The Battles of the American Revolution

1. The Battles of the American Revolution Presenter: Dr. Kevin Gannon Grand View University

2. War is the continuation of politics by other means. Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831)

3. The Military Context • Styles of Warfare: European and American • Myth of “Indian style” and the militia • Ideological fears of a “standing army” • The Structure of the Army • “Regulars” and militia • The problems of recruitment and supply

4. The Balance Sheet • British Advantages • largest army and navy in the western world • professional, trained, experienced forces • funding and logistics • the Loyalists • American Advantages • ideological cohesion • motivating factors • home-field advantage • ability to play defense

5. Phase 1: Before Independence • An improvised war • Boston & the insurgent countryside, 1774-1775 • Lexington & Concord, April 19 Turning Point: Bunker (Breed’s) Hill, June 17, 1775

7. Phase 1: Before Independence • Washington takes command • The difficulties of the army • Boston under siege • Henry Knox’s cannons • The Evacuation of Boston • On to New York • Howe’s logic

10. Phase 2: The British Dictate Terms • Independence and the Importance of the Continental Army • The New York Campaign, August-November 1776 • Retreat and Survive Turning Point: Trenton and Princeton (Dec. 26 and Jan. 3)

11. Washington crossing the Delaware, Emanuel Leutze, 1851

12. Phase 2: The British Dictate Terms • “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne and his strategy • William Howe’s Freelancing • Philadelphia Falls • Brandywine Creek, Sept. 11, 1777 • Germantown, Oct. 4, 1777

13. General John Burgoyne

14. General Horatio Gates

15. Phase 2: The British Dictate Terms • The Saratoga Campaign • Burgoyne’s mistakes • Jane McCrea, the Colonists, and the Iroquois Turning Point: Surrender at Saratoga • “Granny” Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold • Political and Diplomatic Ramifications

16. Benedict Arnold

17. Benedict Arnold at Bemis Heights [Saratoga Campaign]

18. The Northern Theater after Saratoga • Shaking up the British Command: Sir Henry Clinton replaces Howe • The Continentals at Valley Forge • Washington’s realaccomplishment • “To starve the army at pleasure” • Nathanael Greene as Quartermaster General • Von Steuben’s professionalization campaign • Monmouth Courthouse, June 28, 1778 • Dancing around New York City

19. Phase 3: Britain Moves South • The British Southern Strategy • Why the Carolinas? • Early successes • Savannah captured, Dec. 1778 • The overseas interregnum

21. Phase 3: Britain Moves South • American Nadir: The Siege and Fall of Charleston • Lincoln’s surrender, May 12, 1780 • Banastre “Bloody” Tarleton • The Waxhaws massacre • Cornwallis and the counterinsurgency: Civil War in Carolina • The disastrous command of Horatio Gates • The debacle at Camden, August 16, 1780

22. Charles, Lord Cornwallis

23. Phase 3: Britain Moves South • Partisan Warfare • Loyalist militia vs. Patriot militia and the “over-the-mountain-men” • Thomas Sumter, Francis Marion • Nathanael Greene takes command Turning Point: King’s Mountain, October 17, 1780

24. General Nathanael Greene

25. Phase 3: Britain Moves South • Cowpens, January 17, 1781 • Greene defies conventional wisdom • Daniel Morgan solves the militia problem • The Race to the Dan • Thaddeus Kosciuszko • Cornwallis burns his chances

26. General Daniel Morgan

27. Phase 4: Endgame • Guilford Court House, March 15, 1781 • Cornwallis moves to Yorktown-and waits • Washington moves South-reluctantly • Rochambeau and Lafayette • Eutaw Springs (SC), September 8, 1781 • The final collapse of the southern strategy

28. Washington & Rochambeau

30. Phase 4: Endgame • The siege and battle of Yorktown • Cornwallis surrenders, October 19, 1781 • The last battles of the Revolutionary War • Would you believe Cuddalore?

32. The Revolution’s last battle Cuddalore

33. Conclusions • The Revolutionary War as a civil war • Remembering the losers • The importance of international assistance • Britain’s Vietnam? • Assessing the tactical outcome • The legacy of the battlefield: the Revolutionary War and the American Revolution