1776 War for Independence (Colonial Militia)
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General George Washington General Washington moved the opposite direction that General Cornwallis thought he would go.Every time Cornwallis thought he knew which way Washington would go,he went the other way.He didn't play the war game the typical English General would war.He was an American not English.Washington would attack at night,and in the winter. |
Revolution Home Page Patrick Henry The English USAGUNS Home Page |
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Benjamin Franklin , in his many careers as printer, moralist, essayist, civic leader, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, and philosopher, became for later generations of Americans both a spokesman, a model for the national character, and considered as a "Founding Father." In October 1776, Franklin and his two grandsons sailed for France, where he achieved an amazing personal triumph and gained critical French aid for the Revolutionary War. Parisian literary and scientific circles hailed him as a living embodiment of Enlightenment virtues. Wigless and dressed in plain brown clothes, he was called le Bonhomme Richard. Franklin was at his best creating the legend of his life among the ladies of Paris, writing witty letters, printing bagatelles, and telling anecdotes. |
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He moved slowly at first in his diplomacy. France wanted to injure Britain but could not afford to help the American rebels unless eventual success seemed assured. Franklin thus worked behind the scenes to send war supplies across the Atlantic, thwart British diplomacy, and make friends with influential French officials. He overcame his own doubts about the possibly dishonest dealings of his fellow commissioner Silas Deane in channeling war materials to American armies, but the third commissioner, Arthur Lee (1740-92), bitterly condemned both Deane and Franklin. Despite these quarrels, in February 1778, following news of the American victory at Saratoga, the three commissioners were able to sign the vital French alliance. |
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During the war many times Washington,at night,after the long drawn out and costly fight of the day,would light camp fires and give the impression of digging in.Only to flee during the dark and flank the English for the fight the next day.Many times during the war,the outlook was dire.Many times Cornwallis seemed to have the complete advantage over Washington and the Patriot troops.Gaining freedom has a power that overcomes the hardships that would bring down the normal situation.We were tired of the oppression and rule of the English King.We tasted freedom and we were going to have it. |
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Crossing the Delaware river was the first time that Washington suprised General Cornwallis and the English troops.They had never heard of war at night and during the winter.This was not the English way.But Washington knew this about the British.On Christmas Day 1776 the troops assembled at the ferry landing and were given the password for the day, "Victory or Death". All of the men were gathered at the point of embarkment by 3:00 p.m. and the loading of the boats began at nightfall. |
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The Patriots defeated the British in Princeton, Bennington, Saratoga, Oriskany, Ft. Stanwix, Concord, Valley Forge, Trenton, and Yorktown. The Winter at Valley Forge was a lose for the patriots, over 2,000 men died that winter, and many gave up and went back home to their families. These victories have caused loses in large numbers and bigger hopes and dreams of our Patriotic forces. There were some patriot loses: Philadelphia, Brandywine, Germantown, New York City, and Ft. Ticonderoga. |
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The victory in Yorktown was our last but one of our greatest victories this whole revolution. The 17,000 American and French troops that were sent into the battlefield made the British General Cornwallis surrender his troops and himself in October 19,1781. It took 2 years until in 1783 for the British to send the last of their troops have taken a boat back to their motherland England. Reference |