Hold the Line: The American Revolution

Yorktown

The Allies skillfully built a network of trenches with little or no counter action by the British. At this point in the campaign Cornwallis had little choice. His casualty list was augmented daily by men sick with fever or other …

Eutaw Springs

On September 8, 1781 General Greene with around 2,200 men advanced upon a British camp at Eutaw Springs, South Carolina. The “Swamp Fox," General Francis Marion, who knew the area well de vised the plan of attack. The British commander …

Green Springs

On July 5th, Lafayette reached Chickahominy Church near Green Springs farm. With him he had advance elements of Wayne’s Pennsylvanians. Before him Cornwallis had placed a detachment of the Queen’s Rangers and a mix of infantry. The rest of his …

Hobkirk's Hill

On April 25, just before dawn, British General Rawdon led 900 troops toward Hobkirk's Hill. The American force under General Greene was surprised by the early attack. They quickly formed into a single line of battle along the brow of …

Guilford Courthouse

In early March, Greene received reinforcements of both militia and Continentals, bringing his total strength to just over 4,000 men. Greene decided that the time had come for action, and he knew where he wanted to fight. Cornwallis could not …

Weitzel's Mill

In the spring of 1781 Cornwallis had an opportunity to corner and destroy a major portion of Green's army when the Americans divided their forces for subsisting purposes. He sent Tarleton’s dragoons in a rapid march and followed with his …

Cowpens

Colonel Banastre Tarleton led a highly mobile and veteran force. In all, his fighting force amounted to about 1,100 men. Morgan’s American forces amounted to about 1,000 men of which many were recent recruits. However, he also had reliable Maryland …

Kings Mountain

As British General Cornwallis advanced into North Carolina in September 1780 he had Major Patrick Ferguson protect his western flank with a command comprised of 1,075 disciplined loyalists. Ferguson issued a proclamation for the American rebels to…

Musgroves Mill

American Militia were undeterred by defeat and pursuit. A conglomerate of North and South Carolina Partisans made the decision to attack an encampment of British Regulars and Loyalists at Musgrove's Mill. They were unaware of the positions recent…

Camden

General Gates took command of the Southern Department on July 25, 1780, and immediately marched its main army 120 miles towards the British supply base at Camden. Gate’s army was poorly equipped and fed. In an exhausted state, it consisted …

Savannah

General Benjamin Lincoln, commanding, knew that he could not recapture Savannah without assistance from the French. French General d’Estaing sailed for Georgia with twenty-five ships of the line and 4000 French troops. Lincoln and the French…

Paulus Hook

Paulus Hook was a lighting raid by the Americans against the British strong point across from New York City. The tactics used were going to be the same as used as Stony Point. A night attack with bayonets to quietly …

Stony Point

The Battle of Stony Point took place on July 16, 1779. In a well planned and executed nighttime attack, Continental Army troops under the command of General “Mad Anthony” Wayne conducted a quick and daring assault on the British outpost …

Newport

Continental Army forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing after abandoning their siege of Newport, Rhode Island. The British forces in Newport sortied and attacked the retreating Americans. The American generals established…

Monmouth, afternoon phase

Washington began rallying the remnants of Lee’s disorganized morning attack at Monmouth. Washington organized a defensive line in front of the British assault. Behind the British line was a stream with a hill on the other side of the stream. …

Monmouth, morning phase

On 18th June 1778 the British army left Philadelphia and began the laborious march towards New York. Washington detached General Lee with troops to attack the moving British army and followed with the main army in supporting distance. Lee did …

Bemis Heights

On October 7th British General Burgoyne moved against the Americans in a determined effort to break through to Albany. Because of the thick forest however Burgoyne still had no solid information on the American positions. The Americans were well…

Germantown

Following the British victory at Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and subsequent occupation of Philadelphia, British forces had gone into bivouac. Washington in the meantime had gathered together an army of almost 11,000 men, of which 3,000 were…

Freeman's Farm

In September of 1777 British Lt. General John Burgoyne began his expedition. His path took him south from Canada toward Albany, NY. He encountered little Resistance in the early stages, and easily overtook positions as he marched. The Resistance…

Birmingham Hill

Washington was unsure of Howe's intentions until news came of the maneuver up the Chesapeake Bay. Washington marched his army south of Philadelphia and took up a strong defensive position behind Brandywine Creek. Washington covered the main crossing…

Brandywine

General Howe began the battle not with muskets but with legs as he took the bulk of his force on a march around the American army defending along Brandywine Creek. While he was doing this General Knyphausen was pinning Washington’s …

Bennington

In Walloomsac, New York, a rebel force of 2,000 men, led by General John Stark, decisively defeated a detachment of General John Burgoyne's army led by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum. Baum’s force left Burgoyne’s camp on August 9. The force …

Hubbardton

The Battle of Hubbardton, occurred on July 7, in the village of Hubbardton, Vermont. On the morning of July 7, 1777, British forces, under General Simon Fraser, caught up with the American rear guard of the forces, retreating after the …

Princeton

Following the surprise success of General Washington’s attack at Trenton British General Howe sent a large force to deal with Washington once and for all. However, Washington was on the move himself slipping by the British converging forces by…

Trenton

On December 26th Washington’s men crossed the Delaware in a snow storm and marched to Trenton, leaving traces of blood on the snow where some men marched without shoes. Good luck favored the Americans as they were undetected until on …