September 11, 1777: Battle of Brandywine
General Sir William Howe and General Charles Cornwallis launched an attack on General George Washington at Brandywine Creek near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Cornwallis and Howe each had 9,000 British troops, with Howe leading the attack from the front and Cornwallis circling around and attacking from the right flank. A dense fog had provided the British with cover, so Washington was … Continue reading →
AUGUST 16, 1777: BATTLE OF BENNINGTON
The Battle of Bennington took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles (16 km) from Bennington, Vermont. An American force of 2,000 men, primarily New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General John Stark, and the Green Mountain Boys led by Colonel Seth Warner decisively defeated a detachment of General John Burgoyne’s army led by … Continue reading →
October 7: Battle of Bemis Heights (Second Battle of Saratoga)
Second of two battles that led to the British surrender at Saratoga (American War of Independence). After failing to even reach the American lines in his previous attack (Battle of Freeman’s Farm, 19 September), Burgoyne had waited in the hope that a supporting attack from New York would force General Gates to split his army. When it was clear that … Continue reading →