The Battles of the American Revolution

[Farnan]

After writing the Battle of Trenton mini-essay, I decided that I'll do one for each battle. Please comment on them.

I'll go in chronological order because it makes the most sense.

My primary source is Decisive Battles of the American Revolution by Lt. Col. Joseph B. Mitchell and a secondary source will be the Wikipedia. This first post won't be about a battle though, rather why the battles were fought.

How the Conflict started

Prior to the French and Indian War, which spread to Europe and was known as the Seven Years War, the American Colonies were pretty much left to govern themselves. As many undesirables were moving from Britain to the colonies already helping Britain maintain stability. Also it was thought as too much work for too little gain to start taxing the colonies. This all changed with the French and Indian Wars. Thanks to William Pitt's strategy to outspend the French to win the war, Britain was deep in debt. Subsequent Prime Ministers looked for ways to pay off the debt, but were reluctant to tax the British people in Britain, and had a "brilliant" idea: the colonists gained a good deal at the conclusion of the war, why not tax them? That was a good idea, except the colonists were used to being left alone and only taxed by their colonial governments. When the British started enforcing the Navigation Acts and started the various taxes on the Americans, America erupted in riouts and civil disobdience. Two different anti-tax groups started; the Sons of Liberty and (for the Stamps acts specifically) the Stamp Act Congress. The Sons of Liberty fought the British by enforcing boycotts against the British taxes, sometimes by force, attacking tax collectors, and encouraging protests. The Stamp Act Congress, on the other hand, issued petitions to the British Parliament; including the famous "No taxation without Representation."

Now is a perfect time though to address a difference between the American and the British theories of government. The British believed in indirect representation, in that each member of Parliament would represent the entire Empire. Using this theory of government America was represented in Parliament. In Americans believed in direct representation, in which each member of the legislative body would represent the place he was elected from. Under this theory of government America was not represented in Parliament.

Back to the main story, eventually, because of the actions of the Sons of Liberty, the British discovered that by enforcing the unpopular taxes it was costing them far more than they made so they repealed them. Though they repealed them they reserved the right to tax the colonies and garrisoned Boston. Because the British did not have enough barracks in Boston, the British forced Bostonians to house their troops. This cause tensions between the people of Boston and the British forces. This tension was enhanced when the British soldiers started taking jobs in Boston to supplement their wages, thus competing with the Bostonians. Even further tension existed due to the fact that a British fleet containing Royal Marines was docked in Boston harbor. All of this tension reached its climax with the Boston Massacre.

Eventually, the British decided to try their hands a subtle tax. They began a tax on tea from the Dutch East India Company, and gave that company a monopoly in the Americas. This again enraged the people of America, and resulted in a small band of Sons of Liberty to dress up as Indians, sneak aboard the ships and dump out the tea. This act enraged Parliament, whiched launched the Intolerable Acts. These acts declared martial law in Boston and closed the harbor till the cost of the tea was payed in full. The Intolerable Acts then led to the towns around Boston to increase training of the militia, including the elite minutemen, and stockpile ammuniton.

Weapons of the Revolution in early 1776


The Pennsylvania/Kentucky Rifle
The rifle was a primary weapon used by many militia on the American side. It was used as a hunting rifle duing to the fact its rifled barrel gave it excellent accuracy, an important attribute for hunting. This rifle enable the Americans to have good sharpshooters and snipers, but it had a low of a rate of fire, and couldn't use a bayonet making it a bad weapon for line infantry.

The Americans also used a variety of muskets, weapons either bought by their home towns, captured/stolen from the British, or relics from the French and Indian War.


The Brown Bess
This was the primary weapon used by British Regulars. It was a good weapon for combat in Europe, and for line infantry. The main disadvantage it had was an extremely low accuaracy forcing British troops to fight in lines and fire in volleys.

[Yorkshireman]

You can't tell that's written by an American. Did these British subject's really hold such lofty views of liberty at this time or was it just that they did'nt want to pay tax.

