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Battle of Lexington and Concord
American Victory
Location: Lexington, Massachusetts; Concord, Massachusetts
Casualties: 88 (US), 247 (British)
Leaders: Colonel James Barrett, Colonel John Buttrick, Dr. Joseph Warren, John Parker, William Heath (US) vs. Lieutenant-General Hugh Percy, Major John Pitcairn, Major-General Francis Smith (British) On their way to find and destroy a Patriot arsenal, a group of British Redcoats were stopped by a colonial minutemen militia. This event marked the begiining of the American Revolution. -
Siege of Fort Ticonderoga
American Victory
Location: Fort Ticonderoga, New York
Casualties: 0 (US), 0 (British)
Leaders: Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen (US) vs. Captain William DeLaPlace (British) In order to recieve munitions for the war, a plan was made to seize Fort Ticonderoga. Using stealth, the Americans were able to take the fort without a single casualty on either side. -
Battle of Chelsea Creek
American Victory
Location: Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Casualties: 4 (US), 34 (British)
Leaders: George Washington (US) vs. Samuel Graves, Thomas Graves (British) In an effort to destory Britain's hold on Boston, the Patriots took over the area around Chelsea creek. The ultimate result was the destruction of the British ship Diana, as seen in the picture to the left. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British Victory
Location: Charlestown, Massachusetts
Casualties: 420 (US), 1054 (British)
Leaders: Dr. Joseph Warren, Israel Putnam, William Prescott (US) vs. Sir William Howe (British) Attempting to keep part of Boston under Patriot control, the colonists took a stand on top of Breed's Hill. Although the Americans ultimately lost the hill, the destruction of so many British soldiers allowed for morale to spike folowing the conflict. -
Battle of Quebec
British Victory
Location: Quebec City, Province of Quebec
Casualties: 82 (US), 19 (British)
Leaders: Benedict Arnold, Daniel Morgan, Richard Montgomery (US) vs. Captain William DeLaPlace, Sir Guy Carleton (British) Trying to win over French Canadian support for the war, the Continental Army attempted to capture the Canadian city of Quebec. However, due to poor planning, the Patriot army failed for the first time in the war. -
Hessians are incorporated into the British army
Due to alliances made during the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Britain had strong ties to the various German states at the onset of the reovlution. Accordingly, Britain used these ties to complement their armies with Hessian mercenaries taken straight form these German states. -
Battle of Long Island
British Victory
Location: Long Island, New York
Casualties: 1100 (US), 357 (British)
Leaders: George Washington, Israel Putnam, William Alexander (US) vs. Lord Charles Cornwallis, Sir Henry Clinton, Sir William Howe (British) At the time, Long Island was a vital junction of communication between the nothern and southern colonies. As a result, the British successfully seized the area following a failed American defense. -
Battle of White Plains
British Victory
Location: White Plains, New York
Casualties: 154 (US), 224 (British)
Leaders: George Washington (US) vs Sir William Howe (British) Leading up to this battle, Howe was trying to stop Washington as he fled New York City. Culminating in the Battle of White Plains, the British ultimately won the day. -
Battle of Fort Washington
British Victory
Location: Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York
Casualties: 155 (US), 458 (British)
Leaders: George Washington and Robert Magaw (US) vs Sir William Howe and Wilhelm Von Knyphausen Continuing his quest to stop Washington after their previous confrontation in White Plains, a group of both British soldiers and Hessian mercenaries attacked the Americans at Fort Washington, resulting in a British victory. -
Battle of Trenton
American Victory
Location: Trenton, New Jersey
Casualties: 7 (US), 108 (British)
Leaders: George Washington (US) vs. Johann Rall (British) Needing a win in order to raise morale among his troops, Washington broke tradition by attacking the British at Trenton, New Jersey in the middle of winter at night. As one would expect, it was a relatively easy victory for the Americans. -
Battle of Princeton
American Victory
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Casualties: 65 (US), 170 (British)
Leaders: George Washington (US) vs. Captain William DeLaPlace, Charles Mawhood (British) In response to the Battle of Trenton, the British retaliated in Princeton, New Jersey. Fortunately for the American cause, Washington won the day, giving the soldiers an additional boost to their morale. -
Iroquois Confederacy enters the war
Originally neutral in the war, pressure from the British ultimately forced the confederacy to enter the war. However, due to geography, the Iroquois Confederacy separated onto different sides of the war. The Onondaga, the Mohawk, the Seneca, and the Cayuga joined the British, whereas the Oneida and Tuscarora joined the Americans. -
Battle of Oriskany
Inconclusive Victory
Location: Oriskany, New York
Casualties: 435 (US), 152 (British)
Leaders: Nicholas Herkimer (US) vs. Chief Joseph Brant, John Butler, Sir John Johnson (British) During the conflict at Fort Stanwix, a Patriot relief party was attacked by a group of Loyalists and Native Americans. Becoming one of the most brutal battles for he war, the ultimate victor of the battle is debatable to this day. -
Battle of Bennington
American Victory
Location: Bennington, New York
Casualties: 70 (US), 207 (British)
Leaders: John Stark (US) vs Friedrich Baum (British) As part of the Saratoga campaign, the rebel force of 2000 men decisively defeated the British army. It reduced their army by almost 1000 men and disrupted the supply routes. It also resulted in less Native American support to the British. -
Battle of Brandywine
British Victory
Location: Near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Casualties: 900 (US), 577 (British)
