1759-------- French & Indian War, George Washington, Colonel at
27. 1765 ------- British Parliament passes Stamp Act taxing colonists.Sons
of Liberty, secret societies formed, protest taxes, tax agents attacked
1766------- Angered colonists rejoice as Parliament repeals StampAct.
1767-------- British enact taxing tea & other imports, make colonist
leaders servants of the king, instead of local people, angers colonists.
1768-------- British ships arrive Boston harbor due to colonial rioting
1770-03-05 "Boston Massacre" British soldiers shoot 6 patriots,5
die 1773-12-16 "Boston Tea Party" Colonists disguised as
Indians dump tea from British ships into Boston harbor, protesting taxes
by British.
1774-------- New England colonies ban slavery, refuse ships w/slaves
1774-09-05 First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia-12 states 1774-10-24
"Edenton Tea Party" in NC, 51 women signed Penelope Barker's
declaration against English tea to have their say.
1775-03-23 Patrick Henry gave "liberty or death" speech
VA convn. 1775-04-19 Paul Revere's famous ride during night warned towns
of British march on Concord to seize Am. arms & equipment.
1775-04-19 He warned John Hancock & Samuel Adams to flee; they spoke
against British who wanted them taken. Revere had spy ring called, Mechanics,
made of tradesmen. One, B.Church also Brit. spy.
1775-04-19 Gen.Tms. Gage began march 2a.m. to Concord with 1700 1775-04-19
Battle of Lexington & Concord won by Minutemen. Shot heard round
the world not known if fired by British or Am. Prudence Wright &
women of Groton MA, dressed as men, captured Brit.Capt. at Jewett's Bridge
with papers in boot, that proved important to Am.
1775-05-10 Ethan Allen's Green Mount. Boys took Ft. Ticonderoga. 1775-05-10
2nd Continental Congress met in Philadelphia -13 states. 1775-05-20 Mecklenburg
Declaration of Independence signed in NC 1775-06-17 Battle
of Bunker Hill outside Boston, British victorious, but had 3 times the casualties
of Gen.Wm. Heath's militia.
1775-07-03 George Washington
made Am. Army head at Cambridge. 1775-09-14 Ft Johnson SC taken by Am. Swamp
Fox Francis Marion 1775-11-12 Gen. Rich. Montgomery took Montreal,Can.
from British
1775-12-13 Congress realized an armed naval force needed to protect
Atlantic coastal cities, as privately owned ships,"privateers,"
merely makeshift protection. Following suggestions of a Virginia planter
and former English seaman, John Paul Jones, 13 frigates ordered built. 4
private ships, chosen by Jones, were purchased and fitted for battle. Esek
Hopkins made commander of American navy. Lt. John Barry, on Lexington,
captured first British ship, the Edward. Harassing of English
navy urged to deter capture of Am. merchant ships and ports.
1775-12-31 Gens. Benedict Arnold & Rich.Montgomery defeated at Quebec
after long siege; was last effort to control Canada in the war. 1776-01--- Thomas Paine's
pamphlets, "Common Sense," inspired idea for complete independence
and "Crisis" needed reenlistments. 1776-02-27 1000 patriots
or Whigs defeated Scottish Tories [for Eng.] at Moore's Creek SC. Shortly
after, NC voted for independence. 1776-03-17 British evacuate Boston.
1776-06-07 Henry Lee introduced resolution in Congress calling for complete
American independence from England.
1776-06-11 Continental Congress appointed a 5-man commission to write
a declaration, Thomas Jefferson made Chrm. to draft document.
1776-06-28 British attacking Ft Moultrie, Charleston, NC driven off.
1776-06-29 British Gen William Howe brought troops to NY harbor. 1776-07----
New Millford, CN enlistments for 1-year of army service 1776-07-04
Congress adopted Declaration of Independence, 56 sign. 1776-07-12 Admiral
Rich. Howe, Will's brother, arrived N Y harbor. 1776-08-01 British
Generals. Sir Henry Clinton &
Lord Charles Cornwallis arrived in New York harbor with 3000 troops.
1776-08-27 Am. caught in crossfire Battle of Long
Island, 1000 died. 1776-08-29 Washington retreats to Brooklyn Heights,
with back to E. River, where Brit. gunboats could have surrounded and captured
Am. army, except a strong north wind stopped sailing ships going up river.
All during night Wash. ordered camp fires kept burning, while army was carried
across river to Manhattan on every small boat available; heavy morning fog
covered last soldiers & horses from being seen, as a "Dunkirk"
event which saved the Am. army, or might be no U.S.A.
