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George Washington battled with the British army during the American Revolution. He assembled his army, worked out a plan and ordered them to attack. Washington was involved in various battles with the British army who were attacking America. Washington was at all costs determined to win all the battles. He lost some due to the shortage of food for the troops among other factors. Among the battles in which Washington was involved were: - Battle of Trenton Battle of Princeton Battle of Brandy wine Battle of German town Battle of Monmouth Battle of Yorktown.
GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732 - 1799) He was born in 1732 into a Virginia planter family. He learned the morals, manners and body of knowledge requisite for an 18 th Century Virginia gentleman He pursued the interests of military arts and western expansion. As an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution he managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Married to a widow Martha Dandridge, he devoted himself to a happy life.
When the second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, he was elected Commander in Chief of the continental army. On July 3, 1775 at Cambridge, Massachusetts he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years. Washington became the prime mover for change of Articles of confederation. When the new constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington president. He retired at the end of his second term. He died three years later on December 14, 1799 THE BATTLES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.
THE BATTLE OF TRENTON: This war was between Americans and the British. When Fort Lee was abandoned, Washington began to withdraw his army across New Jersey towards Philadelphia. 5, 000 Americans left Hackensack on November 21, 1776, and retired without casualties 100 miles to safety behind Delaware River on December 7. The troops suffered a want of clothing and sense of defeat, which quickly translated into high sickness and desertion rates. It was a demoralized army that unraveled in retreat.
Even their stoic commander despaired over a noble cause lost (The American Revolution. org) It was a critical time for George Washington. He had just been soundly defeated in New York and Morale was very low. His writings to the continental congress tell us so. Even through there was much to be gained through victory, but it was council in the American Revolution. The victory could have given soldiers morale in their struggle.
THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON: George Washington crossed and re-crossed the Delaware River a total of four times in the waning days of 1776. In this battle, Washington did not want to put a negative spin on the so far victorious venture by ordering Codwalader to retreat, and so crossed the river once again and joined the two commands together on the 29 th December. By this time Cornwallis had arrived at Prince town, New Jersey with 8, 000 troops. Washington knew he could expect an attack of it. Instead of fortifying Trenton he put his lives just south of the town on the south bank of the Assunpink Creak. On 27 th December General Cadwaleder, who had bee unable to land Jersey shore on 26 th, crossed near Burlington, reinforced by Militia, which was turning up, encouraged by the victory.
Cadwalder was unaware that Washington had re-crossed the river. He moved to empty Burlington and then to Bordon town, reporting that citizens were hastily removing the red rags nailed to their doors as symbols of loyalty to the crown. By this time Washingtons troops were in no condition to advance, further, he was short of food. His New England troops enlistments were due to expire on the 1 st January.
On 30 th December, Washington made an impassioned plea to a regiment whose enlistments were about to expire. BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE: This war was between the Americans and British. General Kyphausen attacked Chadds Ford as George Washington expected. By September 10, 1777, American troops extended a six-mile line covering the ease side of the Brandywine Creek.
Washington knew that the British army would have to ford the Brandywine if they were to get their target Philadelphia. He chose Chadds Ford as his defensive stronghold because it was along the road where British were camped. Washington kept watching the movements of the British troops from his telescope. He hopes that General Howe could move the troops towards the north. Washington was very nervous but he was eventually assured that General Howe had moved the troops and he became confident.
Finally out of this war American losses stood at 1, 200 men. There was a loss of 10 irreplaceable canons and a Howitzer. The British loss was estimated at 1, 960 troops. BATTLE OF GERMAN TOWN: American intelligence reports of the divided British army dared Washington plan an assault on German town. Lt.
Gen. William Howe, obsessed with securing an interrupted access to the Delaware River, had dispatched some troops to take Billing sport. He diverted another unit to escort supplies up from Head of Elk. In Philadelphia a large detachment was left under Lord Cornwallis. Howes main body of 9, 000 troops was encamped at German town five miles north of the city. In early October Washington had 11, 000 continentals and Militia dispersed along several miles north of German town.
Washington suggested a classic plan in which the British Maryland and New Jersey Militia under Gen. William Smallwood, Pennsylvania under General John Armstrong, Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene, was to take control in between the two lives.
Maj. Gen. John Sullivan's column of three brigades was to proceed directly into German town followed by Maj. Gen. Alexanders division. Finally the plan caused delay and the presence of fog made the war collapse.
Washington blamed fog; Washingtons strategy was too sophisticated for field officers who lacked tactical experience. Washington suffered 152 killed, 521 wounded and over 400 captured. Howe reported 537 killed and 14 captured. THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH: On 23 rd and 34 th May 1778 the army encamped on the farm of John Hart, in Hopewell and Washington decided to compromise and have an advance corp. engage the enemy. Gen.
Lee refused to be the Commander and Washington offered it to Lafayette. However later Lee changed his mind and Washington offered him the post. On 27 th May 1778, he moved next to the British. Washington ordered him to attack next day. Lee wanted the army to retreat but Washington was not for the idea. He took to the ground and assessed the situation.
He ordered the troops to attack. Sometimes in his presence the British could open fire. Although Washington failed to destroy the British column, he inflicted damage on their troops. He proved that Americans could stand against regulars, without the advantage of surprise. Both sides lost about 350 men. Monmouth was the last battle fought between the two main armies.
THE BATTLE OF YORKTOWN: This battle was between the British under British it General Charles Earl Cornwallis. With a capacity of 7, 000 troops, he crossed James River and moved to establish a fort of old point comfort on the James River Peninsula. He however ended up establishing himself at York Town. His fortifications were ready by August 22, 1781. On August 14, 1781 General George Washington finally received word from French Admiral De Grasse that the long awaited French fleet would arrive in mid-September.
On September 28, Continental forces under Washington and French forces under General Rocha beau arrived at Yorktown. There began building trenches and redoubts on October 6, 1781. Accepting defeat, Cornwallis surrendered papers were signed on October 20, 1781. Bibliography Burns, James Macgregor and Susan Dunn. George Washington: (The American Presidents Series).
New York: Times Books, 2004. Flexner, James. George Washington. 4 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1965 - 1972 George Washington and the Enlightenment (1984); J. E.
Feeling Journal of George Washington, Matrix group International, 2006
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