1776 A Year Of Many Battles Essay

1776: A Year Of Many Battles Essay, Research Paper

1776 was a twelvemonth that will alter America everlastingly. Many conflicts were fought and many accomplishments were made. Many work forces gave their lives to contend for what they believed in.

The Declaration of Independence

On July 4 the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its intent was to declare freedom and independency to the 13 American Colonies. The authorship of this papers is largely credited to

Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were all signers, along with many others.

The Declaration of Independence serves as one of America & # 8217 ; s most cherished symbols because it identifies the minute when

our state was born. It announced the separation of the 13 settlements from England and the demand for independency.

Church bells rang out over Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 signaling that the Declaration of Independence was approved and officially adopted by the Continental Congress. A month earlier Congress had appointed a Committee of Five to outline a statement to the universe showing the settlements & # 8217 ; instance for independency. The commission consisted of John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. The commission assigned Jefferson the undertaking of composing the original papers. After Franklin and Adams made minor changes, the papers was submitted to Congress.

The Crossing and Battle of Trenton

On Christmas Eve dark Washington led his military personnels across the Delaware River on a surprise onslaught against the Hessian regiments and a troop of British soldiers stationed outside of Trenton. At six O? time the military personnels marched nine stat mis north of Trenton. The 2,700 work forces began to traverse through the rough winter conditions. The soldiers eventually landed on the Jersey Bank on December 26 at three O? clock in the forenoon. The March began once more about an hr subsequently. Two stat mis beyond their landing Washington separated his ground forces into two groups. General Greene accompanied by Washington was assigned 1,200 work forces and 10 fieldpieces. Greene proceeded down the Pennington Road while General Sullivan and his 1,500 work forces marched down the River Road. When the two groups met once more at Trenton they were able to take down the Hessians who were up wholly dark celebrating.

With in an hr, the conflict was over, 22 Hessians were dead, 98 were wounded and about a 1000 were being held captive. Nine hundred and 18 captives, six brass cannons, 40 Equus caballuss, one 1000 stands or weaponries and 15 colourss were captured. Merely four Americans were wounded.

The Battle of Long Island

August 26 was the beginning of the Battle of Long Island. It began in the forenoon hours when the Americans fired on a few British soldiers. George Washington sent portion of his little ground forces to support Brooklyn Heights, on Long Island. A few hours subsequently 200-300 British Troops attacked the American? s. These onslaughts began the conflict. The Americans were waiting to be attacked but the British had walked right passed them without even being detected. The Hessians, who were on the British side, managed to assail the Americans along with the British.

The Americans were defeated but fought good sing the unjust sum of military personnels on the British Side. An estimated 10,000 Americans were involved in the conflict and 22,000

British and Hessians. 312 Americans were killed and 1,407 were wounded or captured while merely 56 British military personnels were killed and 273 wounded or captured.

Battle of Moore? s Creek Bridge

The Tory council of war decided to assail at morning on February 27, 1776. Lieutenant Colonel Donald McLeod took active bid. At 1:00 A.M. , they set out. Although they numbered 1,600, they had merely 500 pieces. When they reached the span, they found empty intrenchments. The Rebels had withdrawn to the other side of the span.

An progress party found half of the span boards had been removed and the two stringers had been greased. But Lt. Colonel McLeod would non be denied. An eighty-man assault force armed with broadswords was assembled under the bid of Captain John Campbell. The assault force followed McLeod down one stringer and Campbell down the other to the round of membranophones and the Scottish war pipes.

The Rebels held their fire until Campbell and McLeod crossed the brook and so they let loose with their two cannon and musket fire. No 1 was left standing on the span. Campbell and McLeod were killed instantly. Some Tories fell into the brook and drown. Their comrades who had watched their speedy licking instantly retreated. Thirty Tories were counted dead, while the Rebels had merely two casualties, one who subsequently died of his lesions. 850 Tories were captured, including General MacDonald.

The Battle of Fort Sullivan

On June 4, the British arrived outside Charleston Harbor. They now had to voyage over the saloon that surrounded the seaport. It made the seaport unaccessible during low tide and accessible at high tide merely through five channels. After sounding the channels and doing other readyings, the smaller ships and war vessels moved to Five-Fathom Hole on June 7. Five-Fathom Hole was 30 pess deep and out of scope of Fort Sullivan.

Between June 9 and 15, General Clinton put his military personnels ashore on Long Island, which was North of Sullivan & # 8217 ; s Island, while the garrison was on the island & # 8217 ; s southern tip. Clinton so found it hard to traverse The Breach from Long Island onto Sullivan & # 8217 ; s Island. The British had wrong intelligence of a shallow Ford, when in truth the shallowest channel was seven pess deep. But Clinton pig-headedly spent several yearss seeking for the elusive Ford. When they eventually tried traversing in boats, American riflemen and artillerymans held them off.

While General Clinton continued his bootless hunt, the last two British war vessels, the Bristol and the Experiment, had to hold their guns removed to buoy up the boats plenty to unclutter the saloon. On June 26, the British were ready, holding eventually moved and refitted all their ships at Five-Fathom Hole. On June 27, they attempted to put canvas, but contrary air currents halted their motion. They now waited for favourable air currents. At 10:30 A.M. on June 28, the air currents were favourable and Commodore Parker moved into place to pelt Fort Sullivan. The bomb ship, Thunder, ab initio anchored excessively far off and rapidly disabled itself when excessively much pulverization was used to counterbalance for the distance. The kick damaged the ship and left it soundless. Meanwhile, the Americans expended approximately one-seventh the sum of pulverization that the British did, but the slow and steady American fire was rather accurate. The Bristol, Commodore Parker & # 8217 ; s flagship, was disabled. By 9:30 P.M. , all fire ceased. At 11:30 P.M. the British ships withdrew to Five-Fathom Hole. The following forenoon the Actaeon was set afire and abandoned.