Washington’s First Victory
The summer of 1776 had not gone well for General George Washington and the Continental Army. America declared its independence in July, but the British were determined to end the rebellion. After the devastating American defeat at the Battle of Long Island on August 27, Washington successfully moved his army […]
The British Take New York
Washington and his men were defending New York City. On September 15, 1776, William Howe’s troops landed at Kip’s Bay, northeast of Manhattan along the East River. The American army was cut off and might not be able to retreat. General Howe had defeated Washington and his troops a couple […]
What was The Turtle?
On the night of September 6, 1776, a new form of warfare began in New York Harbor. Sgt. Ezra Lee maneuvered a small, one-man, American-made submarine under the dark waters toward the British fleet. It was affectionately known as “The Turtle” because it looked like two Turtle shells joined together. […]
The Cherokee War of 1776
When Americans think about the Revolutionary War, they often picture the great battles fought between George Washington’s army and the British. But in 1776, another war was being fought much closer to home. For the people living along the Holston and New River valleys, the American Revolution was also a […]
The American Army Lives to Fight Another Day
The Battle of Long Island ended on August 27th in a serious American defeat. General George Washington and the Continental Army had been pushed back to their fortified positions on Brooklyn Heights, with the East River behind them and the powerful British army in front of them. The situation was […]
The British Attack Long Island
In the summer of 1776, America had declared its independence, but independence was far from secure. The British were determined to crush the rebellion, and they sent one of the largest military forces ever assembled in North America to New York. The British sent two brothers, General William Howe leading […]