The Battles
Introduction
• Lasting seven years, the American Revolution was decided through
the successes and failures of several important battles.
• Each side, British and America had their own advantages they
would use to try and win the war.
– British:
• More guns, supplies, money and soldiers
• Experienced in classical warfare
– Americans
• Huge motivation fueled by protecting homes and freedoms
• Knowledge of land led to guerilla warfare tactics
• With much help from foreign allies such as the French, America
would eventually defeat the British and gain its independence
Scenario 1:
Battle of Gentry and Lange
Having recently exchanged fire with the British and being forced to
retreat, you and your colonial army have regrouped and are planning
your next movement. In the initial battle, you lost ten out of your sixty
men, causing your men to feel angry and seek retaliation. On the bright
side, word has spread across the country side about the British attack and
people from all of the surrounding towns are rallying to your cause. You
expect another 900 civilian but untrained men to join you in your battle
with the British. Your intelligence has reported that there are
approximately 700 battle hardened, experienced British Red Coats
retreating from the city of Wabash and returning to their base in
Broadway. You have also been informed that the route they are taking
takes them through the woods south of Ash which you and your men are
very familiar. What is your plan of action?
3
4
Scenario 2:
Battle of Chapel Hill
The British have successfully captured the important sea port of
Broadway, the capital of your colony. You have managed to scrape
together a militia of 2,000 untrained but armed colonial civilians and
ordered them to surround the city. After several days of attacks, your
army has run dangerously on ammunition. Broadway is festering with
well over 4,000 British troops trained and are prepared to fight at a
moment’s notice. Your informants within Broadway have notified you
that the British are planning an attack north of Broadway to split the
colonial army in two. Knowing that you are outnumbered but that you
need to retake the city, you must decide where you are going to deploy
your troops to battle the British. In the area where the British are
planning their attack, you have a small creek running into the city, a
dense and inaccessible forest, a hill over-looking the city and an open
field. What is your plan of action?
5
6
The Battle of Bunker Hill
• After the events of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts
Minutemen surround Boston and are attacked by the British
• Severely unsupplied and running out of ammunition, the Colonists
took position on Bunker Hill to gain an advantage.
– Colonel William Prescott: “Don’t fire ‘till you see the whites in their
eyes”
• After much fighting, the Colonists were forced
to retreat and surrender Bunker Hill
• Casualties:
– Britain= over 1000
– Colonial=400
• Significance: Though they lost the battle, the
Colonists proved they could stand up to the
British
Scenario 3:
Battle of Smithton
The revolution has been dragging on for about a year, but major
conflicts have been decreased due to the bitterly cold winters. Your
troops, injured, ill and starving have threatened to desert the army. In
order to keep your troops from abandoning the cause, you need a major
victory to boost morale. Several miles from your fort, a group of
German mercenaries (hired soldiers) employed by the British are
celebrating Christmas. These mercenaries are battle hardened and welltrained but are only fighting for the money. To attack them directly
might destroy what is left of your crumbling army but would be less
taxing on your men. The other option is to take a route avoiding their
defenses but that would force you to march for miles out of your way
and to cross an ice-filled river. You are nearly out of supplies and will
have only one shot at attacking this British fort. What is your plan of
action?
8
9
Battle of Trenton
• The British took control of New York City early in the
war; began marching on New Jersey
• Needing a victory to motivate his troops, Washington
planned a sneak attack on a fort in Trenton, NJ on Dec.
26 1776
– The Patriots used the night to hide their movements and
crossed the Delaware River undetected
– As 900 German mercenaries (soldier for hire) slept,
Washington attacked and captured the fort and everyone
in it; lost only two men
• Significance: Motivated the colonists to continue
fighting the British when many were giving up hope
Scenario 4:
Battle of Providence
With the war dragging on for its second year; the English Redcoats and
the Colonial militia are frustrated by their lack of accomplishments.
Your troops are hunkered down near the small town of Providence,
recuperating after a long day of marching. Your army needs rest and
supplies to continue sustaining the revolution. You have received
information from the local townspeople that the British army has
knowledge of your location near Providence. The townspeople also
inform you that they out number you and well trained in European
strategy. The British have begun to move toward your position outside
of Providence. You realized this while your camp is still lively, with
campfires burning. You must take action quickly and lure the British
into a trap. How do you ensure the safety of your army and use your
knowledge of the British troop movements to gain an advantage? What
is your plan of action?