[Farnan]

You can't tell that's written by an American. Did these British subject's really hold such lofty views of liberty at this time or was it just that they did'nt want to pay tax.

It was pretty much originally a large anti-tax riot. We didn't really hate the king or even want to become our own county till you hired the Hessians and declared the colonies in rebellion. Hiring the Hessians ticked us off because we considered ourselves loyal subjects of the crown, just against the current PM. What we really wanted till then was "Benevolant negligance."

[Yorkshireman]

Well I can't argue, we lost.

[Farnan]

The first battle (because I know only a little about this battle, and the book doesn't include much information on it, Wiki is my main source)

The Battle of Lexington and Concord - "The Shot heard around the World"

Background
The increase in the training of the militia and the stockpiling ammo worried the British military governor of Boston, General Gage. Knowing the sentiments of the people in the nearby countryside he predicted that the Americans were preparing to revolt against the crown and decided to defeat them before they could gather enough strength to challenge his forces. To do this he decided to capture a major stockpile of weapons and equipment held at Concord by sending his grenadiers and light infantry. He had planned that this attack would be made in secret, but this plan was foiled by rebel spies. No one knows who was the one that leaked the information to the spy, being that no one beside Gage and the commanders of the expedition knew of the attack, but many suspect it was Gage's wife who had sympathies with the American colonists. It could have merely been the fact that the British grenadiers and light infantry were being moved around the town. Either way the rebels in Boston knew there was going to be an attack and set up riders to deliver the news the day of the attack, and to warn the leader of the Sons of Liberty Samuel Adams to escape. When the British launched the attack, the riders rode out and warned the towns along the way and other towns in the area.

Lexington
The first town that the British came upon was the Lexington, Massachusetts. In Lexington, the militia of the town assembled on the town green, with orders not to fire unless fired upon. The goal of the militia in forming at the town green was to be a form of civil disobdience not to start a conflict with the British. When the British reached the town they lined up parallel to the Americans, also with orders to not fire unless fired upon. As both sides stared each other down, the British major in charge yelled for the militia to disperse and lay down their armes. The militia began to disperse, but kept their weapons. Just at that instance a shot rang out, the "Shot that was hear around the World." No one, except the man whose weapon fired, knows who shot that first shot. Some blame the British, some the Americans, others the onlookers, and there is even the extremely probable theory that it was a misfire. Either way after that shot the British opened fire on the Americans, who fire back for little effect. After that first volley, all discipline was lost in the British ranks, and the concentrated volley fire they had been drilled in had ended and soldiers fired and reloaded at thier own pace. Eventually the British major restored discipline, but by then eight Americans were dead and several others wounded. The British on the other hand had only had one soldier wounded. The British marched through Lexington and continued to Concord.

To be continued...

Lexington and Concord - Continued

Concord and the Old North Bridge
After Lexington the British marched to Concord virtually unopposed. They arrived in Concord meeting no resistance and moved to the location of the arms supply and found it virtually empty. They dealt with the supplies and began to move home when they saw there was a collection of militia on a hill accross the Old North Bridge. The commander of the British forces ordered a detachment to deal with the rebels. Again both sides were ordered not to fire unless fired upon. As the British contingent marched towards the rebels, the rebels marched towards the British. The British, after crossing the bridged, noticed they were greatly outnumbered by rebels and retreated back accross the bridge. The commander of the detachment then ordered his troops to fire upon the Americans, who returned fire to great effect against the British. Due to a combination of factors, including the commander of the British forces ordering his troops into the wrong formation for that combat, the British detachment was routed. The British forces then marched back to Boston.

