The Real Story of the American Revolution 

Battles during 1778

1778 Feb:  France and the U.S signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce and also a Treaty of Military Alliance. News of the American victory at Saratoga (in Sept 1777) had at last encouraged the king of France to back the U.S. openly. France had supplied considerable covert support before this, but these treaties brought formal diplomatic recognition of the new nation and the prospect of being aided by a large professional army and navy comparable to those of Great Britain. This gave the leaders of the American Revolution cause to hope and to celebrate in the spring of 1778. Now large numbers of senior officers, naval forces, supporting ground troops, munitions, cloth, and money began to flow from France to the U.S. See Allied Military Support for Independence. Benjamin Franklin at the Court of France [U.S. National Archives] 1778-1781 - The Americans stretched a new and heavier chain across the river at West Point, where the river made a sharp bend and forts on the mountain could bombard the ships. For the rest of the war the struggle to control the Hudson River Valley was focused on capturing these forts. For example, see the battles of Stony Point and Paulus Hook. 1778 Mar 07:  Sea battle of Randolph (U.S.) vs Yarmouth (British) 1778 Apr 19:  Frederica Naval Action (near St. Simon's Island, GA) -- Continental Army Col. Samuel Elbert placed 360 troops from four Georgia Continental battalions on three row-galleys of the Georgia Navy: the Bulloch, Lee, and Washington, They sailed to the Frederica River, captured Fort Frederica, and attacked HM brigantine Hinchinbrook [whose largest cannon was a four-pounder], the armed sloop Rebecca, and a watering brig. These boats went aground while fleeing, and their crews escaped by smaller craft to HM frigate Galetea, which was restricted to the deeper waters of St.Simons Sound. This action delayed by several months a British invasion of Georgia. See Dec 29 below. 1778 Apr 24:  Ranger (U.S.) vs Drake (Britain) -- after several failed attempts Capt. John Paul Jones and the sloop-of-war Ranger (with eighteen 6# guns and a crew of 145) managed to capture the 20-gun HMS Drake, taking 200 prisoners, just outside the port city of Carrickfergus in Ireland. Public Service Audio notes that this was the first naval battle in which the new U.S. "stars and stripes" flag was flown. 1778 Jun 18:  British Gen. Howe resigned his commission and was replaced by Gen. Henry Clinton on 1778 May 18. A month later -- nine months after first occupying Philadelphia -- some 15,000 British troops left the city and marched overland toward New York after hearing that a French naval force under Admiral D'Estaing was on its way to the U.S. and might blockade the Delaware River, cutting the main British supply route. Some 3,000 loyalists (Tories) left the city by ship. For many years June 18 was commemorated in Philadelphia as Evacuation Day. U.S. Gen. Benedict Arnold led the Continental Army back into the city and was appointed its military governor. On June 24, the Continental Congress returned to the city from its temporary quarters at York, Pennsylvania. 1778 Jun 28:  Monmouth (NJ) -- The Continental Army followed along as Gen Howe's troops marched north through New Jersey toward New York City. Gen Charles Lee's morning attack on the rear guard of the British army as it passed through Monmouth Court House NJ was unsuccessful, but Washington's afternoon attack forced the Second Division of the British Army to withdraw. This was one of the hottest days on record for the area, and many Hessian troops collapsed and died from heat prostration because they were wearing heavy woolen clothing and carrying heavy packs. Neither side won or lost decisively -- both sides were entitled to claim victory. The British continued north to New York City, and the Americans settled into defensive poisitions surrounding that city. U.S. (net 12,000) under Gen. George Washington Advanced Body: Gen. Charles Lee (5,000) Left Flank (2,000): Gen. Nathaniel Greene Center (2,000): Gen. Anthony