11
12
PSYCH!!
Got Ya!!
Battle of Princeton
• Using his spy network, Washington learned that the
British were marching to attack the Continental Army
• Washington ordered his men to build huge fires
giving away their position and then hid in the woods
• When the British arrived, they attack toward the
fires, find no soldiers and are then surrounded by the
Colonists
– In all, 300 British soldiers were captured and Princeton was
taken under Colonial control
• Significance: Shows the effectiveness of America’s
spying network, another major blow to the British
Scenario 5:
Battle of Hinkson Creek
With constant threat of total annihilation by a superior, well trained
British army; the colonies’ Continental Army must have a decisive
victory against the British to continue the Revolution. The other
European powers have their eyes trained on these rag-tag, poorly trained
rebel colonists have what it takes to defeat the world’s most powerful
army. You are currently stationed surrounding the city of Creasy
Springs where the Continental Congress is located. You have just
received a letter informing you that a large battalion of British soldiers
are making its way south from Canada to cut off New England from the
rest of the colonies. You know that there is a small group of colonists
trying to defend New England from this Canadian invasion. At the same
time, Creasy Springs is being a threatened by another large British
battalion heading toward the city. You have to make a choice, save the
capital of the colonies and the continental congress or save the upper
colonies from total obliteration. You need to send your troops
somewhere. If you head north, you know that the British general is
dragging his feet through the densely packed forest while around the14
capital it is clear of trees. What is your plan of action?
15
The turning point: The Battle of
Saratoga
• The British had two goals to defeat the colonists
– Separate New England from the rest of the colonies
– Capture Philadelphia (Unofficial capital of the colonies)
• British Generals William Howe and John Burgoyne plan
to join their troops to split New England away from the
other colonies
– While moving to meet with Burgoyne’s army, Howe learns
Philadelphia is undefended and decides to attack
– Washington purposefully left Philadelphia undefended to
draw Howe in, blocks Howe’s movement North
• Burgoyne’s army is captured, biggest victory to date
Burgoyne
We’re Saved!!!!!
Washington
Gates
Howe
The turning point: The Battle of
Saratoga
• Significance: The victory
at Saratoga convinced
France to join on the
colonial side; considered
the key to Colonial victory
• The French provide:
– Money, Guns, Soldiers
– Generals like Marquis de
Lafayette
– Most importantly: A Navy
The turning point: The Battle of
Saratoga
– Valley Forge
• Washington’s troops
set up Winter Camp
at Valley Forge
• General Fredrick von
Steuben joined the
Americans after their
victory
• Trained Washington’s
men into experienced
soldiers
– Also introduced the
bayonet
Scenario 6:
Battle of Georgetown
As the war draws to a close, you and your troops have surrounded the
city of Georgetown, the last stronghold of the British Army. The British
military inside are battle hardened experience soldiers, but morale is low
as they sense their certain defeat. Just outside of Georgetown, the
powerful British navy quickly approaches to resupply and attack the
colonial army. Unlike in most battles, your army outnumbers that of the
British and your men can sense victory is just within their reach. Despite
the high morale, the Continental Army is preparing for a long drawn out
battle or siege. You gain an advantage when your troops gain access to a
small navy to help combat the British forces. Making this task even
more difficult, the Continental Army is badly in need of more supplies
and ammunition. You have secured the towns and land surrounding
Georgetown and must develop a plan to force the British surrender
before the British Navy arrives.
20
What is your plan of action?
21
The War Ends: Battle of Yorktown and
the Treaty of Paris
• The war continues for five more years until there is one
British general left to defeat: General Charles Cornwallis
• Washington surrounded Cornwallis in Yorktown attacked
the British there for 18 days
• British ships try to bring reinforcements to help
Cornwallis, but are blocked by the French navy from
entering the Chesapeake Bay
– On October 18th,Cornwallis surrenders and the war ends
• Significance: The French help the colonists defeat the last
remaining British General and the war will soon be over
Rochambeau
Washington
Cornwallis
Yorktown
British Navy
French Navy
The War Ends: Battle of Yorktown and
the Treaty of Paris
• The Treaty of Paris
official ends the war
between Britain and
America
• The treaty…:
– Makes Britain recognize
America’s independence
– Gives America all the
land south of the Great
Lakes and East of the
Mississippi River