The deadly return to Boston
By this time militia from all over the area had gathered, ready to do battle with the British. There were no more orders to hold fire, the war had begun. As the British force marched home it was constantly attacked by militia units, its flankers were constantly ambused. It was in danger of being completely destroyed when it met up with troops sent from Boston. These troops included an artillery piece which was able to keep the American militia from forming into units. That artillery and the additional troops did not stop the attacks. As it continued its march homes, militia men hid behind walls and trees and shot into the column. Both majors in charge of the force were killed or injured. The British detachment continued to suffer causaulties until it reached the relative safety of Boston.

Aftermath

British Causalties: 73 killed 26 missing 174 wounded
American Causalties: 50 killed 5 missing 39 wounded

Though causaulties seem light, this fight began a war that lasted eight years and resulted in the British losing a large amount of their American possessions. After this battle militia from all over New England gathered at Boston, putting it under siege.

Merged double post-Valus

[Søren]

Great, Farnan. Very intresting!

[Farnan]

Battle of Breed's (Bunker) Hill

Commanders

British:


General William Howe: General Howe previously served in the Americas under General Wolfe were he distinguished himself during the Siege of Montreal. During that battle he led the first assault on the Plains of Abraham. He had arrived in Boston after the war had started leading a contigent of reinforcements. Howe was a great tatician, though his strategic accumen left a good deal to be desired.

American


General Israel Putnam: Israel Putnam was a folk hero from Connecticut known throughout the colonies for his wild adventurers. He was the Davey Crocket of his day, said to have killed the last wolf in Connecticut. He was also a commander in the French and Indian Wars, fighting at Montreal (a strange coincidence that the commanders at both sides were at the Siege of Montreal). He was a very charismatic man and could inspire his men, but lacked the tatical and strategic accumen to be an effective general.

Two other American generals fought at the battle, but they took no command and chose to fight as private soldiers.

Background

After the Battle of Lexington and Concord militia from throughout New England gathered at Boston and had put it under siege. As they chose commanders and set up the siege, General Gage, the British Commander sent to Britain for reinforcements. Four thousand reinforcements arrived from Britain at his request, including Generals Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton.

During the siege, the American commanders had decided to fortify Dorchester Heights. Dorchester Heights is on a pennisula near Boston, close enough that artillery positioned there could threatan the city. Because of the American commanders, who currently lacked artillery but were optimistic about acquiring some, decided to occupy the high height of Bunker Hill to keep the heights from falling to the British. Colonel William Prescott was sent to fortify Bunker Hill, but decided, with the approval of General Israel Putnam, to fortify the smaller, but steeper Breed's Hill.

The Plan

General Gage was well aware of the threat that artillery positioned within range of Boston presented, so when Howe arrived made plans to take the American works on Dorchester Heights. A plan, supported by General Clinton, was drawn up to shell the rebel position with the artillery on the ships in Boston Harbor and land British troops along the neck of the Pennisula to cut off the American retreat and attack Breed's Hill from behind. This plan was discarded by the other generals though who believed the American's were rabble and didn't deserve proper tactics. They also believed the propaganda bonus that launching a frontal attack on the American position outweighed what, they believed, would be slightly higher cost in soldiers. They in the end decided to launch a frontal attack on Breed's Hill supported by a flanking attack further down the beach.

The Flanking Attack

As the troops making up the flanking attack landed they were oppossed by entrenched American troops who repulsed this attack, meaning the British main assault had to go in alone.

The Attack on Breed's Hill

The British main assault under General Howe landed with the RN providing cover fire. The Americans, having been tipped off to the attack by a spy, were prepared and entrenched. General Putnam famously shouted, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" The British then formed into lines, fixed bayonets and, as if on parade, marched with complete discipline towards the American lines. It is unlikely that these troops were at all worried about the battle to come, as they probably believed the Americans would run upon seeing the regulars with fixed bayonets. They continued to advance, and the Americans, true to Putnam's orders, waited until the British got into point blank range and gave a terrible volley of musket fire with tore holes into the British lines. After that disciplined volley Americans fired as they loaded, lacking the discipline for further volleys. The British after the first volley and subsequent shooting were forced to retreat to the bottom of the hill. Once they reached the bottom they rallied, and with a courage far beyond normal men launched a second assault. Again the Americans waited till they were close and fire a volley at point blank range and again fired as they loaded. For a second time the fire was too much for the British troops and they were again forced to retreat. At this time General Clinton arrived with reinforcement and the British launched a third assault. This time though the Americans ran out of ammunition and the British troops reached the works. The melee was quick but brutal as Americans clubbed British soldiers with the butt of their muskets and the British applied the cold steel of the bayonet. The Americans then retreated and the hill was in the hands of the British.