Leaders: George Washington (US) vs. Sir William Howe (British) It was a victory that was crucial to maintain morale among Continental regulars. American troops were extended in a 6-mile long line covering the east side of the Brandywine Creek. Had Americans failed there, the British would have most likely conquered Philadelphia. -
Battle of Saratoga (Freeman's Farm)
British Victory
Location: Saratoga County, New York
Casualties: 320 (US), 510 (British)
Leaders: Benedict Arnold, Daniel Morgan, Horation Gates (US) vs. General John Burgoyne American troops attempted to cut off a river supply line that heavily aided the British. Although the British were victorious, the Americans inflicted heavy losses on their army. -
Battle of Germantown
British Victory
Location: Germantown, Pennsylvania
Casualties: 673 (US), 515 (British)
Leaders: George Washington, Nathanael Greene (US) vs. Lord Charles Cornwallis, Sir William Howe, Wilhelm von Knyphausen (British) In a last-ditch effort before winter set in, Washington confronted the British in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Washington failed, allowing Philadelphia to remain under British control over that winter. -
Battle of Saratoga (Bemis Heights)
American Victory
Location: Saratoga County, New York
Casualties: 130 (US), 670 (British)
Leaders: Benedict Arnold, Benjamin Lincoln, Horation Gates (US) vs. General John Burgoyne (British) This was the climactic battle that resulted in Burgoyne's surrender. This victory by the Patriots led to various European powers, such as the French, joining the war on the Patriots' side. -
France recognizes the United States
Following the Battle of Saratoga, many European nations were more confident in the Americans' chances of winning. As a result, Benjamin Franklin was able to secure an alliance with the French. -
Britain declares war on France
Seeing as France was now allied with the American colonists, Britiain did not take long to reciprocate with a declaration of war against France. -
Battle of Monmouth
Inconclusive Victory
Location: Monmouth, New Jersey
Casualties: 440 (US), 930 (British)
Leaders: George Washington (US) vs. Sir Henry Clinton (British) Major General Charles Lee's inexperience had allowed for the British to take an early lead, however the timely arrival of George Washington rallied the troops. This battle served primarily to booster the reputation of Washington and the Continental Army, but did little to alter the war. -
Capture of Savannah
British Victory
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Casualties: 94 (US), 24 (British)
Leaders: Robert Howe (US) vs. General Henry Clinton (British) General Henry Clinton took advantage of weaknesses in the American forces' defenses, leading to a successful flanking manuever. During the battle, he captured much of General Howe's army and pushed the Americans back to South Carolina. -
Spain declares war on Britain
Bitterness over the Seven Years' War fueled Spain's desire to help the Americans at the beginning of the war, sending over money and supplies. However, following the decisive Battle of Saratoga, Spain went all in, declaring war on Britain and formally allying itself with the United States militarily. -
Siege of Charleston
British Victory
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Casualties: 240 (US), 258 (British)
Leaders: Benjamin Lincoln (US) vs. Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot, Sir Henry Clinton (British) Britain lauched a full scale attack with 9,000 troops on the city of Charleston by bombarding it for several days which led to the lowering of American morale, and, ultimately, their surrender of the town. -
Battle of Camden
British Victory
Location: North of Camden, South Carolina
Casualties: 900 (US), 313 (British)
Leaders: Horatio Gates, Johann de Kalb, Marquis de la Rouerie (US) vs. Banastre Tarleton, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Lord Charles Cornwallis (British) US General Gates had a force of 4,000 against a British force of 2,000, which should have been simple victory, but the American forces only had 3,000 able bodies. Against the superior British forces, they crumbled quickly, leading to a British victory. -
Battle of King's Mountain
American Victory
Location: Near Blackburn, South Carolina and King's Mountain, North Carolina
Casualties: 87 (US), 453 (British)
Leaders: James Johnston, John Sevier, William Campbell (US) vs. Patrick Ferguson (British) This battle resulted in the death of Patrick Ferguson, significantly raising morale for the Patriots. -
Britain declared war on the Dutch
As with the Spanish and the French, the Dutch were actively supplying the colonists at the outbreak of the war. It was this trade that led the British to declare war on the Dutch, beginning the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. This action by Great Britain led to the Dutch becoming formally allied with the United States in its war for independence. -
Battle of Cowpens
American Victory
Location: Cowpens, South Carolina
Casualties: 149 (US) vs. 310 (British)
Leaders: Daniel Morgan (US) vs. Banastre Tarleton (British) Apart of an overall Patriot effort to retake South Carolina, this battle was a significant step towards that end. -
Battle of Guilford Courthouse
British Victory
Location: Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina
Casualties: 264 (US), 506 (British)
Leaders: Nathanael Greene (US) vs. Lord Charles Cornwallis (British) Following this battle, Cornwallis moved towards Virginia, the site of his ultimate defeat at Yorktown. -
Battle of Eutaw Springs
British Victory
Location: Near present-day Eutawville, South Carolina
Casualties: 501 (US) vs. 437 (British)
Leaders: Nathanael Greene (US) vs. Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot, Alexander Stewart (British) Ultimately, this battle ended the major fighting in the Carolinas. -
Battle of Yorktown
American Victory
Location: Yorktown, Virginia
Casualties: 252 (US), 635 (British)
Leaders: George Washington (US) vs. Lord Charles Cornwallis (British) General Cornwallis retreated to Yorktown, Virginia after his failed campaign in the Carolinas. He hoped that he would receieve reinforcements from General Henry Clinton. George Washington and Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau seiged Yorktown.