1776-09-14 Nathan Hale, Am. spy, crossed to Long Is. from Norwalk 1776-09-16
Washington's troops won Battle - Harlem Heights by NY 1776-09-21 Nathan
Hale captured, plans found on him, ordered hung. 1776-09-22
Nathan Hale , before hung as a spy
by British in NYC said, "I only regret that I have but one life to
lose for my country."
1776-10-11 Arnold fleet stop British entering Canada, Lk. Champlain
1776-10-28 Americans defeated at White
Plains, NY.
1776-11-16 British captured Ft.Washington NYC and 3000 prisoners. 1776-12-20
Congress moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore, MD. 1776-12-24 Gens.Washington,
Greene, Ewing, & Sullivan conference 1776-12-26 Wash.'s 2400 troops
crossed Delaware Riv. during night of Christmas
& captured 1000 Hessians [with
British] at Trenton, NJ. Winter fighting not practiced; Howe enjoyed having
parties then.
1776-12-30 Enlistments up 12/31 Wash. asked men to reenlist 1 mon. 1777-01-03
Washington & Gen. N. Greene's
troops elude Cornwallis' troops of 1700 near Trenton and were victorious
at Princeton, NJ. 1777-03-04 Congress returns to Philadelphia.
1777-06-14 Congress adopted 13 Stars and Stripes as American
flag. 1777-06-14 John Paul Jones appointed commander of sloop, Ranger,
one of first ships to fly Stars and Stripes, then set sail for
France to annoy and attack British ports and ships.
1777-07-06 Brit. General John Burgoyne captured Fort Ticonderoga, en
route with destination to capture Albany, New York for British. 1777-08-06
Bat. of Oriskany discouraged St.Leger joining Burgoyne, after Brig. General
Arnold sent spies into St.Leger's camp, and had them claim 2000 men under
famed Benedict Arnold nearby.
1777-08-16 Am. forces under Gen. Stark routed Germans rounding up pack
horses, and provisions for British at Bennington, Vermont.
1777-09-07 Gen. Horatio Gates put in command of Am. troops in NY 1777-09----
Gen.Gates' army grew to about 7,500 men, then to 13,000 1777-09-11 Am.defeated
by Howe in Battle of Brandywine Creek,DL 1777-09-25 Gen. William Howe's
British troops capture Philadelphia. 1777-09-27 Congress moved to Lancaster,
PA, then on to York, PA. 1777-10-04 Americans defeated at Germantown PA;
ran out of ammo 1777-10-07 Gens. Gates & B. Arnold dispute how to stop
Burgoyne. 1777-10-07 Clinton, in NYC, sent 3
couriers to tell Burgoyne he'd not help; 2 returned, but one was caught,
swallowed a silver ball with the message, was given an emetic,
message retrieved, then was hung.
1777-10-08 Burgoyne lost 600 men at Freeman's
farm, as Brig.Gn. Benedict Arnold defied Gates, rode courageously leading
Am. forces, urging them on, until was shot. Daniel Morgan's riflemen killed
many.
1777-10--- Burgoyne said "their
measures are executed with secrecy and dispatch not to be equaled,"
but to Washington, Gates sent battle reports giving Arnold no credit for
his efforts, and likely not Morgan; his contributions were known, yet he
was passed over for promotions.
1777-10-19 Saratoga NY,Gn.Burgoyne surrendered to Am.Gen.Gates 1777-11-15
Congress adopted Articles of Confederation unites states 1777-12-17 Washington
army began winter quarters at Valley Forge. 1778-02-06 Treaty of alliance
with France was signed in Paris, France 1778-03---- Sir Henry Clinton takes
over Brit. army in Am from Howe
1778-04-24 Daring John Paul Jones, aboard Am. Ranger, harassed
English ships and seacoast, captured sloop, Drake, in Irish Channel,
took it to French port. Jones urged Ben Franklin, sent as agent to Paris
in 1776, to convince Fr. King Louis XVI to give Jones a larger ship to fight
English, also at war with France. Jones given ship Duras, named it,
Bonhomme Richard, for B. Franklin's pseudonym, Richard Saunders,
and his periodical, Poor Richard's Almanack. The ship and 4 other
armed American warships cruised and alarmed British coasts.
1778-06-28 At Battle of Monmouth, NJ, British are forced to retreat,
"Molly Pitcher" McCauley took pitchers of water to men
fighting & injured; when husband was shot, she manned his cannon rest
of battle 1778-07-02 Congress returned to Philadelphia, PA.
