The Real Story of the American Revolution 

Battles during 1783

1783 Jan 20:  Preliminary Articles of Peace were signed in Paris by Great Britain, France, and Spain. This followed two months after a separate draft agreement between the U.S. and Great Britain -- on 1782 Nov 30). Armistice Declaring a cessation of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain. While hostilities were now officially ended, it took some time for the governments to deliver cease-fire instructions to their armed forces scattered around the globe. Consequently, battles continued for many months after the official end to hostilities. The Continental Congress received the text of the treaty on March 13 and approved it on April 15. The final drafts were signed on 1783 Sept 03. 1783 Mar 10:  Cape Canaveral is now part of Florida, but during the Revolution it was part of the British colony of East Florida (which had not joined the other colonies in revolt). On this day the 36-gun Continental frigate Alliance (under Capt. John Barry) was escorting the 20-gun duc de Lauzun, which was carrying 72,000 Spanish silver coins from Havana to Philadelphia. As they passed Cape Canaveral they encountered three British warships -- the 32-gun frigate Alarm, the 28-gun frigate Sybil, and the 18-gun sloop-of-war Tobago. Unaware that the Preliminary Articles of Peace had been signed and that hostilities were supposed to have ceased in January, Sybil closed in and engaged the Alliance, both firing cannon broadsides, causing dozens of casualties on each side and the Sybil was badly damaged. After about forty minutes a fifty-gun French ship-of-the-line appeared on the horizon, and the three British ships withdrew. [Based on The Florida Patriot Fall 2006, p 1 (Florida Society SAR) and the 2008 March 8 commemoration pamphlet] 2007 Photo-album by Richard Fowler [FL Society SAR]: 1783 April 17:  The Raid on Fort Carlos (now Arkansas Post, AR = N 34o 01', W 91o 21') was one of the few Revolutionary War battles fought west of the Mississippi. This fort was located about forty miles up from the confluence of the Arkansas River with the Mississippi. Unaware that the Preliminary Articles of Peace had been signed and that hostilities were supposed to have ceased in January, an allied force of about 100 British and Amerindians attacked the fort, but were repulsed by the 40-man Spanish garrison.       [graphic from the National Park Service web site below] The Raid on Fort Carlos [National Park Service] Colbert's Raid a detailed description by Edwin C. Bears, published by the National Park Service in 1974 and now converted to Web format. 1783 June:   Most of the soldiers in the Continental Army were furloughed in anticipation of the final withdrawal of British troops from New York city and other United States bases. However, the Pennsylvania military forces demanded back pay and revolted. The Continental Congress, in session in Philadelphia, felt insulted and threatened. When the Pennsylvania State Council refused to ensure Congress’ safety, Elias Boudinot, president of the Congress, obtained the assurances of Governor William Livingston that New Jersey would provide a safe haven. Princeton NJ was the site of the nation’s capitol from the end of June to the beginning of November, 1783. Princeton had only about 75 houses, but because it was the halfway stop for the Philadelphia/New York stage route it had many inns. John Witherspoon was Presbyterian minister at the only church in town. He was a famous patriot and president of the College of New Jersey, which has since become Princeton University. The Congress met in the main college building, Nassau Hall. 1783 June 20:  Cudalore, India A French fleet (allies of the U.S.) under Bailli de Suffren defeated a British fleet under Admiral Hughes. The French had 478 casualties -- 376 wounded and 102 killed. Eight days later the British and French forces in Indian waters received news that the Preliminaries of Peace had been signed five months previously and that hostilities were supposed to have ceased in January. See also battles by our allies in 1783 1783 Sep 03:  Three Separate Peace Treaties were formally signed in Paris: U.S. with Great Britain, France with Great Britain, and Spain with Great Britain. The treaties had been separately negotiated, but the final documents were signed on the same day. The Congress of the Confederation, which had moved temporarily to Annapolis MD, ratified the Treaty of Paris on 1784 Jan 14. Definitive Treaty of Peace Between the United States and his Britannic Majesty. Ref.: Primary Documents in American History [Library of Congress] 1783 Nov 25:  Evacuation from NY-- The last British army in the U.S. left New York City by sea, accompanied by thousands of Loyalists, bound mostly for Nova Scotia. Only 800 Continentals, led by Col. Henry Jackson (of Massachusetts) were left in the Continental Army to march in and re-occupy the city.

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