Jamaica Pass: A Summary

He positioned his trained infantrymen on top of the first hill as the last line of defense. The militia was placed in front of the hill and the sharpshooters were place in front of the militia. The militia was the first line of defense and Morgan ordered his sharpshooter to target specifically the officers and cavalry and fall back in the line of militia before they get in firing range of the redcoats. Once the sharpshooter gets in position with the militia the British army advanced the attack the militia. The militia’s duties were to engage the redcoats for a short amount of then run away to the right side of the side of the hill. Tarleton expected the militia to run away. He sent one infantry unit and one cavalry unit after the militia. However, waiting behind the second hill was Lieutenant Colonel William Washington and his dragoon unit. The British cavalry didn’t expect to encounter another cavalry unit. Washington wiped out the Tarleton’s cavalry then flanked the right of Tarleton’s main element. Simultaneously, the militia ran around the hills to flank the left side. Tarleton found himself in a double envelopment. Tarleton receives 110 casualties, 229 wounded and 829 captured or missing, meanwhile Morgan suffered 25 casualties and 124

The observation and fields of fire favored the Franco-American forces. They were prepared to conduct reconnaissance on the British to gather intelligence that was useful in their attacks. They were able to destroy, neutralize, and suppress the enemy with effective artillery bombardments. The Franco-American troops were also able to occupy the abandoned redoubts, which helped establish fire superiority. The British were able to fire artillery in retaliation but fell short in accomplishing large amounts of damages. As the British crossed the river into Gloucester, they suffered a high number of casualties at the hands of the cannon batteries. At this point in the battle, Cornwallis did not have enough ammunition or supplies and

Lieutenant John Barker wrote what happened in this event into his personal diary, in which he would have no reason to bend the truth. He wrote “...but on our coming near them they fired one or two shots, upon which our men without any orders rushed in upon them, fired, and put ‘em to flight”(2). Barker is saying that while the British troops were marching toward the colonists, the colonists fired one or two shots at the British troops, which them without any orders fired back. This seems very logical and it makes sense when you compare it to the other evidence. Major John Pitcairn’s evidence which was an official report of his activities sent to General Gage “I instantly called to the soldiers to not fire...some of the rebels who had jumped over the wall, fired four or five shott at the soldiers”(7). Pitcairn is saying that some colonists fired upon his troops, which then fired back at the colonists, all while he was ordering them to not fire. Both of the British evidence is quite similar and that bodes well for the reliability of these sources. Another piece of evidence saying that the Americans fired first is George Leonard, who was a British sympathizer, also said that the Americans fired first “...asked the wounded person what was the matter with him, he answered that the Regulars had shot him...some people fired upon the Regulars and they fell on us like Bull Dogs and killed eight and wounded nineteen”(5).

Washington fires the first shot with a mortar hitting a house with British soldiers eating starting the siege. Cornwallis had to rely on his ten forts called redoubts to defend Yorktown. General Washington knew he had to take out redoubts nine and ten in order to get close enough to attack Cornwallis. On one moonless night with Jupiter and Venus glowing brightly 400 French soldiers attacked redoubt nine while 400 (with one soldier thinking it was the signal to attack) American soldiers attacked redoubt ten. In an attempt to turn the tide Cornwallis sent the British army to attack the nearest allied troops in an attempt to spike (to take a spike usually made of iron pounded into the hole where the fuse in the cannon goes requiring the army to have to drill it out damaging the weapon) or fill the cannons with dirt rendering them useless until the cannons can be cleaned. The attack was doomed form the start, and the British were pushed back after a brief battle, and the allied army shortly repaired the cannons and put them back into the fight. After a few days of fighting the Cornwallis ran away to hide in Yorktown’s cave. Not really inspiring for the British army to have their general run and hide in a cave for that is very embarrassing for a

As the British advanced in columns against the Americans in an effort to save the Americans limited supply of ammunition, it is said he ordered his men, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” When the Redcoats were within several dozen yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, throwing the British into

At about five o’clock in the morning,an unknown participant fired the first shot,and then all Boston fortified against the American patriots.(McGill 1)After Americans espied as many as 40 boats or barges coming over,full of troops.(Grayson 40)British Lieutenant General Thomas Gage planned to fortify the hills on Dorchester Heights,south of Boston.(James Kirby 1)The bloodiest battle of the American Revolutionary War started.(James Kirby 1)

On June 17, 1778 Clinton began his march. His force consisted of 10,000 troops, which were accompanied, and hampered by, swarms of Tory refugees. The Tories turned out to be an incredible nuisance to Sir Clinton as he marched toward New York. The excessive amounts of baggage, and the poor wagons used to carry said baggage, slowed the progress of the British Regulars to, at times, nine miles a day. This being said, the baggage train exceeded twelve miles in length. It is possible that one could have sat in the same spot for an entire day and never seen the end of this incredibly slow, incredibly long, and incredibly vulnerable procession.

Lieutenant John Barker, a young British officer, writes in his diary ”...but on our coming near them they fired one or two shots upon which our men without any orders, rushed in upon them, fired and put ‘em to flight” (Document 2). People who have a diary generally do not share them with their friends or family and they keep it to themselves, so this seems like his diary is an actual log of what happened. The official report of Major John Pitcairn commander of the British soldiers at Lexington Green said ”...rebels who had jumped the wall, fired four to five shott at the soldiers” (Document 7). The level of detail in the captain’s report makes it seem more realistic in that the colonists’ rushed and shot the soldiers, consequently it also seems like he had time to think of something to counteract if his men did shoot first. The British had a detailed argument that makes it difficult to decide, making ponder between which side to

The Regulars (British) were defending themselves from losing their men, they also wanted to keep going with their march, and they thought their opponent (Americans) were going to start firing at

Both sides were armed with muskets,and bayonets and many men carried rifled weapons. Americans suffered around 1000 casualties including 300 killed. 1000 were captured which means americans were suffering more. British only had 350 casualties and sixty four captured.The battle showed both sides would not

The Next Morning, the Americans were pointing cannons and guns at the British on top of the hill. General William Howe, the leader of the British troops, chose to

The American Army surrounded the British soldiers at Breed’s Hill, an area overlooking Boston. Americans were ordered not to fire “Until you see the whites of their eyes”.

The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court House (modern Freehold Borough).

Did the Americans or the British shoot first? That is just a matter of opinion. Some people say that the British shot first. Others say that the Colonist shot first. I personally think the Colonist shot first. Since we ambushed the British, that means we had to of shot first. The Colonist shot at the British. That is how the war started.

Why do you think no one shoot at the British when the British fired at them?