1777 to 1778

1777

jan 03 - A second victory for Washington as his troops defeat the British at Princeton and drive them back toward New Brunswick. Washington then establishes winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey. During the harsh winter, Washington's army shrinks to about a thousand men as enlistments expire and deserters flee the hardships. By spring, with the arrival of recruits, Washington will have 9000 men.
mar 12 - The Continental Congress returns to Philadelphia from Baltimore after Washington's successes against the British in New Jersey.
apr 27 - American troops under Benedict Arnold defeat the British at Ridgefield, Connecticut.
jun 14 - The flag of the United States consisting of 13 stars and 13 white and red stripes is mandated by Congress;
jun 14 - John Paul Jones is chosen by Congress to captain the 18 gun vessel Ranger with his mission to raid coastal towns of England ?+.
jun 17 - A British force of 7700 men under Gen. John Burgoyne invades from Canada, sailing down Lake Champlain toward Albany, planning to link up with Gen. Howe who will come north from New York City, thus cutting off New England from the rest of the colonies.
jul 06 - Gen. Burgoyne's troops capture Fort Ticonderoga. Its military supplies are greatly needed by Washington's forces.
jul 23 - British Gen. Howe, with 15,000 men, sets sail from New York for Chesapeake Bay to capture Philadelphia, instead of sailing north to meet up with Gen. Burgoyne.
jul 27 - Marquis de Lafayette, a 19 year old French aristocrat, arrives in Philadelphia and volunteers to serve without pay. Congress appoints him as a major general in the Continental Army. Lafayette will become one of Gen. Washington's most trusted aides.
aug 01 - Gen. Burgoyne reaches the Hudson after a grueling month spent crossing 23 miles of wilderness separating the southern tip of Lake Champlain from the northern tip of the Hudson River.
aug 16 - In the Battle of Bennington, militiamen from Vermont, aided by Massachusetts troops, wipe out a detachment of 800 German Hessians sent by Gen. Burgoyne to seize horses.
aug 25 - British Gen. Howe disembarks at Chesapeake Bay with his troops.
sep 09 to 11 - In the Battle of Brandywine Creek, Gen. Washington and the main American Army of 10,500 men are driven back toward Philadelphia by Gen. Howe's British troops. Both sides suffer heavy losses. Congress then leaves Philadelphia and resettles in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
sep 26 - British forces under Gen. Howe occupy Philadelphia. Congress then relocates to York, Pennsylvania.
oct 07 - The Battle of Saratoga results in the first major American victory of the Revolutionary War as Gen. Horatio Gates and Gen. Benedict Arnold defeat Gen. Burgoyne, inflicting 600 British casualties. American losses are only 150.
oct 17 - Burgoyne and his entire army of 5700 men surrender to the Americans led by Gates. The British are then marched to Boston, placed on ships and sent back to England after swearing not serve again in the war against America. News of the American victory at Saratoga soon travels to Europe and boosts support of the American cause. In Paris the victory is celebrated as if it had been a French victory. Ben Franklin ?*+ is received by the French Royal Court. France then recognizes the independence of America.
nov 15 - Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation as the government of the new United States of America, pending ratification by the individual states. Under the Articles, Congress is the sole authority of the new national government.
dec 17 - At Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, the Continental Army led by Washington sets up winter quarters.

1778

x - Voltaire dies.
x - Joseph Bramah [b.1748 d.1814] invents the flushing water closet.
x - France declares war on Britain, and sends an army to North America.
x - At age nine, Napoleon is sent to Collège militaire royal de Brienne in Paris. While there, he distinguishes himself by his taste for mathematics and geography.
feb 06 - American and French representatives sign two treaties in Paris: a Treaty of Amity and Commerce and a Treaty of Alliance. France now officially recognizes the United States and will soon become the major supplier of military supplies to Washington's army. Both countries pledge to fight until American independence is won, with neither country concluding any truce with Britain without the other's consent, and guarantee each other's possessions in America against all other powers. The American struggle for independence is now enlarged and will soon become a world war. After British vessels fire on French ships, the two nations declare war. Spain will enter in 1779 as an ally of France. The following year, Britain will declare war on the Dutch who have been engaging in profitable trade with the French and Americans. In addition to the war in America, the British will have to fight in the Mediterranean, Africa, India, the West Indies, and on the high seas. All the while facing possible invasion of England ?+ itself by the French.
feb 23 - Baron von Steuben of Prussia arrives at Valley Forge to join the Continental Army. He then begins much needed training and drilling of Washington's troops, now suffering from poor morale resulting from cold, hunger, disease, low supplies and desertions over the long, harsh winter.
mar 16 - A Peace Commission is created by the British Parliament to negotiate with the Americans. The commission then travels to Philadelphia where its offers granting all of the American demands, except independence, are rejected by Congress.
may 08 - British General Henry Clinton replaces Gen. Howe as commander of all British forces in the American colonies.
may 30 - A campaign of terror against American frontier settlements, instigated by the British, begins as 300 Iroquois Indians burn Cobleskill, New York.
jun 18 - Fearing a blockade by French ships, British Gen. Clinton withdraws his troops from Philadelphia and marches across New Jersey toward New York City. Americans then re-occupy Philadelphia.
jun 19 - Washington sends troops from Valley Forge to intercept Gen. Clinton.
jun 27,28 - The Battle of Monmouth occurs in New Jersey as Washington's troops and Gen. Clinton's troops fight to a standoff. On hearing that American Gen. Charles Lee had ordered a retreat, Gen. Washington becomes furious. Gen. Clinton then continues on toward New York.
jul 02 - Congress returns once again to Philadelphia.
jul 03 - British Loyalists and Indians massacre American settlers in the Wyoming Valley of northern Pennsylvania.
jul 08 - Gen. Washington sets up headquarters at West Point, New York.
jul 10 - France declares war against Britain.
aug 08 - American land forces and French ships attempt to conduct a combined siege against Newport, Rhode Island. But bad weather and delays of the land troops result in failure. The weather-damaged French fleet then sails to Boston for repairs.
sep 14 - Ben Franklin ?*+ is appointed to be the American diplomatic representative in France.
nov 11 - At Cherry Valley, New York, Loyalists and Indians massacre over 40 American settlers.
dec 29 - The British begin a major southern campaign with the capture of Savannah, Georgia, followed a month later with the capture of Augusta.