1778-07-03 Indians & Tories massacred people in Wyom.Valley, PA
1778-07-04 Am. Geo. Rogers Clark's men captured Ft Kaskaskia IL 1778-08----Black
American spy, Pompey Lamb, guided Mad Anthony Wayne to recapture
Hudson River fort at Stony Point, taken by Brit.
1778-08-29 British troops were driven back at Quaker Hill, Rhode I.
1778-10---- Young French nobleman, Marquis de Lafayette set out to enlist
French aid, fell ill, put under Geo. Washington's doctor's care. 1778-11-11
Indians & Tories massacred people at Cherry Valley,NY
1778-12-29 British captured Savannah, GA., went on to regain state.
1779-02-23 Am. Geo. Rogers Clark's troops captured Vincennes, IN 1779-05----
Polish Ct. Pulaski aids Gen. Benjamin Lincoln in resisting first British
attempt to take Charleston, SC; British go to GA
1779-06---- Gen. Clinton's forces finally take over entire state of
GA. 1779-07-16 Storming of Stony Point by Mad Anthony Wayne's troop.
1779-08-12 Am Gen Sullivan began expedition against Indians in NY 1779-09-23
Naval victory for John Paul Jones' Bonhomme Richard over British
frigate, Serapis, in English water. Amid combat, Serapis' Capt.
Pearson asked if Jones surrendered and given Jones' answer, "No,
I have not yet begun to fight." In the dramatic battle, though Richard
sank in the end,, its Captain Jones captured two British ships, Serapis
and Countess of Scarborough, taking both to Holland.
1779-10----French Adm. d'Estaing fired at Savannah from 33 ships, as
American troops did on land, but did not recapture city from English. 1779-10----
After loss, d'Estaing left for France with 4000 Fr. troops. 1779-12--- Adjuc.Gen.
John Andre, chief of British intelligence in NY
1779- 1781-- Movie, The
Patriot, had main action in this time. Pat1
1780-01--- Cornwallis had Lt.Col
Banastre Tarleton hotly pursue Am. 1780-05-12 Brit. under Gen. Clinton captured
5000 Am.at Charleston 1780-05-29 Bloody Tarleton, earned this nickname in the
Waxhaws region for not ordering a halt sooner, but allowed the killing of
many Americans under Col. Buford, who had thrown down their arms in sign
of surrender, when captured while marching back to Virginia, having been
too late to help Charleston's defense. Known as Massacre of the Waxhaws,
Pat3, in The
Patriot, Col. Tavington imaged Brit. Lt. Col. Tarleton. Tarleton's
quarter afterward implied no leniency.
1780-07---- Fr. Gen Rauchambeau
arrived with & 5000+ men Pat4 1780-1781--Patriot
bands in SC/GA like Swamp Fox Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew
Pickens, and others made sudden raids on Torries and British troops; some
retreated quickly into swamps which they knew where water was deep or shallow,
as seen in The Patriot.
1780-08-16 Gates'
army defeated by Cornwallis at Camden, SC. Gates planned surprise attack
on British, who planned one in return. With Gates militarily trained in
England, British battle line techniques were used by both sides, but patriot
woodsman panicked with no trees or protection and fled the field, seen from
window in The Patriot. Pat5
1780-09-20 Fr. Gen.Rauchambeau met Washington at Hartford, CN 1780-09-23 Capture of John Andre in civilian attire with
West Point plans by Paulding,
VanWart & Williams. It uncovered West Point commander Benedict
Arnold's treason and desertion to the British. 1780-10-02-John
Andre hanged in his officer's uniform at Tappan NY.
1780-10-07 Patriots
defeat Loyalists at King's Mountain, NC, on a stretch across border
of North and South Carolina. Partisan bands of 900 woodsmen, headed by John
Sevier, Isaac Shelby, & other Patriot leaders isolated defiant Loyalist
band led by Bull Dog Major Patrick Ferguson, officer under Cornwallis,
who "boasted he would burn their villages and hang their leaders,"
which he did, as imaged by Loyalist Capt. Wilkins in The
Patriot scenes, actually died in this battle. Pat6
1780-10---- Story of The SPY in Songs
of the Neutral Ground begins.
1780-12-- Greene arrived in Charlotte SC; his army of 1500 had little
food so some plundered homes. Gen.Thomas Sumter offered slave bonuses to men
who would join; Lafayette urged to give slaves their freedom if they joined
Am. army, as British had done. He hired two blacks, Armistead & Matthews,
as spies, proved highly successful.
