1. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1779 TO 1781By
Mr. Argall and Mr. Forbes

2. 1779 The war was dragging on for both sides and on many fronts
Northern theatre
Southern theatre
Frontier
Constant skirmishing between Colonial Forces and Loyalist/Native forces.
Indians sided with British (better treatment and odds to keep land)
Kept many colonists near home to fight, and not with the Colonial Army

3. 1779 Battles Elmira (Newtown), NY Small Indian town in Southern NY
John Sullivan (US)
Culminating Battle in a year long campaign (only one in the north) to break the power of the Iroquois Nation, and to deprive Britain of a possible ally.
Sullivan continued to raid and burn indian villiages throughout the frontier in 1779.

4. Savannah Things were picking up in the south
US sends General Laclan McIntosh to Georgia to meet with French Admiral Valerie D'estaing to take Savannah.
He lands on shore with no opposition
Could have taken the city easily, but they stop outside and ask for surrender
British respond by making fortifications
The Colonial attack is repelled, and they lose 800 of 5000 men in the fight, forcing them to retreat.

5. War at Sea US naval exploits are rare during this war John Paul Jones
Spent much of the war in France
Was given the Bonhomme Richard
Fought and won against the Serapis
“I have not yet begun to fight!”

6. A New Strategy
General Howe decides, in December of 1779, that the South was the best place to fight.
He thought there was more Loyalists in the South
He thought the Colonial Army was weaker there

7. Washington winters in Morristown, NJ
Why?
Easy to defend (Hills and swamps surround it)
Near the iron furnaces
Here he and his men face bad conditions and a mutiny.

8. 1780
General Clinton Sailed south in 1779, and arrives near Charleston on February 11th, 1780.
It takes a month for the British to get to Charleston, and they surround it when they do.
General Lincoln surrenders on May 12th, 1780.
5400 Colonials captured (the ENTIRE southern Colonial Army)
Worst defeat suffered by the Colonials the whole war.

9. We Need an Army…. QUICK! Winner of the Battle of Saratoga
Takes over in the spring of 1780
His army is very rag tag, consisting of mainly militia

10. The Battle of Camden Takes place near Camden August 16th, 1780
Swamps hem in both armies
Gates green troops break and run
1000 casualties
1000 captured
Gates had 3000 troops total!

11. The Battle of Springfield
North is generally quiet
British attempt to gain control of NJ by attacking Washington’s headquarters at Morristown.
Nathaniel Greene defends Springfield, defeating the British, and ending most of the fighting in the North.

12. Greene goes South
After Gates’ horrible defeat, Nathanael Greene is sent south to command the Colonial Troops.
He faces off against General Cornwallis
He reorganizes the army and uses its advantages… for the next 6 months.

13. Greene’s six month campaign
He wants to draw Cornwallis away from his supply and power bases
Goads Cornwallis to follow him inland, where his soldiers have the advantages of knowing the land and having support from the locals
Cornwallis unwittingly follows with 9000 men to try and destroy Greene’s army…

14. Battle of the Cowpens January 17th, 1781
Near the Border of N and S Carolina
Daniel Morgan (US)
Banastre Tarleton (UK)
Morgan uses a strategy based on the defeat at Camden to rout the British forces

15. Battle of Guilford Courthouse
March 15, 1781
North Carolina
Cornwallis vs. Greene
For months, Greene had been leading Cornwallis on a chase throughout Virginia
He chooses to make a stand at Guilford Courthouse
Cornwallis wins, but only because Greene chooses to retreat.
Cornwallis does not follow Greene, instead he chooses to go on towards Virginia, and the ocean…

16. YORKTOWN
Corwallis decides on Yorktown as the place for him to rest and resupply.
Washington and the French hurriedly march south to meet him.
The French fight at sea for the Americans, ans succeed in blockading Cornwallis on Sept 5-8.
The siege began on September 28th, and ended on October 17th.
Cornwallis and his army are captured, ending the war.

17. The Aftermath
1782
Parliament gives King George III permission to seek peace with the colonies
Lord North resigns as Prime Minister
1783
February 4th is the official end of hostilities
Britian recognizes the USA as a country
September 3rd the Treaty of Paris is signed