Aftermath

Casaulties:

American: 140 dead (including General Warren who fought as a common soldier) 271 wounded 30 captured
British: 226 dead 828 wounded, interestingly all of Howe's staff, except Howe, were injured or killed.

Although the British had won the battle they were unable to break the Siege of Boston and were eventually forced to abandon Boston, and temporarily, the Thirteen Colonies. General Howe, once an aggressive general, was deeply affected by this battle and became far too cautious. This battle also decieved many Americans into believing militia was enough to win the war.

General Clinton said this about the Battle of Breed's Hill: "A few more such victories would have surely put an end to British dominion in America."

[Rupertel]

keep 'em coming, real nice stuff

[Farnan]

I was going to post about the Battle of Quebec City, but I don't know too much about it, so if someone wants they can post it, otherwise I'm going to skip to New York.

[Last Roman]

Canadian Campaign-Battle of Quebec City, 1775

In hopes that their Canadian neighbors would join in the revolt against the British, the Americans launched a campaign into Canada. Their aim was the city of Quebec, which held a small garrision of 300 British regulars and another several hundred Canadian militia.

The Americans were headed by General Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery, the British by Sir Guy Carleton. The attack on the city began early in the morning of New Year's Eve. Arnold divided the army into two groups. One of 600 men, which was led by himself, was to attack the northern part of the city while the remaining 300 men were led by Montgomery to attack the southern part. The two columns would meet at the tip of the St. Lawrence river and move into the walled city. But the fortifications surrounding the city were too strong for the invading Americans and combined with a heavy snowstorm, the attack began to fall apart even before it began. As Mongtomery's group started to attack, Canadian militia opened fire, killing Montgomery. Unable to return fire because of the snowstorm, the Americans began to retreat back to the riverbank.

Unaware of Montgomery's death and the subsequent retreat, Arnold pushed on. Soon under fire from British regulars and militia, Arnold was wounded and taken to the rear. His second in command, Daniel Morgan took over, who anaged to take over the first barricade. But while awaiting further orders, the British-Canadian forces counter-attacked, soon surrounding the Americans. With no way of retreat, Morgan and his men surrendered at 10:00 Dec, 31st.

Arnold refused to give up (despite now being outnumbered 3-to-1) and layed siege to the city. Not until March, did American reinforcments arrive, giving Arnold about 2,000 men under his command. However, he found assault impossible. That May, nearly 8,000 British reinforcments arrived, forcing Arnold to retreat back to New York. It was the last attempt to invade Canada during the revolution.

Casualities

US-60 killed and wounded, 426 captured
UK-6 dead, 19 wounded



I'm skipping ahead a little, hope you don't mind farnan

southern campaigns-Battle of Cowpens, 1781

Up until this battle, the Americans had been having trouble with British forces in the south, suffering losses at Camden and Waxhaws. But with rebel armies still operating in the area, Cornwallis decided to go after them. He sent Colonel Banastre Tarleton to deal with the Americans, who headed an army of 1,100 men, made up of British regulars, dragoons, loyalists and highlanders. The Americans were led by Daniel Morgan, who had about 1,000 men under his command. It was made up of 700 militia infantry and cavalry as well as 300 continental regulars.

