Phase II:
NY & PA
[1776-1778]
New York City in Flames
(1776)
11:15
Defeat in New York
August/Sept 1776—Largest land
invasion in American history and
biggest attack on NYC until 9/11
British outnumber Patriots 2-1
British chased colonists out of NY,
through NJ and finally across the
Delaware to Pennsylvania
3000 Patriot POWS held in British
prison ships (HMS Jersey, nicknamed
hell)
GW’s first defeat
Battle of Trenton
BRI planned to crush rebellion by
force (More troops the better)
British troops and German Hessians
had stationed themselves in N.J.
G.W. was across the Delaware River
and saw a chance to catch BRI off
guard
Planned a surprise attack on
Christmas 1776
Battle of Trenton
Patriot victory
Hessians surrender
U.S. takes 868 prisoners without
losing a life
Saratoga:
“Turning Point”
of the War?
Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne (BRI) vs. Horatio Gates/Benedict
Arnold (U.S.)
FIRST MAJOR AMERICAN VICTORY IN THE
REV
BRI attempted to split middle colonies from
NE (take control of Hudson river)
But, Burgoyne was slow on the roll due to
the American wilderness, his heavy load and
dealing with guerilla fights attacking generals
BRI surrounded by colonists
Turning point as it led to other European
nations declaring war on Britain
21
Valley Forge
GW greatest challenge was keeping the
Continental Army together
Terrible winter
25:22
Valley Forge
Inoculation (small pox)
Arrival of Baron Von Steuben and Marquis de
Lafayette to train and discipline soldiers
25:22
Serapis Battle
John Paul Jones (Father of the American
Navy)
Took on the British ship Serapis
Tied boats together and engaged in handto-hand combat
“I have not yet begun to fight”
U.S. victory
Two burials—1792 (alone in France)
Exhumed in 1905 (still recognizable face)
Buried again with full military honors in
Annapolis, Maryland
Benedict Arnold Becomes Traitor
Benedict Arnold never felt his nation’s gratitude
and felt a sense of betrayal at lack of promotions
He was injured at the Battle of Saratoga and while
he lay in the hospital, Horatio Gates took credit for
Saratoga
After he recovered, he was unfairly convicted on
and reprimanded for two misdemeanor counts of
dereliction of duty
GW granted him control of West Point
Arnold plotted to sell it to the British for 20,000
pounds (3mill today)
Major Andre was intercepted with plans
Culper Spy Ring were tipped off and credited with
the capture
Arnold escaped
Andre hanged, Arnold erased from military
records
American
Intelligence
in the War for
Independence
“There is nothing more necessary than
good intelligence to frustrate a designing
enemy, and nothing that requires greater
pains to obtain.”
George Washington
Essential Question:
To what extent did
espionage and
intelligence aid the
colonists in the
American Revolution?
“The Mechanics”
• 1st known intelligence network in the
colonies (for the Patriot side)
– Also known as the Liberty Boys
• Sprung from the Sons of Liberty that
had grown in opposition to the Stamp
Act
• Surveyed British troop movements
and known Tories
• Stole British supplies and sabotaged
their fortifications
Famous Mechanics
• Paul Revere: in civilian life, a silversmith
and engraver
– As a Mechanic, acted in gathering
information and as a courier
• Dr. Joseph Warren: a physician and
later a major general for the Continental
Army
– Was set to observe British troop
movements
• Dr. Benjamin Church: physician, active
member of Sons of Liberty
– Turned out to be treasonous and
jeopardized nearly all of the activities of the
spy ring
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
• Becoming suspicious about British troop
activity, Revere designed a system to warn the
patriots about an impending attack
• A single lantern would be lit in the belfry of the
Old North Church if the troops decided to attack
Concord by land
• Two would be lit if the attack would come across
the Charles River
The Spy Master
• Not only the father of our
country, Washington proved
to be the father of our
country’s spy system
• Washington deployed
numerous spies throughout
the colonies during the war,
valuing the information
that they could provide him
• He oversaw the vast
network that was created,
thus establishing himself as
the “spymaster”
The Culper Ring
• Great success and influence on
modern espionage
• Very secretive
– Even Washington did not know all their
true identities
• Created when Washington sent a letter
to Benjamin Tallmadge in 1778, asking
him to create a spy network in British
held New York City
– In it, he urges “Culper Jr.” (Robert
Townsend) to remain in the employ of a
newspaper and dry goods store