The Real Story of the American Revolution 

Battles during 1776

1776 Jan 01  Norfolk (VA) action cited by Limric 1776 Jan 08  Charlestown (MA) action cited by Limric January 24 1776: Henry Knox Brings Ticonderoga's Cannon to Cambridge MA [Massachusetts Moments] describes this event and notes sources for further study. 1776 Feb  First Siege of Charleston (SC) In response to insurrections that drove out the royal governors of VA, NC, and GA British Maj. Gen. Clinton was sent from Boston MA to Charleston SC with nine warships under the command of Commodore Peter Parker and 2,900 British troops in eleven transports. Charleston was the only major city south of Philadelphia, and capturing this might eliminate the threat of the Southern colonies joining the New England colonies in rebellion. The British force besieged the city from February to June. See June 28 for more. 1776 Feb 14  Dorchester Neck (MA) action cited by Limric 1776 Feb 26:  Moore's Creek Bridge (NC) -- Having driven the royal governor from the state and established a provincial congress, North Carolina was nominally governed by those favoring independence. However a strong loyalist movement was fueled by ethnic and economic interests. Capt. Donald McLeod gathered a band of 1,600 Loyalists (mainly highland Scots) near Wilmington NC. Patriot forces were dispatched to oppose them: 650 under Col. James Moore, 450 under Col. Alexander Lillington, and 800 under Col. Richard Caswell. Planks were torn from Moore's Creek Bridge and grease applied to the stingers, delaying the lead Loyalist squad, which was then devastated with gunfire. 1,000 patriots then replaced the planks and attacked, aided by an attack at the rear of the Loyalist forces, some 850 of which were captured. Estimated dead were 70 Loyalists, 2 patriots. Reference: Boatner photos of 2007 commemoration by Robert Yankle and Jim Gillgam [North Carolina Society SAR] one-minute audio highlight - Moore's Creek [Florida Society SAR] 1776 Mar 02:  The cannon obtained through the British surrender of Fort Ticonderoga and transport by ox-sledge from that fort were now put to good use. Several were mounted on hills northwest of Boston and fired into the city. This small bombardment diverted British attention from the American preparation of new fortifications and cannon emplacements on Dorchester Heights, southeast of the city. By morning the Americans had well-fortified positions from which to bombard not only the city but also the warships in the harbor from positions too high for the ships' cannon to reach. The British soon decided to abandon Boston and withdraw to Halifax. See March 17 below. 1776 Mar 03:  New Providence, Bahamas -- In the first amphibious landing of the U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Samuel Nicholas led 230 marines to capture Fort Montague, returning to Rhode Island with many cannon and other stores. 1776 Mar 04  Yamacrow Bluff (GA) action cited by Limric 1776 Mar 07  Hutchinson's Island (GA) action cited by Limric 1776 Mar 08  Nook's Hill (MA) action cited by Limric 1776 Mar 17:  Evacuation Day (Boston MA) -- After nine months under siege the British garrison and many Loyalists evacuated Boston by sea and withdrew to Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada). See March 02 above. March 17 1901: Boston Officially Celebrates Its First Evacuation Day [Massachusetts Moments] describes what happened in 1776 and notes sources for further study. 1776 May 06  Plains of Abraham (Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 May 19  The Cedars (Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 May 26  Vandreuil (Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 June 03  Trois Riviere (Three Rivers, Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 June 16  Chambly (Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 June 24  Isle aux Noix (Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 June 28  First Siege of Charleston (SC) : In South Carolina this day is celebrated as "Carolina Day" in memory of the day that the British withdrew and sailed back north to New York. A naval squadron with 2,900 British troops had besieged this city from February (see 1776 