The setup
Since Morgan had time to organize his troops, he used the land to his advantage. He placed his troops inbetween the Broad and Pacolet Rivers.The reason for this is that under heavy fire, the militia often broke and ran. Him placing his army between the rivers would make it harder for them to retreat. He selecting a hill as the center of his position. Since his flanks were protected by river and ravine, he knew Tarleton would charge head on, he placed three his mean in three lines, one of sharpshooters, one of militia and then his regulars. Knowing that his poorly trained militia would try to break at the first sight of the British cavalry (despite their position), he had them fire two volleys and then in a orderly fashion, move into the third line under the cover of the American cavalry (who was under the command of William Washington, George's nephew). His idea was that this would disorganize the British troops, who would be attacking uphill, before counter-attacking.

The battle
As planned, Tarleton moved his men into a line, flanks protected by dragoons, who began to march up the hill, making easy targets for the American sharpshooters. After firing their volleys, the sharpshooters and militia retreated. Though the British temporarily fell back after taking heavy causalities, they reformed and continued to march towards the American line. Like Breed's hill, the British kept coming and coming until all but one line of the Americans finally broke and ran. Sensing a British victory at hand, Tarleton ordered a full frontal attack by his regulars and loyalists. He also sent his Highlanders (who had been a reserve) to attempt to flank the Americans. Now disorganized, the British came under heavy fire by the sharpshooters and the militia. Washington and the cavalry attacked and the British on the right flank and the rear. Seeing their own cavalry retreat, and their main line stopped by the American regulars, the main group of the British surrendered. Only the Highlanders were still fighting. Tarleton was desperate and regrouped the cavalry and tried to save the artillery he had brought with him, but they had already been captured. Tarleton had had enough. After a brief clash with Washington, he retreated with only a few cavalry with him.



the aftermath

Americans-73 casualities (12 dead and 61 wounded)
British-110 killed, 830 captured

Merged double post-Valus

[Farnan]

This battle has been compared to Cannae, as Morgan instituted a double encirclement...

[Garbarsardar]

This battle has been compared to Cannae, as Morgan instituted a double encirclement...

I think you should attempt a piece on Cannae. This battle has been so much idolised as the perfect encirclement battle. Operations of much larger scale as the Shlieffen plan or Fall Gelb were vying for the title of modern Cannae aswell...

[Farnan]

Sorry, I've been a bit lazy (stupid Oblivion), but I'll do another one tommorow...

The Battle of Trenton - December 26th, 1776


December 25th (Christmas), 1776

Things looked desperated for the American Revolution. The American forces had been driven from New York, and it was through mere luck combined with the ingenious ability of George Washington to withdraw that the Army hadn't been destroyed in Manhattan. British forces were encammped accross the Delaware from the capital of the United States, Philadelphia. Not only was the strategic situation desperate, the terms of enlistment of the Continental Army were running out, ending in a mere week. Desertions were rife as people decided to leave early and head home. Morale was at a level so lower than the Dead Sea, and everyone thought the Revolution was all but over, the only thing left was the hanging of Washington. Supplies were low, and troops were required to wrap their shoes in cloth in order to prevent hyperthermia. Thomas pain wrote about this time in The Crisis:

"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 their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. "

Though all this was against him, General Washington stood firm. As I had previously stated, British soldiers were accross the Delaware from Philadelphia. Washington was on the Pennsylvania side of the river in order to watch the British. Through recconnaissance he knew that Hessian, German mercenaries who fought for the British, were in control of the town of Trenton and would be celebrating Christmas. With this information, Washington developed a desperate plan: Cross the Delaware River, which was full deadly clumps of ice, in small boats on the night of Christmas and move upon the Hessian troops that were in winter quarters. Such a plan would give him complete surprise, a decisive advantage, but if the plan was discovered the Hessian troops could rally and take on the low morale, freezing Continental Army. Despite that risk, the plan was put into effect, and on Christmas Eve the Delaware was crossed.



During the night, the Continental Army came accross Hessian outposts, but easily dispatched of the drunk Hessians.