1781-01-17 Am. victory at Cowpens, SC, led by Gen. Daniel Morgan. This
battle seen in The Patriot mentioned
being led by Morgan. Pat7
1781-03-- All 13 states agreed to Articles of Confederation. It had
no president; each state had one vote, could send 2 to 7 state delegate
officers to meetings. 9 votes needed to pass a bill. It could establish
a government and post offices, but not tax.
1781-03-15 Battle of Guilford Courthouse NC, Greene & Morgan led
1781-05---- Rebecca Motte gave Americans fire arrows to burn her home after
British had taken it over for their headquarters, in SC. 1781-05-13 Brit.
forces attack Black Regiment at Croton
Riv. by NY 1781-09-05 French fleet defeated British fleet in Chesapeake
Bay. 1781-09-08 Battle of Eutaw Springs, SC, last battle of the deep South
1781-12-14 Am. Col. Alexander Hamilton
& Fr. Gen. Lafayette led troops that captured last British redoubts
at Yorktown, VA.
1781-12-19 Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, but had his deputy Gen.
Charles O'Hara give his sword in surrender, which Washington directed to
his deputy, Gen Benjamin Lincoln.
1782-11-30 A preliminary peace treaty was signed in Paris, France, it
gave Colonists all the land held by English east of Mississippi. From Amer.
were Ben Franklin, John Adams, Henry Laurens & John Jay, family friend
of Coopers, from whom J. F. Cooper heard spy stories.
1783-06-11 Soldiers told to empty cartridge boxes; given discharges.
1783-09-03 Peace of Paris, final treaty recognized Am. independence;
1783-11-03 Continental Army was formally disbanded; Washington in Philadelphia
turned in his war expenses $64,315, but took no pay.
1783-11-16 Congress 13 states began sessions at Annapolis, MD. 1783-12-04
Wash. bid farewell to his officers in Fraunces Tavern NY. 1783-12-23 At
Annapolis, MD, Washington resigned his military commission to Congress.Cost
of Revolution: $134,645,177
1784-1800 An estimated 100,000 Tories, people loyal to England, left
United States for Canada, England or West Indes after the war. 1785-----
With much friction between states, a meeting was held over disputes of MD
& VA at Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.
1786----- Only five states sent delegates to Annapolis, MD. meeting.
1787-05-06 A convention met in Philadelphia, Geo. Washington was chosen
to preside; others were Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton.
After 4 months, Constitution adopted and sent to all 13 states to vote upon;
9 states were needed to accept it.
1789-04-30 Washington was only man agreeable to all for president. He
took oath of office as 1st U.S. President; John Adams:Vice Pres. 1789-06
Marquis de Lafayette, friend and aide in war to Washington, enlisted Thomas
Jefferson as U.S. ambassador to France in Paris, to help him write a French
Declaration of Rights, but
1789-08-27 Newly formed French National Assembly, claiming to be the
rightful government of France, issued their "Declaration of the Rights
of Man and the Citizen," which resembled the American Bill of Rights
ratified. Popular French writer, Abbe Gentil, suggested "the democratic
spirit unleashed in the United States would one day spread across the world."
1789-1799 French Revolution began; wanted republic like U.S. set
up so French asked U.S. to help them in return against British control of
seas, but Britain still had forts on then U.S. land. The money for U.S.
government came from import tariffs or tax on whiskey from England.
1793------ Washington knew U.S. not strong;
convinced Congress to declare U.S. neutral; sent John Jay to England. The
Jay Treaty not beneficial to U.S., but avoided war with England. Jay appointed
by Washington as first Chief Justice of United States Supreme Court. Jay's
true spy stories said to have inspired Cooper's The
Spy, 1820- -1821, emulated by Internet Musical, Songs
of the Neutral Ground.
1793------ French angry; English captured Am. ships going to France.
1793-1797 Washington wanted, but chose not to run for 3rd term. U.S. people
divided; Sec. of Treasury Alexander Hamilton & John Adams felt government
should be run by educated men; Thomas Jefferson favored less central government
run by more people and started the Republican Party. Adams and Hamilton
started the Federalist Party.
1797-1801 John Adams elected 2nd U.S. president by a slim margin. 1801-1803
French angry over Jay Treaty, captured Am. ships; U.S. reps in France told
privately if they bribe French ministers, U.S ships would not be captured.
U.S. citizens outraged. An army was raised; Washington made commander. Warships
were built; when they began capturing many French ships, France finally
made peace.
