August 9, 2020
The British army under General Burgoyne finds itself increasingly isolated. On the American side, General Gates replaces General Schuyler as commander of the northern army. Gate's picks a fight with General Arnold while setting up defenses to take on the British.
The British assault at Freeman's Farm forces the Americans to pull back to their defensive lines in heights, but also leaves the British army weaker and unsure of its ability to break the American lines.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Battle of Saratoga, by Rupert Furneaux
Online Recommendation of the Week: The March to Saratoga, by Harrison Bird https://archive.org/details/marchtosaratogag008320mbp
August 2, 2020
As the British Army plans its final assault on Philadelphia, the continentals leave an army in the British rear to harass them. This army, led by General Anthony Wayne, took a position near Paoli Tavern. A British force led by General Charles Grey attacked the continentals at night, using bayonets to dispatch the enemy silently. Most of the Continentals fled into the dark woods.
Following the destruction of the army in their rear, the British crossed the Schuylkill river and took possession of Philadelphia.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Battle of Paoli, by Thomas J. McGuire (2006).
Online Recommendation of the Week: Futhey, J. Smith “The Massacre of Paoli” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 1, no. 3, 1877, pp. 285–319: https://archive.org/details/jstor-20084293
![ARP159 Battle of the Clouds]()
July 26, 2020
Following the American loss at Brandywine, Congress reevaluates its officers. At the same time, Gen. Washington prepares to rally for the next confrontation.
The Continentals and British advance on each other near White Horse Tavern. As they prepare for a major battle, a terrible rain storm floods the field and damages most of the gunpowder. General Washington uses the opportunity to pull back across the Schuylkill river for a final defense of Philadelphia.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Philadelphia Campaign 1777-1778, by Stephen R. Taaffe.
Online Recommendation of the Week: Ecelbarger, Gary “Aggressive Minded Gamblers: Washington, Howe, and the Days between Battles, September 12-16, 1777, Journal of the American Revolution, March 10, 2020: https://allthingsliberty.com/2020/03/aggressive-minded-gamblers-washington-howe-and-the-days-between-battles-september-12-16-1777
![ARP158 Battle of Brandywine]()
July 19, 2020
General Washington sets his defenses along Brandywine Creek, hoping to prevent General Howe's advance on Philadelphia.
Howe sent his Hessians under General von Knyphausen against the Continental lines. At the same time Howe marched his regulars further north where he crossed the creek and marched against the Continental right flank.
The Continentals put up a good fight against the British assault before being forced to retreat. A rearguard action by Nathanael Green allowed the Continental army to make its escape.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Harris, Michael C. Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777
Online Recommendation of the Week: Some account of the British army, under the command of General Howe; and of the battle of Brandywine, on the memorable September 11th, 1777, and the adventures of that day, by Joseph Townsend. https://archive.org/details/someaccountofbri00town
July 12, 2020
The British Fleet deploys an army of over 15,000 British and Hessian soldiers at Head of Elk, Maryland. It takes the army several days to unload and to recover from the long journey. The Americans move to Wilmington Delaware as they scouted out the enemy. The armies clash several days later at Cooch's Bridge before the British move into Pennsylvania.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: The British Invasion of Delaware, Aug-Sep 1777, by Gerald J. Kauffman and Michael R. Gallagher
Online Recommendation of the Week: Proceedings at the unveiling of the monument at Cooch's Bridge, Historical Society of Delaware https://archive.org/details/proceedingsatunv00wilm
June 21, 2020
With a demoralized and shrinking Continental Army facing General Burgoyne's invasion of upstate New York, New Englanders turn to a disaffected former Continental colonel, John Stark, to form a militia army.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Stark; The Life and Wars of John Stark, French and Indian War Ranger, Revolutionary War General, by Richard & John Polhemus
Online Recommendation of the Week: eBook: A Life of General John Stark of New Hampshire, by Howard P. Moore. https://archive.org/details/lifeofgeneraljoh00moor
June 14, 2020
On August 22, 1777, the Americans launch two independent raids on British defenses around New York City. General Sullivan leads an attack on Staten Island, while General Putnam orders a raid on Setauket, Long Island.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Lost British Forts of Long Island, by David M Griffin
Online Recommendation of the Week: The Military Services and Public Life of Major-General John Sullivan of the American Revolutionary Army, by Thomas Coffin Amory: https://archive.org/details/militaryservice00amorgoog
June 7, 2020
General Nicholas Herkimer leads a militia relief force to save Fort Stanwix. A native an militia force form St. Leger's Army ambushes the relief force in the bloody battle of Oriskany. The relief force retreats and the siege continues.
Days later, General Benedict Arnold leads a relief force to the fort. After the enemy believes exaggerated numbers of Arnold's army, the force under St. Leger flees back to Lake Ontario. Arnold lifts the siege and keeps the fort in American hands.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Rebellion in the Mohawk Valley: The St. Leger Expedition of 1777, by Gavin K. Watt
Online Recommendation of the Week: Orderly book of Sir John Johnson during the Oriskany Campaign, 1776-1777, by William Leete Stone (ed): https://archive.org/details/cu31924032310629
