the raid of danbury

Danbury, Connecticut was where several roads converged. George Washington chose Danbury as a supply base as it was a trading and manufacturing center. Washington picked Danbury in early 1777.

Protecting Danbury supplies for the Continental Army were 150 men. Danbury was thought of as well protected, not by troops, but by geography. It was located about 25 miles inland from Long Island Sound. Its location was considered out of reach for the British. 

The supplies at Danbury were important to the Continentals. With New York City and Long Island controlled by the British, a supply base for Washington's Army was vital.

The base was led by Colonel Jedediah Huntington and Colonel Joseph Cooke. 

The British decided to land troops via ship to raid Danbury. They could not haul wagons and decided before they were ashore to burn the supplies. British ships did their job as Captain Henry Duncan commanded the landing of about 1,500 British troops and Americans loyal to the Crown. Major General William Tryon led the British to raid Danbury.

William Tryon. Circa 1767.

The landing party landed at Compo Beach and unloaded their supplies for the march to Danbury after landing on April 21 - 25, 1777. The march started about 5 PM on the 25th. Colonists in the area sent the alarm to Danbury that the British were on the way.

The Continental's medical supplies were moved to New Milford as the 150 men busily removed as much supply as they could. They retreated along with the supplies as Tryon's troops raided Danbury.

The British burned 1,000 barrels of flour and much more and went on to burn storehouses in the town. After sufficient destruction of the supplies, the British went on the defensive anticipating an attack from Colonial Militia.

This post from connecticuthistory.org was a source.

This post from history.com was a source.

the battle of pell's point

 In October of 1776, Washington's Army was at Harlem Heights, New York. The British forces landed at Throgs Neck to execute a flanking maneuver against Washington on the island of Manhattan. The Colonials ruined this landing and the commander of the British forces, General Sir William Howe, looked for another landing point. 

Howe

On October 18, 1776, Howe disembarked 4,000 men at Pelham, about 3 miles north of Throgs Neck. 750 men of John Glover's brigade were inland. The Continentals used stone walls for cover to attack the British forces and fell back. The British broke off and the Americans retreated. 

The battle delayed the British movement long enough to give General George Washington time to move his forces to White Plains. Washington gave up Manhattan to keep his army from being surrounded.

By the 17th Washington was on his way to White Plains after hearing of the Throgs Neck landing. Washington left 2,000 men to support Fort Washington.

The battle is also known as the Battle of Pelham. The fighting took place in what is now part of Pelham Bay Park. 

Washington felt safe at White Plains. Glover retreated to Younkers. He report 8 killed, 13 wounded. The British had 3 killed, 20 wounded. The Hessians had no casualties. Howe moved his army through New Rochelle and Scarsdale. 

yorktown

 On September 28, 1781, the Siege of Yorktown began. American and French troops surround the British forces. 

The British held out for 21 days. The Americans and French had help from the Spanish Governor. He was able to bottle up British forces in Pensacola, Florida. This depleted the British forces at Yorktown.

Bernardo de Galvez

Cornwallis had established a base of operations at Yorktown, hoping for resupply and reinforcement by sea. The French victory at the Battle of the Capes on September 5, 1781, removed this possibility, and cut off Cornwallis by sea. With the arrival of American and French troops, the encirclement was complete, and the siege began on September 28, 1781.

Learn more on the Southern Theater of the Revolutionary War from battlefields.org

the lee resolution

 Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

The Lee Resolution was an act of the Second Continental Congress declaring the Thirteen Colonies to be independent of the British Empire.

It is the earliest form and draft of the Declaration of Independence.

washington to the bostonians

George Washington, Address to the Residents of Boston (October 27, 1789)