The Real Story of the  American Revolution
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Calendar of Events of the
American Revolution

What Happened in Each Calendar Month

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
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Sources

"Principal Events of the American Revolution", in National Register of Members of the Sons of the American Revolution (1901 Dec 31)

Sixty-six additional events compiled by Jim Shadwick (California Society SAR, private communication, 1998) -- marked #, used with permission.

Additional commentary and events from SAR Historical Calendar (1992), by Fred Jeffries (Colorado Society SAR) marked *, used with permission.

January 

1 Jan 1735 - Paul Revere was born in Boston MA. *
1752 - Betsy Ross was born in Philadelphia PA. *
1776 - The American flag of 13 stripes and the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew on a blue field was unfurled over Washington's Army at Cambridge MA.
1776 - British bombarded and burned Norfolk VA.
1776 - Free Negroes first enlisted in the army.
2 Jan 1777 - Second battle for Trenton NJ; prevented a Hessian escape. *
1778 - Georgia ratifies the Constitution.
1777 - Engagement at Assumpsick Bridge NJ. #
3 Jan 1777 - Battle of Princeton. Washington's army routed the British and freed most of NJ. *
4 Jan 1778 - Battle of the Kegs in Delaware River.
1784 - Congress acted to ratify the Treaty of Peace, which had been signed in Paris, France, by Adams, Franklin, Jay, and Laurens. *
5 Jan 1778 - British naval forces led by American turncoat Benedict Arnold burned Richmond VA. *
6 Jan 1759 - George Washington and wealthy widow Mrs. Martha Dandridge Custis were married. *
6 Jan to 9 Jan 1779 - Engagement at Sunbury SC. # More battles were fought in South Carolina than in any other colony. *
7 Jan 1777 - Washington arived at Morristown NJ for winter camp at "Jockey Hollow". *
8 Jan 1776 - Battle of Charleston MA.
1781 - Engagement at Charles City Court House VA.
9 Jan 1779 - Engagement at Fort Morris GA #
1788 - Connecticut ratifies the Constitution.
10 Jan 1788 - Engagement at Fogland Ferry RI.
1776 - Thomas Paine published his pamphlet "Common Sense", and it immediately became a sensation. *
11 Jan 1757 - Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies. *
12 Jan 1737 - John Hancock was born in MA. He signed the Declaration of Independence for Massachusetts.*
13 Jan 1780 - Washington, in a fit of desperation, confiscated personal property for use by the army. *
14 Jan 1730 - William Whipple was born in Kittery ME. He signed the Declaration of Independence for New Hampshire.*
1784 - Congress ratifies treaty of peace.
15 Jan 1777 - Vermont (also known as New Connecticut) declared for Independence. *
16 Jan 1776 - Benjamin Franklin outlined his plan for a Confederacy of the Colonies. *
17 Jan 1706 - Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston MA. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from Pennsylvania.*
1777 - Battle at Kingbridge NY.
1781 - At the Battle at Cowpens SC Daniel Morgan's tactics defeated Banistre Tarleton. # *
18 Jan 1776 - News reached Congress of the death of Gen. Richard Montgomery in Canada. A period of mourning was declared. *
1780 - Engagement at East Chester NY.
19 Jan 1781 - British Gen. Cornwallis took up a defensive position at King's Mountain in NC. *
20 Jan 1734 - Robert Morris, later known as "Financier of the Revolution", was born in London. He signed the Declaration of Independence for Pennsylvania.*
1777 - Battle of Somerset Court House NJ.
21 Jan 1777 - Washington ordered that plunder be divided among the scouting parties who faced added danger. *
22 Jan 1772 - A movement started in MA to abolish slavery, and many slaves were set free. *
1777 - Engagement at Millstone NJ.
1781 - Second engagement at Morrisania NY.
23 Jan 1730 - Joseph Hewes was born in NJ. He signed the Declaration of Independence for North Carolina.*
24 Jan 1780 - British troops surprised outposts at Elizabeth NJ, and many American pickets were killed. *
1781 - Engagement at Georgetown SC #
25 Jan 1777 - Engagement at West Farms NJ #
1777 - Washington gave an order that all citizens must take an Oath of Allegiance. *
1780 - Engagement at Elizabethtown, NJ.
1780 - Engagement at Newark NJ
26 Jan 1784 - Benjamin Franklin directed his sarcastic wit at Congress for selecting the eagle over the turkey as the national symbol. *
27 Jan 1775 - Delegates started out for Philadelphia PA to attend the Second Continental Congress.
28 Jan 1766 - Benjamin Franklin appeared before the British Parliament to oppose the Stamp Acts and as a consequence lost his office as Deputy Postmaster for the American Colonies. *
29 Jan 1777 - Engagement at Augusta GA begins. The British captured it and held it until driven out by Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee in 1781. He later became the father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. *
30 Jan 1781 - Gen. Nathaniel Greene relieved Daniel Morgan in the Carolinas due to Morgan's ill health. *
31 Jan 1778 - Washington pleads with Congress for aid to the army at Valley Forge. *

