Prescott planned to fortify Bunker Hill in order to disrupt British maneuvers and provide area defense. However, for reasons unknown Prescott and over 1200 of his men moved past Bunker Hill and fortified a hill even closer to the British encampment, Breed’s Hill. “That morning the Colonists frantically worked to build a fortification, a redoubt, and a rail fence that extended from the hill to the shore.”1 The British soon noticed the structure, and at 0200 British sentries notified General Howe of the activities. However, like General Gage, Howe regarded the Colonists’ militia as an undisciplined and untrained group of amateurs. So he dismissed the actions of the Colonists and did not immediately notify Gage. Howe’s failure to report the Colonists’ activities serves as Gage’s first mistake in the operations process of mission command. Gage rightfully viewed his army and navy as superior to the Colonists’ militia in every way. He knew the British military had hundreds of years experience at war, were uncontested at sea, had conquered two continents, and were better armed. He also knew the Colonists had little experience at war, no naval force, and limited arms and munitions. In consideration of these facts Gage did not recognize the Colonists as a viable threat. Moreover, he completely underestimated the power of their resolve as well as their capabilities. Subsequently, he didn’t feel the need to create Commander’s
The Battle of Trenton marked a decisive victory for the Colonial Army that helped to solidify the American people in fighting for independence from Great Britain. General Washington was able to leverage available human and counter-intelligence to gain the upper hand and defeat the Hessian force garrisoned in the town. Had Washington not acted on the intelligence available at the time, it is possible that the Colonial cause would not have lasted though that winter. This paper will analyze the two forces that took part in the battle and describe how each side used, or failed to use available intelligence. Additionally, it will postulate alternate outcome should Washington not have acted on the information available.
As the army proceeded south, Burgoyne had his men distribute a proclamation that, along with other things, included the statement "I have but to give stretch to the Indian forces under my direction, and they amount to thousands," which implied that Britain's enemies would be under attack from Native Americans that are allies with the British. More than any other act during the campaign, this threat and after widely reported cruelties such as the scalping of Jane McCrea made Americans do whatever it took to make sure that the threat did not become reality. Instead of heading north to help Burgoyne fight the rebels in Saratoga, General Howe sailed south and embarked on a campaign to capture Philadelphia. The American forces at Fort Ticonderoga recognized that once the British mounted artillery on high ground near the fort, Ticonderoga would be unprotected. A retreat from the Fort was ordered, and the Americans floated troops, cannon, and supplies across Lake Champlain to Mount Independence. From there the army set out for Hubbardton where the British and German troops caught up with them and fought. Burgoyne continued his march towards Albany, but on his way something
The Battle of Trenton is widely regarded as a turning point in the American Revolutionary War. With enlistments in the Continental Army about to expire at the end of the year, General George Washington risked everything in harsh winter conditions to advance across the Delaware River and execute a surprise attack on Hessian troops in Trenton, N.J. An evaluation of the moments that led up to the battle, the setting, area of operations, the Continental and Opposing forces, along with the use of intelligence will reveal the major factors that led to the outcome of the battle. An analysis of the battle will illustrate how Washington devised an offensive plan that demonstrated many of the principles of war still utilized in military operations today.
Some people may wonder why George Washington was chosen to serve as a commander during this war. “In 1753, Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia ordered a young, ambitious 21-year old George Washington on mission deep into the Ohio Country to confront the French.”(“Mount Vernon”1) Because of his ambition to confront the French he was well respected all over and proved himself to be chosen as the commander for the war.
The Continental Army’s choice of George Washington as their leader of the continental army was critical in ensuring the United States’ victory. While many in the colonies wanted freedom from Britain that was not the case for everyone. Individuals’ motives were largely location dependant. The Battle of Saratoga proved to be pivotal in ensuring the United States’ victory against British forces.
