge
As the news of French and Spanish aid reached Washington, his troops rejoiced. They had little else to rejoice that winter. Washington’s army was camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The Second Continental Congress still could not supply the army with food, clothes, or supplies. With so little, and the weather so cold, Washington’s soldiers spent a horrible winter at Valley Forge.
However, at Valley Forge, Washington’s troops would finally be trained to fight as well as the British troops could. A Prussian soldier by the name of Baron Friedrich von Stuben had arrived. Though Baron von Stuben could not speak English, he trained the troops all winter long until at last they were the equal of the British troops. Washington’s army was finally ready to stand toe to toe with the British in battle.
The War at Sea
Though the American Navy was small, it did win some victories. Perhaps the most famous was the fight led by John Paul Jones. John Paul Jones came to America from England. He believed in American independence. Jones sailed his small fleet across the Atlantic to England. There, Jones attacked British ships within sight of the British coast. At one time, Jones’ ship, the Bonhomme Richard, was sinking and the British captain called out for Jones to surrender. Jones replied with a saying that is now an America Navy slogan, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Jones rammed the British ship, the Serapis, captured it, and defeated the other British ships, sailing home with a victory.
Though it was not that big of a victory, and the British Navy was still dangerous, news of Jones’ victory worried English that were growing tired of the expense and loss of English lives in the war. The victory also inspired Americans at home and made them want to fight for independence even harder.
Yorktown and Victory
The British army was running rampant thought the south. In the south, there were more loyalists than in the north, so the British Army decided to strike south where they would have more allies. At first, the Americans suffered horrible defeats. The British captured the important American port of Savannah, Georgia. From Savannah, the British captured all of Georgia. Next, the British attacked Charlestown, South Carolina. Trapping the patriots there, the British captured 5,000 American soldiers, the worst defeat of the entire war for the Americans.
With most of the southern Continental Army defeated, prospects looked bleak for America’s independence. However, the southern army continued to fight. Under Nathanael Greene, the southern Continental Army fought, and then ran again and again, slowly weakening the British army, while never being completely destroyed themselves. This continual fighting and loss of British soldiers after six years of war made some British ready to forget America and go home.
By 1781, Virginia was the main battleground of the American Revolution. General Cornwallis’ British army had camped in Yorktown, Virginia on the Atlantic Ocean. Many of his officers advised against this as Yorktown was on a peninsula sticking into the ocean. They argued they might become trapped there. But Cornwallis was overconfident. He though the Continental Army was on its last legs, too tired to attack, and to weak to win. Furthermore, Cornwallis believed that if he did become trapped, the British Navy could come pick him up and whisk his forces to safety. Cornwallis was wrong.
Finally, the promised French army and navy had arrived. What resulted was the Battle of Yorktown. While Washington’s and the French armies attacked from the east, bottling up Cornwallis’ forces on the peninsula, the French navy arrived to keep the British navy from rescuing Cornwallis’ trapped men. Pounded by French and American armies’ cannons and blasted by the cannons of the French navy, Cornwallis was forced to surrender. Though several minor skirmishes still occurred afterwards, Yorktown was the last major battle. The British people were tired of the loss of life and the expense of the war. Taxes had been raised in England to pay for the war. It was finally too much. Parliament declared they must end the war with America. America had won its revolution.
The Treaty of Paris 1783
In 1783, ambassadors from England and the new United States of America met in Paris, France to sign the Treaty of Paris (1783) that ended the American Revolution. In the Treaty of Paris, England agreed to recognize America’s independence. England gave to America all the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. England kept Canada, and Florida was still owned by Spain. The treaty also allowed for American fishermen to still fish off Canada’s coast. Finally, the United States agreed to give back property seized from loyalists and to repay debts it owed to England. In return, England promised to return captured property and slaves they had freed. Neither side every lived up to the treaty completely.