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February 

1 Feb 1775 - The Second Provincial Congress started its deliberations at Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia PA. *
1781 - Engagement at Cowan's Ford NJ.
1781 - Engagement at Torrence's Travern NC.
1781 - Engagement at Wilmington NC.
2 Feb 1741 - George Walton was born in VA. He signed the Declaration of Independence for Georgia.*
2-4 Feb 1777 - Battle at Fort Mc Intosh GA.
3 Feb 1779 - Engagement at Beaufort SC.
1779 - Engagement at Port Royal Island SC. This was won by the British. *
1780 - Engagement at Young's House, Four Corners NY.
4 Feb 1776 - Clinton dropped anchor in New York Bay. British troops were put ashore in New York harbor, and Americans rushed to build fortifications. *
5 Feb 1723 - John Witherspoon was born in Scotland. He signed the Declaration of Independence for New Jersey, the only clergyman to sign it.*
6 Feb 1756 - Aaron Burr, third Vice President of the US, was born in NJ. *
1778 - Franklin secures a treaty of alliance with France.
1788 - Massachusetts ratifies the Constitution
1781 - Engagement at Shallow Ford NC. #
7 Feb 1770 - Citizens demonstrating in Boston were fired on by British troops. Later John Adams, attorney, defended the British soldiers. *
8 Feb nothing to list yet
9 Feb 1775 - Both Houses of Parliament presented an address to the King, declaring the existence of a rebellion in Massachusetts.
1775 - Gen. Nathaniel Greene arrives at Guilford Courthouse SC. *
10 Feb 1763 - The French and Indian War ended with the signing of the treaty of Paris. *
1779 - Engagement at Car's Fort GA.
11 Feb 1752 - Dr. Benjamin Rush opened the first hospital in America in Philadelphia PA. *
12 Feb 1776 - Gen. Henry know arrived outside Boston MA with cannon taken from Fort Ticonderoga. These cannon will later force the British troops to leave Boston. *
1778 - Engagement at Bruce Cross Roads NC.
13 Feb 1766 - Benjamin Franklin testified before the British Parliament about his stand on the Stamp Act. *
14 Feb 1779 - Engagement at Dorchester Neck MA
1779 - Engagement at Cherokee Ford SC.
1779 - Battle of Kettle Creek GA. # The Americans won. *
15 Feb 1726 - Abraham Clark was born in NJ. He signed the Declaration of Independence for New Jersey.
1782 - Engagement at Wanbaw Creek SC. #
16 Feb 1776 - Washington held a council-of-war and put cannon on Dorchester Heights outside Boston MA to threaten bombardment of Boston harbor and English ships. *
17 Feb 1777 - Lord North declared to King George III that as the Prime Minister of England he favored peace over war. *
18 Feb 1781 - Greene dispatched Lee's Virginia legion and Picken's South Carolina troops after Cornwallis. *
19 Feb 1775 - Congress adjournes to a nearby church in Philadelphia PA to hear eulogies for Gen. Richard Montgomery. *
20 Feb 1726 - Dr. William Prescott, the "Hero of Bunker Hill", was born in MA. *
1781 - Robert Morris became Superintendent of Finance for the United States.
21 Feb 1777 - "Mad" Anthony Wayne was promoted to Brigadier General. His nickname came from his attitude on the battlefield. *
22 Feb 1732 - George Washington was born at Bridge's Creek in Westmoreland Co., VA. *
23 Feb 1779 - George Rogers Clark crossed the Wabash River and took the town of Vincennes (in what is now Indiana). *
24 Feb 1779 - Clark discovered "The Hair Buyer" [a reference to scalps] Hamilton at Fort Sackville and sent him to Williamsburg VA for trial. *
25 Feb 1779 - Clark administered the Oath of Allegiance to French citizens of Vincesses and made them citizens of Virginia. *
1781 - Engagement at Haw River NC.
1781 - Pyles' Defeat NC. #
26 Feb 1775 - First forcible resistance at Salem MA. A British force sent there to sieze arms turned back when confronted by a group of armed citizens.
1779 - Engagement at Horseneck CT.
1776 - Washington gave orders to forbid games of chance by cards or dice in the army. *
27 Feb 1776 - Engagement in Moore's Creek Bridge NC. Americans stopped Scottish Highlanders from joining up with the British. *
1781 - Engagement at Wright Bluffs SC #
28 Feb 1780 - Catherine II of Russia declared "A State of Armed Neutrality" in alignment with Europe against England. *
29 Feb 1780 - Gen. Clinton set up British headquarters in Charleston SC. *
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