Shortly after George Washington becoming chief, Britain's General Gage a discreet plan to send out British soldiers to Lexington April 19th, 1775, where their goal was to capture Colonial leaders such as John Hancock and leader Samuel Adams, then to concord, where they would have to seize all gunpowder. Fortunately friends of the Americans leaked Gage’s plan to the people. Two
The battle of Yorktown was an accidental battle. George Washington was wanting to attack New York with the French fleet. But he found out that the French fleet was sailing for Chesapeake Bay. Washington set up some large brick bread ovens and a large camp to make the British think that Washington’s army was planning on staying. Then Washington let false plans fall into British hands to make them think that Washington was planning an attack. With French general Rochambeau sailing down the river, the French fleet sailing for Chesapeake Bay and Marquis De Lafayette keeping Cornwallis holed up in Yorktown General Washington planned to meet with Rochambeau and Lafayette hoping that the French fleet would be blockading Cornwallis from escape. Clinton
The Battle of Bemis Heights was the second battle of what is commonly referred to as the Battle of Saratoga. “The Battle of Saratoga is one of the fifteen most decisive battles in the history of the world” (Creasy, 1851). This paper will provide an in depth battle analysis of the Battle of Bemis Heights and explain why the battle had such an impact. First, the paper will define the battle in terms of who was involved, when the battle was fought, and where the battle took place. Next, the setting of the battle will be examined and the opposing forces will be compared. The third thing will be a description of the action that occurred to include the opening moves, key events, the outcome, and the effects the outcome had on the overall result of the American Revolutionary War. The last thing to be addressed in this paper will be a possible alternative outcome to the battle.
The men look to their leaders for guidance and motivation. The people of America looked up to George Washington because of his military knowledge and his keen and sneaky tactics. General George Washington learned that Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis' army was encamped near Yorktown, VA. After discussing options with his French ally, Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Ponton de Rochambeau, Washington decided to quietly move his army away from New York City with the goal of capturing and making a blockade around Cornwallis' force. General Cornwallis. The French and American men are to siege and contain the surrounding area until either death or surrender by the British.
The American Revolution began in 1765 and ended in 1783 with the signing of a peace treaty, which confirmed the separation from the British Empire. The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge lessons learned from the American siege that took place in Yorktown, Virginia, known as the Battle of Yorktown. The battle between the Franco-American forces and British Army began September 28, 1781 and lasted until the British surrender in October 19, 1781. In order to best do this, we must first get an understanding of the intended purpose of the battle, the Franco-American cooperation, events leading up to the battle, the battle itself, and the aftermath.
Three things that I found interesting on this site were the fact that gaining control of Philadelphia ultimately ended up being a setback for the British, an image of a Hessian map, and General Howe’s reasoning behind resigning during the war. The irony that this article talks about the British gaining control over Philadelphia shocked me greatly. This site talks about how during the Philadelphia campaign in 1777 the British were hoping to capture Philadelphia in hopes of capturing Congress and ending the rebellion. The reason that occupying Philadelphia proved to be a great consequence for the British army is, because this pulled General Howe’s support and aide away from
Washington took away that fear when he launched the attack on Hessian troops. He followed up this victory by a win at Princeton. Next, he was forced to fight a battle that he knew he would lose. The British navy took over Philadelphia at the battle of Brandywine Creek. Washington’s militia was strengthened in October, when General Gates won at Saratoga, New York. In the spring of 1778, good news arrived when the French decided to send money, troops, and a fleet to help the colonies. When the British heard the news they decided to consolidate their position to New York and New Jersey. In the time period between 1778 and 1781 Washington kept the British army concealed to New York City. At the time he faced a variety of disappointments by losing the battles of Brooklyn Heights, Kip’s Bay, Harlem Heights, and White Plains.
Major General Nathanael Greene and Major General John Sullivan were two men serving under General Washington. They were both marching with Washington on December 26, 1776. Washington's plan of attack was to split his army into two groups in order to surround the Hessians. He and Major General Nathanael Greene would enter from the north, while Major General John Sullivan would enter Trenton from the south. Greene and Sullivan followed the plan, and the Hessians were completely taken by surprise. Both Generals moved into a position to surround the Hessians. Many soldiers started to abandon their artillery, so the Americans captured the abandoned artillery and used it to their advantage.
Benjamin Franklin presented the “Albany Plan” in an effort to help the colonies win the war. This plan suggested the unification of the colonies.