1803---- Jefferson, elected 3rd U.S. president. Louisiana territory
bought for $15,000,000 from France, who needed money to fight Brit. 1804----
Lewis & Clark expedition went 1600 miles up Missouri Rivr. 1807----
194 Am. merchant ships seized by English, some by France. Congress passed
laws forbidding trade with England or France. 1807---- Robert Fulton ran
his steamboat, Clermont, on Hudson Riv. 1807------- "Embargo Act"closed
all Am. ports to England & France.
1809-04-09 Jefferson left office; Jas. Madison became 4th U.S. pres.
1809-1811 Indian raiding parties from Canada waged destruction and death
on United States citizens. U.S. felt English incited them to this.
1812-06-18 U.S. declares war on England for 1, pitting Indians against
Americans; 2, capturing 900 American merchant ships in ten years; 3, blockading
U.S. coasts; 4, taking U.S. seaman off captured Am. ships as British deserters,
claiming if born in England were British subjects.
1812-08-19 American frigate, Constitution, wrecked British frigate,
Guerriere, in 1/2 hour, then Java, and afterward called Old
Ironsides. Am. ship, Hornet, took British ship, Peacock,
stunning England, who captured 100s, but lost only five ships in 20 years
of war with France. In six months England lost six vessels to America and
took none.
1812-10-13 Brit. Gen. Sir Isaac Brock killed in Battle of Queenston,
Ont. Can., across Niagara River From Lewiston NY. A statue of him overlooks
lower Niagara river in Monument Park, Queenston. Amer. Capt. George Nelson
also killed in battle, was buried in Lewiston, NY
1813-05-- Americans captured York, Canada, now Toronto, Ontario. 1813-06-01
The tide turned, England started downing American ships. Capt. James Lawrence,
mortally wounded aboard American frigate, Chesapeake, in battle with
British ship, Shannon, shouted to his men, "Don't give up the
ship," but little trained at fighting, his seamen did.
1813-09-10 Am. won Battle of Lake Erie under Lt. Oliver H. Perry. 1813-------
Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison defeated British and Indians,
recapturing Detroit.
1813------- Newark, Can., beside Fort George , opposite Am. Fort Niagara
at the mouth of Niagara River on
Lake Ontario, was burned by New York state militia. To
retaliate, British burned the village of Lewiston, NY, to the ground. James
F. Cooper visited the rebuilt Lewiston while writing The Spy, during
1820-1821, patterning some characters in the book from people and stories
heard. The writer of "Songs of the Neutral Ground"
lived there from 1957-1984.
1814-04-11 Napoleon defeated, England sent more arms against U.S.. Washington
was not well defended. Retaliating for Americans burning York, Brit. Gen.
Ross burned U.S. Capitol building and White House.
1814-07-25 Chippewa and Lundy's Lane battles near Niagara
Falls, Can., at first claimed as victories by Amer., but they soon retreated.
1814-09-- British tried to capture Baltimore, bombarded Ft. McHenry
from ships. During the night, Frances Scott Key, being held aboard a boat
seeking release of a captured American doctor, watched as the British continued
firing at the fort. By dawn, seeing the American flag still flying over
the fort, he wrote the Star Spangled Banner, which became our United
States national anthem.
Here is an appropriate place to end this chronology, as the hero's life
ends in "Songs of the Neutral Ground" in this year of history,
and closing words of the "Star Spangled Banner" epitomize
the striving of Cooper's "THE SPY" for: "the
land of the free and the home of the brave."
Bibliography Data from books:
Editor McLoughlin, E.V. The Book of Knowledge: New York,
NY: The Grolier Society, Inc. , 1957; * Cox, Clinton. Come All You Brave
Soldiers - Blacks in the American Revolution. New York: Scholastic Press,
1999; Heroines of the American Revolution; * Editor Adams, Jr., Russell
B.. The Revolutionaries - The American Story. Alexandria, VA: Time
Life Books, 1996; * Wood, W. J.. Battles of the Revolutionary War - 1775-1781
- Major Battles and Campaigns. Chapel Hill, NC: Da Capo Press: 1990;
* Cooper, James Fenimore. The Spy, A Tale of the Neutral Ground,
introductions. New York: The Heritage Press: 1963, original: 1821. * Bobrick,
Benson; Angel in the Whirlwind - The Triumph of the American Revolution;
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997; * Axelrod, Phd., Alan; Complete
Idiot's Guide to the American Revolution. Indianapolis, Ind.: Alpha
Books, Macmillan, USA, Inc. : 2000; * Tuchman, Barbara W.
The First Salute, a View of the American Revolution. New York: Ballantine
Books: 1988; * Alden, John R. A History of the American Revolution. New
York: A Da Capo paperback: 1969
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