Wayne Reserves (1,000): Gen. Lafayette Right Flank (2,000): Gen. William Alexander British (net 15,000) under Gen. Henry Clinton Flank Security(1,000): 17th Light Dragoons Regt. and a brigade of foot soldiers First Division (7,000): Gen. Wilhelm Knyphausen: 10 battalions, 1,500 wagons Second Division (5,000): Gen. Charles Cornwallis, 14 battalions: 3rd, 4th, and 5th British infantry brigades, the British guards, and Simcoe's Tory Rangers. Rear Guard (2,000): 16th Light Dragoons Regt., the German grenadiers, 1st and 2nd British grenadier battalions, and the 1st and 2nd British light infantry battalions. (Casualties: 250 U.S. troops, 400 British) Monmouth - click for larger image from "Soldiers of the American Revolution", by H. Charles McBarron [U.S. Army Center for Military History] Monmouth staff ride [Worcestor Tech's Dept. of Military Science] describes the terrain, discusses the military situation, and lists the senior officers (with links to career summaries). For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. The Battle of Monmouth [Glenn Valis] 1778 July 4:  Fort Kaskaskia (now IL = N 37o 58', W 89o 55') Lt. Col. George Rogers Clark and his force of 180 frontiersmen captured the British-controlled but French-inhabited fort towns of Kaskaskia and Cahokia, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Learning of Clark's occupation of Kaskaskia, Lt. Col. Henry Hamilton -- the Commandant of Detroit and British Lieut. Gov. of Canada -- gathered his forces and marched from Detroit, reaching Vincennes on December 17. Hamilton decided to postpon an attack on Kaskaskia until spring in order to strengthen the fortifications at Ft. Sackville and gather additional forces. Clark realized that his small force could not hold Kaskaskia and Cahokia if Hamilton did this, and he boldly decided to move on Ft. Sackville at Vincennes immediately. See 1779 Feb 25. biography of George Rogers Clark [Indiana State Library] Fort Kaskaskia Historic Site [greatriverroad.com] 1778 Jul 29-Aug 31:  The Battle for Newport (RI) -- Admiral d'Estaing arrived with a French fleet consisting of twelve ships-of-the-line (846 cannon) , four frigates, and several transports. The fleet was manned by 7,500 sailors and carried 2,500 marine riflemen, and 1,500 soldiers. Already in place was 10,000-man combined force of U.S. Continentals and New England militia. The objective was to dislodge the 3,000-man British garrison from Newport. Adm. d'Estaing's Fleet Ship Guns Commander Languedoc 80 de Croy Tonnant 80 Comte de Breugnon, chef d'escadre Comte de Bruyeres Cesar 74 Comte de Broves, chef d'escadre de Raimondis Zele 74 Barras de St. Laurent Hector 74 de Mories-Castellet Protecteur 74 d'Apchon Marseillois 74 la Pope-Vertrieux Guerrier 74 de Bougainville Vaillant 64 Chabert Cogolin Provence 64 Desmichels Champorcin Fantasque 64 de Suffren Sagittaire 50 d'Albert de Rions 12 s-o-t-line 846 sub-total cannon Chimere 28 --- Alcmene 28 --- Aimable 28 --- Dauphin 28 --- 4 frigates 112 subtotal cannon The British were saved by the arrival of a British squadron and a storm, which damaged the French ships severely, leading them to withdraw for repairs at Boston. Then, aided by their naval squadron, the British repulsed the U.S. ground attack. (Casualties: U.S. 30 killed, 137 wounded; British 38 killed, 210 wounded) (This does not include casualties of the naval engagement.) On 1778 Nov 04 D'Estaing departed from Boston for Martinique (in the West Indies). Public Service Audio 1778 Dec 29:  Savannah (GA)   was captured by a force of 3,500 British troops sent from New York City. They outflanked and over-ran the defenses of 1,200 U.S. troops. Casualties: Dead: 83 U.S., 3 British. Captured: about 450 U.S. 1778-79 Winter at Morristown:  The American army built a permanent winter camp (with log cabins) in Jockey Hollow, near Morristown NJ and spent the winter there. From here they could respond to any British incursions into New Jersey. Morristown: A Crucible of the American Revolution [pamphlet, NJ Hist. Comm.'s Bicentennial series]

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