Feb) to June. Nine British warships -- including flagship HMS Bristol, HMS Sphinx, and HMS Actaeon -- mounting atotal of 262 cannon bombarded Fort Sullivan (now known as Fort Moultrie) on Sullivan's Island, but its thick walls of palmetto palm and sand adsorbed the cannonballs wthout collapsing. The fort's 26 cannon and roughly 1,200 patriot troops under the command of Colonel William Moultrie caused major damage to many of the British ships and killed William Campbell, the last royal governor of South Carolina, who was aboad the HMS Bristol. Casualties: Dead: 12 U.S., 78 British. Wounded: 25 U.S., 127 British The Origin of Carolina Day [South Carolina Historical Society] has an extensive and fully-illustrated description of the siege. The Battles for Charleston (Part 1) [The SAR Magazine] 1776 June 30  British Gen. William Howe and 130 transports carrying 9,300 troops from Halifax (Nova Scotia) arrived in the bay below New York City. They disembarked on Staten Island without any opposition. See also July 12 1776 July 04:  The Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in Philadelphia, and the war took on a new meaning. Public Service Audio 1776 July 08-10:  Gwyn's Island (Chesapeake Bay, MD) action cited by Limric 1776 July 12  British Adm. Richard Howe (brother of William) with 10,000 sailors and 150 transports carrying re-inforcements from England. They disembarked on Staten Island to join the 9,300 troops already there. Additional British and "Hessian" troops arrived over the next few weeks. 1776 July 15:  Rayborn Creek (SC) action cited by Limric 1776 July 24:  Sorrel River (Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 Aug 01:  Essenecca Town, Oconote (SC) action cited by Limric 1776 Aug 10:  Beauford (SC) action cited by Limric 1776 Aug 11:  Tomassy (SC) action cited by Limric 1776 Aug 12:  British Gen. Clinton returned from the failed siege of Charleston SC and disembarked some 2,500 troops on Staten Island. 1776 Aug 27-8:  Long Island or Brooklyn (Jamaica, Bushwick NY) -- The British troops crossed in force from Staten Island to Long Island, established a base along the bay with no opposition, and after a hesitant frontal assault intended to distract the Americans from a flanking maneuver nearly engulfed the entire American Army . (Casualties: 1,000 U.S. troops, 400 British) The Sacrifice of the Maryland Continentals to save the American army is described by this Maryland Society SAR newsletter article. The Fraunces Tavern Museum [Sons of the Revolution] describes this and many other battles in and around New York City, with many illustrations. For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. 1776 Sept 10:  Montressor's Island (NY) was occupied by British troops, providing a strategic platform for assaulting the island of Manhattan The Fraunces Tavern Museum [Sons of the Revolution] describes this and many other battles in and around New York City, with many illustrations. 1776 Sept 15:  Kip's Bay (New York City) The British occupied New York City for the next eight years (until 1783). The Fraunces Tavern Museum [Sons of the Revolution] describes this and many other battles in and around New York City, with many illustrations. 1776 Sept 16:  Harlem Plains (Heights) in New York City NY) -- The Americans successfully defended their hold on the upper portion of Manhattan Island. (Casualties: 30 killed, 100 wounded U.S. troops; 14 killed, 152 wounded British) The Fraunces Tavern Museum [Sons of the Revolution] describes this and many other battles in and around New York City, with many illustrations. For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. 1776 Oct 11:  The Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain NY, VT) -- With the arrival of reinforcements British Gen. Carleton's forces grew to 11,000, so the depleted and disease-racked U.S. forces withdrew from Canada. The British pursued, taking along the dismantled 18-gun ship Invincible. They also built about twenty-five smaller gunboats and 400 small troop transports. American Gen. Benedict Arnold built a smaller fleet of fifteen gunboats. The opposing gunboats fought near Valcour Island. The British overpowered the U.S. fleet, but after dark the American boats slipped through the British lines. When the British caught up with them the next morning the Anericans grounded and burned all but five of their boats. However, by this time winter was approaching, so the British withdrew their main force to St. Johns (10 miles north of Lake Champlain) to await the spring. For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. 