December 26th, 1776

This morning American forces come upon Trenton. The Hessian forces still tired, with a good amount probably suffering from hangovers from the previous day's celebrations, were not even ready for the American attack. The battle was short and went nearly perfectly for Washington. The organized American troops smashed the Hessians as they tried to rally for battle. Everytime the Hessians did manage to organize even a semblance of resistance, it was blasted by American Artillery.

After the battle was over American troops quickly headed back over the Delaware into the safety of Pennsylvania. British troops attempted to chase the American forces, but were unable as the Americans marched on firm frozen roads, and the British were forced to march on muddier roads as the day got warmer.

Results of the battle:

American causaulties: 4 wounded by battle and 2 frozen to death
Hessian causaulties: 22 dead, 92 wounded, 913 captured.

This battle saved the rebellion as many veterans reenlisted after this unexpected victory, and many others enlisted after seeing that the Hessians were not invincible and there was a chance for victory.



For this article I used Wikipedia as a source for causaulties, and to check facts I was unsure about.

(I'll do New York and put it in chronological order later, I feel lazy)

Merged double post-Valus

[hunter260859]

-i deleted what i said because i found it to harsh-

[TenkiSoratoti]

The Battle of Brandywine Creek is a personal favourite. I like the name because it sounds like something out of LOTR and the British won

[Gelgoog]

just wanted to add that there are several other reasons for the starting of the conflict.

the french-indian war: this war was viewed by the colonists as "not their war". it was a british- french conflict, not a to protect our colonies from the french war, but a "to get them out of the continent". those colonists who did join and fight did so under the promise and impression that they would as i would put " win their right to rule themselves" or moreover the right to (still being a colony) decide for themselves through their own local parlament, which laws and taxes they would agree to that britain wanted to put on the colonies. so when the british after the war ignored the wishes of the colonists who thought they had "won their right to representation" and started taxing them. it really ticked them off, they felt like they just got stabbed in the back.

not to mention the fact that the stamp act ( the tax that really inflamed everyone) taxed ever official document. this being business contracts, marriage licences, everything.
now to the defense of the british, those taxes levied by the britain on the colonies were really very small in comparison to what those at the homeland were paying. those in england were the ones really being taxed to death, and britain after several riots did repeal most of the taxes.

but most people tend to forget what probably the key issue they had. the british after the french war had restricted any colonization past the Mason-Dixie line. this really made all the colonist mad who had come all the way to this country on the idea that one could simply take their wagon out and claim a big patch of land. one forgets how important being a landowner was in these days, especially for people coming from places like england, where land was very hard to come by. it was basically viewed as the crown restricting peoples ability to advance past their station( ability to rise above their economic level).

and just a side note: its amazing how the colonists were able to beat the worlds strongest power of the time, especially when only 1/3 of the populous was supporting revolution, 1/3 fought against it, and the rest just stayed neutral. most people think we were united in the fight against the motherland.

[Farnan]

The dividing line was the Appalachian Mountains, not the Mason-Dixon line.

[Gelgoog]

southern campaigns-Battle of Cowpens, 1781

Merged double post-Valus

this is really an amazing battle for alot of reasons. the brillant tactics of morgan knowing the british disdain for colonial militia, would be to his advantage. he knew that militia would buckle under any sort of pressure, especially a bayonet charge, so his instruction his men telling them he only expected then to fire at least two volleys at the british, and they would not be thought of ill to retreat after that.

so positioning skirmishers in the front, followed by militia, then the regulars was a great move. this way when the milita did retreat, the british thinking the whole force was routing, would run smack into the regulars. this is really the battle that showed that the americans could stand up to the british using linear tactics, and beat the redcoats at their own game. its been said this was the turning point and probably the most important battle of the war.

[Sétanta]

Perhaps some of these can be used as Historical Battles for our Mod Farnan.

[Farnan]

Yea they could...


Now that interest has renewed, I'll do the Battle of New York tommorow...