Key Battles And Campaigns In 1776-77 Flashcards
What happens at New York in 1776 ?
1. Washington
2. Battle
New York is 2729
- Washington over 20k men and NY seemed irrelevant to capture considering British navy made indefensible however he was forced by Congress
- Battle of Long Island 27 August 1776: Howe defeats Ams who suffered 2k casualties 6 times British level
- demoralising to American morale and reduced number of colonial soldiers
- However, Howe inertia allowed for Washington to withdraw his army overnight on the 29 August
- Howe wanted peace instead of continuing his momentum but the delectation of independence ended his attempt at
The 1776 American retreat following the losses at Rhode Island ?
Mid September Howe lands at Kips Bay, Mahattent
- Washington forced to withdraw and Howe did not attack the fortified American positions preferring to attempt to shift the flank
- Washington retreated across New Jersey
16 November Fort Washington captured by Britian
- 300 Americans taken prisoners as well as weaponry and supplies seized
- forced to retreat for the next six weeks and many milita men returned home so Washington crossed the Delaware with only 3000 troops
What was Lord Howes proclamation ?
Offered those who swore allegiance to the king a pardon
- thousands applied
What happened in December 1776?
1. What did Brit take
2. American feeling
British forces took Newport Rhode Island
Washington wrote ‘ I think the game is pretty nearly up’
Trenton and Princeton ? In the winter of 1776-77
Include- Howes inertia, Delaware
Howe decide to not take Philadelphia
- could have easily take it but he disregarded the opportunity
- Gave Washington time to regroup; reinforced by milita units and Washington then crossed the Delaware with 1600 men on 25 December
Surprise attack across the Delaware
- Attacked the unsuspecting garrison at Trenton, New Jersey, on 26 December capturing 1000 prisoners suffering only 4 casualties
- took Princeton 3 January 1777
What was the effect of taking Princeton and Trenton ?
Effect
- forced Howe to relay ish his gains in New Jersey
- Breathed a fresh life into American cause
- Washington took qauter at Morristown to rebuild his army
- ended British hopes of rallying Loyalists in New Jersey
- Washington managed to avoid the reinforcements under General Cornwallis
Why did Howe not take Philadelphia ?
Unconventional to campaign in the winter and he wanted to ensure the men were in secure accommodation
What happens to Washington’s strategy in the winter of 1777 when taking quarter in Morristown ?
- realised the need to adopt a defensive strategy
- realised to win the war he simply had to not lose and therefore not gamble his army away
- simply wouldn’t compete on equal terms
- main plan to preserve his army but harass Howe
What were the British plans by early 1777?
Situation looked alright
- Canada secure, NY captured and by 1777 Britian had to large army in North America with NY under Howe and Canada with Burgoyne
HOWEVER
Burgoyne aimed to drive down the Hudson River and capture Philadelphia which meant coordinated operation became two separate campaigns
Explain the capture of Philadelphia in 1777?
1. Howes action
2. Defeat
3. British success
4. Defeat
- Howe took his 16k army by sea in July to Philly and landed at Chesapeake bay (barely 64km closer)
11 September
- Howe defeated Washington at Brandywine Creek Americans loosing 1200 Brit only 600
26 September Howe takes Philly
- Major triumph but it held no strategic value apart from symbolic and Washington was still commanding a force
4 October Germantown
- failed attack by Washington but demonstrated bravery and determination
What does Howe do in the winter of 1777-78?
He forced an American evacuation from forts along the Delaware driver allowing for British naval support
- did not attack Washington instead he spent the winter in Philly and didn’t win a decisive victory
What happens in Canada at a similar time to Howes movement of troops to Philadelphia ?
Burgoyne started a campaign
- 9k men sailed down Lake Champlain and recaptured Ticonderoga in early July
- instead of going via roads to Fort Edward he went through inhospitable terrain
- enourmois baggage train found movement hard and were pestered by locals and milita
- 3 weeks to cover 37km to Fort Edward
What did Burgoyne hope for but not receive after reaching fort Edward ?
Loyalist support
- he had created rebels out of Burrell Americans by choosing the Natives as an ally
- the murder and scalping of Jane Mcrea alienated those sympathetic to Britain
What did Burgoyne spend the next six months after reaching Fort Edward doing ?
- 600 troops captured or killed at Bennginton in mid August
- divisonary force of 1600 Brits and Iroquois joined Burgoyne but the natives abandoned the fight
What happens with Saratoga ?
I heard 197s Saratoga
pressed into Albany
- Americans ready
- Mid August Horatio Gates replaced General Schuyler as commander of northern forces and they prepared defensive position north of Albany
- Americans had success which encouraged NE militia to join Gates and by September they had 7000 forces ( same size as Burgoyne)
19 September 1777
- two forces clash at Fremantle farm but neither won
- Burgoyne 320km from Canada needed supplies but Clinton had began to move North giving him hope
7 October 1777
- Burgoyne attacked American forces at Bemis Heights
- failed and Burgoyne lost another 400 men
- retreated back to Saratoga and was forced to surrdener leaving his 5895 troops to lay down arms and march to Boston
Why did Clinton not march north ?
Could have marched earlier considering the threat from NY was miner and he only left on the 3 October with 3k men
What was the effect of Saratoga ?
- great morale booster
- Howe write to resign after hearing of Burgoynes surrender
- Upon hearing the news Lord North explored terms of surrender
- lead to the entry of France and Spain into the war