1776 Oct 12:  Throg's Neck (NY) action cited by Limric 1776 Oct 14:  Crown Point (NY) action cited by Limric 1776 Oct 16:  Harlem Heights (NY) action cited by Limric 1776 Oct 18:  New Rochelle, Pelham Manor (NY) action cited by Limric 1776 Oct 21:  Mamaroneck (NY) action cited by Limric 1776 Oct 28:  White Plains, Chaterton's Hill (NY) -- The British outmaneuvered the Americans here and drove them out of the area of New York south of Peekskill. (Casualties: about 150 U.S. troops, 313 British) 1776 Nov 06:   U.S. Commissioner Silas Deane wrote to the U.S. Secret Committee that as a result of his negotiations in Paris, France had just dispatched to the U.S. eight ships with vital supplies for the Continental Army. The ships carried 37,000 fusils (muskets)   3,000 pounds of lead (to make musket balls) 61,000 pounds of powder 51,000 pounds of sulfur (an ingredient of gunpowder)      164 brass cannon      153 cannon carriages 41,000 cannon balls        21 mortars   3,000 bombs (for the mortars)      345 grapeshot (canisters for the cannon) 18,000 spades, shovels, and axes (to build fortifications)   4,000 tents 11,000 grenades   8,750 pairs of shoes   3,600 blankets   4,000 pairs of stockings Most of these ships arrived several months later at Portsmouth NH. Their cargoes were then transported overland to Gen. Gates' Continental Army where during June to October of 1777 they played a vital role in preventing the British army under Gen. Burgoyne from sweeping down the Hudson River Valley from Canada and cutting the supply route between the northern and southern colonies. Ref.: Diplomatic Correspondence, Amer. Rev., I., 60, and George L. Clarke's research, as presented in Silas Deane – A Brief Biography [Silas Deane Online] 1776 Nov 08:  Mount Washington (NY) action cited by Limric 1776 Nov 16:  Fort Washington (NY) Some 8,000 British and Hessian troops attacked 2,900 Americans. (Casualties: 53 dead, 96 wounded U.S. troops; 78 dead, 374 wounded) The remaining 2,750 Americans were captured. The American wounded figure is not considered credible. Fort Tryon, Fort George, and Harlem Cove (NY) also had actions cited by Limric on this day For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. 1776 Nov 18:  Fort Lee (NJ) was across the Hudson from Fort Washington Some 4,000 to 6,000 British attacked the fort but found it virtually abandoned. They captured about 50 cannon and 1,000 barrels of flour. Along with the two forts, the Americans lost nearly all of their cannon. Since early October the Americans had now lost 4,000 troops, 146 cannon, and 400,000 cartridges. They were forced to withdraw all the way to Pennsylvania, crossing the Delaware River near Trenton NJ. 1776 Nov 20:  Fort Cumberland (Nova Scotia, Canada) action cited by Limric 1776 Dec 01:  Brunswick (NJ) action cited by Limric 1776 Dec 17:  Springfield (NJ) action cited by Limric 1776 Dec 26:  Trenton (NJ) -- Although two of the three American attack columns were unable to cross the Delaware River due to the bad weather conditions the third, under the commmmand of General Washington, crossed the ice-choked Delaware River and overwhelmed the garrison of Hessian mercenaries at Trenton NJ in a surprise attack at dawn. [See 1777 listing for the battle of Princeton.] (Casualties: 10 U.S. troops, 100 Hessians) Trenton 1776 [PBS Television] For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. The Battle of Trenton [Glenn Valis] Victory at Trenton and Princeton [Sons of Liberty Chapter, California Society SAR] Trenton - click for larger image from "Soldiers of the American Revolution", by H. Charles McBarron [U.S. Army Center for Military History] The Christmas Campaign: The Ten Days of Trenton and Princeton [pamphlet, NJ Hist. Comm.'s Bicentennial series]

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