Military operations 1776-7

How many men did General William Howe command in America August 1776?

32,000 men

What was Howe’s overarching strategy for the war?

Wanted to win the war without causing widespread loss of life and property

What happened July 1776?

• Howe begins landing army at Staten Island (NYC) following March withdrawal from Halifax

• Wants to lure Washington into battle, defeat him, and negotiate end to rebellion

• Supported by brother Admiral Lord Howe

What happened 27 August 1776?

• Battle of Long Island

• British victory

• 2000 American casualties (6x British)

What does Washington do on 29 August?

Washington withdraws troops to mainland

What happened September 1776 Lord Howe?

Lord Howe meets representatives of Congress - idea to negotiate peace, bu actually Howe not interested in peace treaty with independent America

What happened 15 September 1776?

• General Howe troops land at Kips Bay in Manhattan (between two halves of Washington’s army) - caution gave Washington time to withdraw

• By end of day British had captured New York

• Washington retreats across New Jersey

What happened 16 November 1776?

• British capture Fort Washington

• take nearly 3000 prisoners + weapons

• America now in full retreat

What happened December 1776?

• Americans cross the Delaware River into Pennsylvania

• Only 3000 men as many have gone home

• Howe proclamation - people could get pardoned by oath of allegiance to king

• British forces seize Newport, Rhode Island

Instead of marching on to Philadelphia, what does General Howe do?

Went into winter quarters, throwing away another opportunity to destroy American morale

Washington regroups

What happened 25 December 1776?

Washington recrosses the Delaware River with 1600 men

What happened 26 December 1776?

American victory at Trenton, New Jersey - capture over 1000 prisoners

What happened 3 Jan 1777?

American victory at Princeton

Where does Washington take up winter quarters to rebuild his army?

Morristown

What does Washington decide to do in the winter of 1776-7?

Change his strategy to be more defensive - only way to win war was not to lose it - could not compete on equal terms on a conventional battlefield with the British army, and terms were far from equal (Howe commanded more men than Washington)

Situation for Britain early 1777

• Canada secure

• NY captured

Two British armies in America in 1777

Howe in NEW YORK, General John Burgoyne in CANADA

Two separate campaigns, where Howe wants to capture Philadelphia, and Burgoyne wants to isolate New England by driving down Hudson Valley

In July 1777 how does Howe move his 15,000 strong army?

By sea (for 6 weeks)

What happens 11 September 1777?

Howe defeats Washington at Brandywine Creek but fails to destroy army (although Americans lose 1200 men)

What happens 26 September 1777?

Howe captures Philadelphia, Congress simply moves to Lancaster

What happens 4 October 1777?

Washington failed counterattack at Germantown

What happens November 1777?

Howe forces Americans to evacuate forts on Delaware River → British naval access to Philadelphia

Where are Howe and Washington winter 1777?

Washington - Valley Forge

Howe - Philadelphia → again failed to win a decisive victory

What does Burgoyne do in June 1777?

Leaves Canada, sail down Lake Champlain (9000-strong army)

Wants to march on New England from Canada

What does Burgoyne do 5 July?

Takes Fort Ticonderoga

Why is Burgoyne’s progress so slow (to Fort Edward which he reached after 3 weeks)?

• Enormous baggage train

• Patriot militia blocked roads, destroyed bridges and attacked stragglers

Did Burgoyne get any support?

• Loyalists did not flock to his army - actually created rebels out of neutrally inclined Americans

• Native American allies did not help - Iroquois warriors attacked farms, killing several families, murder and scalping of Jane McCrea alienated people, most Iroquois ended up going home

• St Leger’s diversionary force (1600 British and Iroquois) couldn’t reach Burgoyne’s army as checked at Oriskany by local militia + retreated to Canada

Where did Burgoyne want to press on to?

Albany

What did the Americans do to prepare for British?

• Mid-August General Horatio Gates replaced unpopular General Schuyler as commander of the northern forces

• Gates prepared defensive positions north of Albany, aided by Benedict Arnold

• Encouraged New England militiamen to join

• By mid-September 7000 men, as did Burgoyne

What happens September 17 1777 Burgoyne?

Two forces clash Freeman’s Farm, Burgoyne fails to defeat Americans

Who did Burgoyne hope would join him?

General Clinton (pushing upwards from New York) - left New York October, captured forts in New York highland region, drew close to Albany

What happened 7 October 1777 Burgoyne?

Burgoyne attacks Bemis Heights - failed, lost another 400 men

Where did Burgoyne then retreat to?

Saratoga

Problems for Burgoyne

• Surrounded by twice as many troops at Saratoga

• Clinton not going to get there

What happened 14 October 1777 Burgoyne?

Burgoyne begins negotiating with General Gates

What happened 17 October 1777?

Burgoyne surrenders to Gates

What did Congress do about Gates’ terms for Burgoyne?

Congress rejects Gates’ terms for Burgoyne - Burgoyne’s troops remained prisoners of war until 1783

Results of Saratoga

• Morale increased for Americans

• Howe resigns - replaced by Clinton

• Clinton abandons highlands to send reinforcements to Pennsylvania

• December - North sends a secret agent to Paris to explore possibilities of ending war

• February 1778 Parliament agrees to repealing Coercive Acts + renounce right to tax Americans

• A Peace Commission appointed → try to negotiate end to war, but would not be successful because of Americans independence